On Good Character, Kindness and Anger — Hadith 14

14. Muḥammad ibn Sinān narrated from Ishāq ibn ʿAmmār who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘[Good] character is a gift that Allah bestows to whomever He wills from His creation. Some of it is a natural disposition and some of it is [adopted and] practiced intentionally. ’ I asked, ‘Which of these two is better? ’ He said, ‘The one who intends it is better. For verily the one who has a natural disposition is compelled to act that way and cannot behave in any other manner, whereas the one who voluntarily intends it makes himself remain patient in obedience [to Allah] and perseveres, so he is better. ’”