Chapter: A Stern Warning Against Vile Traits
Introduction
Al-Miṣbāḥ defines the verb rahiba (rahaban)—on the pattern of taʿiba—as “to fear.”
Tāj al-ʿArūs adds: rahiba, like ʿalima; yarhabu rahbatan (with ḍamma) or rahbatan (with fatḥa), and rahaban (fully vocalized). Thus the word has three accepted forms, all conveying the sense of fearing while remaining on guard.
A guiding principle among those who traverse the path to Allah is: first divest yourself of blameworthy qualities, then adorn yourself with virtuous and praiseworthy ones.
Our author—may Allah have mercy on him—has structured this section in precisely that way. He begins with the hadiths that forbid reprehensible and scandalous traits: envy, oppression, idolatry, hypocrisy, reviling, wickedness, anger, sedition, stinginess, ill conduct, and other vices and defects.
Next he follows with the “Chapter on Encouragement to Noble Character,” which will be presented, Allah willing. This ordering is both sound and elegant. May Allah reward him well and have mercy upon him.