Islam came to fix the bad attitude of a human being in the past. So it’s only right that all Muslims should possess a good attitude and manner. But it’s too naive to wish so because the reality doesn’t say the same. Many Muslims are showing negative attitudes here and there, creating a misconception about Islam as a religion. Allah says:
وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ وَأَحْسِنُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And spend in (the) way (of) Allah and (do) not throw (ourselves) [with your hands] into [the] destruction. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195)
Causing harm to others, by any form, is surely not a good attitude in Islam. Instead of causing harm, we should do kindness to them and become useful human beings. Allah SWT will never accept someone who loves to harm others as His servants. We may lose His great blessing because of it. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
“O you who believe[d]! Be custodians of justice (as) witnesses to Allah, even if (it is) against yourselves or the parents and the relatives. if he is rich or poor, for Allah (is) nearer to both of them. So (do) not follow the desire lest you deviate. And if you distort or refrain, then indeed, Allah is of what you do All-Aware.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:135)
We are fully aware that every single thing on Earth belongs to Allah SWT. But many people seemed to forget about this and act with arrogance. A good Muslim should refrain from being arrogant and always live in modesty. Arrogance is not a characteristic of a good Muslim and will do no good to them. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, Allah commands justice and the good, and giving (to) relatives, and forbids [from] the immorality and the bad and the oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:90)
Justice is equal to good, which means we must do good to others including weaker people just how we kindly treated our family and relatives. Whoever mistreat weaker people should not call themselves Muslims. On the first point, a Muslim should do good to everyone, so that good will come to us. Weaker people (the needy, elderly, and young children) should be treated with kindness and good. Allah says:
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
“And they feed them food despite love (for) it, (to the) needy, and (the) orphan and (the) captive.” (Surah Al-Insan 76:8)
Doing deeds with selfishness means doesn’t have a good intention upon doing deeds. As explained by the Quranic verse above, a Muslim is doing the deed with selfishness when they hope for reward and thanks from others. The most important thing while doing deeds is gaining blessing from Allah SWT and nothing else.
A negative attitude in Islam, here are some of them:
- Taking the Rights of Others
- Mistreating Weaker People
- Causing Harm to Others
- Disobeying Parents
- Being Arrogant
- Get Angry Easily
- Far from Allah SWT
- Excessive Behavior
- Untruthful with His Words
- Selfishness in Doing Deeds
- Inpatient and Always in a Rush
- Holding Grudges and Unforgiving
A negative attitude in Islam when a Muslim estranged himself from Allah SWT. Not obeying His command, committing sins without repentance and never seek for His blessing. Allah SWT forgives His servants even when their sins are too big and too many. While Allah SWT forgives, His servants should do the same. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
“O you who believe! Consciously revere Allah and be with those who are truthful.” (Surah At-Taubah 9:119)
Disobeying parents and treating them harshly is considered one major sin in Islam. Whoever disobeys their parents will never find prosperity both in the world and in the Hereafter. All Muslims, regardless of gender and age have to show kindness to their parents, not going against their will and showing defiant behaviour towards them.
Cultivating Gratitude
- Let the remembrance of God guide you throughout the day.
- Write a list at the end of each day of five things to be grateful for; keep a gratitude journal.
- Practice thanking others for the simple things they do for you; write a thank you letter to someone who has positively impacted your life.
- Remember the people who are less fortunate than you, step into their shoes, empathize with their plight, and do something, even if small, to alleviate someone else’s difficulty.
- When tough times set in, focus on the positives. Things could be much worse.
- Remind yourself often to adopt the attitude of gratitude and smile!
While patience is a quality of a Muslim, getting angry easily must be one of the negative attitudes in Islam. Anger does no good to anyone, and that is the reason why Muslims should not vent out their anger in any situation. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“O you who believe[d]! Seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah (is) with the patient ones.” (Surah Al Baqarah, 2:153)
Difficult things and the problem could only be solved through a calm attitude to get the best solution. If there is a Muslim whose words are untrue, then they are a part of the munafiq. Islam never acknowledges a person whose words are not as true as a part of it. Allah says:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
“And surely We will test you with something of [the] fear and [the] hunger and loss of [the] wealth and [the] lives and [the] fruits, but give good news (to) the patient ones.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155)
A Muslim must have good morality and attitude, since our role model, We have to do our best to live like him, following his Sunnah, and many other things that show the true self of Islam religion. Excessive behaviour in everything is not suggested in Islam, whether it’s with food, love for something but Allah SWT, or even in religion.
