Ibn Taymiyyah on Character: Good Character is the Creed of the Salaf, Righteous Predecessors

Ibn Taymiyyah writes in Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyyah:

By these principles the people of the Sunnah encourage well-known righteous deeds and forbid evil deeds in accordance with what is ordained by the religious law (sharia). And they believe in practicing the pilgrimage
(hajj) and struggle for the cause of Allah (jihad), in attending Friday communal prayers and the holidays with the leaders, be they pious or wicked, and in observing the community prayers. They believe in advising the nation of Muslims and they firmly believe in the Prophet’s saying:

الْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ الْمَرْصُوصِ؛ يَشُدُّ بَعْضَهُ بَعْضًا

A believer is for a believer as a structure, each supporting the other.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6257]

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, interlaced his fingers while saying this; and they likewise firmly believe the saying of the Prophet:

مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ الْجَسَدِ؛ إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ؛ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بُالْحُمَّى وَالسَّهَرِ

The example of the believers in their affection and compassion and benevolence is like the body. If one part of it becomes sick, the whole body comes to its aid with fever and sleeplessness.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6258]

The people of Sunnah encourage patience for people when calamity strikes, and are thankful in the time of life’s ease, and are accepting of the fulfillment of the Irreversible Decree of Allah. They call on people to practice noble manners and righteous deeds, and to firmly believe the saying of the Prophet:

أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا

The most complete believers in faith are those with good character.

[Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book 10, Number 1162, Sahih]

The people of Sunnah encourage people to reconcile relations with those who have cut them off, to give charity to those who have deprived them, and to forgive those who have oppressed them. They order people to keep benevolence with parents, to uphold ties of family, to be benevolent with neighbors, to be kind with orphans, wayfarers and the poor, and to be gentle with servants. They forbid bragging, arrogance and transgression. They prevent people from feeling superior over others, rightly or wrongly. And they bid people use lofty manners and prohibit them from pursuing trifles. All that they say or do from the above (good character) or from other teachings, in all of it they follow the Book and the Sunnah. Their “path” is the religion of Islam for which Allah sent Muhammad.

But for all this, the Prophet foretold that his nation:

لَتَفْتَرِقَنَّ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَثِنْتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ

…will split into seventy-three sects with one in Paradise and seventy-two in the Hellfire.

They asked, “Who is the one in Paradise?” He said:

الْجَمَاعَةُ

The community.

[Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Trials, Number 3992, Sahih]

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said in another narration:

مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابِي

Those who follow me and my companions.

[Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book of Faith, Number 2641, Hasan]

Those referred to in this saying, those who hold firmly to pure, unadulterated Islam, are the people of the Sunnah and the community. Among them are the truthful, the martyrs, the righteous, included in them are the testimonials of guidance, the lamps for darkness, the masters of memorable merits, the ever-remembered virtues. Among them are the righteous leaders about whose judgment and understanding all Muslims agree. These are the victorious ones about whom the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يُقَاتِلُونَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ ظَاهِرِينَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

There will not cease to be a group of my people fighting for the sake of the truth and prevailing until the Day of Resurrection.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 293]

Therefore, we ask Allah Almighty to make us part of them, and not to let our hearts swerve after He has guided us and to bestow on us mercy from Him. Indeed, He is, The Generous. Allah knows best.