It is in our interest as Muslims to learn what makes the people in Islam the best Muslims to emulate the behavior. The fundamental quality of best Muslim is a good character.
What do you understand by “CHARACTER”? “Character” means good qualities towards Allah (SWT), other people and society. What are these qualities that Allah (SWT) love to see in a Muslim?
1. Learn the Quran and teach it
Narrated `Uthman: The Prophet (pbuh) said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."
حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ مَرْثَدٍ، سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ ". قَالَ وَأَقْرَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي إِمْرَةِ عُثْمَانَ حَتَّى كَانَ الْحَجَّاجُ، قَالَ وَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَقْعَدَنِي مَقْعَدِي هَذَا.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5027
In-book reference: Book 66, Hadith 49
(English) reference: Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 545
2. Manners
Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (pbuh) said: The most perfect believer in respect of faith is he who is best of them in manners.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا " .
Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4682
In-book reference: Book 42, Hadith 87
English translation: Book 41, Hadith 4665
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “I was with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and a man from among the Ansar came to him and greeted the Prophet (pbuh) with Salam. Then he said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which of the believers is best?’ He said: ‘He who has the best manners among them.’ He said: ‘Which of them is wisest?’ He said: ‘The one who remembers death the most and is best in preparing for it. Those are the wisest.’”
حَدَّثَنَا الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ، حَدَّثَنَا نَافِعُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ فَرْوَةَ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ : كُنْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ : " أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا " . قَالَ فَأَىُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَكْيَسُ قَالَ : " أَكْثَرُهُمْ لِلْمَوْتِ ذِكْرًا وَأَحْسَنُهُمْ لِمَا بَعْدَهُ اسْتِعْدَادًا أُولَئِكَ الأَكْيَاسُ " .
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
English reference: Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4259
Arabic reference: Book 37, Hadith 4400
3. Behavior
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "The believers who show the most perfect Faith are those who have the best behaviour, and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives". [At-Tirmidhi].
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "أكمل المؤمنين إيمانا أحسنهم خُلقا، وخياركم خياركم لنسائهم" ((رواه الترمذي وقال : حديث حسن صحيح)).
Reference: Book 1, Hadith 278
Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character among them. And the best of you are those who are best to your women.” Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَخِيَارُكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ لِنِسَائِهِمْ خُلُقًا " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1162
In-book reference: Book 12, Hadith 17
English translation: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1162
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "The most perfect man in his faith among the believers is the one whose behaviour is most excellent; and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives." [At- Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan Sahih].
وعنه قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “أكمل المؤمنين إيماناً أحسنهم خلقاً وخياركم خياركم لنسائهم”. ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 627
In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 627
4. Family
Narrated 'Aishah: that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "Indeed among the believers with the most complete faith is the one who is the best in conduct, and the most kind to his family." Grade: Da'if (Darussalam)
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ الْحَذَّاءُ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ مِنْ أَكْمَلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَأَلْطَفُهُمْ بِأَهْلِهِ " . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ . وَلاَ نَعْرِفُ لأَبِي قِلاَبَةَ سَمَاعًا مِنْ عَائِشَةَ . وَقَدْ رَوَى أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ رَضِيعٌ لِعَائِشَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ غَيْرَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَأَبُو قِلاَبَةَ اسْمُهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زَيْدٍ الْجَرْمِيُّ . حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ قَالَ ذَكَرَ أَيُّوبُ السَّخْتِيَانِيُّ أَبَا قِلاَبَةَ فَقَالَ كَانَ وَاللَّهِ مِنَ الْفُقَهَاءِ ذَوِي الأَلْبَابِ .
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2612
In-book reference: Book 40, Hadith 7
English translation: Vol. 5, Book 38, Hadith 2612
5. Avoids harming Muslims
Narrated Abu Musa: Some people asked Allah's Messenger (pbuh), "Whose Islam is the best? i.e. (Who is a very good Muslim)?" He replied, "One who avoids harming the Muslims with his tongue and hands."
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْقُرَشِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بُرْدَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الإِسْلاَمِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ ".
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 11
In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 4
English reference: Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 11
6. Repaying:
It was narrated from Abu Rafi that the Messenger of Allah borrowed a young camel from a man, and then he came to get his camel back. He said to a man: "Go and buy a young camel for him." He came and said: "I could only get a Raba camel of good quality." He said: "Give it to him, for the best of the Muslims is the one who is best in repaying." Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَسْلَفَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَكْرًا فَأَتَاهُ يَتَقَاضَاهُ بَكْرَهُ فَقَالَ لِرَجُلٍ " انْطَلِقْ فَابْتَعْ لَهُ بَكْرًا " . فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَصَبْتُ إِلاَّ بَكْرًا رَبَاعِيًّا خِيَارًا . فَقَالَ " أَعْطِهِ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَحْسَنُهُمْ قَضَاءً " .
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 4617
In-book reference: Book 44, Hadith 169
English translation: Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4621
7. Maintaining good relation
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: It is not lawful for the Muslim to shun his brother for more than three (days); they come fare to fare and this one turns away, and that one turns away. The best of them is the one who initiates the Salam."
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ يَلْتَقِيَانِ فَيَصُدُّ هَذَا وَيَصُدُّ هَذَا وَخَيْرُهُمَا الَّذِي يَبْدَأُ بِالسَّلاَمِ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَنَسٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَهِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ وَأَبِي هِنْدٍ الدَّارِيِّ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1932
In-book reference: Book 27, Hadith 38
English translation: Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1932
To sum up, the best Muslims are the ones who best apply Islam's extensive ethical virtues: justice, compassion, kindness, piety, dedication, humility, truthfulness, etc. They treat others as they want to be treated, they offer charity on a regular basis, they care for their families, they refrain from harming others, and they gain the confidence of people. They are dedicated to the Quran and the search for religious knowledge to be applied in their lives, forgetting the vanities of worldly life for the future.
It was narrated that Thawban said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Adhere to righteousness even though you will not be able to do all acts of virtue. Know that the best of your deeds is Salat (prayer) and that no one maintains his ablution except a believer.'" Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " اسْتَقِيمُوا وَلَنْ تُحْصُوا وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ خَيْرَ أَعْمَالِكُمُ الصَّلاَةُ وَلاَ يُحَافِظُ عَلَى الْوُضُوءِ إِلاَّ مُؤْمِنٌ " .
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 277
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 11
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 277
May Allah make us among the best Muslims with the best character. Ameen. Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
Source: Quran & Hadith