The boundaries of steady moral qualities

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Moral character has boundaries. Going beyond these boundaries leads to transgression while falling short results in deficiency and humiliation.

Anger:

Anger is commendable when it is within the boundaries of bravery and a dislike for despicable and poor (behaviour). However, crossing those boundaries leads to oppression, while insufficient anger results in cowardice and a lack of aversion towards despicable actions.

Eagerness:

Eagerness should be balanced to achieve what is necessary in life and to work towards those goals. A lack of eagerness leads to humiliation and a waste of (valuable time and missed opportunities), while excessive eagerness leads to vehement greed and unpraiseworthy desire.

Envy:

The boundaries of envy lie in (praiseworthy or healthy) competition for excellence and improvement, without wishing ill upon the other person. Going beyond these limits leads to negative feelings of envy and oppression, where one desires that the envied should be deprived of blessings and is eager to harm him. (However), if one lacks (what is required of this matter), it leads to a lack of self-esteem and ambition. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “There is no envy except with regards to two (people): a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom Allah has given wisdom (knowledge) and he judges by it and teaches it to others”. This type of envy is competition between people and the one with benign envy seeks to emulate the one he envies whilst not harbouring the despised envy which is to wish that the blessings bestowed on the envied should cease.

Permissible Desires:

They are a means of relaxation for the heart and mind after dedicating oneself to acts of obedience and striving to achieve virtuous deeds. Yet, if one indulges excessively, it results in intense and difficult-to-control emotions and immoral behaviour, causing the individual to sink to the level of animals. On the other hand, if a person lacks desire and does not (use leisure as a means) of pursuing excellence and virtue, it leads to weakness, helplessness, and degradation.

Relaxation:

It provides a renewed strength to the self and enhances one’s cognitive capacity, enabling them to perform acts of obedience and achieve virtuous deeds, and to avoid being weakened by labour and fatigue. Nevertheless, exceeding one’s limits results in apathy, idleness, squandering and the loss of many advantageous opportunities.

Furthermore, insufficient relaxation damages one’s strength and may leads to weakness.

Generosity: 

Exceeding its boundaries results in excess and wastefulness. Conversely, a lack of generosity leads to stinginess and penny-pinching.

Bravery:

Exceeding one’s boundaries results in recklessness, while a lack of courage leads to cowardice and vulnerability. Knowing when to act and when to abstain is the key to staying within its limits.

Protective Jealousy:

Going beyond one’s limits results in false accusations and (unfounded) suspicion against an innocent person. Similarly, lacking protective jealousy leads to carelessness and a disregard for one’s own reputation.

Humility:

Going beyond one’s boundaries results in disgrace and embarrassment. Conversely, a deficiency in humility leads to pride and boasting.

Honour:

Going beyond one’s boundaries results in pride, whilst a lack of honour leads to humiliation and indignity.

Justice ensures an upright balance in all matters, requiring individuals to follow the balanced path set by the Islamic legislation, which is free from exaggeration and negligence. All beneficial things of the worldly life and the Hereafter depend on this (balance). Physical well-being cannot be attained without it, as any imbalance in the body’s elements – whether through excess or deficiency – will lead to a loss of well-being and strength. Similarly, engaging in natural activities like sleep, eating, and socialising in moderation is considered balanced.

However, veering towards extremes in any of these activities will result in deficiencies and negative outcomes. One of the most noble and advantageous fields of knowledge is the acquaintance with the limits (boundaries in different matters), particularly the divine limits, the commands and prohibitions. The most knowledgeable are those who possess the most knowledge of these divine limits, hence they neither exceed them nor fall short of them. As Allah, The Exalted, states:

ٱلۡأَعۡرَابُ أَشَدُّ ڪُفۡرً۬ا وَنِفَاقً۬ا وَأَجۡدَرُ أَلَّا يَعۡلَمُواْ حُدُودَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ

The Bedouins are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be in ignorance of the limits (Allah’s Commandments and His Legal Laws, etc.) which Allah has revealed to His Messenger. [at-Tawbah 97]

Therefore, the most just, balanced and upright people are those who stay within the limits of moral character, the actions and deeds legislated in the Islamic legislation- in knowledge and practice.

We ask Allah:

اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي

O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well.

Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Fawaa’id page 207- 209