CHASTITY (IFFAT) BEGETS TWELVE CHARACTERS

1. Shame (Haya): the feeling of shame when one commits evil deeds.

2. Meekness (Rifq): the literal meaning of this word is pitying and helping others but its special meaning in the knowledge of ethics is obedience to the rules of Islam.

3. Right guidance (Hidayat): striving to be a good-natured Muslim.

4. Being peacefull (Musalamat): when situation becomes heated during a debate and disagreement breaks out, a Muslim with this character wants to be agreeable and does not want to argue or be harsh.

5. Tranquility: having control over soul (Nafs): controlling the desires of the soul when appetite overcomes him.

6. Fortitute (Sabr): one avoids prohibited actions (Harams) and base desires of the soul (Nafs). Thus, one avoids actions which would result in disgrace. There are two types of patience. The first is having patience against committing sin. Devil, evil friends, and one's own soul encourage a human being to commit sin. Not listening them and being patient is very rewarding. The patience which was meant in this context is of this kind. The second kind of patience is to remain calm and not cry out when a disaster strikes. Most people understand this type of patience when patience is mentioned. This type of patience is also rewarding. It is obligatory (Fard) to exercise both types of patience.

7. Contentment (Qana'at): to be content with the minimum with respect to the necessities of life (Nafaka) such as eating, drinking, dress and shelter and not asking for more. We do not mean not accepting a given property. That is called (Taktir) and it is a vice. Neither wisdom nor Islam likes it. Contentment is a good character or habit.

[The things that are necessary for survival, i.e., to avoid death or to protect one's organs from being perished are called "Dharurat". Alternately, the things that are in excess of survival but still necessary for sustenance and protecting the body from distress are called "Ihtiyaj". The things that are beyond the "Ihtiyaj," i.e., things used for enjoyment or pleasure or for the protection of one's honor and value are called ornament (Zinat). Using ornaments for ostentation, being a show-off or to be superior to others is called boasting (Tafahur). It is obligatory to work for obtaining the necessary amounts to meet the "Dharurat," and "Nafaka." It is sunnat to work for obtaining the things that are in excess of "Nafaka" but still necessary, e.g., obtaining money to pay for the medicine or doctor fees. It is permissible (Jaiz) to obtain ornaments (Zinat). Boasting is grave sin.]

8. Gravity (Waqar): it is to act with dignity, calmness and not to act with rashness while trying to obtain necessities (Ihtiyaj) and other valuables. It means acting with dignity. It does not mean acting so slowly as to miss opportunities or acting in such a way so that others will take away one's benefits or opportunities.

9. Piety (Wara): it is to abstain from committing prohibited actions as well as abstaining from the things that are doubtful, i.e. things that could be haram. It is also doing good deeds and other actions which are helpful to others. It is acting with firmness so that one will not do defective, incomplete and faulty actions.

10. Order (Intizam): it is to perform one's actions according to an order or discipline or method.

11. Freedom (Hurriyyat): it is to earn money by permissible means and to spend for good causes. It is to observe everyone's rights. Freedom does not mean to do whatever one wish or wants.

12. Munificence (Sakha): it is to drive pleasure while spending money for good causes. It is to spend lovingly for the causes that are ordered by Islam. Munificence means to be generous. It is one of the best one's of the virtues. It was praised by the verses of Qur'an and by sayings of our Prophet. Munificence gives birth to many virtues. Eight of them are very famous.

1. Generosity (Karam): it is the enjoyment of doing things that are helpful to others and giving money to others.

2. Giving lavishly (Isar): giving things one need for himself to others who also needs those things and then to be patient. It is one of the most valued of the virtues. It was praised by verses in the Qur'an.

3. Forgiveness (Afw): not getting even while one has the means to get even with one's enemies or with a guilty party. It is to treat those with goodness who do evil things to him. This is better than forgiveness.

Couplet:

Against the evil things, it is easy to retaliate.

For those who do mean things, doing goodness to them is the manliness!

4. Generosity (Muruwwat): it is to love helping others, giving things to those who are in need.

5. Loyalty (Wafa): helping one's friends and acquaintances in their effort to obtain their livelihood.

6. Charity (Muwasat): sharing one's possessions with friends and acquaintances. Getting along well with them.

7. Extreme generosity (Samahat): it is to give lovingly things that are not necessary (wajib) to give.

8. Forgiveness (Musamahat): foregoing things, that are not necessary to forego, willingly in order to be helpful to others. Another meaning of "Musamahat" is not seeing others' faults.