Ponder and Endure

Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Daamat Barakaatuhu) mentioned:

The weightiest thing in the scales is good character. The essence of character is ta-ammul (ponder before doing anything) and tahammul (endure).

Ponder and reflect. Think before doing any action as to what will be the consequence. In doing so, you will save yourself from many wrongs.

The second part is to endure. In the beginning, it will be difficult but then you will begin to manage. When you speak of akhlaaq this is the greatest jihaad. Every person is watching your behaviour and you have to control yourself. You will have to suppress your anger even though the other person may have over-stepped the mark. Think that Allah Ta‘ala has put me in a position of strength and tomorrow if the tables turn around then will I like that people treat me in this manner.

Whoever the person may be, treat him with consideration and kindness. Think and retrospect, where have you overstepped the mark. If you did, then ask the person for forgiveness and compensate him for it. This will then restrain you the next time you think of ill-treating anybody. You need to be hard on yourself at times in order to come right.