There has always been a debate about our natural inclination to do good or bad. Is our natural character good or bad?
What we know from the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is as follow:
“I was sent to perfect good character.” [Reported by Abu Hurayra, ref. Book 14 Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith 273]
In this short video, Sh. Abdul Aziz Climie explains, using a little story, how we have to perfect our character through Islamic teachings.
Indeed our nature is good, but our environment corrupts it. Hence our Prophet was sent to us to teach us how to be better Muslims.
His teachings are a reminder of how we should behave islamically even in our modern societies.
As well we have to ponder on the notion of “Fitrah” in the Quran:
“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.” [Surah Ar-Rum 30:30]
Allah creates each individual with purity, and the Muslim parents have the duty to save and cultivate this Fitrah by teaching their children good manners.
Later on when the child becomes an adult, he/she has to constantly strive to be better.
Same applies to new Muslims who have to learn about the good character of righteous Muslims