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As for the word fatā, its linguistic meaning is “young man,” as in the words of Allah Most High:

“Indeed, they were young men who believed in their Lord.”

And His words:

“They said, ‘We heard a young man called Abraham mention them.’”

And likewise:

“And when Moses said to his young attendant.”

However, since gentleness is characteristic of the young, many spiritual masters have come to use the term futuwwa (chivalry) to mean noble character. Thus, one of them said: “Our way is to practise chivalry, not to seek victory.” Another said:

[“Futuwwa means drawing near to those who keep you at a distance, honouring those who hurt you, and doing good to those who mistreat you—with generosity, not suppressed anger, and with affection, not malice.”] (*)

Another said: “Futuwwa means abandoning what you desire because of what you fear.”

Similar sayings describe futuwwa in terms of praiseworthy and beloved qualities, whether or not these are called futuwwa. These qualities merit praise in the Quran and Sunnah only because they fall within the terms that Allah and His Messenger have praised, such as doing good, mercy, pardon, overlooking faults, forbearance, restraining anger, righteousness, charity, zakāh and goodness, and other commendable terms encompassing these meanings.

Whenever Allah associates a term with praise and reward in the Quran and Sunnah, those who possess the quality it denotes are praiseworthy. Whenever He associates a term with blame and punishment in the Quran and Sunnah, those who possess the quality it denotes are blameworthy, as with lying and betrayal