The Qualities of a Believer According to Hadith – The true identity of a believer is revealed through his character and deeds. The qualities of a believer described in the Qur’an and Hadith form the foundation for building a Muslim’s life. The famous Hadith compilation Kanzul Ummal contains numerous important narrations concerning the ethics, conduct, and characteristics of a believer.
In this post, we present some Hadiths from Kitabul Iman of Kanzul Ummal regarding the qualities of believers, so that a Muslim may find inspiration to purify and strengthen his faith and character—inshaAllah.
Translated from the chapter on faith (Iman) of Kanzul Ummal, the famous encyclopedia of Hadith authored by Shaykh Ali Muttaqi (رحمه الله).
A translation and publication by Darus Sa’adat.
الفصل السابع في صفات المؤمنين
Chapter Seven: The Qualities of Believers
The Diverse Qualities of a Believer
669. Among the qualities of a believer are that he is firm in matters of religion, wise in his humility, certain in his faith, eager to acquire knowledge, and compassionate even when angry or upset. He follows moderation in times of prosperity and maintains dignity even in times of hardship and poverty.
He remains free from greed and excessive desire and makes lawful earning his way of life. He remains steadfast upon good words, is happy and enthusiastic about guidance, restrains himself from excessive attachment and desires, and shows compassion toward those in distress.
A believing servant does not harbor hatred toward any servant of Allah. He does not cause his friend to fall into sin. He does not betray trusts. He stays far away from envy, hatred, mockery, ridicule, and cursing. He submits himself to the truth even when he is not physically present in that situation. He does not hurt anyone by giving them offensive names or titles.
He remains absorbed in prayer with humility and devotion. He hastens to pay Zakat. He does not abandon gentleness during difficult times. He remains grateful during times of happiness and joy. When present, he is content with little, and when absent, he makes no demands. When angry, he does not lose his judgment.
He does not allow stinginess to prevent him from doing good deeds. He maintains friendly relations with people in order to acquire knowledge. He speaks to people with wisdom and intelligence. When he is wronged or persecuted, he remains patient—even to the extent that the Most Merciful Himself takes revenge on his behalf.
A Believer Eats Little
670. ” المؤمن يأكل في معى واحد والكافر يأكل في سبعة أمعاء”. (حم ق ت م عن ابن عمر حم م عن جابر حم ق هـ عن أبي هريرة) (م هـ عن أبي موسى) .
A believer eats with one intestine, while a disbeliever eats with seven intestines.
671. “المؤمن يشرب في معى واحد، والكافر يشرب في سبعة أمعاء”. (حم م ت عن أبي هريرة) .
A believer drinks with one intestine, while a disbeliever drinks with seven intestines.
One Believer Is the Mirror of Another
672. ” المؤمن مرآة المؤمن”. (طس والضياء عن أنس)
A believer is the mirror of another believer.
673. “المؤمن مرآة المؤمن والمؤمن أخو المؤمن يكف عليه ضيعته ويحوطه من ورائه “. (خد، د عن أبي هريرة) .
A believer is the mirror of another believer, and a believer is the brother of another believer. They protect one another from harm and safeguard one another in their absence.
Believers Strengthen One Another
674. “المؤمن للمؤمن كالبنيان يشد بعضه بعضا”. (ق ت ن عن أبي موسى) .
One believer is like a building to another believer; one part strengthens and supports another.
675. “إذا لقي المؤمن كان كهيئة البناء يشد بعضه بعضا”. (طب عن أبي موسى) .
When one believer meets another believer, they are like a structure in which one part strengthens another.
Benefit
In other words, a true Muslim community should be like a strong structure in which its members support, strengthen, and help one another.
A Believer Is Someone From Whom Everyone Feels Safe
676. “المؤمن من أمنه الناس على أموالهم وأنفسهم والمهاجر من هجر الخطايا والذنوب”. (هـ عن فصالة) .
A believer is one from whom people feel secure regarding their lives and property. And a Muhajir is one who abandons sins.
Benefit
This Hadith teaches us that a true believer is someone whose words, actions, and behavior make people feel safe. No one should fear that their life or property will be harmed by him.
Likewise, a true Muhajir is not merely someone who changes his place of residence. Rather, a true Muhajir is one who abandons sins and turns back to Allah.
How a Believer Dies
677. “المؤمن يموت بعرق الجبين” (حم ت ن هـ ك عن بريده) .
A believer dies with sweat upon his forehead.
Explanation
This means that Allah Ta’ala may cause a believing servant to pass away while experiencing hardship or perspiration. This may become a means of expiation for his sins, an elevation of his rank, and a sign of a good ending.
The perspiration of the forehead indicates that the soul of a believer may leave the body with some difficulty, through which he is purified and reaches Allah.
A Believer Is Loving and Affectionate
678. “المؤمن يألف ولا خير فيمن لا يألف ولا يؤلف”. (حم عن سهل بن سعد) .
A believer is friendly and loving. There is no goodness in the person who is neither friendly nor loved by others.
679. “المؤمن يألف ويؤلف ولا خير فيمن لا يألف ولا يؤلف وخير الناس أنفعهم للناس”. (قط في الأفراد والضياء عن جابر) .
A believer is friendly and loving, and others also love and befriend him. There is no goodness in the person who does not show love and friendship toward anyone and whom no one loves or befriends. The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people.
A Sense of Honor and Self-Respect
680. ” المؤمن يغار والله أشد غيرة”. (م عن أبي هريرة) .
A believer possesses a sense of honor and protective jealousy, and Allah Ta’ala has the greatest sense of protective jealousy.
A Believer Is Gentle and Well-Mannered
681. “المؤمن غر كريم، والفاجر خب لئيم”. (د ت ك عن أبي هريرة) .
A believer is simple, gentle, and noble, while the wicked person is deceitful and contemptible.
A Believer Is in Goodness in Every Situation
682. “المؤمن بخير على كل حال تنزع نفسه من بين جنبيه وهو يحمد الله”. (ن عن ابن عباس) .
A believer is in a state of goodness in every situation. Even when his soul is being taken from his body, he continues to praise Allah.
A Believer Feels the Pain of Other Believers
683. ” المؤمن من أهل الإيمان بمنزلة الرأس من الجسد يألم المؤمن لأهل الإيمان كما يألم الجسد لما في الرأس”. (حم عن سهل بن سعد) .
Among the people of faith, a believer is like the head in relation to the body. A believer feels pain because of the suffering of other believers just as the entire body feels pain when the head hurts.
In other words, true faith makes a person sensitive and compassionate toward the suffering and hardships of other believers.
Musnad Ahmad — Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa’d (رضي الله عنه)
The Sins of a Believer Are Forgiven
684. “المؤمن يكفر” (ك عن سعد) .
The sins of a believer are expiated.
Benefit
This is a special favor of Allah toward the believer: Allah may make the hardships and difficulties he experiences, or other means, an expiation for his sins.
A Believer Keeps His Burden Light
685. “المؤمن يسير المؤنة”. (حل هب عن أبي هريرة)
A believer keeps his burden light.
Benefit
One of the special qualities of a believer is that he does not become attached to unnecessary things and does not accumulate what he does not need.
The Believer Who Is Patient With the Harm of Others
686. “المؤمن الذي يخالط الناس ويصبر على أذاهم أفضل من المؤمن الذي لا يخالط الناس ولا يصبر على أذاهم”. (حم خد ق هـ عن ابن عمر) .
A believer who mixes with people and patiently bears the harm they cause is better than the believer who keeps away from people and does not patiently endure their harm.
Wishing Good for Others
687. “المؤمن أخو المؤمن لا يدع نصيحته على كل حال”. (ابن النجار عن جابر) .
A believer is the brother of another believer, and he never becomes tired of wishing him well and offering sincere advice.
Hardships in This World Are an Expiation for a Believer’s Sins
688. “المؤمن لا يثرب عليه بشيء أصابه في الدنيا وإنما يثرب على الكافر”. (طب عن ابن مسعود)
Whatever hardship befalls a believer in this world should not be a cause for regret, because it serves as an expiation for his sins. Regret is for the disbeliever.
A Believer Is Intelligent and Perceptive
689. “المؤمن كيس فطن” حذر. (القضاعي عن أنس) .
A believer is intelligent, perceptive, and cautious.
A Believer Is Simple and Gentle
690. “المؤمن هين لين حتى تخاله من اللين أحمق”. (هب عن أبي هريرة) .
A believer is easygoing and gentle, to the extent that because of his gentleness, you may even think him foolish.
Benefit
In other words, a believer is generally simple, humble, and gentle. Because of his soft and kind manner, some people may mistakenly consider him weak or foolish. In reality, such gentleness is a beauty of his character rooted in faith.
691. “المؤمن واه راقع فالسعيد من مات على رقعه”. (البزار عن جابر) .
A believer is humble and simple in nature. How fortunate is the person who leaves this world in such a condition.
A Believer Is Beneficial
692. “المؤمن منفعة إن ماشيته نفعك، وإن شاورته نفعك وإن شاركته نفعك وكل شيء من أمره منفعة”. (حل عن ابن عمر) .
A believer is beneficial in every way. If you accompany him, he benefits you. If you consult him, he benefits you. If you enter into a partnership with him, he benefits you. In short, there is benefit in everything he does.
A Believer Is Simple and Obedient Like a Camel
693. “المؤمنون هينون لينون كالجمل الأنف إن قيد انقاد وإن أنيخ على صخرة استناخ”. (ابن المبارك عن مكحول مرسلا) ، (هب عن ابن عمر) .
Believers are easygoing and gentle, like a camel with a nose-ring: when it is led, it follows, and when it is made to kneel upon a hard rock, it kneels.
Believers Are Like One Body
694. “المؤمنون كرجل واحد إن اشتكى رأسه تداعى له سائر الجسد بالحمى والسهر”. (م عن النعمان بن بشير) .
Believers are like one person. If his head hurts, the entire body responds with fever and sleeplessness.
695. “المؤمنون كرجل واحد إن اشتكى رأسه اشتكى كله وإن اشتكى عينه اشتكى كله”. (حم م عن النعمان بن بشير)
Believers are like one person. If his head hurts, the whole body suffers, and if his eye hurts, the whole body also feels the pain.
A Believer Does Not Deceitfully Kill Anyone
696. “الإيمان قيد الفتك لا يفتك مؤمن”. (تخ د ك عن أبي هريرة عن الزبير وعن معاوية) .
Faith prevents treacherous killing; therefore, a believer does not secretly kill anyone.
Benefit
Unjust killing is a grave sin, and killing someone treacherously or secretly is even more serious. A believer remains free from such wrongdoing.
A Believer Receives Provision From Unexpected Sources
697. “أبى الله أن يرزق عبده المؤمن إلا من حيث لا يحتسب”. (فر عن أبي هريرة) (هب عن علي) .
Allah has decreed that He will provide His believing servant with sustenance from sources he could never have imagined.
Allah Removes Hardship From the Believer
698. “أبى الله أن يجعل للبلاء سلطانا على بدن عبده المؤمن”. (فر عن أنس) .
Allah has decreed that hardship and suffering will not have lasting dominion over the body of His believing servant.
In other words, no hardship or suffering of a believer will remain permanent.
Being Happy With Good Deeds and Sad About Bad Deeds
699. “إذا سرتك حسنتك وساءتك سيئتك فأنت مؤمن”. (حم حب طب ك هب والضياء عن أبي أمامة) .
When your good deed makes you happy and your bad deed makes you sad, then you are a believer.
700. “من سرته حسنته وساءته سيئته فهو مؤمن” (طب عن أبي موسى) .
Whoever is pleased by his good deed and saddened by his bad deed is a believer.
Praise Can Sometimes Increase a Believer’s Faith
701. “إذا مدح المؤمن في وجهه ربا الإيمان في قلبه”. (طب ك عن أسامة بن زيد) .
When a believer is praised in front of him, faith grows in his heart.
Lesson
This means that when a believer’s good deeds are praised, rather than developing arrogance and self-admiration, it may increase his faith in Allah.
The Most Conscious and Concerned Person
702. “أعظم الناس هما المؤمن يهتم بأمر دنياه وأمر آخرته”. (هـ عن أنس) .
Among people, the most concerned is the believer who cares about both his worldly affairs and his Hereafter.
The One With the Best Character
703. “أفضل المؤمنين أحسنهم خلقا”. (هـ ك عن ابن عمر) .
The best of believers are those who have the best character.
The Believer With the Best Faith
704. “أفضل المؤمنين إيمانا الذي إذا سأل أعطي وإذا لم يعط استغنى”. (خط عن ابن عمرو) .
The best in faith among believers is the person who, when he asks Allah, is granted what he asks for, and when people do not give him what he seeks, he remains self-sufficient.
A Believer Buys and Sells With Gentleness
705. أفضلُ المُؤْمِنينَ رَجُلٌ سَمْحُ البَيْعِ سَمْحُ الشِّرَاءِ سَمْحُ القَضاءِ سَمْحُ الاقْتِضاءِ. (طس عن أبي سعيد)
The best of believers is the person who is gentle when buying, gentle when selling, gentle when settling matters, and gentle when seeking what is owed to him.
Satan Is Ridiculed by the Believer
706. إنّ المُؤْمِنَ يُنْضِي شَيْطانَهُ كَمَا يُنْضِي أحَدُكمْ بَعِيرَهُ فِي السّفَرِ (حم والحكيم وَابْن أبي الدُّنْيَا فِي مكايد الشَّيْطَان) عَن أبي هُرَيْرَة
A believer deals with Satan as a traveler deals with his camel.
Benefit
A true believer does not give importance to Satan’s whispers and deception. Through faith, remembrance of Allah, and reliance upon Him, he weakens and humiliates Satan.
Believers Feel Pain for One Another
707. “إن حقا على المؤمنين أن يتوجع بعضهم لبعض كما يألم الجسد للرأس”. (أبوالشيخ في التوبيخ عن محمد بن كعب مرسلا) .
It is indeed a duty upon believers to feel pain for one another, just as the entire body becomes ill because of pain in the head.
A Believer Is Firm in His Deeds
708. “تجد المؤمن مجتهدا فيما يطيق متلهفا على ما لا يطيق”. (حم في الزهد عن عبيد بن عمر مرسلا) .
You will find a believer striving his utmost in the good deeds he is capable of performing and regretting what he is unable to do.
Benefit
When a believer has the ability to perform a good deed, he makes every effort to complete it properly. If he lacks the opportunity or ability to perform a good deed, he feels sad because he has missed the chance to do something good.
Using a Walking Stick Is a Sunnah
709. “حمل العصا علامة المؤمن، وسنة الأنبياء”. (فر عن أنس) .
Carrying a walking stick is a sign of a believer and a Sunnah of the Prophets.
Benefit
Using a walking stick is a Sunnah, but it is not obligatory.
Everything in the Believer’s Life Is Good
710. “عجبا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله خير وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن إن أصابته سراء شكر وكان خير له إن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيرا له”. (حم م عن صهيب) .
How amazing is the affair of a believer! All of his affairs are good, and this is true only for the believer. If prosperity and happiness come to him, he gives thanks to Allah, and that is good for him. If hardship or calamity befalls him, he remains patient, and that is also good for him.
The Honor and Status of a Believer
711. “قال الله تعالى عبدي المؤمن أحب إلي من بعض ملائكتي”. (طس عن أبي هريرة) .
Allah Ta’ala said: My believing servant is more beloved to Me than some of My angels.
712. “المؤمن أكرم على الله من بعض ملائكته “. (هـ عن أبي هريرة) .
A believing servant is more honored in the sight of Allah than some of His angels.
713. “ليس شيء أكرم على الله تعالى من المؤمن”. (طس عن ابن عمر)
There is nothing more honored by Allah Ta’ala than a believer.
A Believer Likes Sweet Things
714. “قلب المؤمن حلو يحب الحلاوة”. (هب عن أبي أمامة) (خط عن أبي موسى) .
The heart of a believer is sweet and loves sweetness.
Four Enemies of a Believer
715. “للمؤمن أربعة أعداء مؤمن يحسده ومنافق يبغضه وشيطان يضله وكافر يقاتله”. (فر عن أبي هريرة) .
A believer has four enemies: a believer who envies him, a hypocrite who hates him, Satan who seeks to misguide him, and a disbeliever who fights him.
A Believer Will Always Face Someone Who Causes Him Harm
716. يؤذيه”. (فر عن علي) .
Until the Day of Judgment, there will be no believer except that he will have a neighbor who causes him harm.
717. “لو كان المؤمن في جحر ضب لقيض الله له ما فيه من يؤذيه”. (طس هب عن أنس) .
Even if a believer were inside the hole of a lizard, Allah would cause someone to be there who would cause him harm.
718. “لو كان المؤمن على قصبة في البحر لقيض الله له من يؤذيه”. (ش عن … ) .
Even if a believer were sitting on a piece of wood in the sea, Allah would create someone who would cause him harm.
719. “لم يكن مؤمن ولا يكون إلى يوم القيامة إلا وله جار يؤذيه”. (أبوسعيد النقاش في معجمه وابن النجار عن علي) .
There has never been, nor will there be until the Day of Judgment, a believer without a neighbor who causes him harm.
Qualities That Cannot Be Found in a Believer
720. “ليس المؤمن بالطعان ولا اللعان ولا الفاحش البذيء”. (حم خد حب ك عن ابن مسعود) .
A believer is not one who insults, curses, uses obscene language, or speaks indecently.
A Believer Never Becomes Tired of Hearing Words of Goodness
721. “لن يشبع المؤمن من خير يسمعه حتى يكون منتهاه الجنة”. (ت حب عن أبي سعيد) .
A believer never becomes satisfied with hearing words of goodness until his final destination is Paradise.
Nothing Is Better Than a Believer
722. “لا نعلم شيئا خيرا من ألف مثله إلا الرجل المؤمن”.(طس عن ابن عمر) .
We do not know of anything better than a thousand of its kind except a believing man.
A Believer Does Not Make the Same Mistake Twice
723. “لا يلدغ المؤمن من جحر مرتين”. (حم ق د هـ عن أبي هريرة) (حم هـ عن ابن عمر) .
A believer is not stung from the same hole twice.
Lesson
This means that if a believer makes a mistake once, he learns from it and remains cautious so that he does not repeat the same mistake.
A Believer Is Compassionate Toward Others
724. “أفضل الناس مؤمن بين كريمين”. (طب عن كعب بن مالك)
The best of people is a believer who is compassionate toward others.
725. “إن روحي المؤمنين تلتقي على مسيرة يوم وليلة وما رأى واحد منهما وجه صاحبه”. (خد طب عن ابن عمر) .
The souls of two believers meet even when they have not seen each other’s faces, despite being a day’s and night’s journey apart.
Examples of a Believer
726. “مثل المؤمن كمثل العطار إن جالسته نفعك وإن ماشوإن شاركته ن ابن عمر) .
The example of a believer is like that of a perfume seller: if you sit with him, he benefits you; if you walk with him, he benefits you; and if you enter into a partnership with him, he benefits you.
727. “مثل المؤمن مثل النخلة ما أخذت منها من شيء نفعك”. (طب عن ابن عمر) .
The example of a believer is like a date palm: whatever you take from it benefits you.
728. “مثل المؤمن إذا لقي المؤمن فسلم عليه البنيان يشد بعضه بعضا”. (خط عن أبي موسى) .
When one believer meets another believer and greets him, they are like a wall whose different parts strengthen one another.
729. ” المؤمن كمثل النحلة لا تأكل إلا طيبا ولا تضع إلا طيبا”. (طب حب عن أبي رزين) .
A believer is like a honeybee: it eats only what is good and produces only what is good.
730. “مثل المؤمن مثل السنبله تميل أحيانا وتقوم أحيانا”. (ع عن أنس) .
The example of a believer is like a grain stalk: sometimes it bends and sometimes it stands upright again.
The Example of a Believer and a Hypocrite
731. “مثل المؤمن مثل الخامة تحمر مرة وتصفر أخرى، والكافر كالأرزة” (حم عن أبي) .
The example of a believer is like a young plant: at times it becomes red and at other times yellow. The example of a disbeliever is like a pine tree, which remains in one condition.
732. “مثل المؤمن مثل السنبلة تستقيم مرة وتحمر مرة ومثل الكافر مثل الأرزه لا تزال مستقيمة حتى تخر ولا تشعر”. (حم عن جابر) .
The example of a believer is like a grain stalk: sometimes it stands upright and sometimes it becomes red. The example of a disbeliever is like a pine tree, which remains upright and rigid until it is suddenly uprooted without realizing it.
733. “مثل المؤمن كمثل خامة الزرع من حيث أتتها الريح كفأتها فإذا سكنت اعتدلت وكذلك المؤمن يكفأ بالبلاء ومثل الفاجر كالأرزة صماء معتدلة حتى يقصمها الله إذا شاء”. (ق عن أبي هريرة) .
The example of a believer is like a young crop: when the wind comes, it bends, and when the wind becomes still, it straightens again. Likewise, a believer is bent by trials and calamities, but rises again. The example of a wicked person is like a pine tree, which remains rigid and upright until Allah breaks it whenever He wills.
Benefit
A believer remains patient during trials, relies upon Allah, and then stands firmly again. An arrogant person, however, may suddenly face destruction.
The Example of a Believer Who Recites the Qur’an
734. “مثل المؤمن الذي يقرأ اللمؤمن الذي لا يقرأ القرآن كمثل التمر لا ريح لها وطعمها حلوو مثل المنافق الذي يقرأ القرآن كمثل الريحانة ريحها طيب وطعمها مر، ومثل المنافق الذي لا يقرأ القرآن كمثل الحنظلة ليس لها ريح وطعمها مر”. (حم ق 4 عن أبي موسى) .
The example of a believer who recites the Qur’an is like a citrus fruit: its fragrance is pleasant and its taste is excellent. The believer who does not recite the Qur’an is like a date: it has no fragrance, but its taste is sweet. The hypocrite who recites the Qur’an is like a fragrant flower: it has a pleasant fragrance, but its taste is bitter. And the hypocrite who does not recite the Qur’an is like the colocynth fruit, which has neither a pleasant smell nor a pleasant taste.
The Believer Is Like a Honeybee
735. “مثل المؤمن كمثل النحلة، إن أكلت أكلت طيبا وإن وضعت وضعت طيبا وإن وقعت على عود نخر لم تكسره، ومثل المؤمن مثل سبيكة الذهب إن نفخت عليها احمرت وإن وزنت لم تنقص”. (هب عن ابن عمرو) .
The example of a believer is like that of a honeybee: it eats what is good and produces what is good. Even if it lands on a rotten piece of wood, it does not break it. The believer is also like a piece of pure gold: if you blow upon it, it becomes red-hot, but when it is weighed, its weight does not decrease.
736. “مثل المؤمن كالبيت الخرب في الظاهر فإذا دخلته وجدته مؤنقا ومثل الفاجر كمثل القبر المشرف المجصص يعجب من رآه وجوفه ممتلئ نتنا”. (هب عن أبي هريرة) .
The example of a believer is like an apparently abandoned house; but when you enter it, you find it well-kept and beautiful. The example of a wicked person is like a high, plastered grave: it looks attractive to those who see it, but its inside is filled with foulness.
Conclusion
The qualities of a believer are not merely something to learn about; they are qualities that must be put into practice in our daily lives. Therefore, let us strive, in light of the teachings of Hadith, to beautify our faith, deeds, and character. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to become true believers—Ameen.
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