The word Akhlaq is the plural for the word Khulq which means disposition. "Disposition" is that faculty (Malakah) of the soul (Nafs) which is the source of all those activities that man performs spontaneously without thinking about them. Malakah is a property of the soul which comes into existence through exercise and repetitive practice and is not easily destroyed. A particular disposition (Malakah) may appear in human beings because of one of the following reasons:

Note: The dictionary meaning of disposition is one's usual mood or temperament. Disposition could be a tendency or a habitual inclination like: "a disposition or argue."

1. Natural and physical make-up (Fitrah): It is observed that some people are patient while others are touchy and nervous. Some are easily disturbed and saddened while others show greater resistance and resilience.

2. Habit: This is formed because of continual repetition of certain acts and leads to the emergence of a certain disposition.

3. Practice and conscious effort: Which if persistent will eventually produce a disposition.

Even though the physical make-up of an individual produces certain dispositions in him, it is by no means true that man has no choice in the matter and is absolutely compelled to abide by the dictates of his physical make-up. On the contrary, since man has the power to choose, he can overcome the dictates of his physical nature through practice and effort, and can acquire the disposition of his choice.

Of course, it should be admitted that those dispositions which are caused by the mental faculties such as intelligence, memory, mental agility and the like, are not alterable. All other dispositions, however, may be changed according to man's will. Man can control his lust, anger and other emotions and desires, and channel them to edify himself and propel himself along the path of perfection and wisdom.

It is of great importance to be mindful that Akhlaq forms an important component of our religion Islam and our Imaan (faith).

Allah (SWT) speaks about the importance of good character in the Noble Qur'an where HE says:

1. And say to My servants (that) they speak that which is best. (17:53)

2. Worship Allah, and do not associate partners with him. And be good to your parents, and the relatives, and to the orphans, and to the poor people, and the neighbor that is close to you and the neighbor that is not close to you, and your companion on the journey. (4:36)

3. Allah (SWT) speaks about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as, "And most certainly you are on sublime morality (exalted standard of character)." (68:4)

Many Ahadith can be quoted concerning good character. The following are some of what the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

01. I have been sent is to perfect good manners.

02. There is not anything that will be placed on the scale weightier than good Akhlaq, and, certainly, the one who has good Akhlaq reaches by it the rank of one who continuously observes Saum (Fasts) and performs abundant (Nafl) Salah.

03. The dearest of you to me is he who is the best of you in Akhlaq.

04. Fear Allah (SWT) wherever you are, follow up an evil deed with a good deed, and meet with the people, interact with the people, with good Akhlaq.

05. The most complete of believers in Imaan (faith) are those who are best in character.

06. The most (important) things that cause people to reach Heaven are divine piety and a good temper.

07. Verily, a servant can gain the rank of him who both fasts during the day and keeps vigil at night, keeping up prayers, through his good disposition.

08. Imam Ali (as) said to his son, Imam Hassan (as): O' my son! No wealth is more valuable than intelligence and no poverty is similar to ignorance; no terror is worse than arrogance, and no life is more pleasant than being good tempered.

09. Imam Ali (as) says, Good behavior lies in three traits: Avoiding unlawful things, acquiring the lawful ones, and being fair to one's family members.

10. Imam Hassan (as) says: The most preferable adornment is graceful manners.

11. Imam Hassan (as) says: Verily, the best of bests is a good temper.

12. Imam Ali ibn Husayn (as) said: Fair speech increases wealth, stretches sustenance, postpones death, creates love among family members, and causes the person to enter Heaven.

13. Imam Sadiq (as) said: There are three things that each of which is brought by a person to Allah (SWT), Allah (SWT) will necessitate Heaven for the one: donation in poverty, a good temper with all people, and justice to one's self.

Do you know, what is religion?

Once a man came to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and said: O messenger of Allah, what is religion?

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied: Good Conduct.

Then he came to his front and asked: O Messenger of Allah, what is religion?

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied: Good Conduct.

Then he came to his left side and asked: what is religion?

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied: Good Conduct.

Then he came to his back side and asked the same question: what is religion?

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied: Good Conduct.

Then Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said looking at him: Not to be angry is Good Conduct.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked: What is misfortune?

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied: Bad Conduct.

Sadly we often hear Muslims saying that, "We Muslims have the worst character."

With the beautiful example of our dear Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in front of us, we should be showing and teaching people what good character is.

If we live and act with good character we will benefit in numerous ways and our lives will also serve to be an invitation to the deen (religion) of Islam.

May Allah (SWT) make it possible for us to practice upon the beautiful teachings in the Noble Qur'an the perfect example of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Ameen

The foundation of religion, Islam is on knowledge (Ilm) and Noble Character (Akhlaq). When we study the life and times of our beloved Ahlul Bayt (as), we notice that the main weapon they used in carrying out their mission of spreading the message of Allah (SWT), was knowledge on one hand and Noble Character on the other.

Our 6th Imam, Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) narrates that, "Anyone who is devoid of knowledge (Ilm) and Noble Character (Akhlaq) is like an orphan who has lost both his parents."

Our Fuqaha (scholars) are apt examples of the height of character one can attain. It has been narrated about the spiritual station of our great Marja, Ayatullah Muhammad Husein Burujerdi (d.1961), that he had made a vow (Nadhr) that if he ever uttered inappropriate words when angry, he would fast for a whole year (to train his soul). Indeed, he had a very lofty station because of his excellent character. He himself has said, "Before I came to Qom, I used to hear the voices of angels." He was a Marja whose credentials as a supreme authority had been endorsed by Amir al-Mu'mineen, Imam Ali (as) himself.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: I seek refuge in Allah (SWT) from knowledge that brings no wisdom, from a heart that lacks kindness, from desires that bring discontent, and from supplications that go unanswered.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "Teachers and students both share in rewards but other people are deprived of them."

Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "He who searches for knowledge is similar to a person who fasts during the day and keeps vigil at night and is busy worshipping. If a person acquires a branch of knowledge, it is better for him than possessing as much gold as the height of Abu Qubais Mount which he would distribute in the way of Allah (SWT)."

Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "The virtue of knowledge is more beloved with Allah (SWT) than the virtue of worship."

Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "The Noble Qur'an is Allah's (SWT) university; so, learn as much as you can in this university."

Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "Fie upon that Muslim who does not allocate (at least) one day a week to the study of the details of his religion and to explore (the affairs) of his religion."

Imam Hassan (as) said: "Teach your knowledge to others and (try to) learn yourself the knowledge of others."

Imam Baqir (as) said: "Try to learn knowledge because learning it is a good action and study is itself a worship."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "Be careful of your knowledge and see from whom you get it."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "Try to obtain knowledge and ornament it with patience and dignity; and be humble for the one who learns knowledge from you."

Knowledge and Wealth:

It is related that once ten learned men approached Imam Ali (pbuh), and wanted to know how knowledge was better than wealth. They requested that each one of them be given a separate answer. Imam Ali (pbuh) answered them as follows:

01. Knowledge is the legacy of the Prophets; wealth is the inheritance of the Pharaohs. As the Prophets are superior to the Pharaohs, so knowledge is better than wealth.

02. You have to guard your wealth, but knowledge guards you. Therefore, knowledge is better than wealth.

03. When knowledge is distributed it increases. When wealth is distributed it decreases. As such knowledge is better than wealth.

04. A man of wealth has many enemies, while a man of knowledge has many friends. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.

05. A learned man because of his wider outlook is apt to be generous while a rich man because of his love for money is apt to be miserly. As such knowledge is better than wealth.

06. Knowledge cannot be stolen, while wealth is constantly exposed to the danger of being stolen. Accordingly knowledge is better than wealth.

07. With the lapse of time, knowledge gains in depth and dimensions. Hoarded coins get rusty, or cease to be legal tender. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.

08. You can keep account of wealth because it is limited, but you cannot keep account of knowledge because it is boundless. That is why knowledge is better than wealth.

09. Knowledge illuminates the mind, while wealth is apt to blacken it. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.

10. Knowledge is better than wealth, because knowledge induced the humanity in the Holy Prophet to say to God "We worship Thee as we are Thine servants", while wealth engendered in Pharaoh and Nimrod the vanity which made them claim Godhead.

Not only that discipline is a secret of the success of great men, our universe also stands on the same foundation. If the solar system is working regularly, if the stars are revolving around the sun systematically and if there is no flaw function for millenniums it is only due to the fact that the solar system is based on order.

Order is found in everything around us from the largest bodies of the universe to the minutest thing called "atom". Everything in this world is made up of tiny atoms. A wonderful discipline is in action and it is seen in each and every movement of the universe. There are tiny atoms in every system.

Every atom has its own center, which is called 'proton'. Many 'electrons' move round the center like stars and moons. In the words of a great Muslim scholar: "If you tear up the heart of every atom you will find its sun in its center."

The universe is the best guide for all of us. We should learn about life and the causes and reasons of its stability and success from it. This universe tells that: "The secret of my survival is the regularity and orderliness which my Creator has ingrained in me."

If the educational system of any country becomes chaotic, if the trade and economy of any nation is disturbed, if the balance of supply and demand is upset, if the law and order of any country turns corrupt, if the army gets out of control the end of that nation becomes certain.

When Imam Ali (as), Commander of the Faithful, was fatally injured by the sword of Ibne Muljim, the first bequest uttered by him to his sons, after advising them to refrain from Allah's (SWT) disobedience, was regarding this orderliness in every affair: "I advise you to refrain from disobeying Allah (SWT) and to abide by law and order and regularity in life."

One of the ways of orderliness is to divide our daily time according to our needs. Doing every necessary work in its proper time is life. We should further this foundation of life. We must refrain from disorderliness and indiscipline because irregularity ends propriety and destroys our talent and competence.

The leader of the God-fearing people, Imam Ali (as) says, "A Muslim must divide his time into three parts. One part should be reserved for Allah's (SWT) worship, one for earning livelihood and the third for attending to the demands of the body which cannot be ignored."

If there was no orderliness or discipline in our past can we benefit from such orderliness in the remaining years of our life?

"Certainly, we can ..." because the three stages of our life, childhood, youth and old age are like three compartments of a ship which can be separated from one another by pressing a button. If a compartment is damaged it can be separated from the rest.

Only he is successful who can, using his wisdom, separate different compartments of his life and deal whit them separately.

It is pitiable that man, instead of gaining from the present opportunities, should remain sorrowful for his past, thus wasting the time available to him and become careless about brining order in the forthcoming time.

A competent minister was carrying out his administrative duties with the help of his assistants.

When asked as to how he was arranging his affairs he replied, "I never postpone today's work for tomorrow. In my view it is not correct to delay anything."

We see signs in offices and workshops saying: Time is Gold. It surprises me because the value of time becomes more than gold if everything is done in time.