Here are some bad habits to which most of our Muslim brothers and sisters have fallen prey to and these evils are spoiling their faith as well as their day-to-day lives.

Anger

It is a bad habit to become angry on small issues or sometimes even without an issue. The angry man often spoils his case. His high temper blinds him to the extent that he starts using bad words and phrases against Almighty Allah, and thus, loses his faith. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has commanded his followers to abstain from anger and not to aggravate minor issues. A person came to the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and said: “O Apostle of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)! Command me in brief to do some virtuous act”. The Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Do not become angry”. The visitor repeatedly requested the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and he repeatedly directed him not to get angry. Bukhari reports this Hadith. [1]

In another Hadith the Holy Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “He is not a real wrestler who overpowers his opponents, but he who overpowers his own self in the state of anger”. [2]

When a person is overpowered by anger, he should immediately make Wudu (ablution). The Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said that Shaytaan causes the state of anger and Shaytaan is made of Fire and water extinguishes the fire. That is why ablution is said to be helpful in putting off the fire of anger. [3] Another Hadith says: “If you become angry in a standing position, better sit down and if the anger does not subside, better lie down.” [4]

Jealousy

Jealousy means getting disturbed over the well-being and prosperity of others and wishing for his or her ruin. This is a very bad and sinful habit. A jealous person spends his life in utter hatred and suffers from the suffocation of ill-feeling against others. Almighty Allah has commanded his Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to take refuge in Him against the evils of a jealous person.  Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Jealousy eats up the virtues of a man as the fire eats up the wood.” [5]

The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has also said: “Don’t feel jealous of each other and don’t cut off your relationship and don’t keep ill-will against others. O Allah’s creatures! Live like brothers in the world”. [6]

Jealousy is considered to be a sin as it is tantamount to criticize the Creator for depriving one of some amenities and granting the same to others. Imam Ghazali (alahir rahmah) has said that jealousy is a major heart disease. The person who feels jealous of others should convince himself with a cool mind that his ill-will can never change the Divine scheme.

Greed

A person should be content with whatever Almighty Allah provides him, as yearning for getting more and more perturbs the living of the person himself.  In a Hadith, the Glorious Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “If a man gets two fields full of gold, he will wish to have a third one.  The bellies of Adam’s children cannot be filled except with the clay of their graves”. [7]

Another Hadith says: “The son of Adam gets old but his two things remain young - one aspiration, and the other his love of wealth.” [8]

The greed of materialistic gains results into immorality and selfishness and even to the extent of committing major sins. The only remedy of this evil is patience and contentment. We should have firm faith in pre-ordainment. When a man is still in his mother’s womb, the Angel, under the Divine Command pre-ordains four things for him: his age, his sustenance or livelihood, his fortune and his misfortune. Man gets nothing more or less than that.  Man should address himself: What is destined for me by the Will of Almighty Allah, nobody is going to deprive me of that; and whatever is not destined for me, I will never get it.

Haughtiness

The Holy Quraan has regarded haughtiness in all forms as a basic evil. Shaytaan, who enjoyed the prerogative of the holy company of Angels, became Devil because he compared himself with Sayyiduna Adam (alaihis salaam) and said: “I am better than he is”. (38: 76) and thus: “he was haughty, and became one of those who reject Faith (- indeed, became the devil).” (38: 74)

As regards mankind, the Holy Quraan says: “Verily, He loves not those who are haughty.” (16: 23) and: “…evil indeed is the abode of those who are haughty.” (16: 29)

Hence, it is a Quraanic moral duty to abstain from haughtiness in all forms. It should be shunned in thought, word and deed.  The Holy Quraan lays down the rules: “Swell not your cheek (for pride) at the people, and walk not in insolence through the earth; for Allah loves not any vainglorious boastful (person). And be modest in your gait, and lower your voice (in humility); for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of an ass.” (31: 18-19).

Another verse that condemns the demonstration of haughtiness in very strong terms may also be quoted: “And walk not in insolence through the earth. Verily, you will by no means rend the earth, nor can you attain to the mountains in stature.”(17: 37)

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The person who has Imaan equivalent to a mustard seed will not enter the Hell, and the person who has haughtiness in his heart equivalent to a mustard seed will not enter Paradise”. [9]

The Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) says: “The persons of false pride would be brought to the Mehshar on the Day of Judgment in such a state that their faces will be of theirs but their bodies would be of the size of ants. They will be laden with shame and disgust and will be dragged to the Hell where they would be kept in a dark cell called ‘disappointment’. These people will be burnt in Nar-ul-Aniyar that means the Fire of the Fires and they will be made to drink the pus of the dwellers of Hell.” [10]

A Hadith says: “The person who adopts humility and generosity for the sake of Allah, He will grant him a high status.  The person will think of himself small but Allah will make him great in the eyes of others. Allah will lower the person, who lives in haughtiness, down.”

The person who suffers from the evil habit of false pride should spend most of his time with the poor and needy persons and serve them. He should always express his gratitude to Almighty Allah Who provided him with a living better than others.

Backbiting

We find that most women are suffering from the evil manner of backbiting.

The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Most unwanted person from among you in the Court of Allah is he who spreads rumours among persons and divides them.”

The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Backbiting is a sin bigger than adultery.” [11]

The Holy Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) further observed: “On the night of Meh’raaj, I saw some people in Hell scratching their faces with their nails. I asked Jibra’eel (alaihis salaam) who they were. He said they are the persons who indulged in backbiting and adultery in the world”. [12] The Holy Quraan has described the evil of backbiting with a simile of eating the flesh of one’s own brother.

Lying or False Speech

In order to enable its followers to achieve moral self-preservation, the Holy Quraan has prohibited lying or false speech. The Holy Quraan says: “…and shun the word that is false.” (22: 30)

The Quraan further says: “Verily, Allah guides not those who are false and ungrateful.” (39: 3) And: “Shall I inform you, (O People!), on whom it is that the evil ones descend? They descend on every sinful liar.” (26: 221-222)

Hypocrisy

The Holy Quraan has laid down the moral principle that practicing deception in human relations is strongly condemnable, and he who practises it becomes morally diseased. Thus, it is a duty not only to others, but also to one’s owns self to abstain from adopting hypocritical attitude in any matter whatsoever.

The Holy Quraan has condemned deeds not conforming to words. It says: “O you who believe! Why say you that which you do not? Grievously detestable is it in the sight of Allah that you say that which you do not.” (41: 2-3)

Disparity between words and deeds of a person may bring harm to others who may repose confidence in him in any matter, but it damages that person also because he loses the capacity to stick to truth and also loses the confidence of his fellow-beings and, hence, his prestige.

The Quraan has also condemned persons who make a show of hollow acts of goodness, devotion and charity. It says: “So woe to the worshippers who are neglectful of their prayers, those who do good to be seen, but refuse (to supply) even small kindness (or, neighbourly needs).” (CVII: 4-7)

Flattery

The Holy Quraan has condemned people who desire false appreciation and being pleased with flattery.

The Holy Quraan says: “Think not that those who exult in what they have brought about, and love to be praised for what they have not done, - think not that they can escape the penalty. For them is a penalty grievous indeed.” (3: 188)

Flattery, as embodying self-debasement of the flatterer is ruled out in Islamic conduct. The Holy Quraan says: “O you who believe! Guard your duty to Allah and speak a straight speech: He will (on that account) make your conduct whole and sound…” (33: 70-71).

The English word “flattery” means “treating with insincere and exaggerated praise and servile attentions.” Flattery is, therefore, the very opposite of the straight speech mentioned in the Quraan. Moreover, according to the above verse, “straight speech” renders one’s conduct whole and sound, which means that flattery, renders conduct unsound. Therefore, viewing it in the light of the Quraanic teaching, flattery is immoral, and a Muslim should abstain from it totally. The Holy Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) also has condemned this vice: “When you meet the flatterers, throw dust into their mouths.” [13]

Obstinacy

The Holy Quraan, while emphasizing the qualities of the righteous says: “…and they are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.” (3: 135) It is a duty to abstain from obstinacy, perverseness and self-righteousness in all the situations of life.

Quarrelsomeness

The Holy Quraan has mentioned quarrelsomeness as the opposite of righteousness: “So have We made the (Quraan) easy in your own tongue, that with it you may give glad tidings to the righteous, and war therewith the vehemently quarrelsome folk.” (19: 97)

The Holy Book also says about true Muslims: “…and when the ignorant address them (in arrogance and lack of culture), they say, ‘Peace!’ (avoiding thus all quarrels with them)…” (25: 63).

Finally, there is the command given to the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), but meant to be obeyed by all Muslims, according to their situation: “…and keep away from the (disputations raked up by the) ignorant.” (7: 199)

It is, therefore, a duty of everyone who aims at righteousness, i.e. every true follower of the Quraan, to abstain completely from quarrelsomeness.

Idle talks

The Holy Quraan has enjoined abstinence in respect of:

1. Idle curiosity,

2. Believing in unfounded reports,

3. Spreading unfounded reports,

4. Entering into discussions without correct knowledge of the problem,

5. Entertaining opinions for which no strong reason to believe exists,

6. Proffering uncertain opinion,

7. Tendering uncertain advice.

The Holy Quraan says: “Pursue not and follow not that whereof you have no knowledge.” (17: 36)

Acquiring money falsely

The Holy Quraan points out condemningly another false means (the first one being the beggary) of earning money which damages both the recipients and the giver of money, - the means, namely, of employing religious pretences and superstitions, of so-called “spiritual” practices.  It says: “O you who believe! Verily many of the priests and the monks devour the substances of the people in falsehood (i.e., on false pretences)…” (9: 34)

This verse refers to the Jewish priests, divines, monks and the clergy. The false pretences consisted in that the Jewish priests used to misinterpret the law for the benefit of obtaining money from the interested parties, and the Christian monks and clergy used to issue indulgences and dispensations and had made the shrines of their Saints a source of revenue for themselves. [14]

In India and Pakistan, “the fake Peers” and “Babas” are doing the same business through religious pretences. They are exploiting the religious sentiments of the common masses.

The condemnation by the Holy Quraan means that it is the duty of a Muslim to abstain from acquiring money from all types of false pretences and practices in the name of spirituality and religion.

Gambling

Another way of acquiring easy money is through the different forms of gambling. The Holy Quraan commands the Muslims to shun all those forms of false earning, when it says: “O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, is an abomination – of Shaytaan’s handiwork: Shun it, therefore, that you may prosper.” (5: 93)  

Gambling is any game of hazard, or play of stakes, or wagers, so that even the game of children with walnut is included under this name by Mujahid. The total abolition of this evil practice in Muslim society by the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has been admitted even by his worst critics as one of the “most celebrated reforms accomplished by him”. [15]

Miserliness

It is a very unfortunate habit. A miser bears all sorts of troubles and hardships despite possessing all the amenities of life. Nobody looks at a miser with respect.

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “A generous person has proximity with Allah; he is close to Paradise; he is nearer to humans; he is away from the Fire. But the miser person is far from Allah, and from Paradise, and from humans; he is nearer to the Fire. Verily, an illiterate generous man is dearer to Allah than the miser worshipper”. [16]

The Holy Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) also said: “The fraudulent person, the miser person and the person who insists that people should express their gratitude to him for his obligations and generosity, will not enter Paradise”. [17]

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) says: “Two habits can never combine in a believer: one, miserliness and the other, rudeness”. [18]

Imam Ghazali (alaihir rahmah) says: “Miserliness is an ailment, which is hard to be cured, particularly if an old man suffers from it. The root cause of the miserliness is too much love towards wealth. Man should think: I was not created to merely hoard money. I should also gather some virtues for the Hereafter. With this thought, he will automatically strive hard for spiritualism and reject materialism. This will help him to get rid of his love of wealth and he will develop a feeling of generosity.”