Author: Mohajer Azizi
Personable Muslim (3rd Part)
Factors of development and preservation of personality and dignity
A person’s character represents his status, humanity and Islam; Therefore, it is necessary for every person to try to preserve his character and dignity. There are major and good reasons for maintaining it, which we state below:
1. The only thing that makes a person’s character appear good and beautiful and is always considered an attractive and heartwarming person among people is good morals. Character and dignity are not created by silence, lack of joking, violence in speech and extravagance in sourness; Rather, dignity and character are preserved and developed with good morals.
The beloved Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, would compete with his wives, joke with old men, greet children, and always have a smile on his face, even sometimes, because of his laughter, his missing teeth were visible, and the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, was the most characterful and moral person on earth.
Morality has a significant role and results in the individual and social life of people. If a person’s morals are good, he will live a good and peaceful life, and he will be known among people as a person with character and respect, and all people will look at him with love and kindness.
If a person’s morals are bad and ugly, he will not benefit from life and will always suffer from the purity of life and will be deprived of God’s blessings and mercies. As Abdullah bin Umar, may God be pleased with him, says: The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, was not obscene or rude in nature and in his behavior, and he used to say: «إِنَّ مِنْ خِيَارِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا» (The best of you is the one who has the best morals.) Therefore, good morals are one of the basic factors in creating a healthy personality and self-esteem in a person. Anyone who does not have morals is far from a healthy personality and does not bring honor to himself, but humiliation.
2. The second major reason that plays a graceful role in maintaining and structuring the Muslim personality is modesty. Modesty is one of the good qualities and moral virtues, which means being ashamed of committing ugliness. Modesty is a sensual state that causes sobriety and dignity and refrains from doing inappropriate behavior and also causes the preservation and structure of human personality.
Modesty is part of faith; As the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: «الإیمان بضع وستون شعبة، والحیاء شعبة من الإیمان» (Faith has seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of faith.” Rather, modesty and faith are two companions and friends that cannot be separated from each other. The Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, says: “Modesty and faith are the Qur’an together, so if one of them is lifted, the other is lifted” (Haya and the two faiths are together, and when one leaves, the other also leaves.)
3. Staying away from sin is one of the important factors that build a person’s personality. A person should try to acquire factors that become the founder of spiritual values and evolve the character. Abandoning sin is one of the biggest factors that creates the true character of every person and causes his stability, dignity and serenity.
As they say: sin, although hidden, breaks the tall body of the character from the inside; Although outside, people think it is healthy, and it is also included in the traditions: “A person who does not have a personality for himself and despises himself, do not expect good things from him, and such a person is not afraid of committing evil deeds.”
4. Modesty and humility are the hallmarks of a Muslim with character, and this phenomenon increases self-esteem and raises his rank. Humility is a good quality that brings us closer to God. The one who clings to this attribute will attain the mercy and special opinion of the Lord and will be freed from the disease of arrogance and pride.
The Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, said: “Whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, God will raise his position and status.” Therefore, from this speech of our Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, it is known that humility is a good means to improve the position, dignity and personality of a Muslim.
Hazrat Fazil Ayaz, may God have mercy on him, says: “Whoever thinks of himself as precious, he has no share in humility.” Almighty God revealed to the mountains that I will speak to the prophets above one of you. All the mountains become arrogant except the (Toor sina) mountain, Surely, the dignity of the word of truth was given to him.
Bayazid Bastami said:
I entered the truth through different doors such as Jihad, prayer, fasting, zakat and other good deeds, I found a lot of crowds in those doors and I did not find a place for myself to step in order to get closer to the truth, so I was amazed and did not know. What should we approach him with?
I called my Lord and said: O God, with what shall I seek nearness to You and become nearby?
He said: With something that does not belong to me.
I said: What is not yours?
He said: Humility, brokenness and shame.
Bayazid said: I entered the truth through the gate of humility, brokenness and shame, so I did not find anyone there except a few people.
From the above explanations, it is understood that human is a beautiful being and created with a beautiful calendar; Therefore, one should always seek to obtain factors that become the founder of spiritual values and evolve the character; Because the character of each person is the most important thing for him; If it is slightly damaged, it will be very difficult and time-consuming to repair.
