The Impact of Good Morals on Life
The Primary Purpose of the Prophetic Mission

In a noble hadith from the Prophet of God (peace be upon him and his family), it is stated:
"Indeed, I was sent only to perfect noble moral traits."
This clearly indicates that one of the main reasons for the Prophet’s mission was to complete and perfect moral virtues.

Prophets before the final Messenger (peace be upon him and his family) also emphasized virtuous character and ethical conduct. Every prophet was morally upright and exemplary in character. However, none reached the supreme standard of noble conduct exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). He placed special emphasis on ethics in his life to the extent that he explicitly declared it as the defining goal of his mission.

This hadith highlights two important points:

1. Moral development was incomplete before the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and it reached its completion through him. The use of the word "perfect" signifies the transformation from imperfection to completeness.
2. The term "Innama" (Indeed only) indicates exclusivity—suggesting that the Prophet's primary mission was to perfect moral character. However, as scholars of Arabic have explained, this exclusivity is relative, not absolute. That is, while ethics was a central goal, it was not the only reason for his prophethood.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) was also sent to correct people’s beliefs, convey God's laws, guide humanity in proper living, meet both spiritual and material needs, and reform various aspects of life—social, economic, political, and familial. Among all these, however, moral perfection holds a uniquely high status.

The Broad Influence of Ethics

Understanding what constitutes good ethics and its impact on both material and spiritual aspects of life is vital. Humans cannot succeed in worldly matters—such as business, relationships, and comfort—without good morals. A person with a harsh temperament will struggle to lead a happy life. Good character is especially crucial in social interactions, which are the foundation of most economic and personal endeavors.

For example, a merchant with a pleasant personality tends to be more successful. Likewise, a teacher or mentor with a kind and cheerful demeanor will be more effective and well-liked than one who is stern and unfriendly. Human nature gravitates toward kindness and smiles, not hostility and frowns.

Good character is a major contributor to success in life. Reflecting on people around us, it's evident that kind, good-natured individuals often achieve greater success and competence compared to those who are ill-tempered. This is not just a theoretical claim—it is a tangible truth, an undeniable reality that transcends philosophical debate.

The Kind Shopkeeper vs. the Harsh One

I used to pass through a market where two shopkeepers, only a few meters apart, sold similar goods. One regularly stocked his store with large quantities—sometimes six to seven times more than his competitor.

Despite this, his shop was always crowded with customers. Often, people had to queue to be served. Most of his goods would sell out by noon, and latecomers would sometimes leave empty-handed.

The other shopkeeper, however, brought in fewer goods and had very few customers. It was rare to see anyone standing in his shop, and his inventory would sell very slowly. Sometimes, even late into the night, he would be waiting in his store for customers.

The difference? It was all in their character.

The successful shopkeeper was warm, cheerful, and welcoming. He listened to his customers and tried to accommodate their requests. He wouldn’t let anyone leave disappointed. He even allowed people to buy on credit when necessary—within reasonable limits. While some might not repay their debts, they were a small minority, and the overall gain far outweighed the occasional loss.

Thanks to his kind manners and customer-friendly approach, he built a loyal customer base. His competitor, on the other hand, was grumpy and unapproachable. He never extended credit and was rigid in his dealings. Though both wanted to sell goods and earn a living, the kind one enjoyed higher income and a more comfortable life, while the ill-tempered one faced ongoing struggles.

Bad character not only harms one’s livelihood but also affects mental well-being, increasing stress and weakening emotional resilience.

Sweetness and Sourness

There are many anecdotes that illustrate the power of good character. I’ve personally witnessed many in my life. One particularly insightful story, also recorded in books, involves two brothers-in-law—men married to sisters.

Both worked in the date business: one sold sweet date syrup, and the other made and sold sour date vinegar. At the time, both products were essential household items.

Ironically, the man who sold the sweet syrup was always struggling financially, while the one who sold the sour vinegar lived comfortably and had a steady income.

One day, the wife of the syrup seller said to her sister:
"My husband sells sweetness, yet our life is bitter and difficult. But your husband sells sourness, and your life is so sweet and comfortable. Why is that?"

Her sister replied:
"That’s because although my husband sells something sour, his ethics are sweet. But your husband, despite selling something sweet, has a sour attitude and treats customers harshly."

The One with Better Morals is Closer to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family)

A good-natured person is more successful in this world than someone with a bad temperament. People with bad manners are usually always lagging in life. I myself witnessed a case where there were two highly esteemed scholars living in the same city. I had the honor of visiting both of them on multiple occasions. One of these two scholars was more distinguished in terms of academic rank, teachers, and scholarly background. However, the other one possessed far better character. Not that the first was ill-mannered, but he wasn’t particularly strong or successful in terms of moral character.

The good-natured scholar, because of his good character, had more students and people were more inclined to sit with him and seek his guidance. Both of these scholars were serving the religion, and perhaps their intentions were equally pure and sincere. Yet, despite all this, people benefited more from the one with better manners. It is possible that one month of life for this good-natured scholar equaled the entire life of the other scholar in terms of impact. This is why the noble Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) said:

"Indeed, the most beloved of you to me and the closest to me in seating on the Day of Judgment are those of you with the best character."

Among two brothers, the one with better character is closer to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family), even if the other prays more and performs more acts of worship. Prayer and worship are good, but they do not compare to good character. This truth applies to everyone: between husband and wife, between two sisters, even between student and teacher—on the Day of Judgment, the one with better character will be closer to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and will hold a higher rank.

Attaining good character depends on determination and willpower. It is enough to make the decision. The decision—which God refers to in the Qur’an as ‘resolve’ (ʿazm)—is the prelude to success. We hope that God—Blessed and Exalted—grants all of us the success to become better in character.

And may God’s blessings be upon our Master and Prophet Muhammad and his pure family.