The Perfection of Humanity

One should be a man of character by speaking the truth, never uttering words as are at variance with reality and only making promises that one can fulfil.

According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “Those who did not do injustice in dealings with others; those who did not lie while conversing and those who did not break their promises are of those who have perfected their humanity.” (Adab al-Duniya wa al-Din, al-Mawardi, p. 501)

Who is the perfect human being? The perfect human being is one who possesses the noble qualities of humanity. He is one who in every experience and on all occasion proves that he is a human being in the real sense.

To really know a person, it is not by his appearance but by his dealings. One who keeps his humanity in all dealings is the true human. On the contrary, one who in his dealings does not fulfil the expectations or hopes of others, as would be expected from a human being, has failed to prove his humanity.

Human perfection manifests itself in the total justice with which an individual conducts himself in his dealings with others. He never accepts anything which is not his by right, even if he evidently has the power to take it.

Similarly, humanity demands that one should always speak the truth. He should never utter such words as are at variance with reality. Moreover, a sign of nobility in a person is that when he makes a promise, he fulfils it in all situations. This is the surest sign of an individual being an individual of character.