عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ مَكَارِمَ الْأَخْلَاقِ».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was only sent to perfect noble morals."
Narrated by Al-Bukhāri in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, and by Ahmad and Al-BayhaqiGradeHasan
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah Almighty only sent him to perfect virtuous and noble morals. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to complete the work of the previous messengers and to perfect the Arabs' commendable traits. They used to like goodness and hate evil, embodying virtues such as chivalry, generosity, and magnanimity. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to address and perfect the deficiencies in their morals, such as their pride in lineage, arrogance, disdain of the poor, and others.
Benefits
- Encouraging noble morals and prohibiting their opposites.
- Highlighting the importance of good morals in the Shariah of Islam and the fact that they are among its priorities.
- The people of Jāhiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance) possessed remnants of good morals, such as generosity, courage, and other virtues, and Islam came to complete them.
Reference
الأدب المفرد (ص104) (273). مسند أحمد (14/ 512) (8952). السنن الكبرى للبيهقي (10/ 191) (20819). عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (22/ 118).