Islam has a unique morality of its own. A Muslim is expected to not only be virtuous but to also enjoin virtue. He must not only be morally healthy but must also contribute to the moral health of society as a whole. Every religion lays great emphasis on the moral aspects of human conduct in its unique way. Morality in Islam addresses every aspect of a Muslim’s life from greetings to international relations. Allah says:
إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا الَّذِي يَنصُرُكُم مِّن بَعْدِهِ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“If Allah helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? in Allah, then, Let believers put their trust.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:160)
Good morals have numerous expressions: Fairness, honesty, gratefulness, patience, empathy, compassion, politeness, humbleness, discipline, integrity, helpfulness, courage, reliability and many others. Likewise, bad morals have manifestations that are the very opposite of good morals. A morally corrupt nation has no hope of making material progress. Allah says:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
“It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth to exalt it over every other deen, even though the associates detest it.” (Surah At-Tawba, 9;33)
Having a good morality is very important in Islam. The importance of morality in Islam is high so every Muslim must possess the quality of good moral character. It sets the way of life of a Muslim as well as defines his faith in Allah SWT. As Allah loves someone with good character, it becomes our obligation to keep improving our Imaan and morals.
Here are some of the importance of morality in Islam:
- Morality is a key virtue to a strong relationship with God
- Morality is the fundamental characteristic of a Muslim
- Morality is humble with God and with other people
- Morality is spending wealth in the Name of Allah
- Morality judged the actions are good or bad
- Morality teaches controls of their passions
- Morality makes the most perfect Muslim
- Morality leading a Muslim to Paradise
- Morality is putting Trust In Allah
- Morality is a part of Faith
- Morality is goodness In all
- Morality is standing for Justice
- Morality reigns in selfish desires
- Morality is a basic principle in Islam
- Morality is fulfilling your agreements
- Morality teaches controls of their desires
- Morality is the only thing to help a Muslim
- Morality addresses the aspect of a Muslim’s life
- Morality is the universal scope and in its applicability
- Morality is worshipping Allah sincerely and obediently
Morality becomes highly important in Islam because having a good manner and character is a part of the faith itself. Your perfect morality defines perfect faith while lacking in morals means that your faith is not perfect. Allah says:
وَإِذْ قَالَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِّنْهُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوْمًا اللَّهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا قَالُوا مَعْذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
” And when said a community among them, “Why (do) you preach a people, (whom) Allah (is going to) destroy them or punish them (with) a punishment severe?” They said, “To be absolved before your Lord and that they may become righteous.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:164)
Islam valued the great of a character, as shown by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in his daily life in the past. He had set the standard of good morality in Islam, and among many qualities of good morals, there are some of it that every Muslim must-have. Muslims will be judged by their morals and deed at the ‘End of the Day so that nothing could help them but a good moral they have. Allah says:
الصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْمُنفِقِينَ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ
“The patient and the truthful and the obedient and those who spend and those who seek forgiveness [in the] before dawn.” (Surah Ali Imran 3:17)
The first thing for a Muslim to have since it’s the core of importance of morality in Islam. Patience helps the most in every aspect of life. It’s the key to enduring hardship in life while keeping faith to Allah SWT, developing good relations with fellow Muslims. By patience, one’s not only able to get through the hardship safely but also to place others before himself. Allah says:
وَمَن يَقْنُتْ مِنكُنَّ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا نُّؤْتِهَا أَجْرَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهَا رِزْقًا كَرِيمًا
“And whoever is obedient among you to Allah and His Messenger and does righteousness, We will give her her reward twice; and We have prepared for her a provision noble.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:31)
Islam is a comprehensive way of life, and morality is one of the cornerstones of Islam. Humans were created to fulfil their faith to worship Allah SWT at all costs. Their obligation includes five times of obligatory prayer every day as well as another kind of worship. However, all of it must be done with a light heart with the purpose of seeking Allah’s pleasure. Allah says:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا
“Allah (is) He Who created seven heavens and of the earth, (the) like of them. Descends the command between them that you may know that Allah (is) on everything All-Powerful. And that, Allah indeed, encompasses all things (in) knowledge.” (Surah At-Talaq 65:12)
The moral laws enunciated in the Holy Qur’an are life-giving and life-enriching and, therefore, by living in this world by these laws man can realize one of God’s attributes. On the social plane, the importance of life on this earth is duly emphasized. The idea of the Holy Qur’an is to develop a healthy social organization that traverses the middle path of rectitude avoiding all forms of extremism.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “Be kind to your parents.” (Quran 6:151; 17:32)
- “Do not go near Shameful deeds.” (Quran 6:151; 17:32)
- “Establishment of justice among people.” (Quran 57:25)
- “Do not Commit Fraud, Bribery or be Dishonest.” (Quran 83:1)
- “Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.” (Al-Qamar 49)
- “Do not get involved with things about which you know nothing.” (Quran 17:37)
- “If anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Quran 5:32)
- “Let not one of you find faults in another nor let anyone of you defame another. ..” (Quran 49:11)
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. The love and continuous awareness of God and the Day of Judgement enable man to be moral in conduct and sincere in intentions, with devotion and dedication. Allah says:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِي إِذَا دَعَانِ
“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me…” (Surah Baqarah 2:186)
This means that the reform of society is a prerequisite for its welfare. It also means that society as a whole must struggle to bring about such reform to attain felicity. For an individual as well as a society, morality is one of the fundamental sources of strength, just as immorality is one of the main causes of decline. While respecting the rights of the individual within a broad Islamic framework. Allah says:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
“He (is) the One Who (has) sent His Messenger with guidance and (the) religion, the truth that He (may) make it prevail over the religions all. And sufficient is Allah (as) a Witness.” (Surah Al-Fath 48:28)
Islam is also concerned with the moral health of society. Thus, everything that leads to the welfare of the individual and the society is morally good in Islam and whatever is harmful, is morally bad. Given its importance to a healthy and just society, Islam supports morality and matters that lead to the enhancement of morality and stands in the way of corruption and matters that lead to the spreading of corruption. Allah says:
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
“And (do) not turn your cheek from men and (do) not walk in the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah (does) not like every self-conceited boaster.” (Surah Al-Luqman, 31:18)
A wealthy Muslim who can give more than zakat but his wealth is not enough to offer in it, he can perform charity in the name of Allah by helping fellow Muslims in need. Not only it bring many blessings from Allah, but it will also strengthen the ties between Muslims as well. The Quranic injunctions for the distribution of wealth seek to bring about a unique system of social security. Under this system, everybody is guaranteed a share in society’s wealth. The minimum quantity of this share is determined by the need of the poor.
