Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said “The best of you are those who have the

best
character.'" BUT –

how do we embody the best character? In today’s topic, we will discuss the 7 types of people that
you should avoid. Be aware, you yourself may show signs of these qualities without knowing so make
sure to watch until the end to help you reflect on your life and become the best character you can
be. Whether you are a Muslim or not, the teachings of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are
fundamental to a life of discipline and fulfilment. I promise you, by the end of this discussion, you'll
see the world—and perhaps yourself—in a whole new light so do not skip, do not be weak."

Number 1 - The Arrogant Soul

Picture this: You come across someone who constantly boasts about their achievements, belittles
others, and dismisses differing opinions. This is the hallmark of an arrogant person. Arrogance is a
blameworthy characteristic which is the feature of Iblees and his cohorts in this world, those on
whose hearts Allah has placed a seal. The first ever sign of arrogance was shown by Iblees himself.
This is the primary devil in Islam for any non – Muslims watching. Allah the almighty commanded
Iblees to prostrate to Adam in which he replied, “I am better than him. You created me from fire, and
him from clay” “And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble
shape of a human being); then We told the angels, ‘Prostrate yourselves to Adam’, and they
prostrated themselves, except Iblees (Satan), he refused to be of those who prostrated themselves.
He who is arrogant, may be deprived of Jannah (Paradise). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) said: “No one who has an atom’s-weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.”
Now what if you are a person who likes to present himself well? For example, with nice clothes and
shoes. Is this arrogance? No, it is not. A man once said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if a man likes his
clothes and his shoes to look good?” the prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah is Beautiful and
loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” Arrogance blinds us
to our own shortcomings, disconnects us from others, and ultimately distances us from Allah. When
faced with arrogance, remember that it often masks deep insecurities. Instead of responding with
arrogance in return, offer a patient and kind demeanour. Listen actively to their perspective, and if
the opportunity arises, share stories and examples of humility from Islamic history." Now, what if you
yourself are arrogant? Well, think of yourself as being just like other people and realize that they are
just like you, no matter the status, or wealth, they were born from a mother and a father just as you
were, and that taqwa (fear of Allah) is the true criterion of superiority. ““Verily, the most honourable
of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [he is one of the Muttaqoon (the pious)” We
ask Allah to rid arrogance from us all and make us pious.

Before type number 2, know this, you can help us spread the power of Islam to a broader audience
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Number 2 - The Selfish

Now, we all know that one person who always puts their own needs and desires above everyone
else's, right? Well, that's the essence of selfishness. If you, the viewer, is walking down the street,
and you see that there is a person of old age struggling to carry his shopping, will you offer them help
or continue walking? Answer honestly. Would you be any less happy if you shared a part of what you
have? Or how about fewer tangible things such as time, talent, or energy? Are you really not able to
spare any time or energy to help a friend, your parents, or even a stranger?” our beloved Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him), reminded us to want for our brother what we would want for
ourselves. Allah Almighty has created the human soul with a predisposition to selfishness as a test.
Such a person generally only wants the best for themselves. In them, they incorporate what is called,
the “Me – First” Philosophy. The idea that “as long as I am okay, It does not matter what happens to
anyone else” Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “He who goes to bed full when his neighbour is
hungry is not one of us.” Responding to people’s needs and treating them kindly are forms of
behaviour that prevent eutrophication of the conscience. Empathizing with others, treating the
needy with affection and showing respect and love make it possible to eliminate cruelty and
selfishness. Faith perfects people’s behaviour, as it does so many other traits. A believer who
constantly heeds his conscience as required by religious moral values will always behave in the best,
most considerate, trust-inspiring, and tolerant manner.
Someone possessed of these moral attributes has earned merit for his own life in the hereafter. At
the same time, he is instrumental in freeing the world from its self-interested and selfish nature and
making it a place of the delights of Islam.

Number 3 - The Gossipmonger

a behaviour that's all too common in today's world — gossip. You know the type, always ready to
share the latest juicy titbit, regardless of its accuracy or impact. Gossip is like a wildfire. It spreads
rapidly, consuming reputations, relationships, and trust in its path." Repeatedly in the Qur'an,
Muslims are warned about the sins of the tongue.

“Do not concern yourself with things about which you have no knowledge. Verily, your hearing, sight,
and heart — all of them will be called to account" (Qur'an 17:36).

As a model and example for Muslims to follow, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave
many examples from his own life about how to deal with the evils of gossip and backbiting. He
started out by defining these terms: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once asked his
followers, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He
continued, “Saying something about your brother that he dislikes.” Someone then asked, “What if
what I say about my brother is true?” The Prophet Muhammad responded: “If what you say is true
then you have backbitten about him, and if it is not true, then you have slandered him.” What if you
yourself gossip unintentionally? Remember that Allah sees and knows all things. Your either speak
well or don’t speak at all. If you hear people gossip, which is very common in this day and age.
Wherever you go, be it crowded cities or family events, gossiping is normalized in this society, so
much that it comes naturally to us, remind others not to gossip and if they do not listen then simply
walk away. Allah praised such action in the Quran: "If they hear gossip, they walk away" (Quran
28:55). If you come across a rumour, always assume the best of the person involved in it. After all, it
is called a rumour for a reason. Try and make excuses for others. If a person does something that you
think is wrong in some way, try to look at the situation from their point of view. If we do this, we are
less likely to dwell on the negative and seek to talk about it with others. Most importantly, Repent to
Allah for any mistakes you make, and seek the forgiveness of the person you hurt. There are some
exceptions to gossiping, such as when making a complaint to a judge, or seeking help for someone to
prevent them from committing a certain sin.

Number 4 – The Hater

The destructive force that can tear communities apart—hatred and animosity. It's when individuals
harbour resentment, ill-will, and even animosity towards one another. we have control over which
thoughts we choose to follow. We may not have a choice over which particular thought occurs
initially in our minds at a given time, but we do have a choice to either ignore it or pursue it. Our
voluntary thoughts are nothing more than inward statements. Hence, the rule is that we should only
engage good thoughts or keep our minds silent. In the Quran, Allah reminds us in Surah Al-Hujurat
(49:11) that 'O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule another; perhaps they may be better
than them.'” all human beings were born of a set of single parents, Adam, and Hawwa; and Allah
created Adam from dust. The guidance of Islam absolutely detests, discourages, and categorically
prohibits any discrimination, leave alone hatred, of any human being based on their race, or colour,
or nationality, or caste, or creed, or sect. All human beings are absolutely equal in the Sight of the
Lord Who Created, and no human being has any superiority over another except by piety and good
actions. Islam absolutely discourages and categorically prohibits its followers to hate or despise other
human beings…..but what it does encourage its believers to hate and despise is the ‘quality’ or
‘faculty’ of evil which might be present in some human beings like ‘kufr’ (disbelief), ‘nifaaq’
(hypocrisy) and any and all types of evils and falsehoods. It does not mean that you should hate the
person who commits hypocrisy or practices polytheism, rather you should hate the disease which is
present in their hearts. For instance, a doctor does not hate his patients, instead he treats and hates
the diseases that has befallen them. Hatred is a strong negative emotion that can consume a
person’s heart and mind. It often stems from negative experiences, misunderstandings, or
differences in opinion or beliefs. While Islam promotes unity and harmony, it recognizes that humans
are fallible and can experience negative emotions, including hatred, at times. However, we should
control our emotions, and embody patience, and empathy. Hurting someone physically, emotionally
or mentally is a great sin in the eyes of Allah and will be dealt by Him alone in this world and Akhirah.
You may come across people who are toxic or preserve animosity towards you, even within your own
family. In such situations, we need to draw boundaries, politely deal with them and pray to Allah for
their guidance. “It is the law of nature that the trees with the sweetest fruits are beaten the most.”

Number 5 – The Complainer

a personality type we all encounter—the chronic complainer. They're the ones who seem to find
fault in almost everything, whether it's the weather, their job, or even the food at a popular
restaurant." A husband complains about his wife, and the wife of the husband and kids. Kids
complain about their parents not understanding them and not spending time with them, while
parents complain that the kids do not do their homework and have no respect. An employer
complains about his employees, while the employees complain about their employer. everybody is
complaining about everybody. Why are so many Muslims constantly complaining? There is one
simple reason. They lack contentment in life and are constantly dissatisfied. You should always be
content with whatever Allah has given you. The prophet (peace be upon him) used to say: “Oh, Allah,
I ask you contentment in what you decree.” This is the intention for being always prepared to accept
wholeheartedly whatever Allah (swt) sends your way. What do you get from complaining? Does it
solve anything? No, in fact it is just negative energy that will corrupt yourself and those around you
eventually leading to depression and lack in faith. Face your problems realistically. This is the only
way to solve them, to accept them as a test from Allah. It is not to say that you cannot complain at
all. But try to direct your complaint to the person it concerns. Do not just complain for the sake of
complaining and do not make a complaint an ice-breaker or a topic of a discussion.

Number 6 – The heartless

The heartless is when someone lacks compassion and empathy, seemingly unaffected by the
suffering of others. In Islam, kindness and compassion are cherished qualities. Empathy – we all want
it in others, yet we are stingy in giving it. Our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was
never heartless to anyone, be it His enemy, even. Being followers of that great personality, we should
also behave the same, we should show compassion and kindness. The humble one is always a good
listener. We may disagree on any matter with our brothers and sisters, but what we should not forget
is the behaviour of a good Muslim. In this generation, a lot of people are heartless especially to their
own parents. Humility and a gentle approach lifts barriers and removes aggression and hostility. Allah
says that the one who is rude and harsh, cannot make the people around him understand even his
valid points. Such a person is never liked, and he can never leave a good impression on the people he
confides with. Doing good and having the right belief go hand in hand in Islam. Doing good in
practice is proof of having the right belief in the heart. This is why the Holy Quran speaks of true
Muslims very often as “those who believe and do good deeds”. Both the Quran and the Holy Prophet
have told Muslims that the best among them is that person who shows the best behaviour towards
other people. Those who become heartless, tend to have no heart because of their own suffering
and upbringings. Often, they attack the world, showing animosity to anyone and everyone. Don’t get
me wrong, sometimes being heartless, can be used to your advantage when in specific situations
such as dealing with a manipulator or knowing when someone is fake. Accept your scars, heal and
always control your emotions. Its easier said then done but know this. If you focus on the hurt, you
will continue to suffer. If you focus on the lesson, you will continue to grow.

Number 7 - The Deceiver

the deceiver is when individuals resort to dishonesty and manipulation to achieve their goals, often
at the expense of others. Manipulation and deception are despicable characterises that are beneath
a decent person. Imagine working on a project for work. You’ve been working tirelessly, investing late
nights to grant its success. Meet Mark – a seemingly friendly colleague. He often shares ideas with
you and appears genuine. One day, the senior manager calls a meeting and there it is, the idea you
envisioned and worked on was being presented right in front of your own eyes. Mark stole your idea
and used it as his own, not giving you any credit. That feeling of betrayal is where the deceiver
thrives, they enjoy using others for their own personal gain. Once the prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him) noticed a food stall. Although the surface seemed to look dry, he placed his hand inside
and felt dampness. The owner told the prophet (peace be upon him) that the food was damaged by
rain. Muhammad (peace be upon him) replied “Why did you not put the rain-damaged food on top
so that people could see it! Whoever cheats us is not one of us." This dishonest stall owner
attempted to hide the food affected by the rain, deliberately cheating his customers. Cheating and
deception are alien characters in contrast to the noble character of a true Muslim. "Every traitor will
have a banner on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said: This is the betrayer of so-and-so."
Imagine that. Those who thought their acts of betrayal were forgotten will find that it is exposed to
the world, shown by a banner, held by their own two hands raised high above. Their crime is of such
enormity that it will deprive them of divine mercy. Cheating is common in examinations, business
transactions, and even between spouses and loved ones. Therefore, a Muslim who has true Islamic
sensitivities avoids deceit, cheating, treachery, and lying no matter what benefits or profits such
activities might bring him, because Islam considers those guilty of such deeds to be hypocrites. Do
not let ANYONE Take advantage of you.

So, now that you know about the 7 types of people Islam warns us about, remember that self-
refection is crucial in moving forward. Each type serves as a reminder—a mirror reflecting not only
the traits we may encounter in others but also those we must guard against within ourselves. It's an
opportunity to ask ourselves, do we embody any of these qualities, and if so how will I change that?
If this discussion has made you more aware, or helped you learn something, I urge you to share
thoughts below in the comments. Share your experiences, I reply to all comments. If you don’t know
what to comment, just write Brave Deen to let me know that you made it to the end. With that being
said, until next time, assalamu alaikum.