28: Character - A Reflection of the True Self
"Surely, good character is part of the completion of Faith."
Character & Integrity
The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Say La-ilaaha ill-Allah and live an upright life, a life of integrity". This clearly indicates the correlation between faith character and integrity. A Believer is duty-bound to live a life of integrity.
Integrity is about …
- being honest, being honorable and being your self at your best.
- moral maturity; what it is to think and act in a way that reflects the full stature of a good, responsible and rational human being.
- about living life with an upright character.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) further emphasized the relationship between
faith and character when he said
Character …
- is who we are when no one is looking.
- is not only the face in the mirror, but the real person behind the face.
- evolves from conscience; is sustained by conscience and is developed piece-by-piece, with every thought, with every choice, and nurtured with determination.
Reputation & Character
Character should not be confused with Reputation
- Reputation is what you lead others to believe you are
Character is what you really are - Reputation may be reflected in the combination of your name and your image
Character is the essence of your being. - Reputation is the wrapping
Character is the content - Reputation may be used to describe you
Character defines you - Reputation is the outer reflection,
Character is the inner reality - Reputation is made in a moment
Character is built in a life time - Reputation is what you come with to a new community
Character is what you have proven to possess when you leave - Reputation may be reflected in what people write about you on your tombstone
Character is what angels report about you to God.
Reflect on the following …
- "Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a person chooses or avoids." [Ancient Greek Philosopher, Aristotle]
- "Character is simply habit long continued." [Ancient Roman biographer, Plutarch]
"Sow an act and you reap a habit
sow a habit and you reap a character
sow a character and you reap a destiny."
[Charles Reade]- "Character is destiny." [Charles Reade]
- "No change in circumstance can repair a defect of character." [Poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson]
- "The best index to a person's character is
- how he treats people who can't do him any good
- how he treats people who can't fight back." [Abigail Van Buren]
- "Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches takes wings and only character endures. [19th century NY Journalist, Horace Greeley]
when wealth is lost, some thing is lost;
when health is lost, much is lost;
when time is lost, life is being lost
when character is lost, everything is lost.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) reminded us
Learning respectful behavior, cultivating good habits and displaying proper decorum are absolutely essential for the development of good human being. In fact, the mission of Prophets have been to improve human character and conduct. It was the final Prophet (pbuh) who stated