Al-Mundhiri recorded the following chapter in his book Al-Targhib wal-Tarhib:

الترغيب في الخلق الحسن وفضله والترهيب من الخلق السيئ وذمه

Inspiration to good character and its virtues, and discouragement of bad character and its vices.

Source: al-Targhīb wal-Tarhīb 3/402

Al-Nawwas ibn Sam’an reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

الْبِرُّ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَالإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ ‏‏

Righteousness is good character, and sin is what waivers in your heart and you hate for people to find out about it.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2553, Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ مِنْ خِيَارِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا

Verily, among the best of you are those with the best character.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3366, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Abu Darda reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا شَيْءٌ أَثْقَلُ فِي مِيزَانِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ خُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُبْغِضُ الْفَاحِشَ الْبَذِيءَ

Nothing is heavier upon the scale of the believer on the Day of Resurrection than good character. Verily, Allah hates the vulgar, obscene person.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2002, Grade: Sahih

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيُدْرِكُ بِحُسْنِ خُلُقِهِ دَرَجَةَ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ

Verily, the believer may reach by his good character the rank of one who regularly fasts and stands for prayer at night.

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4798Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “What admits most people into Paradise?” The Prophet said:

تَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ

Fear of Allah and good character.

It was asked, “What condemns most people to Hellfire?” The Prophet said:

الْفَمُ وَالْفَرْجُ

The mouth and the genitals.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2004, Grade: Sahih

Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُدْرِكُ بِحُسْنِ خُلُقِهِ دَرَجَةَ الْقَائِمِ بِاللَّيْلِ الظَّامِئِ بِالْهَوَاجِرِ

Verily, a man may reach by his good character the rank of one who stands for prayer at night, thirsty from fasting in the heat of day.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 7709, Grade: Hasan

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لِيُبَلِّغُ الْعَبْدَ بِحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ دَرَجَةَ الصَّوْمِ وَالصَّلَاةِ

Verily, Allah lets a servant achieve by his good character the rank of one who regularly fasts and prays.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 3982, Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ الْمُسَدِّدَ لَيُدْرِكُ دَرَجَةَ الصَّوَّامِ الْقَوَّامِ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِحُسْنِ خُلُقِهِ وَكَرَمِ ضَرِيبَتِهِ

Verily, the Muslim is directed in the right manner. He will rise to the level of one who regularly fasts and stands for prayer with the verses of Allah, due to his good character and his generous nature.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 6610, Grade: Sahih

Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَنَا زَعِيمٌ بِبَيْتٍ فِي رَبَضِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْمِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُحِقًّا وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي وَسَطِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْكَذِبَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَازِحًا وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ حَسَّنَ خُلُقَهُ

I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for one who leaves arguments even if he is right, and a house in the middle of Paradise for one who abandons lies even when joking, and a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who makes his character excellent.

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4800, Grade: Sahih

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ مِنْ أَحَبِّكُمْ إِلَيَّ وَأَقْرَبِكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَحَاسِنَكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا وَإِنَّ أَبْغَضَكُمْ إِلَيَّ وَأَبْعَدَكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الثَّرْثَارُونَ وَالْمُتَشَدِّقُونَ وَالْمُتَفَيْهِقُونَ

Verily, the most beloved and nearest to my gathering on the Day of Resurrection are those of you with the best character. Verily, the most reprehensible of you to me and the furthest from my gathering on the Day of Resurrection will be the pompous, the extravagant, and the pretentious.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we know the pompous and the extravagant, but who are the pretentious?” The Prophet said:

الْمُتَكَبِّرُونَ

The arrogant.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2018, Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَحَبِّكُمْ إِلَيَّ وَأَقْرَبِكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

Shall I tell you about the most beloved to me and the closest to my assembly on the Day of Resurrection?

They were silent, so the Prophet repeated himself two or three times. They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said:

أَحْسَنُكُمْ خُلُقًا

Those with the best character.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 6696, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَلا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخِيَارِكُمْ

Shall I not tell you about the best of you?

They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said:

أَطْوَلُكُمْ أَعْمَارًا وَأَحْسَنُكُمْ أَخْلاقًا

Those of you with the longest lives and the best character.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 489, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Usamah ibn Sharik reported: I saw bedouins ask the Prophet, saying, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the best thing a servant may be given?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

خُلُقٌ حَسَنٌ

Good character.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 3436, Grade: Sahih

Jabir ibn Samurah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ الْفُحْشَ وَالتَّفَحُّشَ لَيْسَا مِنْ الْإِسْلَامِ وَإِنَّ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ إِسْلَامًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا

Verily, obscenity and vulgarity are not part of Islam. Verily, the best people in Islam are those with the best character.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 20320, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: He said, “O Prophet of Allah, instruct me.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

اعْبُدِ اللَّهَ لا تُشْرِكْ بِهِ شَيْئًا

Worship Allah and associate nothing with him.

Mu’adh said, “O Prophet of Allah, tell me more.” The Prophet said:

إِذَا أَسَأْتَ فَأَحْسِنْ

If you do a bad deed, follow it with a good deed.

Mu’adh said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me more.” The Prophet said:

اسْتَقِمْ وَلْيَحْسُنْ خُلُقُكَ

Have integrity and make your character excellent.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 529, Grade: Hasan

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

اتَّقِ اللَّهِ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ وَأَتْبِعْ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ

Fear Allah wherever you are, follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will erase it, and behave with good character towards people.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1987, Grade: Sahih

‘Umayr ibn Qatadah reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, which prayer is best?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ

One finished with a long supplication.

The man said, “Which charity is best?” The Prophet said:

جُهْدُ الْمُقِلِّ

Great effort with little means.

The man said, “Which believers are most complete?” The Prophet said:

أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا

Those with the best character.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 13589, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would say:

اللَّهُمَّ أَحْسَنْتَ خَلْقِي فَأَحْسِنْ خُلُقِي

O Allah, as you have made my form excellent, make my character excellent.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 23871, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ أَحَبَّكُمْ إِلَيَّ أَحْسَنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا الْمُوَطَّئُونَ أَكْنَافًا الَّذِينَ يَأْلَفُونَ وَيُؤْلَفُونَ وَأَبْغَضَكُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَشَّاءُونَ بِالنَّمِيمَةِ الْمُفَرِّقُونَ بَيْنَ الْأَحِبَّةِ الْمُلْتَمِسُونَ لِلْبُرَآءِ الْعَنَتَ

Verily, the most beloved to me are those of you with the best character, soft in nature, friendly and befriended. The most hateful of you to Allah are those who spread talebearing and gossip, who cause discord between loved ones, seeking misery for the innocent.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 7693, Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi

In another narration, the Prophet said:

الْمُلْتَمِسُونَ لِلْبُرَآءِ الْعَنَتَ الْعَيْبَ

Seeking misery and finding faults with the innocent.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Ṣaghīr 837, Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَخِيَارُكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ لِنِسَائِهِمْ خُلُقًا

The most complete of believers in faith are those with the best character, and the best of you are the best in behavior to their women.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1162, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said:

خَيْرُكُمْ إِسْلَامًا أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا إِذَا فَقُهُوا

The best of you in Islam are those with the best character, if they have religious understanding.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 9880, Grade: Sahih

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ مِنْ أَكْمَلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَأَلْطَفُهُمْ بِأَهْلِهِ

Verily, the most complete of believers in faith are those with the best character and who are most kind to their families.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2612, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّكُمْ لا تَسَعُونَ النَّاسَ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَسَعُهُمْ مِنْكُمْ بَسْطُ الْوَجْهِ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ

Verily, you do not enrich the people with your wealth, but rather you enrich them with your cheerful faces and good character.

Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 7567, Grade: Sahih

Abu Tha’labah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ أَحَبَّكُمْ إِلَيَّ وَأَقْرَبَكُمْ مِنِّي فِي الآخِرَةِ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلاقًا وَإِنَّ أَبْغَضَكُمْ إِلَيَّ وَأَبْعَدَكُمْ مِنِّي فِي الآخِرَةِ أَسْوَؤُكُمْ أَخْلاقًا الْمُتَشَدِّقُونَ الْمُتَفَيْهِقُونَ الثَّرْثَارُونَ

Verily, the most beloved of you and closest to me in the Hereafter are those with the best character. Verily, the most hate of you and furthest from me in the Hereafter are those with the worst character: the boastful, the pompous, and the verbose.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 5673, Grade: Sahih

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحَاسِنُهُمْ أَخْلاقًا الْمُوَطَّئُونَ أَكْنَافًا الَّذِينَ يَأْلَفُونَ وَيُؤْلَفُونَ وَلَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لا يَأْلَفُ وَلا يُؤْلَفُ

The most complete of believers in faith are those with the best character, soft in nature, and are friendly and befriended. He is not one of us who is neither friendly, nor befriended.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 4559, Grade: Hasan