Islam calls for good manners and encourages people to adopt them by making them a reason to enter Paradise. Although having good morals is recommended at all times, it is more stressed in Ramadan as fasting is one of the obligatory acts of worship. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , was asked about what admits people to Paradise the most and he said: “Fearing Allah and good morals.” The one who has good morals is considered one of the best Muslims and those who have the most perfect faith. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Indeed, the Messenger of Allah was not immoral nor did he use obscene language and he used to say: 'The best of you are those who have the best morals.'” ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet said: “The believers who have the most perfect faith are those who have the best morals and are the kindest to their wives.”
The Prophet, , told us that good morals are the acts of obedience heaviest in the scales of the believer’s deeds. Abu Ad-Dardaa’, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “There is nothing heavier in the scales [of the Hereafter] than good manners.”
The Prophet also told us that good morals may boost the one who possesses them to the rank of the one who fasts during the day and prays the whole night. ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet said: “A believer reaches with his good manners the rank of one who is fasting and praying throughout the night.”
The one who has good morals is the most beloved person to the Prophet and is the closest one to him. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said thrice: “Shall I tell you about the most beloved among you to me and the nearest to me on the day of Judgment?” The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” He said: “They are those who have the best morals among you.”
If good morals are encouraged at all times, they are stressed upon even more in Ramadan because fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the obligations set by the Sharee’ah (Islamic law). If it is combined with other obligations, it will become burdensome for the soul that is accustomed to be free from whatever restricts it. Therefore, the reward for these obligations is in return for submitting to the commands.
It is possible that the addressed person under Sharee’ah may be provoked if he is stirred. Therefore, the Prophet, , forbade the fasting person from displaying bad morals, clarifying that it is not suitable for him to say foul words or raise his voice when arguing with someone or retort to the curse or abuse of others with the same words, and so on. Rather, he should say, “I am fasting.” By doing so, he reminds himself and others of the good morals that the fasting person should have. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, , said: “When anyone of you is observing fast, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: `I am fasting.'”
The forbiddance of speaking in obscene language and raising one’s voice while fasting does not mean that it is permissible to do so when the individual is not fasting; rather, it has been emphasized that one is not to do so even in reply to any harm. This also applies to the times outside fasting as Allah The Almighty urges us to repel evil with good. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And not equal are the good deeds and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.} [Quran 41:34]