Akhlāq
Definition
Akhlaq — the plural of khuluq — refers to the settled moral qualities and character traits that define how a person habitually responds to the circumstances of life. The Prophet ﷺ is described in the Quran as being 'upon a tremendous character' (ʿala khuluqin ʿazim), and the hadith literature preserves an extraordinarily detailed picture of what that character looked like in practice. Al-Ghazali presents akhlaq as the domain where Sunna-following is deepest and most demanding: it is easier to adopt the Prophet's ﷺ external practices than to develop the inner qualities that produced those practices — but the latter is what genuine following of the prophetic example requires.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Akhlāq.
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"Abu Huraira's hadith: "O Allah, bless my nation in its early mornings. Narrated by Ibn Majah and Al-Khara’iti in "Makarim al-Akhlaq", and in his wording, Ibn Majah mentioned Thursday, with both chains of narration weak. The hadith of Ibn Abbas: "If you have a need from a man, request it during the day. Narrated by Al-Bazzar, Al-Tabarani in "Al-Kabir", and Al-Khara’iti in "Makarim al-Akhlaq" with his wording, and its chain is weak."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 17: Etiquettes of Travel
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"of him, Allah has guaranteed paradise for him, except if he commits a sin that is unforgivable. Narrated by al-Khara'iti in Maqarim al-Akhlaq from the hadith of Ibn Abbas with a weak chain, it is with him with another wording, and it is with Abu Dawud and the wording is his, and al-Tirmidhi from the hadith of Abu Sa'id. Whoever takes care of three daughters, educates them, marries them off and treats them well, then for him is paradise, and its narrators are trustworthy, though the chain has differences. Improving one's character, for someone alone or partnered with a person of good character, there is no emergence of the inner vices of"
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 12: Book of Marriage
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"Rather, it is only narrated by Muslim. The Hadith, whoever has a daughter and educates her and improves her upbringing and provision, was reported by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir and al-Karaiti in Maqaram al-Akhlaq from the Hadith of Ibn Masud with a weak chain of narration. The Hadith of Ibn Abbas states, whoever raises two daughters and treats them kindly during their companionship, they will enter him into paradise, reported by Ibn Majah and al-Hakim, who said it has a sound chain. The Hadith narrated by Anas states, whoever has two daughters or two sisters and treats them kindly during their companionship, I and he will"
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 12: Book of Marriage
Appears in
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