Hadith 18
Taqwa and Good Character
التقوى وحسن الخلق
اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْت، وَأَتْبِعْ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقْ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ
Translation
Fear Allah wherever you are, follow up a bad deed with a good deed and it will erase it, and behave well towards people.
Narrated by
Abu Dharr and Muadh ibn Jabal
أبي ذر ومعاذ بن جبل رضي الله عنهما
Source
al-Tirmidhi
الترمذي
Explanation
This comprehensive advice covers our relationship with Allah (taqwa), ourselves (repenting with good deeds), and others (good character). These three dimensions complete Islamic ethics.
Key Lessons
- 1Taqwa is constant, not situational
- 2Good deeds can erase bad ones
- 3Character with people is essential
- 4Religion encompasses all relationships