Islam as a comprehensive way of life encompasses a complete moral system that is an important aspect of its world-view. We live in an age where good and evil are often looked at as relative concepts. Islam however, holds that moral positions are not relative, and instead defines a universal standard by which actions may be deemed moral or immoral. The Quranic concept of a “sound heart” is not the pureness of heart that some people understand it to be, for the Quran defines a sound heart as turning to and submitting fully to Allah. 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.” (Surah Al-Nahl 16:90)
Islam is that the universe is the creation of Allah who is One. Human beings are blessed with wisdom and free will and are given a status above that of all the other living beings. Based on these blessings, humans are expected to live a life conforming to moral and ethical values. If everyone follows morality in its best form, the world will become a much better place to live. Since Islam is a complete lifestyle, it provides a comprehensive set of ethics for its believers. 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.” (Surah Al-Najm 53:23)
Islamic moral values bestows freedom from worldly values and all forms of dependence felt toward other people. A believer with such moral values seeks the approval of Allah, not that of other people. He fears Allah alone and knows that all things are under His control. Fear leads him to scrupulously adhere to the bounds set by Allah and silences all excuses proffered by worldly desires. A Muslim must choose which value takes precedence in the given situation.
The Concepts of Moral Values in Islam:
- Islam commence responsible ahead of God
- Islam raise to be kind and good towards all
- Islam does not base our knowledge of evil
- Islam provides an effective moral system
- Islam set life which is free from all evil
- Islam ensures that the affairs of life
- Islam being nice to one’s relatives
- Islam set the rights for humanity
- Islam provides legal safeguards
- Islam guarantee in a system
- Islam treating all people fairly
- Islam becomes the real motives
- Islam remain away from gambling
- Islam evoke to perform good deeds
- Islam promote to live his life perfect
- Islam being honest in all matters of life
- Islam arouse all people in a fair manner
- Islamic culture is how we should behave
- Islam taking care of orphans and the poor
- Islam covers his life at home and in society
A moral sense is inborn in man and, through the ages, it has served as the common man′s standard of moral behaviour, approving certain qualities and condemning others. While this instinctive faculty may vary from person to person, human conscience has consistently declared certain moral qualities to be good and others to be bad. Islam is a complete code of life that describes each and everything we required to live an ideal life according to the teachings of the Quran. 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)
A Muslim is expected to not only be virtuous but to also enjoin virtue. Muslims must have upright and strong moral and ethical values because Islam is not only about worshipping Allah but also about treating His creations well and living exemplary life in this world. Virtues relate to the purpose or value underpinning the deed, duties relate to the manner or modality of the deed, and context relates to the timing of the deed.
The Quranic moral values put great emphasis on the height of the characters:
- “And, be moderate in your walking…” (Quran: 31:19)
- “And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (Quran, 68:4)
- “…and those who restrain (their) anger and pardon men.” (Quran 3:134)
- “But only he (will prosper) who brings to Allah a sound heart.” (Quran, 26:89)
- “Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from the ignorant.” (Quran 7:199)
- “And (Allah gave to the Soul) its enlightenment as to its wrong and it’s right…” (Quran, 91:8)
- “Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others)…” (Quran 16:90)
- “Ta Ha. We have not revealed the Quran to you that you may be unsuccessful.” (Quran 20:1-2)
- “It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say things which you do not do.” (Quran 61:3)
- “Indeed, the most honourable among you in the sight of God is the most pious.” (Quran 49:13)
- “And establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.” (Al-Ankabut 26:45)
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 should not be vain or attached to the ephemeral pleasures of this world. While most people allow the material world to fill their hearts, Muslims should keep God in their hearts and the material world in their hands. 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.” (Surah Fussilat 41:6)
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. When one is patient, only then does he endure the hardships of life without losing faith, it is with patience that he develops good relations with others and it is with patience that he bears the ease and comfort of others before himself. Islam’s moral system is striking in that it not only defines morality but also guides the human race in how to achieve it, at both an individual as well as a collective level. 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 reigns in selfish desires, vanity, and bad habits. Muslims must not only be virtuous, but they must also enjoin virtue. 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. May Allah give us the strength to live our lives according to the teachings of Almighty Allah.
