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