Kind, helpful, caring, understanding, patient, and loving are some of the words that come to mind when asked to list the qualities of a good person. One usually knows a person is good by what they do, such as performing thoughtful deeds. A good place to look for insight on the qualities of a good person is the Quran and the Sunnah (sayings of the holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

Goodness is essentially a belief in the basic goodness of mankind for which what is needed most is a kind heart. And a kind heart, although is a gift of God, can be developed if we care to read the holy Quran and the Sunnah (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) with sincerity to seek guidance.

The finer principles of life, such as, compassion, honesty, integrity, truthfulness are not flexible and time and space cannot change them. It will be a misstatement to say that every different being has his own idea of being a good human.

A good man shouldn't consume alcohol drink, shouldn't gamble, shouldn't have the intend to harm others, shouldn't steal, shouldn't commit into before marriage sexual act are some of the universal truths which will remain so till eternity. Of course, in today's world it is difficult to attain the status of a 100 per cent good human being. But it is our duty to do our best to attain goodness in all spheres of life. With the fear of God in our mind and heart we can achieve success.

In this holy month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world should make a pledge to try their very best to achieve excellence of character which is a necessity to regain their lost glory. We are always focusing on the rituals - prayers, fasting, Haj and Zakat. No doubt they are the pillars of our religion, but inattention to excellence of character is eating into the vital of the Muslim nation.

Remember, genuine goodness is something drawn from the heart, the soul of a person. The authentic goodness is shown in actions, more than pretty words. When we live a life of authenticity, our spirits soar and we give flight to those around us.

A cursery glance of the Holy Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) will help us in defining a "genuinely" good person and assessing what characteristics are representative of a good person. Some people have a few characteristics that depict a good person, but may have characteristics that overshadow the good. A person may give you the shirt off their back, but turn around and rob a bank. A genuinely good person stands firm by the definition of good, in public as well as private. They are consistent in character. They are real.

Compassion comes from the heart of a good person. It extends from the heart to others and offers empathy, support and understanding. A compassionate person feels the other's pain as if it were their own. They are willing to reach out and offer comfort. They are the type that won't mind if you call at 2am if you need a shoulder to cry on.

A good person is filled with kindness. They plant seeds that help others thrive. The kind person offers of themselves to others. They don't wait until a catastrophe strikes, but practice kindness in everyday life.

They recognize needs in others without having to be asked to step in and help. Their conscience doesn't allow them to neglect others. They don't just help within their comfort zone, but are willing to make sacrifices.

Forgiveness is a characteristic of a good person. They let go of resentment, the anger and bitterness. They don't allow toxins to overshadow joy in their lives and the joy they can offer to others. They unfold a loving heart without seeking revenge. They aren't a door mat to be walked on, but realize we all make mistakes.

A person can begin to be defined as good when he or she is respectful of other human beings. Not just the ones that are near and dear to his/her heart, but to all of human kind. Respecting others is a great sign that this person cares about the who instead of about how it will make him/her look. It's called common decency and it is very rare these days.

Source: .khaleej Times