of a single person, and they refrain from eating at the adhan of a single person. The Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Bilal gives the adhan at night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum gives the adhan.” (1)

Linguistically, an upright person is one who is straight; its opposite is one who is crooked.

In the Sacred Law, it is one who fulfils the obligations, does not commit a major sin, and does not persist in a minor sin.

Fulfilling the obligations means performing the prescribed duties, such as the five daily prayers.

A major sin is any sin for which a specific punishment has been prescribed, such as a legal penalty, a threat of punishment, a curse, and the like. An example is tale-bearing: conveying people’s words from one to another with the intent of causing discord between them—for example, when someone goes to another and says, “So-and-so said such-and-such about you,” thereby leading to enmity and hatred between them. Hence the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said: “No tale-bearer will enter Paradise.” (2) That is, one who spreads malicious gossip. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrated: “The Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, passed by two graves and said, ‘They are both being punished, though they are not being punished for something considered great. As for one of them, he did not take care to avoid urine; and as for the other, he used to spread malicious gossip.’” (3) Thus, if a person engages in tale-bearing even once and does not repent, he is not upright.

Another major sin is backbiting: mentioning your brother in a way he would dislike, concerning a physical, moral, or religious fault.