Advice to the Youth Regarding Good Character and Good Companionship

The questioner : My Shaykh, from practical experience with the youth while traveling, their lack of patience and their inability to tolerate one another, we are almost certain that much of their worship is defective. So the youth should remember that their treatment of one another should be with gentleness and wisdom?

The Shaykh : This is a good point of attention!

Another questioner : O Shaykh, the companion, meaning, he reveals himself to you during the journey!

The Shaykh : What is it? Yes, it is known that this is true. And therefore, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), in some narrations—and Allah knows best regarding their authenticity, because we do not pay attention to reports stopping at a Companion as we do to reports traced to the Prophet, because reports stopping at a Companion cannot be counted or all be brought together—it was narrated that a witness was brought to him, and 'Umar said: Do you know him? He said: Whenever I enter the mosque, I see him standing, bowing, and prostrating. He said: Is he your neighbor? He said: No. He said: Have you dealt with him in dirhams and dinars? He said: No. He said: Have you traveled with him? For travel reveals the character of men. He said: No. He said: Then you do not know him. So the truth is that travel is among the things that reveal the character of men. And therefore, may Allah reward our brother Abu 'Abdullah with good for reminding us of the necessity of pointing out that it is obligatory for each one of them to reveal his character. This travel should reveal his character that he is a Muslim character, just as he is a Muslim. So his character is also imprinted with the morals of Islam and Muslims. And it was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) his saying: And as was said in some weak hadiths, but its meaning is beautiful: And therefore, this is also among the things that reveal good, beautiful character: that each one of these brothers should be a servant to the others, and that they should compete to serve one another. And on this occasion, it is good to mention a sound hadith in al-Bukhari that the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were with him on a journey, and some of them were breaking their fasts and some were fasting. So those who were breaking their fasts served those who were fasting. This is a natural matter. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: What Allah willed. And therefore, it is true that the master of the people is their servant. So perhaps, if Allah wills, you will be like this, that you will be masters in this sense. In the name of Allah.