for good character may also be understood as modelling oneself on the ethics of the Sacred Law and adopting the courtesies that Allah taught His servants in His Book. Allah said to His Messenger ﷺ: “And indeed, you are truly upon an exalted standard of character” (Q 68:4).

ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “His character was the Qur’an,” meaning that he observed its courtesies: he carried out its commands and avoided its prohibitions until acting by the Qur’an became for him a disposition—something innate and inseparable from him.

Such character is the finest, noblest, and most beautiful of all; it has even been said, “The entirety of religion is character.”

Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd remarked, “Al-birr is good character,” and by good character he meant fairness in dealings, gentleness in debate, equity in judgments, generosity and beneficence, and every other trait of the believers whom Allah describes: “True believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned…” (Q 8:2); “Those who repent, who worship, who praise…” (Q 9:112); “Successful indeed are the believers…” (Q 23:1); and “The servants of the All-Merciful are those who walk upon the earth with humility…” (Q 25:63).

Whoever finds his own state uncertain should weigh himself against these verses: possessing all of these traits is the sign of good character, lacking all of them is the sign of bad character, and having some but not others points to an incomplete state. He should therefore strive to preserve what he has attained and acquire what he lacks.

Let no one imagine that good character is limited to a gentle manner and the mere avoidance of indecencies, thinking that whoever achieves that has refined his nature. Rather, good character consists of the believers’ qualities we have just mentioned—adopting their traits and patiently bearing harm.

Shaykh Aḥmad Ḥijāzī, in his commentary on the Forty Ḥadith, said: “Al-birr is whatever the Law makes obligatory or recommended; in other words, it is beneficence, which embraces three things: a cheerful face, withholding harm, and generous giving, and that one love for people…"