Reformation of Character

Description

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Verily the most beloved and closest of you to me on the Day of Judgment will be the ones with the most excellent character, and the worst and most distant of you from me on the Day of Judgment will be the prideful and arrogant ones.” From this single statement of our beloved Prophet s.a.w., we can gauge the lofty status of excellent character and the detrimental effect of evil character. When deeply analyzed, it is realized that evil character traits are the root causes of all social ills, every manifestation of strife, and the general disharmony that plagues humanity.

Hence, removing these diseases from the heart is crucial and the only avenue towards success in this life and the hereafter. Allah Most High says, “Indeed, successful is the one who purified (the self) and failed is the one who defiled it…”

This concise yet comprehensive book was written by one of the great sages and illustrious scholars of the modern era – the late Knower of Allah, Hadrat Mawlana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar (may Allah have mercy on him) – as a beginner’s guide to reforming one’s character.

Contents:

• On Noble Character
• On Evil Character
• Reformation of Character

Part One – Noble Character:

• Tawba – Repentance
• Khawf – Fear
• Raja’ – Hope
• Haya’ – Modesty
• Shukr – Gratitude
• Fulfilling Promises
• Sabr – Patience
• Ikhlas – Sincerity
• Muraqabah – Meditating on Allah Most High
• Concentration while Reciting the Holy Quran
• Concentration in Salat
• Methods for Attaining Allah’s Love
• Which Servants Receive Allah’s Love?
• Respect for Elders
• Compassion for the Vulnerable
• Taslim, Rida, Tafwid & Du’a – Submission, Pleasure, Resignation of Affairs, & Supplication
• Combining Tafwid and Du’a
• Tawakkul – Reliance
• Incorrect Notions Regarding Tawakkul

Part Two – Evil Character:

• The Cure for Kibr – Regarding Oneself as Great
• The Cure for Kibr and ‘Ujub – Conceitedness
• An Uncertainty Concerning ‘Ujub & Its Answer
• Destruction of the Spiritual Wayfarers
• The Cure for Arrogance
• Riya’ – Ostentation and its Cure
• The Difference between Riya’, ‘Ujub & Kibr
• The Difference between Arrogance & Shyness
• Arrogance in the Form of Humility
• Jealousy
• The Cure of Jealousy
• Malice and its Cure
• The Cure for Greed and Love of the World
• Inappropriate Anger and its Cure
• Exemplary Incidents of Controlling Anger
• A Beautiful and Effective Reflection to Cure Anger
• Evil Glances, Treachery of the Heart & Worshipping of Beauty
• The Cure for Evil Glances & Worshipping of Beauty

Part Three – Reformation for Children

• Reformation for those who are Mature
• Evil Thoughts and their Cure
• Twenty Evils of the Tongue
• The Cure for Diseases of the Tongue
• Backbiting
• Lying
• Vulgar Language
• Harshness
• Not Forgiving People’s Mistakes
• Abstaining from Speaking
• Promises and Trusts

Conclusion

The Important Advice of Hakim al-Ummah Thanwi Regarding One’s Shaykh