* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download ISLAMIC STUDIES
Salafi jihadism wikipedia , lookup
Gender roles in Islam wikipedia , lookup
Islamic terrorism wikipedia , lookup
International reactions to Fitna wikipedia , lookup
Soviet Orientalist studies in Islam wikipedia , lookup
Muslim world wikipedia , lookup
History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (1928–38) wikipedia , lookup
Islam and secularism wikipedia , lookup
Islamic Golden Age wikipedia , lookup
Sources of sharia wikipedia , lookup
Liberalism and progressivism within Islam wikipedia , lookup
Islam and Mormonism wikipedia , lookup
War against Islam wikipedia , lookup
Islam and Sikhism wikipedia , lookup
Islam in Somalia wikipedia , lookup
Islamofascism wikipedia , lookup
Islamic missionary activity wikipedia , lookup
Islam and violence wikipedia , lookup
Criticism of Islamism wikipedia , lookup
Islam in Bangladesh wikipedia , lookup
Islamic democracy wikipedia , lookup
Islam in Afghanistan wikipedia , lookup
Censorship in Islamic societies wikipedia , lookup
Political aspects of Islam wikipedia , lookup
Schools of Islamic theology wikipedia , lookup
Islam and other religions wikipedia , lookup
Islamic schools and branches wikipedia , lookup
ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 AIR UIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD NAME: MUHAMMAD ARSLAN TUFAIL REG ID #: 150843 CLASS: BSCS-1(D) TOPIC: ETHICS IN ISLAM SUBMITTED TO: SIR MOHSIN ABBASI DATE: 14/12/15 1 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 What is ethics? In order to understand what ethics is and what it might look like, it's important to distinguish the difference between ethics and values. Ethics is about the way we treat one another and is an action concept that dictates how we choose to live our lives. The ultimate true test of our character is when we are willing to do the right thing even when it is not in our best interest to do so. The basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. It includes study of universal values such as the essential equality of all men and women, human or natural rights, obedience to the law of land, concern for health and safety and, increasingly, also for the natural environment. See also morality. What is value? Refers to our core beliefs or desires, the things we value the most. Our values shape our attitudes and determine how we will behave in certain situations. ETHICS IN ISLAM: Islam is a comprehensive way of life, and morality is one of the cornerstones 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. To uphold these rights, Islam has provided not only legal safeguards, but also a very effective moral system. Thus, whatever leads to the welfare of the individual or the society and does not oppose any maxims of the religion is morally good in Islam, and whatever is harmful is morally bad. Given its importance in a healthy society, Islam supports morality and matters that lead to it, and stands in the way of corruption and matters that lead to it. The guiding principle for the behavior of a Muslim is “Virtuous Deeds”. This term 2 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 covers all deeds, not only acts of worship. The Guardian and Judge of all deeds is God Himself. The most fundamental characteristics of a Muslim are piety and humility. A Muslim must be humble with God and with other people: “And turn not your face away from people (with pride), nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, God likes not each arrogant boaster. And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass.” (Quran 31:18-19) Muslims must be in controls of their passions and desires.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 hand. Instead of being attached to the car and the job and the diploma and the bank account, all these things become tools to make us better people. “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) Principles of Morality in Islam: In verse 177 of Surat Al Baqarah: “It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness (the quality of ) the one who believes in God and the Last Day and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; who spends of his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, to the needy, to the 3 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 wayfarer, to those who ask and for the freeing of slaves; and who is steadfast in prayers, and gives Zakah (Alms); and those who fulfill their covenants which they made; and who are patient and perseverant in poverty and ailment and throughout all periods of fighting. Such are the people of truth, the pious.” This verse teaches us that righteousness and piety is based before all else on a true and sincere faith. The key to virtue and good conduct is a strong relation with God, who sees all, at all times and everywhere. He knows the secrets of the hearts and the intentions behind all actions. Therefore, a Muslim must be moral in all circumstances; God is aware of each one when no one else is. If we deceive everyone, we cannot deceive Him. We can flee from anyone, but not from Him. The love and continuous awareness of God and the Day of Judgment enables man to be moral in conduct and sincere in intentions, with devotion and dedication: “Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most pious.” (Quran 49:13) Then come deeds of charity to others, especially giving things we love. This, like acts of worship, prayers and Zakat (mandatory alms), is an integral part of worship. A righteous person must be reliable and trustworthy. Finally, their faith must be firm and should not wane when faced with adversity. Morality must be strong to vanquish corruption: “And God loves those who are firm and steadfast.” 4 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 Ethics and values are the basis for social responsibility: Islamic perspectives to the issue of ethics, values, and morality have finality to them as they are based on Allah’s message sent through the last messenger, the Prophet (SAW). Islam, as a religion, offers a complete and universal and eternal code of ethics for humanity. Ethics from Islamic Perspective: Ethics, like other Islamic sciences, takes its origin form the Quran. The Quran lays down the foundation of a religious system on purely ethical principles; hence there is not much to distinguish between Islam as such and Islamic ethics. The Muslims started the study of Ethics along with the study of the Quran. Ethics in Islam is nothing but the body of injunction laid down in the Quran for the practical conduct of life and fully exemplified in the practice of the Holy Prophet throughout his life. Within an Islamic Context, the term most closely related to ethics is khuluq in the Quran which has been guided by principles from the Quran and the Sunnah. You are the best nation that has been raised up for mankind; you enjoin right conduct, forbid evil and believe in Allah. (3:110) َّ ون ِب َ ُوف َوت َ ْن َهوْ َن ع َِن ْال ُم ْنك َِر َوت ُ ْؤ ِمن َ اس تَأ ْ ُم ُر ِ ون ِب ْال َمع ُْر ِ َُّك ْنت ُ ْم َخي َْر أ ُ َّم ٍة أ ُ ْخ ِر َج ْت ِللن ِاّلل The Quran addresses the Prophet. “Thou have been created with an excellent character” وانه لعلى خلق عظيم 5 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 The Prophet highlighted one of his main objective is to perfecting good morals “I have been sent for the purpose of perfecting good morals”. بعثت التمم مكارم االخالق “Ethical values in Islam Particular reference with Prophet Muhammad (Peace & blessings be upon him) Mission". o "The most perfect believer in terms of belief is the one who has the highest ethics and who treats his family in the nicest way". (Abu Dawood, Sunnah, 14) o "O Allah, grant me high ethics, nobody but you can grant high ethics. O Allah, keep me away from bad qualities. (Muslim, Misafirun, 201.) o “You cannot treat people by means of your wealth; hence, you should treat them by means of your moral conduct” o “Surely the best among you are those who have good morals.” o “Certainly the best among you are those who are morally the best” Sources of Islamic Economics: The fundamental sources of Islam - the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet provide guidelines for economic behavior and a blueprint of how the economic system of a society should be organized. Therefore, the values and objectives of all “Islamic” economic systems must necessarily conform to, and comply with, the principles derived from these fundamental sources. The purpose of these articles is to outline the most salient characteristics of an economic system based on the fundamental sources of Islam. The focus here is on the principal features of the Islamic system. 6 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 The Islamic economic system is defined by a network of rules called the Shariah. The rules which are contained in the Shariah are both constitutive and regulative, meaning that they either lay the rules for the creation of economic entities and systems, as well the rules which regulate existing one. As an integral part of the revelation, the Shariah is the guide for human action which encompasses every aspect of life – spiritual, individual, social, political, cultural, and economic. It provides a scale by which all actions, whether on the part of the individual agents, society, and the state, are classified in regards to their legality. Thus there are five types of actions recognized, namely: obligatory; recommended; permissible; discouraged; and forbidden. This classification is also inclusive of economic behavior. The Islamic Economic System is based on the following fundamental principles: 1. Earning and expenditure by Halal means. Islam has prescribed laws to regulate earnings and expenditure. Muslims are not allowed to earn and spend in any way they like. The must follow the rules of the Qur’an and the Sunnah: “Any earnings from the production, sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks are unlawful (Haram), as are earnings from gambling, lotteries and from interest (Riba) transactions”. (5:90-91, 2:275). 2. Right to property and individual liberty Islam allows a person to own his earnings. The Islamic state does not interfere with the freedom of speech, work and earnings of an individual provided this freedom is not harmful to the greater good of society. Every individual will be answerable to Allah swt for his or her actions (4:7, 36:71, 16:111). 7 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 3. System of Zakat (welfare contribution). Compulsory payment of Zakat is one of the main principles of an Islamic economy. Every Muslim who owns wealth more than his needs must pay the fixed rate of Zakat to the Islamic state. Zakat is a means of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor. It helps the fair distribution of wealth. It is a form of social security. The Islamic state is responsible for providing the basic necessities of food, clothing, housing, medicine and education to every citizen. No-one should have any fear of insecurity or poverty (9:69, 103, 98:5). 4. Prohibition of interest (Riba). An Islamic economy is free of interest. Islam prohibits all transactions involving interest. Interest is neither a trade nor a profit. It is a means of exploitation and concentration of wealth. The Qur’an says: "They say, trade is like interest and Allah has allowed trade and prohibited interest." (2:275). "Whatever you pay as interest, so that it may increase in the property of (other) men, it does not increase with Allah."(30:39). "O you, who believe, do not take interest, doubling and quadrupling, and keep your duty to Allah, so that you may prosper." (3:130). 5. Law of Inheritance (Mirath). The Islamic law of inheritance is a wonderful system of stopping the concentration of wealth. It provides very detailed laws regarding the rights of dependents over the property of the deceased person. Suratun Nisa (chapter four) of the Qur‟an deals with the law of inheritance in great detail (4:7-12, 4:176). Conclusion: In conclusion, we can say that the Islamic Economic system is based upon the notion of justice it is through justice that the existence of the rules governing the 8 ISLAMIC STUDIES 2015 economic behavior of the individual and economic institutions in Islam can be understood. In addition to the above basic principles Islam has laid down many more rules about economic life. An Islamic state must bring all productive resources into use, including unemployed man-power, unused land, water resources and minerals. An Islamic state must take steps to root out corruption and all harmful pursuits even if they are economically lucrative. Individual freedom may have to be sacrificed for the social good. Islam encourages simplicity, modesty, charity, mutual help and cooperation. It discourages miserliness, greed, extravagance and unnecessary waste. Islam has a very important advantage which other principles do not have. Islam binds man to God. It makes him think of God's satisfaction, reward, and punishment too. Islam starts from the depths of the human conscience, and proceeds in its endeavor have to secure a happy life for all. 9