Points From The Friday Khutbah by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah (hafidhahullaah):

1. The Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was the best of the people in character. Allah stated to him:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And indeed you are upon exalted character.” (Soorah Al-Qalam: 4)

2. He (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was sent to perfect the character of the people. He said, “Indeed I have only been sent to perfect the moral character” [1].
3. Those who have good character are from the best of the people. The Prophet (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed the best of you are those who are the best in character” [2].
4. Those who have bad character are the worst of the people. The Prophet (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said about the man who sought permission to enter, and before he entered the Prophet (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said about him, “What an evil member or brother of his tribe he is.” When he entered the Prophet was kind to him and gentle. After the man left the Prophet (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was questioned about his actions with the man and he responded, “Indeed the worst of the people is the one who the people keep away from out of fear of his bad behavior.”
5. The most heavy of the things on the scales is having good character. The Prophet said, “Indeed the most heavy of things on the scales is good character” [3].

From the blessed, comprehensive and concise speech [4] of the Prophet (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam):

Four narrations that whoever adheres to them and actualizes them, has gathered the foundations of good character and manners:

The First:
Allah’s Messenger (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, (then) he says something good or remains silent.”

The Second:
Allah’s Messenger (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed from the perfection of one’s Islam is to leave off that which does not concern him.”

The Third:
A man said to the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “Advise me.” He (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Don’t be angry.” The man asked (for advice) repeatedly and he (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said (repeatedly), “Don’t be angry.”

The Fourth:
Allah’s Messenger (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “None of you have (truly) believed until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”

So in the first: Restraining one’s tongue.
In the second: Avoiding nosiness.
In the third: Restraining oneself.
In the fourth: Having integrity of the heart.

Source: Friday Khutbah by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah, 10-16-2015

[1] Musnad Ahmad, 8595
[2] at-Tabaraani, saheeh.
[3] Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi
[4] In arabic: Jawaami’ al-Kalim at-Tayyib, which is a reference to the characteristic granted to the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that allowed him to articulate vast meanings in short phrases.

Translated by Masjid Nur Allah Staff
3rd of Muharram, 1437 (10-17-2015)
Masjid Nur Allah, Queens, NYC

Original Arabic

من جوامع الكلم الطيب

:أربعة أحاديث من حفظها وحققها جمع أصول الأخلاق والآداب

الأول: قال رسول ﷺ: «من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر؛ فليقل خيرًا أو ليصمت»
والثاني: قال رسول ﷺ: «إن من حسن إسلام المرء تركه ما لا يعنيه»
والثالث: أن رجلًا قال للنبي ﷺ أوصني قال: «لا تغضب»، فردد مرارًا قال: «لا تغضب»
والرابع: قال رسول ﷺ: «لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسه»

ففي الأول: ضبط اللسان
وفي الثاني: ترك الفضول
وفي الثالث: ضبط النفس
وفي الرابع: سلامة القلب