Central Khutbah: “Character – The True Measure of a Man’s Worth”

In today’s world, success is often tied to the idea of a brand and public image. Yet we, as Muslims, already have the best “brand”: our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The most distinguished quality describing him in the Qur’an is expressed in these words:

“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”
(Surah Al-Qalam, 68:4)

This means that Allah described His Messenger by his conduct, by his character. He is for us the most beautiful example. Allah also says:

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.”
(Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:21)

If we want to change, to become better, let us begin by improving our own character. If we do not know what to change, let us ask the Qur’an. If we do not know how to do it, let us follow the Sunnah – the way of life of the best of men.

Good character (al-akhlaq) can be summed up in four powerful hadiths:
• “Let whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good or remain silent.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
• “Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is to leave that which does not concern him.” (Tirmidhi, no. 2318)
• “Do not get angry.” (Bukhari, no. 6116)
• “None of you will truly believe until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

These are the values of our true path. Our “brand” is an inspiration. It is an endless field of personal growth.

Brothers and sisters,

Character is the true measure of a person’s worth. It is what remains when everything else fades away. Let us remind ourselves, through the examples of great men such as Imam al-Bukhari, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, and Imam Malik, how character was more precious than wealth, position, or fame.

Safiyyur-Rahman al-Mubarakfuri reports that Imam al-Bukhari once boarded a ship carrying a thousand dinars. One of the passengers tried to befriend him. When he learned that the Imam was carrying gold, he attempted to falsely accuse him of theft. To protect his reputation and the trust people had in his transmission of hadith, the Imam threw the money into the sea. When the slanderer later asked him where the gold was, he replied: “People know my sincerity and trustworthiness. If I had kept the gold, they would have believed your lie. My integrity and justice are worth more than my gold coins.”

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, as a young boy on his way to Baghdad, carried forty dinars entrusted to him by his mother. He had promised her always to tell the truth. When a group of bandits stopped them and asked if he was carrying anything, he told the truth. The leader of the bandits, astonished, asked why. He replied: “I promised my mother I would tell the truth.” This moved the leader, who repented, returned the stolen goods, and, together with his men, sincerely turned back to Allah.

Hisham ibn ‘Ammar, a student of Imam Malik, recounts that he was sent to study with him. When he tried to speak out of turn in the circle of knowledge, he was expelled and physically disciplined. He told Imam Malik that his father would not forgive him, and Malik asked what he should do to earn his forgiveness. Hisham replied: “For each strike, narrate to me one hadith.” And so he learned knowledge at the price of pain.

This is the proper understanding of the importance of preserving one’s honor and the trust of the people.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Nothing will be heavier on the scale on the Day of Resurrection than good character.” (Abu Dawud, no. 4799)

“The best of you are those who have the best character.” (Bukhari, no. 3559)

“Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good.” (Muslim, no. 2592)

We ask Allah to make us among those who speak the truth, who keep their promises, who preserve their honor and reputation, and who fear Allah both in public and in private. May He make us among those who will be close to the Prophet on the Day of Judgment – because they had the best character.

Ameen.

(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on August 1, 2025, at the “Centre Culturel Islamique de Luxembourg” in Mamer)