Living the Right Way

Good Natured-ness

Good nature has been praised and ill nature has been condemned in religion.

Allah the Most High said: “It is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you.”

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S) said: “The most perfect of the believers in faith is the best of them in nature.”

He (S) also said: “In the balance of morality nothing weighs heavier than good nature.”

He (S) also said: “Have good nature; for it necessarily guides you to paradise. Avoid ill nature; for it necessarily guides you to hell.”

He (S) also said: “On the Day of Judgement nothing is more valuable than good nature.”

He (S) also said: “He who has a good nature will have the reward of those who observe fasting in the day and keep awake praying all of the night.”

He (S) also said: “Ill nature corrupts deeds, in the same way that vinegar destroys honey.”

Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) the Commander of the Faithful said: “All of those who repent remain faithful to it except the ill-natured people; for whenever they abandon a sin, they indulge in another one worse than it.”

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “The most perfect of human beings in intellect is the best of them in nature.”

He (a.s.) also said: “Ill nature corrupts faith, in the same way that vinegar destroys honey.”

He (a.s.) also said: “He who has a bad nature puts himself in trouble.”

Mentioning the standards of good nature, he (a.s.) said: “You must be humble, speak honourably and meet your brother cheerfully.”