Gentleness

Gentleness is the best quality that one can have; on the authority of A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “O A’ishah! Show gentleness, for if gentleness is found in anything, it beautifies it and when it is taken out from anything it damages it.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)

When you meet people, greet them with gentle talk and a smiling face, because these are the attributes of the believer, like bee which eats sweet things and creates sweet things (honey), and if they land on a flower they do not break it. Allah (SWT) rewards His servants more for gentleness than violence.

On the authority of A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Be gentle and calm, O A’ishah, as Allah likes gentleness in all affairs.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

On the authority of Jarir (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) said: “He who is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)

Good people are always wanted and loved wherever they go; others yearn to see and meet them, because they symbolise kindness, gentleness and love. Making friends is a well-planned art that only wise people can master. They have the ability to know the nature of people and how to approach them gently.

Their great asset is Allah’s verse:
‘The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better,then verily, he, between whom and you there was enmity (will become) as though he was a close friend.’ [41:34]

They meet hatred with love and mercy; they forget mistreatment and harm and show kindness and forgiveness; they do not listen to abusive language; and they live at peace with people. You do not return good for evil, for there is no equality or comparison between the two. You repel or destroy evil with something which is far better, just as an antidote is better than poison. You foil hatred with love. You repel ignorance with knowledge, folly and wickedness with the friendly message of Revelation.

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) said: “A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe and a believer is one in whom people place their trust in regard to their life and wealth.” (Transmitted by At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i)

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah orders me to keep the ties with those who sever it, pardon those who mistreat me and give Sadaqah to those who hold it back from me.”

Allah (SWT) says:
‘Those who restrain anger and who pardon people.’ [3:134]

They are promised with peace of mind in this world and great reward in the Hereafter.

Taken from “30 Ways to Achieve Happiness” by Aidh Ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni