Su al-Khuluq
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Dār Ibn Khuzaymah
Su al-Khuluq: Mazahiruhu – Asbabuhu – ‘Ilajuh (Bad Character: Its Manifestations, Causes, and Remedy) is an Islamic ethical treatise by the Saudi scholar Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Hamad addressing the nature, causes, manifestations, and treatment of ill conduct and bad character .
Background and Purpose
The author composed the work in large format across 183 pages as part of a series addressing behavioral errors and interpersonal dealings (Silsilat Akhta' fi al-Suluk wa-al-Ta'amul) . Al-Hamad notes in his introduction that although people naturally admire noble traits and dislike ill conduct, many Muslims neglect moral cultivation. He observes that widespread bad conduct among Muslims creates a stark discrepancy between Islamic teachings and actual practice, which deters others from the faith. He intended the book as an analytical diagnosis of bad character to identify its causes and provide appropriate practical remedies .
Structure and Content
The treatise is organized into two primary parts (abwab):
- Part One: Bad Character, Its Manifestations, and Its Causes (Su al-Khuluq: Mazahiruhu wa-Asbabuh), divided into three chapters. The first chapter defines bad character linguistically and conceptually and details textual condemnation of ill morals . The second chapter examines the observable manifestations of bad character, such as harshness, foul speech, and constant frowning and scowling . The third chapter investigates its root causes, which include innate predispositions, deficient domestic upbringing, corrupt social environments, despair in personal reform, low aspiration, and the lack of mutual counsel .
- Part Two: The Remedy for Bad Character (‘Ilaj Su al-Khuluq), opening with a preliminary inquiry on whether moral character can be altered. Al-Hamad affirms that character can be developed and reformed through self-discipline, practice, and personal struggle, rejecting the notion that character traits are entirely fixed instincts . The part comprises three subsequent chapters covering the definition and virtues of good character, the practical means of acquiring commendable morals, and related ethical issues, including the distinction between social tact (mudarah) and compromise of religious principles (mudahanah), alongside selected excerpts from prophetic morals .
Related Works and Reception
To facilitate broader distribution and accessibility, al-Hamad excerpted the chapter on methods for developing good manners and published it as an independent booklet titled al-Asbab al-Mufidah fi Iktisab al-Akhlaq al-Hamidah (Beneficial Means for Acquiring Praiseworthy Morals), omitting most of the detailed citations and footnotes present in the original work . The book has been cited and recommended by contemporary Muslim educators and preachers as a significant modern guide on Islamic morals and conduct .
Answer updated