AKHLAQ ISLAMIYAH

Salam, first of all, when talking about Akhlaq, we cannot escape from discussing about the definition of Akhlaq. 

What is Akhlaq?

Akhlaq is an Arabic term referring to the practice of virtue, morality and manner in Islamic theology and philosophy. It is commonly translated in English dictionaries as disposition, nature, temper, ethics, moral or characters of a person. Akhlaq is a plural form of the word khuluq which means character, inner disposition of the soul or the spiritual constitution of man. According to Imam Al-Ghazali, "character is an established condition of the inner soul, from which actions proceed easily without any need for reflection or deliberation."

The good example of a person who have a good akhlaq is our Prophet Muhammad. Someone asked Aishah about the Prophet Muhammad, she replied "his character is Al-Quran."

Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet Muhammad has said "Indeed I have been sent to complete the best of character (akhlaq)"

Anas, the brother of Abu Dharr is narrated as saying, " I saw him ( the Prophet ), he would enjoin the people to good character and conduct"

The Prophet also said, "the most complete of believers in iman (faith) are those who are best in character"

Therefore, we as a Muslim should behave with the best akhlaq and take our Prophet Muhammad as the role model.

Why should we have good Akhlaq?

In Islam, there is a lot of emphasis placed on good akhlaq. Why is this so? Why should we behave well and respect others? What is the reason?

This can be explained as, when Allah created the human being, He created it in two parts. One part is known as outer self (Physical, Body) and the other part is known as inner self (Nafs, Soul).

Our body is such that it needs looking after, we have to feed it and keep it warm, otherwise we will become ill and suffer. Similarly, our soul, known as Nafs, also need looking after, otherwise it also will become ill. The way to look after this soul is to listen, to think, to respect, to help. When we help someone, we feel happy, but it is not the physical body that feels happy instead it is our Nafs. Hence Akhlaq in Islam is food for the soul, and we feed it regularly, it will remain happy and healthy.

How to have good Akhlaq?

The human soul is in need of developing educationally in order to become characterised by the best of morals and refrain from evil doings. This can be achieved by teaching ourselves the following points:

• Following the footsteps and copying the examples of our Prophet Muhammad. Take him as our role model in life. Look how he behave in all aspects of his life. The way he treat his family, the way he act as a leader, his akhlaq among the society and so on. Studying the biography and considering all aspects of virtues behaviour are essential ways of being led on the right path.
• Practice makes perfect and we should practice conducting ourselves with the best of morals like truth, courage, generosity, mercy, benevolence and forgiveness. Whoever repeatedly does good deeds and behaves in a principled manner, such conduct will undoubtedly become habitual.
• Choose your friend carefully. Be friend with someone who have good akhlaq. Avoiding people characterised by bad manners and not making friend with them because not mixing with such people removes the danger of being misled and should also discourage their unprincipled behaviour. 
• Lastly we should ask forgiveness from Allah in case of committing sins or doing evil deeds and should regret and repent for such actions. This can be done through reprimanding ourselves and feeling that such action is bad and should not be repeated.

In conclusion, remember, good manners surely indicate the goodness of the upright human soul while bad manner indicates that the soul of that man is evil and wicked. A good human soul is like a sweet flower from which fragrant perfume is emitted. Conversely, one which is wicked can be likened to a poisonous smell that harms people.

Allah bids us towards the best morals and will reward us accordingly on the Resurrection Day and also forbids us against bad morals for which He will duly punish us. Bad morals cause the destruction of society and the spread of corruption.

The man with good morals is considered the foundation on which the structure of a sound Islamic society is built, and is among the causes of giving strength to Muslims. But if Muslim communities lose their good morals of justice, mercy and benevolence, they will be destroyed, and all the scientific progress and abundance of wealth can not prevent it. When moral principles are abandoned, the quality of life is distrupted and led astray.

Thus we see war, gross injustice and rising crime spreading in immoral societies. Vices like lying, selfishness, greed, deceit and hypocrisy fester in the same way as germs destroy the human body. The onus is on all Muslims to ensure good morals which are preserved by way of self-education and practising exemplary behaviour.