BEŞİNCİ BAB · İKİNCİ FASIL · İkinci Madde
Second Article
It relates, through numerous accounts and narrations, the essence and manner of treating all people with beautiful character, acting with generosity, and speaking in sweet tones.
O revered one! It is known that the learned have said: The Most Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) taught his community and companions the manners and etiquette of friendship, affection, familiarity, and companionship, thereby revealing their essence and manner. Indeed, in some honorable hadiths, he bestowed upon us these words:
“O my community and companions! Characterize yourselves with the character of the Exalted God [239]. Verily, knowledge and forbearance are within His character. Knowledge is attained through learning, and forbearance is sought by striving for a gentle disposition ( *tahallüm*). Whoever seeks good finds it. Whoever avoids evil is protected and finds safety.” [240] And he said: “Seek knowledge. Together with knowledge, seek gentleness and tranquility. When teaching knowledge to your students, speak to them with utmost tenderness. Honor your teachers from whom you acquire knowledge. Do not be among the harsh and uncouth scholars, lest ignorance overcome you.” [241] And he said: "O my community! Maintain kinship ties with relatives who sever them. Give sustenance to those who deprive you. Treat those who act rudely towards you with gentleness, so that your worth in the sight of God may be exalted." [242]
And he said: “The Exalted God has lightened and perfected the religion of Islam with beautiful character traits and adorned it with virtuous deeds. These include getting along well with people, possessing a generous nature, being gentle, spreading goodness, providing food, disseminating greetings, visiting the sick, honoring the elderly, forgiving wrongdoing, living harmoniously with neighbors, swallowing anger, reconciling disputes, generosity, open-handedness, preferring one’s brother over oneself, bringing out the beauty in others and concealing their faults.”
And he said: “The rights of a Muslim upon another Muslim are six: To greet him when you meet him, to respond to his invitation, to offer counsel when he asks for it, to pray for him if he sneezes (and says *yerhamükallah*), to visit him when he is sick, and to attend his funeral.” [243] And he said: “The believer is easygoing and gentle, like a docile female camel [371/a]; wherever he is led, he goes.” [244]
Regarding that Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), when his blessed fourth tooth was broken during *ghaza*, this grieved the companions. Then they said: “Curse the people who did this to you!” In response, that Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) addressed his companions and said: "I have not been sent to curse God’s creation, but rather to invite them to guidance. Therefore, I am mercy for all worlds. O God! Guide my people, for they do not know.” [245]
Therefore, it is said that whoever curses an oppressor, has certainly grieved the Trusted Muhammad and pleased the cursed Satan. And whoever forgives an oppressor, has certainly pleased the Trusted Muhammad and grieved the cursed Satan."
And he said: “Whenever a child is struck, the lamentation of his weeping causes the Arsh of the Most Merciful to tremble. At that time, the Exalted God says: ‘My angels bear witness that I will be pleased with whoever pleases this orphan.’” [246] And he said: "Whoever brings a choice fruit from the market to his children, receives reward as if he had given it in charity. Let him first give it to the daughters, for their hearts are tender and the Exalted God is more merciful towards them.” [247] And he said: “The rights of offspring upon their parents are three: To give them a beautiful name at birth, to teach them reading and writing when they reach an age of understanding, and to marry them off when they reach puberty.” [248] And he said: "The rights of the wife over her husband are that even if she were on a camel’s back, she should not refrain from herself from him without his permission, nor fast for even one day outside of the month of Ramadan. She should not leave her home without his knowledge, lest she fall into sin while seeking reward.” [249] And he said: “If a woman leaves her husband's house without his permission, her prayer is not accepted until she returns to him and puts her hand in his hand and says, ‘Do as you please,’ so that she may be freed from this transgression.” [250]
And he said: "A woman who prays the five prayers, fasts a month of Ramadan, protects herself from those forbidden to her, and obeys her husband, will enter the highest paradise." [251] And he said: “The rights of a neighbor over his neighbor are eight: To lend him if he asks, to attend his invitation, to help him when he needs it, to congratulate him on any good fortune, to comfort him in times of calamity, to visit him when he is sick, to attend his funeral, and if your neighbor goes missing, to protect his home and family.” And he said: “There are three kinds of neighbors: some have three rights, some two rights, and some one right. Those with three rights are the Muslim neighbor who lives close by. These include the right of proximity, the right of being a Muslim, and the right of neighborhood. Those with two rights are your Muslim neighbor. Those with one right are your *dhimmi* neighbor.” [252] And he said: “The mansions in Paradise are for those believers who feed others, spread greetings, fast during the day, and stand in worship at night." [253]
Indeed, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) desired to give food so much that he would go searching for guests within two miles if no one was found to eat with him. His pavilion had four openings on its four sides [371/b]…
Do not wound anyone, do whatever you please. In our path, there is nothing but sin beyond this.