224. They do not have the entire hadith but it is the hadith ofWaabisah. (cont.)

One may even hear the statement, "He does not pray but he has a good character." This demonstrates a lack of understanding of the Islamic concept of khuluq and its all-inclusive nature. Khuluq is often divided into three categories: khuluq (behavior) with respect to the Creator, khuluq with respect to other humans and khuluq with respect to oneself. Two other categories should be added to the commonly mentioned three categories: khuluq with respect to all the other creatures that Allah has created, and khuluq with respect to the Earth and all of its natural resources. These last two, although sometimes neglected, also have guiding principles that are taught by the religion of Islam. 1 Quoted in Ahmad al-Hulaibi, Al-Masooliyah al-Khuluqiyah wa al-Jazaa alaiha (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Rushd, 1996), p. 17. 2 Quoted in al-Hulaibi, pp. 17-18. 3 Al-Hulaibi, p. 19. 4 As quoted in al-Hulaibi, p. 19. 5 See ibn al-Qayyim, al-Tibyaanfi Aqsaam al-Quran, p. 1 35. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi All of these categories comprise a person's khuluq. For a person to have good khuluq, as stressed in many hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he must have good khuluq with respect to all of the different categories of khuluq. It is not sufficient to be good in one category and then fail with respect to the other categories. The most important category of khuluq is behavior with respect to the Creator. lbn Uthaimeen states that this category is made up of the following three necessary aspects: 1 ( 1) One must sincerely believe in whatever Allah has revealed without any doubt or wavering. Allah has said in the Quran, / / ஌ J ., -;. ਮਯ Ʊ\ ::r: J੻\ ਰj "And who is truer in speech than Allah?" (al-Nisaa 87). For example, when Allah makes a statement about the Day of Judgment, about what will happen to this creation at that time, about the rewards of Paradise and the punishment in Hell, the believer believes in them completely and has no doubt about them, even those these are all rilaters that are beyond the realm of human experience. This acceptance and belief is part of good behavior toward Allah. (2) One must accept the commands of Allah and do his best to fulfill them in his life. Obviously, it is good behavior toward the Creator that when He commands a person to do something, the person does it; and when He commands a person to refrain from something, the person does so. The person does not reject or arrogantly refuse to obey what Allah has commanded. Included in this is the attitude toward obedience. The person not only obeys Allah but does so willingly with an open heart. On this point, ibn Uthaimeen gives an example of the prohibition of interest (riba). He says that a believer (in other words, the one who behaves toward Allah in the proper manner) accepts that command with an open heart and with full submission. He has no problem submitting to that command. However, the non-believer (the one who is not behaving properly toward Allah) has difficulty accepting that. He becomes uneasy and will find any means to get around that prohibition, because he knows that interest is easy money without any risks involved. This person is lacking in his behavior toward Allah. In returning to the example mentioned above, if a person is not performing the prayers, then he is demonstrating bad behavior toward Allah. How could one say that he is a person of good character when his behavior is so deficient toward his Creator and Lord? Is it of much significance that he is behaving well toward other human beings while completely ignoring the One who created him and gave him all of his abilities? This person is missing the most important ingredient that makes up good character. 1 The following discussion is loosely based on Muhammad ibn Uthaimeen, Makaarim al­ Akhlaaq (published by Khaalid Abu Saalih, 1996), pp. 16-3 1 . Hadith #27: "Righteousness is Good Character .. " (3) One should bear Allah's decrees with pleasure and patience.1 Not everything that occurs to a human in this world is pleasing and joyful. Allah tries humans through various means. It is part of proper behavior toward Allah that one have patience with what Allah has decreed by His wisdom. In other words, one refrains oneself from doing anything that is displeasing to Allah while going through such trials. Even better than that is to realize that what is occurring is according to Allah's wise plan. In that case, one will be pleased with everything, "good" or "bad", that he encounters in this world. The second category of khuluq is behavior toward other humans,2 including being kind, generous, persevering and forgiving toward others. It also includes refraining from harming others. Greeting one's brother with a smiling face is also part of good behavior as it immediately brings joy and happiness to others. This aspect of good character should not be ignored. Such behavior is pleasing to Allah and it is pleasing to Allah's creatures.