Imam al-Hajjawi (d.968H/1561CE) - author of a celebrated Hanbali fiqh text, al-Iqna‘, and its abridgement, Zad a-Mustaqni‘ - wrote the following as part of his commentary to a famous Hanbali adab-poem: يُقَالُ مَثَلُ الْإِيمَانِ كَمَثَلِ بَلْدَةٍ لَهَا خَمْسُ حُصُونٍ، الْأَوَّلُ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَالثَّانِي مِنْ فِضَّةٍ، وَالثَّالِثُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ، وَالرَّابِعُ مِنْ آجُرٍّ، وَالْخَامِسُ مِنْ لَبِنٍ، فَمَا…
Adab: Being People of Beauty
'Pious character, refined behaviour and moderation constitute one of seventy parts of prophethood,' said the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. [Al-Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad, no.468] Another hadith records the Prophet, peace be upon him, as saying: 'Nothing is heavier in a believer's scales on Judgement Day than beautiful character.' [Al-Tirmidhi, no.2003] Yet another links beautiful character and…