Islam is a comprehensive way of life, and morality is one of the cornerstones of Islam. Morality is one of the fundamental sources of a nation’s strength, just as immorality is one of the main causes of a nation’s decline. Islam has established some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed in all circumstances. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Verily, Allah orders justice and benevolence and giving to relatives and He forbids immorality and bad conduct and transgression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” (Surat al-Nahl 16:90)
Moral values can be a set of standards and principles which come from different sources. The Islamic moral system stems from its primary creed of belief in One God as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Islam considers the human race to be a part of God’s creation, and as His subjects. Morality stipulates for man a system of life that is based on all good and is free from all evil. Allah says:
إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ
“They are nothing but names you have named, you and your forefathers, for which Allah has not revealed any authority. They follow nothing but assumption and what their souls desire, yet there has already come to them guidance from their Lord.” (Surat al-Najm 53:23)
Morality in Islam addresses every aspect of a Muslim’s life, from greetings to international relations. It is universal in its scope and in its applicability. Morality reigns in selfish desires, vanity, and bad habits. Muslims must not only be virtuous, but they must also enjoin virtue. They must not only refrain from evil and vice, but they must also forbid them. Allah says:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَاسْتَقِيمُوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ
“Say: I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your god is one God, so take a straight path to him and seek his forgiveness.” (Surat Fussilat 41:6)
The moral code of Islam covers the smallest details of domestic life as well as the broad aspects of national and international behaviour. It guides us in every stage of life. These regulations imply the widest application of moral principles in the affairs of our life and make us free from exclusive dependence on any other source of knowledge, except as an aid to this primary source.
Here are some Core Morals Values in Islam:
- Islam covers his life at home and in society
- Islam also furnishes good and evil conduct
- Islam covers his life at home and in society
- Islam does not base our knowledge of evil
- Islam taking care of orphans and the poor
- Islam provides an effective moral system
- Islam set life which is free from all evil
- Islam provides legal safeguards
- Islam treating all people fairly
- Islam guarantee in a system
- Islam calls to eradicate vice
- Islam set the rights for humanity
- Islam ensures that the affairs of life
- Islam treat all people in a fair manner
- Islam teaches us about good and bad
- Islamic culture is how we should behave
- Islam also furnishes good and evil conduct
- Islam is the key to virtue and good conduct
- Islam dealing with parents in the best manner
- Islam respect the rights of those who are absent
Morality encourages people not only to practice virtue but also to establish virtue and eradicate vice, to bid good and to forbid wrong. It wants that their verdict of conscience should prevail, and virtue must be subdued to play second fiddle to evil.
Quranic Verses on Islamic Values and Morals:
- “If anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people” (Quran 5:32)
- “Say: Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for God, the Lord of the worlds.” (Quran 6:162)
- “The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, but only he (will prosper) that brings to God a sound heart.” (Quran: 26:88-89)
- “And ask forgiveness of your Lord, then repent towards Him surely my Lord is Merciful, loving- kind.” (Quran 11:90)
- “And (Allah gave to the Soul) its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right…” (Quran, 91:8)
- “Indeed, the most honourable among you in the sight of God is the most pious.” (Quran 49:13)
Moral values help us to judge a person and his nature, behaviour and character. The Quran, recognizing the complementarity between the two, asserts that human conduct and aspirations have relevance as acts of faith within the wider human, social and cultural contexts. It is in this sense that the idea that Islam embodies a total way of life can best be understood. Allah says:
وَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Your God is one God. There is no God but Him, the Gracious, the Merciful.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:163)
Morality in Islam addresses every aspect of a Muslim’s life, from greetings to international relations. It is universal in its scope and in its applicability. Islam has set the highest possible standard of morality.
Core Religious Practice of Islam: The Five “Pillars” of Islam
- The Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)
- Establishing regular prayers (Salah)
- Paying Charity (Zakah)
- Fasting the (lunar) month of Ramadan (Sawm)
- Pilgrimage (Hajj)
The short span of worldly life is really an opportunity to prepare for that great test. In this life, all efforts of man should be centred on the object of soliciting the Pleasure and Blessings of God in the Hereafter. During this test, every person is responsible for all his beliefs and actions. He, with all his faculties and potentialities, is on trial.
Core Islamic Beliefs: Six Articles of Faith
- Belief in One God
- Belief in Angels
- Belief in Prophets of God
- Belief in Revealed Books of God
- Belief in Day of Judgment
- Belief in Destiny and Divine Decree
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ
“Worship Allah and associate nothing with him, and be good to parents and relatives.” (Surat al-Nisa 4:36)
There is no sphere of life that is exempt from the universal and comprehensive application of the moral principles of Islam. It makes morality reign supreme and ensures that the affairs of life, instead of being dominated by selfish desires and petty interests, should be regulated by the norms of morality. It stipulates for man a system of life that is based on all good and is free from all evil. Allah says:
الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
“The wealth and children (are) adornment (of) the life (of) the world. But the enduring good deeds (are) better near your Lord (for) reward and better (for) hope.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46)
Core Teachings of Prophet Muhammad
Classical scholars of Islam have condensed the teachings of Prophet Muhammad into a few statements. These comprehensive statements touch every aspect of our lives. Some of them are:
- One should not harm himself or others
- Actions are judged by the intention behind them
- God is Pure and does not accept anything unless it is pure
- Don’t be concerned with what people have, and they will love you
- God has commanded the faithful with what He commanded the prophets
- Don’t let your focus in this life be to amass worldly gain and God will love you
- Part of a person’s good observance of Islam is to leave aside what does not concern him
- A person cannot be a complete believer unless he loves for his brother what he loves for himself
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ
“The believers are those who do not call upon another god alongside Allah or kill the soul which Allah has made sacred except by right of justice.” (Surat al-Furqan 25:68)
Morality in Islam addresses every aspect of a Muslim’s life, from greetings to international relations. It is universal in its scope and in its applicability. A Muslim has to work upon his moral character. The better values a Muslim incorporates in his character, a better and practising Muslim he becomes and it is on the basis of this moralist practice of Islam that he will be among the blessed ones, both in this world and in the world Hereafter.
