Good Character

Imam al Bayhaqi mentions in section on "Good Character" in the 77 branches of Faith ( abridged by Imam al Qazwini and translated by Abdul Hakim Murad):

."...When he deals with other people, he is tolerant when claiming what is his right, and does not ask for anything which is not; but he dischrges all duties that he hs towards others. When he falls ill or returns form a trip and no-one visits him, or when he gives a greeting which is not returned, or when he is a guest but is not honored, or intercedes but is not responded to, or does a good turn for which he is not thanked, or joins a group of people who do not make room for him to sit, or speaks and is not listened to, or asks permission of a friend to enter, and is not granted it, or proposes to a woman and is not allowed to marry her, or asks for more time to repay a debt, but is not given more time, or asks for it to be reduced , but is not permitted this, and all similar cases, he does not grow angry, or seek to punish people, or feel within himself that he has been snubbed or ignored, neither does he try to retaliate with the same treatment when able to do so, but instead tells himself that he does not mind any of these things, and responds to each of one of them with something, which is better and closer to goodness and piety, and is more praiseworthy and pleasing. He remembers to carry out this duties to theirs just as he remembers their duties towards himself, so that when of his Muslim brethren falls ills he visits him, if he is asked to intercede, he does so, if he is asked for a respite in repaying a debt he agrees,and if someone needs assistance he gives it, and if someone asks for a favorable terms in a sale, he consents, all without looking to see how the other person had dealt with him in the past, and to find out how other people behave. Instead he makes "what is better" the imam of his soul and obeys it completely."

How true is this quote....Many a times when we have a chance to do a favor upon someone our first instinct is that.." what about the time...he did this to me or she did that to me...".

May Allah give us the strength to follow what is said above!