MORALS & ETHICS in Islam

HomeMORALS & ETHICS in Islam

MORALS according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary is defined as : [1] Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior [2]  expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior [3] conforming (compatible) to a standard of right behavior [4] sanctioned by or operative on one’s conscience or ethical judgment [5] capable of right or wrong action

ETHICS according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary is defined as : A set of moral principles ; a theory or system of moral values.

ISLAM agrees to the first three definitions of Morals mentioned in Merriam Webster’s dictionary, but does not accept the fourth and fifth definition because in Islam the very concept of creation of man is to be tested by the Creator, Al Mighty Allah by surrendering one’s will completely to all His Commands, in every sphere of life. Therefore, in Islam, morals involve one’s behavior in accordance with the belief in Allah as the Creator, Allah as The Best Law Giver, Allah as The Final Master to Judge all your deeds for Reward or Punishment. As such, for every Muslim anything that is defined as morals by anyone on the face of the earth in unacceptable as morals unless it is not in accordance with the Commands of Allah.

There are numerous teachings in the Glorious Qur’an and authentic sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ {SallAllahu Alaiyhi was Sallam meaning May Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon him} that deal with the subject of morals in life. A Muslim will challenge anyone to disprove with scientific understanding or rational approach or just reasoning that any one of these teachings of morals given by Allah in Qur’an and by Muhammad ﷺ in his authentic sayings and practices do not fit the best standards of morals. Let us study some of them.

The best teaching of morals according to some Muslim scholars can be found in at-least one Aayat of the Qur’an that is popularly known as Aayat ul Birr. Birr is an Arabic word which if translated to English would mean righteousness and we all know that righteousness is nothing but morals put in practice.

The Aayat ul Birr states : Al Qur’an : Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 177 : (Argument of) Righteousness / Superior Most Morals in not in turning your faces towards east or towards west (to worship), But, (fundamental most) Righteousness / Superior Most Morals is to Believe in Allah, in the Last Day (Accountability of all your deeds to Allah), in the Angels (of Allah), in the Books (of Allah) and the Prophets (of Allah) ; the righteous / of superior most morals are those who (from their wealth that they zealously love to keep, from that wealth) spend in charity to help the needy that are closest in relationships, spend upon the needy orphans, spend upon the needy beggars, spend upon those needy who ask for help and spend for freeing innocent captives ; are those who faultlessly establish regular obligatory daily (5 times) Prayers and pay the annual obligatory charity i.e. Zakaat ; who remain patient and persevering during times of hardships and during highly tensed just wars ; it is such who are true in their respective faiths and it is such mindful of Allah.

The above Aayat of the Al Qur’an from Sura Baqhra : 02 : 177, is the Foundation of Superior Morals in Islam.

In short, Islam does not identify and recognize anything as Morals that are rewardable or worthy of recompense, unless and until, they are For the Sake of Allah and by The Will of Allah. 

Let us understand some of the most popular theories of morals under the Islamic lens.

VIRTUE THEORY focuses on certain virtue specific traits that every person must have, but it is without a perfect definition of those virtues that must be universally acceptable suiting every society without being time and space bound. What must be a moral value to some societies may not be a moral value to others and therefore we need values that can be scientifically and rationally established as best for all societies at all times till eternity. Hence, Islamic morals stand the test of all times, therefore, they are claimed, superior to all.

DEONTOLOGY THEORY underlines the duty as a basis of moral category which can be seen as a right or wrong judgment. It does not look at the consequences of action. And, there are universal ethical actions that everyone must accept according to this theory. Hence, Islamic morals are based on Principles laid down by Allah through Qur’an and His Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, as such, deontology theory lacks the source deciding or dictating morals for human beings, therefore rejected by Muslims.

EGOISM THEORY defines three stages of ego in a person with seven basic characteristics. The three stages are : [i] Parent Ego State : in this behavior, thoughts and feelings are copied from parents or parental figures. [ii] Adult Ego State : in this behavior, thoughts and feelings are in direct response to the here and now itself. [iii] Child Ego State : in this behavior, thoughts and feelings are replayed from childhood. In all the above three ego stages during a person’s life, it is observed that at-least seven characteristics are commonly present. They are : selfish, pleaser, rebellious, master manipulator, critical and enabling. Being selfish makes a person ruthless, reckless and demanding always. Any of the above mentioned three stages of an ego state are basically against the very 

fundamental teachings of Islamic morals that are totally based on the Islamic Principles of Justice, donating in charity to others as much as one can and being altruistic always.

UTILITARIAN THEORY defines right from wrong based on its observation of the outcome. It is a form of consequentialism, wherein a moral is right if the consequences are good from a majority and bad if majority rejects and the consequences are not good. Islamic Morals do not depend on what others feel or what the consequences are but rather Islamic Morals focus on the values and Principles of a moral teaching irrespective of its outcome.

DIVINE COMMAND THEORY is the only moral theory that is not only supported by Islam but is also supported by Judaism and Christianity, based on its fundamental definition that morals are right and wrong in accordance with the Command of the Creator of Universe. This theory is in our times almost rejected globally as countries and their governments have decided to follow right and wrong based on their regions and ethnicities. 

Every action is Islam is basically based on five scales and therefore based on this scale you will find morals in Islam are decided. Those five scales are :

[i] OBLIGATORY / Fardz

[ii] RECOMMENDED / Sunnat e Mu’akkida or Waajib

[iii] PERMITTED   / Halaal

[iv] DISLIKED or DISCOURAGED / Makrooh       and

[v] FORBIDDEN / Haraam

Everything that is MORAL or IMMORAL and ETHICAL or UNETHICAL is based on the five scales mentioned above. Islam lays down governing principles for spiritual, mental, and physical behavior and morals that must be followed by all Muslims based on the above five scales.

Islam lays the maximum importance on Belief in Allah followed by Belief in The Judgment Day and the Belief in Muhammad ﷺ – The Last and Final Prophet and The Last and Final Messenger of Allah.

This is because, if a person is taught the best, yet the person may not be serious to act on good teachings unless the person is taught confirmed belief of an Al Mighty Creator Allah, to whom everyone is accountable whenever by His Divine Plan Allah resurrects mankind after their death and will hold every one of us accountable for not just every single act we did in this life but also for thoughts of the heart. Al Qur’an : Sura Bani Israel : 17 Aayat : 36 ; Sura Zilzaal : 99 Aayaat : 07, 08. 

This very belief will make a person absolutely conscious of all his/her actions during their lifetime and keep them morally good. Moreover, to solve the question eternally as to how to act good, Allah made His Last and Final Prophet and Messenger – Muhammad ﷺ as the best exemplar to follow as mentioned in Al Qur’an : Sura Ahzaab : 33 : Aayat : 21 ; Sura Nisa : 04 : Aayat : 65, 80. Wherever you live on earth and in whichever period of time you live, Allah has made the authentic teachings and practices of Muhammad ﷺ as best role model to be followed by both the men and women till eternity.

Based on the above explanation let us now learn a few Moral Teachings from Qur’an and Authentic Sayings of Muhammad ﷺ recorded in the books of Ahaadees (Ahaadees is the plural of Hadees and means the teachings of Muhammad ﷺ). 

At least in the early parts of the following passage the most important base of Moral & Ethics in Islam shall be presented, before moving to other subjects of the topic.

  • ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE IS OBLIGATORY IN ISLAM : ”Read (acquire Knowledge) in the Name of Your Cherisher Lord (Allah) who created you. Created you from a clot of blood. Read in the Name of your Cherisher Lord (Allah) The Most Generous. The One who Taught you (acquiring knowledge) by using the pen. Taught you knowledge which you never knew. Al Qur’an : Sura Alaqha : 96  Aayaat : 01 to 05. Muhammad ﷺ said in an authentic Hadees that Acquiring Knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim man and woman as recorded in Saheeh al Jaamey : Sheiqh Naasiruddin Albaani : Hadees : 3914 ; Yazeed ibn e Ma’ja’h : Hadees : 224.

 

  • MOST IMPORTANT KNOWLEDGE IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NAMES OF ALLAH : ”Read (acquire Knowledge) in the Name of Your Cherisher Lord (Allah) who created you. Created you from a clot of blood. Read in the Name of your Cherisher Lord (Allah) The Most Generous. The One who Taught you (acquiring knowledge) by using the pen. Taught you knowledge which you never knew. Al Qur’an : Sura Alaqha : 47 Aayaat : 01 to 05 ; Muhammad ﷺ said, “Allah has ninety-nine Names, one-hundred less one; and the one who memorized them all by heart (understanding their respective meaning) will enter Paradise.” Buqhari : Hadees : 7392

 

  • MUST CALL ALLAH ONLY BY HIS NAMES MENTIONED IN QUR’AN or AUTHENTIC HADEES : To Allah belong Asmaa ul Husnaa so Call Him only by those Asma aul Husnaa (Allah’s Most Beautiful Names mentioned in Qur’an and authentic Hadees); But distance yourself who distort His Names and shall be recompensed for what they have been doing . Al Qur’an : Sura Aaraaf : 07 Aayat : 180 ; Call upon Him (by the Name) Allah or Call Upon Him Ar Rahmaan, But remember To Him Alone belong Asmaa ul Husnaa (Allah’s Most Beautiful Names mentioned in Qur’an and authentic Hadees). Al Qur’an : Sura Bani Israel : 17 Aayat : 110

 

  • KNOWING BASIC INTRODUCTION OF ALLAH PERFECTLY IS A MUST : ”Know (Acquire True Knowledge) there is No God Except Allah…..”. Al Qur’an : Sura Muhammad ﷺ : 47 Aayat : 19 ; Allah Bears Witness that there is No God But Him (Allah Himself) and do His Angels and those endued with Knowledge bear same Witness (that) He is Maintaining (all His Creation) with Justice; There is No God Except Him and He is The Most Powerful in Might and The Most Wise. Al Qur’an : Sura Aal e Imran : 03 Aayat : 18 ; Say, “ He is Allah The Only One. Allah is As Samad (meaning – Allah does not need anyone but all need Him). Allah has no parents and no children (biological or otherwise). And there is None Like Allah. Al Qur’an : Sura Iqhlaas : 112 Aayat : 01 to 04 ; Allah besides whom there is No God, He is ever living (Allah has no beginning and no end) Ever Established (beyond time and space); slumber and sleep never approach Him; everything in Heavens and Earth (Universe) are His Ownership; who can dare intercede with Him without His Majestic Permission; He is fully aware of all that is before and behind you (past, present and future / known and unknown to mankind) and none can acquire anything in their knowledge except whatever and whenever He Wills to give in their knowledge; His Stool Spreads all over the Heavens and the Earth and it does not fatigue Him to Guard it and He is Majestically Supreme and Above all His Creation (in Person as befits His Majestic Glory). Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 255

 

  • MUST LOVE ALLAH THE MOST : ”…..Believers (Muslim men and women) Love Allah Extremely The Most…..”. Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 165

 

  • WORST OF ALL BELIEFS & DEEDS : Allah does not Forgive that partners should be set up with Him in His Godhood; but He forgives anything else, to whomever He pleases; to associate partners with Allah in His Godhood is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 48 ; Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly gone far astray. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 116 ;  Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help. Al Qur’an : Sura Ma’ida : 05 Aayat : 72 ; “………And do not believe and Say, Trinity – God The Father, The Son & Holy Ghost to be One and equal, Cease belief and claim in Trinity for abstaining it is better for you; Verily Allah is The Only One God; Glory be to Him for being absolutely free from having a son; everything in Heavens and earth are His Property and enough is Allah to Advocate the Claim”. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 171 ; And they (Christians) boast Ar Rahmaan (meaning The Most Gracious) has begotten (fathering through human reproductive process) a son (Jesus). It’s the most monstruous claim they make. (If made to understand their belief then) Heavens will fall upon them, earth will split asunder (to swallow them alive) and the mountains will fall to utter ruin; for they falsely claimed that Ar Rahmaan (meaning The Most Gracious) has begotten a son (Jesus). It is against the Majesty of Ar Rahmaan (meaning The Most Gracious) to take a son unto Himself. Everything in Heavens and the earth shall return to Him (in Hereafter) but only as His Slave / Servant. Al Qur’an : Sura Maryam : 19 Aayaat : 88 to 93

 

  • MUST LOVE MUHAMMAD ﷺ AFTER ALLAH THE MOST : ”The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves…..”. Al Qur’an : Sura Ahzaab : 33 Aayat : 06 ; Muhammad ﷺ said, “None of you (Muslims) truly have Faith (Eemaan) unless you love me more than your father, children and rest of mankind”. Buqhari : Ahaaadees : 14, 15

 

  • NONE SHALL BE LOVED EQUAL TO ALLAH, MUHAMMAD ﷺ AND STRIVING FOR ISLAM : Say to them (O Muhammad ﷺ), ‘Whether it be their parents, their children, their brothers and sisters, their husbands or their wives, their relatives or their friends, their wealth that they have collected  as property, assets or bank balances, their business and their jobs that they fear a loss in it and their homes in which they love to live; if these (8 things) are more in love to them than Allah, His Messenger – Muhammad ﷺ and striving in the Way of Islam, then Wait till Allah brings about His Punishment over them; And Allah does not love rebellious (Muslim) people. Al Qur’an : Sura Tauba : 09 Aayat : 24

 

  • MUST LOVE WIVES OF MUHAMMAD ﷺ LIKE THEIR MOTHERS : ”…….Prophet’s wives are (for Muslims) their mothers (in love and respect)…..”. Al Qur’an : Sura Ahzaab : 33 Aayat : 06

 

  • LOVE & CARE FOR PARENTS  : ”……. and that you be very kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age during your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms very honorable. And, out of kindness, lower to them the shoulders in humbleness (when standing before them), and say: “My Lord! bestow on them Your Mercy even as they cherished me in my childhood”. Al Qur’an : Sura Bani Israel : 17 Aayaat : 23, 24 ; And We have enjoined upon man [affectional care] for his parents. His/her mother carried him/her, [increasing herself during entire pregnancy] in weakness upon weakness, and his/her weaning period is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] return. Al Qur’an : Sura Luqhman : 31 Aayaat : 14 ; We have enjoined on man/woman kindness to their parents: In pain did his/her mother bear him/her, and in pain did she give him/her birth. The carrying of the (child) to his/her weaning is (a period of) thirty months. Al Qur’an : Sura Ahqhaaf : 46 Aayaat : 15 ; A man came to Muhammad ﷺ and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your mother.” The man said. “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man further said, “Who is next?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your mother.” The man asked for the fourth time, “Who is next?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your father.” Buqhari : Hadees : 5971 ; Muhammad ﷺ said, “The father is the middle door of Paradise (i.e. the best way to Paradise), so it is up to you whether you take advantage of it or not.” Yazeed Ibn e Ma’jah : Hadees : 3663

 

  • LOVE & CARE FOR OUR BLOOD RELATIVES  : ”……. Blood-relations among each other have closer personal ties, in the Decree of Allah; Than (the Brotherhood of) other Muslims…..”. Al Qur’an : Sura Ahzaab : 33 Aayat : 06

 

  • LOVE & CARE FOR OTHER MUSLIMS  : And if two factions among the Muslims should fight, then make settlement between the two factions. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until the unjust faction returns to the Order of Allah. And if the unjust faction returns (to Order of Allah), then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. The Muslims are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive Mercy. Al Qur’an : Sura Hujuraat : 49 Aayaat : 09, 10

 

  • PERFECT BELIEF THAT MUHAMMAD ﷺ LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU LOVE YOURSELF OR OTHERS LOVE YOU : Now has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over your affairs: to the Muslims, he is most kind and merciful. Al Qur’an : Sura Tauba : 09 Aayat : 128

 

  • DECISION MADE BY MUHAMMAD ﷺ SHALL BE ACCEPTED WITH FULLEST CONVICTION : But no, by the Lord (Allah), they can have no (real) Faith, until they make you  (Muhammad ﷺ) final  judge in all the matters of their life and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions and accept your decisions with their fullest conviction. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 65

 

  • ACT GOOD BEFORE YOU PREACH : O you Muslims why do you preach that which you do not (yourself act upon). Al Qur’an : Sura Saff : 61 Aayat : 02

 

  • DO NOT PURSUE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE : And pursue not of which you have no knowledge for surely your sight, your hearing and your thoughts will be questioned. Al Qur’an : Sura Bani Israel : 17 Aayat : 36

 

  • DO NOT REACT WITHOUT VERIFYING AUTHENTICITY OF A NEWS : O you Muslims if a wicked person (or a doubtful source) brings you a news then verify before you react lest you harm a people and later regret for harm caused to others in ignorance. Al Qur’an : Sura Hujuraat : 49 Aayat : 06

 

  • DO NOT BACKBITE or LAY ALLEGATIONS AGAINST INNOCENTS : May every backbiting slanderer and every falsely charging alleger be destroyed utterly Al Qur’an : Sura Humuzah : 104 Aayat : 01 ; “…… nor backbite; would any one of you like to eat the flesh from your dead brother’s body; Nay ! you abhor it.” Al Qur’an : Sura Hujuraat : 49 Aayat : 12 ; And whoever commits a sin and blames an innocent for the same has surely earned a manifest sin shall surely bare the burden of slander and a flagrant sin. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 112 ; Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that on Day of Judgment, Allah shall Call one of His Slave and say that you have in this life laid a false allegation against one of My Slave. So now prove the allegation and enter My Paradise. But, as the allegation was false, therefore this person will not be able to prove it. Then Allah will Call the angels and ask them to pull this slave on his / her face and throw them in a well in that place of the Hell which is called as Rad-ghat-il Qhabaal  and this well has walls and roof of Blazing Hell Fire while instead of water it shall contain boiling blood and pus that came in this well flowing from the private parts of the male and female fornicators and adulterers being punished in another place of the Hell. Now when this person feels hungry and thirsty, angels will forcefully pour down his / her mouth this boiling blood and pus and force him / her to swallow it and when he cries out for the filth and unbearable foul smell, then the angels of Allah say to this person that the allegation he / she made against the innocent in this life were more abhorrible in the Sight of Allah. This Hadees is recorded in Sheiqh Nasirddin Albaani’s : Mujammi-ul Jaami-us Saheeh : Hadees : 6196

 

  • DO NOT LOOK DOWN UPON OTHERS : O you Muslims ! Let not some men among you laugh at others nor let some of your (Muslim) women laugh at others for may be the latter are better (in the Sight of Allah) than the former ; and do not insult one another and do not call each other with offensive names; it is unfitting after believing in Islam to call ridiculous names and those who do not desist are certainly wrongdoing sinners. Al Qur’an : Sura Hujuraat : 49 Aayat : 11. Muhammad ﷺ said, “It is one of the greatest sins that a man should curse his parents.” It was asked (by the people), “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! How does a man curse his parents?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “‘The man abuses the father of another man and the latter abuses the father of the former and abuses his mother.” Buqhari : Hadees : 5973

 

  • AVOID SUSPICION AND SPYING OTHERS : “O you Muslims ! Avoid suspicion / negative assumption as much as possible for in some cases suspicion / negative assumptions are wrong leading to you committing sin and spy not on each other behind their backs….”. Al Qur’an : Sura Hujuraat : 49 Aayat : 12

 

  • FOUR EYE WITNESSES BEFORE ALLEGING AGAINST A WOMAN’s MODESTY : And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four eye witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-. Al Qur’an : Sura Noor : 24 Aayat : 04 ; Those who slander chaste women, indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter; For such is a grievous Penalty. On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions. Al Qur’an : Sura Noor : 24 Aayaat : 23, 24. The Islamic Law is that unless four eye witnesses (and not video recording or sting operation) do not testify to have seen the heinous sin committed, then till then they shall not open their mouths. Even if three people saw and want to talk about the woman’s sin in front of others then based on the Command of Allah in the above-mentioned Aayat of the Qur’an, all these three eye witnesses will be flogged eighty stripes each for opening the mouth without fulfilling the condition laid down by Allah to talk about the sin of that woman in front of others. MOREOVER, mind me, this is not related to rape committed against a woman, where Islam demands four eye witnesses. The condition of four eye witnesses is, when a woman commits the sin of fornication / adultery and still Allah wants to protect her dignity giving her a chance to repent to Allah. In cases of rape the standard of time will be followed and, in our times, based on scientific evidences or forensic evidences the rapist will be dealt with. 

 

  • DO NOT THINK NEGATIVE ABOUT OTHER MUSLIMS : So, why did not the Muslim men and women, when they heard of the affair (immodest news concerning any other Muslim man or woman) think good about other Muslims and rejected the news of the affair saying, ‘This is falsehood’.  Al Qur’an : Sura Noor : 24 Aayat : 12

 

  • DO NOT SPREAD IMMORALITY specially AMONG MUSLIMS : Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized or broadcast] among Muslims will have a painful Punishment in this world and in Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know.  Al Qur’an : Sura Noor : 24 Aayat : 19

 

  • DO NOT SPREAD FAKE NEWS : Behold, ye received it on your tongues and kept passing on to others, and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light / an insignificant matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.  Al Qur’an : Sura Noor : 24 Aayat : 15

 

  • SEVERTY OF THE CRIME OF MURDER : Allah said He warned the Children of Israel against committing murder and the same applies to Muslims till eternity. In the sight of Allah, murdering an innocent (Muslim or Non Muslim) is punishable equal to murdering entire mankind and saving the life of an innocent (Muslim or Non Muslim) is rewardable equal to saving the life of entire mankind.  Al Qur’an : Sura Ma’ida : 05 Aayat : 32 ; And the seriousness of a Muslim deliberately murdering another (innocent) Muslim will make the murderer Muslim not to enter Heaven. ” It is not lawful for a believer to kill another except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer unintentionally must free a believing slave and pay blood-money to the victim’s family—unless they waive it charitably. But if the victim is a believer from a hostile people, then a believing slave must be freed. And if the victim is from a people bound with you in a treaty, then blood-money must be paid to the family along with freeing a believing slave. Those who are unable, let them fast two consecutive months—as a means of repentance to Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. And whoever kills a believer intentionally, their reward will be Hell—where they will stay as if indefinitely. Allah will be displeased with them, condemn them, and will prepare for them a tremendous punishment.” Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 92, 93. Muhammad ﷺ said, “ When two Muslims fight (meet) each other with their swords, both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to the Hell-fire.’ I said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! It is all right for the murderer but what about the murdered one?’ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, “He surely had the intention to kill his companion.” Buqhari : Hadees : 31

 

  • DO NOT BRIBE : Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, nor deliberately bribe authorities in order to devour a portion of others’ property, knowing that it is a sin. Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 188

 

  • DO NOT FORCE GIRLS / WOMEN INTO PROSTITUTION : Slavery was common at the time of Prophet[s] and slave men and slave women were treated much worse than animals. Slave girls / slave women were forced by their respective masters to commit prostitution and the masters made it a source of their income to earn by forcing their slave girls and slave women into prostitution. Under these circumstances, Allah Commanded not to force the slave girls (leave alone forcing free women) into prostitution and made it clear that those girls/women forced into prostitution will not receive the sin of fornication/adultery/prostitution. “……Do not force your ˹slave˺ girls into prostitution for your own worldly gains while they wish to remain chaste. And if someone forces them (to commit prostitution), then after such a coercion Allah is certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful to those girls / women forced into prostitution against their will”. Al Qur’an : Sura Noor : 24 Aayat : 33

 

  • CARING THE ORPHANS : Give orphans their wealth ˹when they reach maturity˺, and do not exchange your worthless possessions for their valuables, nor cheat them by mixing their wealth with your own. For this would indeed be a great sin. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 02. And do not give the weak-minded (orphans under your care) your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you, but provide for them with it and clothe them and speak to them words of appropriate kindness. Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them; but consume it not wastefully, nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well-off, let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When ye release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence: But all-sufficient is Allah in taking account. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 05, 06

 

  • CHEATING TO EARN : O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allāh is to you ever Merciful. Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 29

 

  • SIN OF COMMITTING SUICIDE : “……And cause not your destruction with your own hands….”. Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 195. Muhammad ﷺ said, “A man was inflicted with wounds and he committed suicide, and so Allah said: My slave has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for him”. Buqhari : Hadees : 1363, 1364. “…..and whoever commits suicide with something, will be punished with the same thing in the (Hell) Fire; and cursing a believer is like murdering him; and whoever accuses a believer of disbelief, then it is as if he had killed him.” Buqhari : Hadees : 6652

 

  • IMPORTANCE OF BEING THE FOLLOWER OF ISLAM : Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (companionship of the) Muslims (the qualities of such Muslims are) those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (to worship Allah Alone). And whosoever takes Allâh, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as friends, then the party of Allâh will be the victorious. Al Qur’an : Sura Ma’ida : 05 Aayat : 55, 56. “Muhammad ﷺ said, “…… I am not afraid that you will worship others besides Allah, but I am afraid that worldly life will tempt you and cause you to compete with each other for it”. Buqhari : Hadees : 4042. Muhammad ﷺ said, “Do not hate each other; do not envy each other; do not desert each other; and be the servants of Allah as brethren. It is not allowed for a Muslim to keep apart from his brother for more than three days”. Abu Da’wood : Hadees : 4910

 

  • BENEFITS OF BEING ACTIVELY RELIGIOUS & SOLUTION FOR DEPRESSED LIFE : Muslims have the highest belief in oneness, a German study has found, with higher levels of belief in oneness corresponding to higher levels of satisfaction with life, according to the researchers. More than 67,000 people in Germany participated in a study by the University of Mannheim which looked at the correlation between oneness beliefs and life satisfaction. The study, published by the American Psychological Association, proved the hypothesis of the main researcher, Laura Marie Erdinger-Schon, that oneness beliefs might explain people’s life satisfaction better than religion. a 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that participants who described themselves as “highly religious” were also more likely to say they were “very happy” with life. This article was published in The New Arab I 14–April-2019 (https://www.newarab.com/news/muslims-have-highest-life-satisfaction-due-oneness). People who are active in religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged than either religiously unaffiliated adults or inactive members of religious groups, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of survey data from the United States and more than two dozen other countries. Religiously active people also tend to smoke and drink less….. Here are five findings about the relationship between religion and health, happiness and civic engagement: [i] Actively religious people are more likely than their less-religious peers to describe themselves as “very happy” [ii] There is not a clear connection between religiosity and the likelihood that people will describe themselves as being in “very good” overall health [iii]  the actively religious are generally less likely than the unaffiliated to smoke and drink [iv] People who attend religious services at least monthly often are more likely than “nones” to join other types of (nonreligious) organizations, such as charities and clubs [v] The actively religious generally are more likely than others to vote. The Pew Research Center I 31–January–2019 (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/31/are-religious-people-happier-healthier-our-new-global-study-explores-this-question/). “Those who believe (in Allah), and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without an iota of doubt in the remembrance of Allah the hearts find satisfaction. Al Qur’an : Sura R’ad : 13 Aayat : 28. And whoever turns away from My remembrance (from Remembrance of Allah, then), indeed, he/she will have a life of depression, and (moreover) on Day or Resurrection We will gather [i.e., raise] him/her blind”. Al Qur’an : Sura Ta’ah : 20 Aayat : 124

 

  • THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS LIFE : He (is Allah) Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving Al Qur’an : Sura Mulk : 67 Aayat : 02.  And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. Al Qur’an : Sura Zaariyaat : 51 Aayat : 56. Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned Al Qur’an : Sura Ambiya : 21 Aayat : 35.

 

  • CORRECT VALUE OF THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD : Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children – like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allāh and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion. Al Qur’an : Sura Hadeed : 57 Aayat : 20. Those who took their religion as distraction and amusement and whom the worldly life deluded”. Al Qur’an : Sura Aaraaf : 07 Aayat : 51 So today We will forget them just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and for having rejected Our verses. Every living being shall taste death: And only on Day of Judgment you will receive full recompensate (of deeds done in this life). Only he who is saved from the Fire of Hell and admitted to the Garden of Paradise will have attained the main objective (of Life): Surely everything in the life of this world is but goods and belongings of deception. Al Qur’an : Sura Aal e Imran : 03 Aayat : 185

 

  • IMPORTANCE OF BEING GOOD TO NEIGHBOR : How easily and commonly we find the neighbors unhappy with the behavior of their respective neighbors. Most commonly is the wrong parking of vehicles, playing loud music and many similar things that put the neighbors in uncomforted zone with the other neighbor. Islam has some very serious teachings concerning the rights of the neighbors and how well they are to be taken care of and affectionately treated, irrespective whether they are Non-Muslims or Muslims. Muhammad ﷺ said, “By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer.” It was asked, “Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “One whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil”. Riyaz us Saaliheen : Hadees : 305. Muhammad ﷺ said, “A person whose neighbors are not safe from his/her evil will not enter the Garden of Paradise”. Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 121. Muhammad ﷺ said, “Jibarayeel (Gabriel) kept on instructing good treatment of the neighbor unless I thought he would make neighbors heirs (as a Command of Allah)”. Yazeed Ibn e Ma’jah : Hadees : 3674.  Muhammad ﷺ said, “Abu Dzhar if you cook some stew then cook a greater quantity and fulfil your duty towards your neighbor”. Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 114. A sheep was slaughtered for ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr. He asked his slave, “Have you given any to our Jewish neighbor? 

 

  • Have you given any to our Jewish neighbor? I heard the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad ﷺ say,”Jibrayeel kept on recommending that I treat my neighbors well until I thought that he would order me to treat them as my heirs”. Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 105. Aay’isha (r) said, “I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, I have two neighbours. To whom should I give my gifts?’ He replied, ‘To the one whose door is nearer to you”. Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 107. Ibn ‘Umar(r) said, “There was a time when no one was more entitled to a person’s money than his Muslim brother. Now people love their dirhams and dinars more than their Muslim brother. I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘How many a neighbour will be brought together with his neighbour on the Day of Rising! He will say, “Lord, this man closed his door to me and refused to show me common kindness!” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 111. Hasan(r) said, “I remember a time among the Muslims when their men would shout (to remind their families), ‘O family! O family! (Look after) your orphan! Your orphan! O family! O family! (Look after) your orphan! Your poor person! Your poor person! O family! O family! (Look after) your neighbour! Your neighbour!’ Time has been swift in taking the best of you while every day you become baser.” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 139. Hasan(r) was asked about the neighbor and he said, “The term ‘neighbor’ includes the forty houses in front of a person, the forty houses behind him, the forty houses on his right and the forty houses on his left.”  Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 109. Al-Miqdad (r) reported that Muhammad ﷺ, asked his Companions about zina – fornication / adultery and they said, “It is unlawful. Allah and His Messenger have made it unlawful.” Then Muhammad ﷺ said, “It is less serious for a man to fornicate with ten women than for him to fornicate with his neighbor’s wife.” Then he asked them about stealing. They replied, “It is unlawful. Allah and His Messenger have made it unlawful.” Muhammad ﷺ said, “It is less serious for a man to steal from ten houses than it is for him to steal from his neighbor’s house.” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Buqhari : Hadees : 103

 

  • BE MODERATE : And be moderate in your pace, and lower your voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass / donkey. Al Qur’an : Sura Luqhmaan : 31 Aayat : 19. Thus, We have made you (Muslims) an Ummat (Community) justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 143. “…..Allah does not like the spendthrift”. Al Qur’an : Sura An’am : 06 Aayat : 141 ; Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayâtîn (devils), and the Shaitân (Satan / Devil) is ever ungrateful to his Lord (Allah). Al Qur’an : Sura Isra’ : 17 Aayat : 27. Undoubtedly Allah doth know what they conceal, and what they reveal: verily He does not love the proudly arrogant. Al Qur’an : Sura Nahal : 16 Aayat : 23. “Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou canst not rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height”. Al Qur’an : Sura Isra’ : 17 Aayat : 37

 

  • DO NOT COMMIT FORNICATION / ADULTERY : Allah said, “And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a path to tread on”. Al Qur’an : Sura Bani Israel : 17 Aayat : 32. “….and do not commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever shall do it will certainly receive punishment”. Al Qur’an : Sura Furqhaan : 25 Aayat : 68.  Islam permits and allows sexual activity and sexual intercourse only between opposite sexes and that too only when they, i.e., the man and woman perfectly fulfil the conditions of marriage (Nikaah in Arabic), to become husband and wife, in accordance with the teachings of Muhammad ﷺ. Otherwise, any physical relationship except the above-mentioned condition in Islam is called Zina i.e., fornication or adultery which is considered in Islam as illegal according to the Islamic Law / Islamic Shari’at and attracts public punishment of 100 thrashes / flogs each to both unmarried bachelor (male) and bachelorette / spinster (female) who indulged in sexual activity without being husband and wife according to the Islamic concept of marriage called Nikaah. Allah Commanded in the Qur’an, “The woman and the man guilty of zina / fornication, flog each of them with a hundred stripes; Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter Decreed by Allah, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment. Al Qur’an : Sura Noor : 24 Aayat : 02. As compared to this the punishment in Islam to a person, a man or a woman, who is married and then indulges in sex except with their respective spouse to whom he or she is married is very severe and attracts capital punishment. As is learnt from the punishment that Muhammad ﷺ ordered, it is recorded, “A man from the tribe of Aslam came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and confessed that he had committed an illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet (ﷺ) turned his face away from him till the man bore witness against himself four times. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, “Are you mad?” He said “No.” He said, “Are you married?” He said, “Yes.” Then the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that he be stoned to death, and he was stoned to death at the Musalla. When the stones troubled him, he fled, but he was caught and was stoned till he died. The Prophet (ﷺ) spoke well of him and offered his funeral prayer”. Buqhari : Hadees : 6820. Other Ahaadees (teachings of Muhammad ﷺ) to the same effect are recorded in Buqhari : Ahaadees : 6812 to 6819 ; 6824 to 6830 ; 6835, 6836 ; 6840 to 6843. 

 

  • WEAR EXCELLENT CLOTHES especially WHEN PRAYING ALLAH : Allah said, “O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful clothing at every time and place/s of worshipping (Allah): eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters. Say, “Who has forbidden the beautification of [that is permitted from] Allāh and which He has produced for His servants (Muslims in particular as they believe everything is from Allah Alone) and the good [lawful] things of provision?” Say, “They are for those (Muslims) who believed during the life of this world, exclusively [for them] on the Day of Resurrection.” Thus do We detail the Aayaat for a people who have knowledge.”. Al Qur’an : Sura Aaraaf : 07 Aayat : 31, 32. O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal / to cover and hide your private parts and as beautification. But the clothing of righteousness – that is best. That is from the Signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember. O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, satan sees you, satan and his group / tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the Satan / devils allies to those who do not believe. Al Qur’an : Sura Aaraaf : 07 Aayat : 27

 

  • WRITE DOWN TRANSACTIONS : Allah said, “O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If they party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (For evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether it be small or big: it is just in the sight of Allah, more suitable as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves, there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witness whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So, fear Allah; For it is Good that He teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things. If ye are on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, a pledge with possession (may serve the purpose). And if one of you deposits a thing on trust with another, let the trustee (faithfully) discharge his trust, and let him Fear his Lord conceal not evidence; for whoever conceals it, – his heart is tainted with sin. And Allah knows all that ye do”. Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 282

 

  • INTEREST ECONOMY IS CURSED : Allah said, “And if you do not (give up interest based transactions / economy), then be informed of a War [against you] from Allāh and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal – [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged. Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 279. Muhammad ﷺ said that ten categories of people indulging in different grades of interest dealings (like giving, taking, witnessing etc.) shall be punished with seventy different grades of Punishments (by Allah) and the least of the punishment will be equal to the sin of committing illegals sexual intercourse (incest) with own (biological) mother. Yazeed Ibn e Ma’jah : Hadees : 2274. This punishment according to learned men of Islam may for the one who overheard anyone (even may be strangers totally unknown) dealing in an interest economy and this Muslim who overheard the conversation did not approach to atleast politely tell them that Allah the Creator of Universe has forbidden interest based transactions and economy (irrespective of their response when warned to Fear Allah The Creator), then such a Muslim who neglected his / her duty of conveying the Message of Allah concerning interest based transaction / economy will be treated as a witness if that transaction happens that this person overheard and on Day of Judgment such a Muslim will be punished as though committed incest with own mother. Wallah u Aalam  (And Allah Knows Best).

 

  • BEING KIND TO THE DEBTOR : Allah said, “And if the debtor / borrower is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him / her time till it is easy for him to repay, but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know”. Al Qur’an : Sura Baqhra : 02 Aayat : 280. In an authentic Hadees, said that if the person who has lent money does not receive back the money on the time stipulated in the transaction by the borrower and then the one who lent gives time to the borrower to return (considering the difficulty of the borrower to return), then every passing day after that would bring to the one who lent money without interest, a reward like giving in charity that same amount on that extra passing day. 

 

  • AVOIDING THE IGNORANT : Allah said, “And the (faithful) Slaves of Ar Rahmaan meaning the Most Gracious (Allâh) are those who walk on the earth in humility and soberness, and when the ignorant / arrogant address them (with bad / abusive words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.”. Al Qur’an : Sura Furqhaan : 25 Aayat : 63. “And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, “For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace be upon you; we seek not the (way of the) ignorant”. Al Qur’an : Sura Qhasas : 28 Aayat : 55

 

  • BE TRUSTWORTHY and FULFIL PROMISES : Allah said, “Yes ! whoever fulfils his promises and fears Allâh much; verily, then Allâh loves those who are pious (Al-Muttaqûn)”. Al Qur’an : Sura Aal e Imran : 03 Aayat : 76. “Verily! Allâh commands that you should render back the trusts to those to whom they are due…” Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 58

 

  • JUSTICE IS MUST AT ANY COST : Allah said, “O ye who believe (Muslims) ! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), in case ye distort justice, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.” Al Qur’an : Sura Nisa : 04 Aayat : 135. The English translation of this Aayat of the Qur’an in extolled on the entrance gate of the Law College of Harvard University in U.S.A., considering it to be the best definition to explain the execution of justice.

 

  • BEST IN speech THE SIGHT OF ALLAH : Allah said, “And who is more better in speech than the person (man or woman) inviting mankind to Allah, performing good deeds and uprightly proclaiming, ‘I am from the Muslims’”. Al Qur’an : Sura Fussilat : 41 Aayat : 33
Begin typing your search above and press return to search.