An Example of Noble Character

The harm caused by backbiting and constant complaining is immense. In any home or community where people frequently speak ill of others, unity is lost and goodwill fades. Even for one’s own moral and personal development, it is essential to guard the tongue against backbiting, gossip, and slander. Just as eating rotting flesh would harm the body, habitual backbiting corrupts the soul. A person who regularly indulges in such behaviour fosters a toxic personality, eventually losing all inner beauty and dignity. HAJAR: THE MOTHER OF ISHMAEL In the structure of life, a woman may outwardly appear to represent only half of the whole. Yet, in practical terms, she holds a central and indispensable role. As Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869), the French author, poet, and statesman, rightly said: “There is a woman at the beginning of all great things.” A shining example from ancient history is the remarkable woman known as Hajar (Hagar), who lived around the 20th century BCE. Through her extraordinary sacrifice, a noble lineage emerged in the Arabian desert. This lineage would later lead to the mission of the Prophet of Islam and ultimately drive one of the greatest revolutions in human history.