After Fajr Programme

Main Topic

• Developing Good Character (Akhlaq) and Softening the Heart

Key Lessons

• The Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam was sent primarily to perfect noble character (Bu'ithtu li-utammima makarimal-akhlaq).
• Having a soft, gentle heart is the essential stepping stone to cultivating good character.
• Softness in demeanor does not mean compromising on the laws or principles of Deen; when Allah's boundaries are transgressed, one must remain firm.
• True good character begins inside the home with one's spouse, children, and immediate family, rather than just putting on a polite exterior for strangers or clients.
• Humility and viewing oneself as inferior to others makes it easier to display patience, forgive wrongdoings, and maintain excellent Akhlaq.

Quranic/Hadith References

• Hadith: "I have been sent to perfect noble character." (Bu'ithtu li-utammima makarimal-akhlaq)
• Surah Ali 'Imran (3:159): "So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] or harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you."

Practical Advice

• Practice good character first at home by avoiding harsh language, foul words, yelling, or treating family poorly while being polite to clients.
• Cultivate genuine humility (Tawadhu') by considering others to be better than oneself, making it easier to overlook personal inconveniences.
• Turn negative or frustrating situations into opportunities for Remembrance of Allah (Dhikrullah) and patience (Sabr).
• Maintain daily routines of Dhikr, such as reciting the Kalima (La ilaha illallah) 100 times daily to illuminate one's countenance on the Day of Judgment.