Just as Islamic Sharia encourages good conduct and adherence to it, it also warns against bad conduct and calls for distancing from it and those who embody it.
The care of the noble Sharia on this matter is significant; therefore, we find that the reward for a Muslim with good character in the Hereafter and the divine promise awaiting them is not insignificant, as Allah has prepared much for His servants who have good morals. On the contrary, there is a severe divine warning against those whose morals have deteriorated and become corrupt. This embodies the fundamental pillar upon which the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was based when he said: “I was sent to perfect good character.”
By examining and contemplating the secret of the rise of any nation or civilization, we will undoubtedly find that morality is at the top of reasons leading to this civilizational renaissance. The opposite is also true; when signs of moral corruption begin to appear in any nation or civilization, it signals the beginning of the stages of the downfall of this nation or civilization, as a nation whose morals collapse is on the verge of its own collapse. This is evidenced by Allah's saying: “And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.” (Al-Israa: 16)
Poets in every time and place have realized this important meaning and this consistent relationship between morality and the survival of nations. They have inscribed these basics through their poetry, such as the saying of the Prince of Poets, Ahmed Shawqi embodying the meaning, indeed, nations are but morals, as long as they remain If their morals are gone, they too shall vanish.
Here are the most significant consequences a Muslim may face if their morals deteriorate:
- Loss of Good Deeds:
Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Do you know who is the bankrupt?” They said: “The bankrupt among us is one who has neither money with him nor any property.” He said, “The real bankrupt of my Ummah would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with Salat, Saum and Sadaqah (charity), (but he will find himself bankrupt on that day as he will have exhausted the good deeds) because he reviled others, brought calumny against others, unlawfully devoured the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others; so his good deeds would be credited to the account of those (who suffered at his hand). If his good deeds fall short to clear the account, their sins would be entered in his account and he would be thrown in the (Hell) Fire.” (Narrated by Muslim)
- Deserving of Hellfire:
Abu Huraira said: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, there is someone who is mentioned regarding her performing a lot of Ṣalāh, keeping a lot of fasts, and giving a lot of charity, except that she harms her neighbors with her tongue.” He, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said, “She is in the Hellfire.” The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, and there is someone who is mentioned regarding her not performing much Ṣalāh, and not keeping many of fasts, and not giving much of charity, however, she gives the milk curds of her oxens as charity, and she does not harm her neighbors with her tongue.” He, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said, “She is in Jannah.” (Sahih At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib)
- Fertile Ground for Shaitan:
Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab narrated: While the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sitting with some of his companions, a man reviled AbuBakr and insulted him. But AbuBakr remained silent. He insulted him twice, but AbuBakr controlled himself. He insulted him thrice and AbuBakr took revenge on him. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up when AbuBakr took revenge. AbuBakr said: Were you angry with me, Messenger of Allah?
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: An angel came down from Heaven and he was rejecting what he had said to you. When you took revenge, a devil came down. I was not going to sit when the devil came down. (Narrated by Abu Dawood)
- Corruption of Deeds:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Verily, bad character spoils deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.” (Narrated by At-Tabarani)
- Distance from the Prophet on the Day of Resurrection:
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be one who is the best of you in manners; and the most abhorrent among you to me and the farthest of you from me will be the pompous, the garrulous, and Al-Mutafaihiqun.” The Companions asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! We know about the pompous and the garrulous, but we do not know who Al-Mutafaihiqun are.” He replied: “The arrogant people.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi)
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