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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
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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
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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
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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.”
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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
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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.
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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).
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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
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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.
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