TRUE WISDOM

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet of Islam was in the mosque of Madinah, with a group of his companions seated around him. Just then, a young man from the Ansar arrived and asked him a few questions. The Prophet answered them. Their exchange went as follows:

The young man asked, “O Messenger of God, who is the best among the believers?” The Prophet replied, “The one with the best character.” He then asked, “And who is the wisest among the believers?” The Prophet replied, “The one who remembers death the most and prepares for it the most before it comes. They are the wisest.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 4259)

A person’s character improves in direct proportion to the depth of their faith. When a person develops genuine consciousness of God, it reflects in their dealings with others—they become just, kind, and considerate. And that is the essence of good character.

To remember death is to understand that this worldly life is temporary, while the life to come is eternal. It means living with a sense of direction, not being absorbed in distractions, but focusing on what truly matters. And who could be wiser than the one who seriously reflects on eternal success and failure—and reshapes their life accordingly?

Such remembrance naturally leads to greater self-awareness and vigilance in one’s actions. It strips away false pride, injustice, deceit, exploitation, and vanity. When these hollow emotions are removed from a person’s heart, every step they take moves in the right direction. They gain a kind of strength that no external power can provide: they become truly powerful from within.