Islamic ethics

Islamic ethics(Arabic:أخلاق إسلامية) is the "philosophical reflection upon moral conduct" with a view to defining "good character" and attaining the "pleasure of God" (raza-e Ilahi).It is distinguished from "Islamic morality",which pertains to" specific norms or codes of behavior ".

It took shape as a field of study or an "Islamic science" (ʿIlm al-Akhlaq), gradually from the 7th century and was finally established by the 11th century.Although it was considered less important thanshariaandfiqh"in the eyes of theulama"(Islamic scholars)" moral philosophy "was an important subject for Muslim intellectuals. Many scholars consider it shaped as a successful amalgamation of theQur'anicteachings, the teachings ofMuhammad,the precedents ofIslamic jurists(seeShariaandFiqh), thepre-IslamicArabiantradition, and non-Arabic elements (includingPersianandGreekideas) embedded in or integrated with a generallyIslamicstructure.Although Muhammad's preaching produced a "radical change inmoral valuesbased on the sanctions of the new religion... and fear of God and of the Last Judgment "; the tribal practice of Arabs did not completely die out. LaterMuslim scholarsexpanded the religious ethic of the Qur'an andHadithin immense detail.

Terminology

A number of related terms refer to the right way to behave in Islam:Akhlaq,Adab,Ihsan.

Akhlaq

Akhlaq(Arabic:أخلاق,/æxˈlɑːk/,plural of (Arabic:خلقkhulqwhich means disposition), is the practice ofvirtue,moralityandmannersinIslamictheologyandfalsafah(philosophy).Akhlaqis the most commonly used Islamic term for morality.

The science of ethics (`Ilm al-Akhlaq) teaches that through practice and conscious effort man can surpass their natural dispositions and natural uncorrupted state (Fitrah) to become more ethical and well mannered.Akhlaqis a kind of normative ethical system known as "virtue ethics",which is based on" virtues, or moral character ", rather than" conceptions of the right (as inKantian ethics) or the good (as inutilitarianism) ".

Akhlaqis not found in the Quran, but its root – kh-l-q – is shared bykhaliq(Creator) andmakhluq(creature), which are found throughout the Quran. It is most commonly translated inEnglish-Arabicdictionaries as: disposition, nature, temper, ethics, morals or manners or in general a person who has good manners, and behaves well.

Adab

Adab(Arabic:أدب) in the context of behavior, refers to prescribed Islamicetiquette:"refinement, good manners, morals, decorum, decency, humaneness" (according to the bookReligion and Law).While interpretation of the scope and particulars ofAdabmay vary among different cultures, common among these interpretations is regard for personal standing through the observation of certain codes of behavior.To exhibit Adab would be to show "proper discrimination of correct order, behavior, and taste."

A description of the difference betweenAkhlaqandAdabis:

• Aklaq is ethics, the 'moral philosophy'; Ethics/ morality. Islamic behaviour, disposition, good conduct, nature, temper, ethics, morals or character of a person.
• Adab is "the actual practices of moral philosophy"; Manner, attitude, behaviour and the etiquette of putting things in their proper place"a culture of refined behavior [that] shaped the ethical outlook of urban Muslims" There were writings setting forth "the virtues for different classes and groups to honor, including the ulama, rulers, bureaucrats, merchants and craftsmen".

Furthermore, according to one source (Abdulmajeed Hassan Bello), sharia (usually defined as Islamic law) is not just concerned with concerned "with legal rules and regulations indicating" what man is entitled or bound to do,... but also what he ought, in conscience, to do or refrain from doing. Thus, shari’ah... embraces both private and public activities. "

Ihsan

Iḥsān(also Ihsaan,Arabic:إحسان), is an Arabic term meaning "beautification", "perfection" or "excellence", but is also defined in Islam (by Malcolm Clark) as ethics/morality "literally virtue, including right living", and (according to Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood) is a matter of taking one's innerfaithand showing it in both deed and action.

Other terms

Other terms found in the Quran that "denote the concept of moral or religious goodness" are:

• al-khayr(goodness),
• al-birr(righteousness),
• al-qisr,
• al-iqsat(equity),
• al-adl(justice),
• al-haqq(truth and right),
• al-ma’ruf(known and approved),and
• al-taqwa(piety).
• "Pious actions" are "normally referred to" assalihat;"impious or sinful actions" assayyi’at.

Ethics v. morality

Further information:Morality in Islam

Juan E. Campo describes the difference betweenAkhlaq/ethics and morality in Islam as:

Ethics means philosophical reflection upon moral conduct, while morality pertains to specific norms or codes of behavior. Questions of ethics, therefore, involve such subjects as human nature and the capacity to do good, the nature of good and evil, motivations for moral action, the underlying principles governing moral and immoral acts, deciding who is obliged to adhere to the moral code and who is exempted from it, and the implications of either adhering to the moral code or violating it. Morality encompasses the values and rules that govern human conduct...

Scriptural sources

Quran

The Quran, which Muslims believe to be the verbatim word of God, serves as the primary source of moral teachings in Islam.Verse2:177declares:

• "Righteousness is not in turning your faces towards the east or the west. Rather, the righteous are those who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets; who give charity out of their cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the poor, ˹needy˺ travellers, beggars, and for freeing captives; who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and keep the pledges they make; and who are patient in times of suffering, adversity, and in ˹the heat of˺ battle. It is they who are true ˹in faith˺, and it is they who are mindful ˹of Allah˺."

Another verse states:

• "Believers are those… who avoid vain talk; who are active in deeds of charity; who abstain from sex except with their wives, or whom their right hands possess. Thus they’re free from blame, but those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors. Believers faithfully observe their trusts and covenants and keep their prayers. They will be the heirs, who will inherit Paradise, where they will dwell." (Q.23:3–11)

However, the Quran offers "more in the way of general principles" —justice, goodness, kindness, forgiveness, honesty, and piety – "than specific rules".

The Ten Commandments In Quran

Quran provides the Ten Commandments which is believed to be as originally revealed toMoses:

151.Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason."

152.And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best [i.e., intending improvement] until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you speak [i.e., testify], be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allāh fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember.

153.And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.

Evidence for these verses having some relation to Moses and the Ten Commandments is from the verse which immediately follows them:

Then, We gave Musa (Moses) the Book, to complete (Our Favour) upon those who would do right, and explaining all things in detail and a guidance and a mercy that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord.

According to a narration inMustadrak Hakim,Ibn Abbas,a prominent narrator ofIsrailiyattraditions said, "In Surah Al-An`am, there are clear Ayat, and they are the Mother of the Book (the Qur'an)." He then recited the above verses.

Also in Mustadrak Hakim is the narration ofUbada ibn as-Samit:

The Messenger of Allah said, "Who among you will give me his pledge to do three things?"

He then recited the (above) Ayah (6:151–153).

He then said, "Whoever fulfills (this pledge), then his reward will be with Allah, but whoever fell into shortcomings and Allah punishes him for it in this life, then that will be his recompense. Whoever Allah delays (his reckoning) until the Hereafter, then his matter is with Allah. If He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him."

Ibn Kathirmentions a narration ofAbdullah ibn Mas'udin hisTafsir:

"Whoever wishes to read the will and testament of the Messenger of Allah on which he placed his seal, let him read these Ayat (6:151–153)."

Order	Commandment in theQuran	SuratAl-An'am	SuratAl-Isra	Corresponding in theBible
First Commandment	Do not associate others with God	(151)	(22)	Do not put other gods before me
Second Commandment	Honour your parents		(23–24)	Honour thy father and thy mother
Third Commandment	Do not kill your children for fear of poverty		(26–31)	Do not murder
Fourth Commandment	Do not come near indecencies, openly or secretly.		(32)	Do not covet thy neighbour's wife, Do not commit adultery
Fifth Commandment	Do not take a life except justly		(33)	Do not murder
Sixth Commandment	Do not come near the property of the orphan except to enhance it	(152)	(34)	Do not covet his slaves, or his animals, or anything of thy neighbour
Seventh Commandment	Give full measure and weigh with justice		(35)	Does not exist, instead there is Remember the sabbath day
Eighth Commandment	Whenever you testify, maintain justice even regarding a close relative		(36)	Do not bear false witness against thy neighbour
Ninth Commandment	Fulfil your covenant with God		(34)	Do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
Tenth Commandment	Follow God's path and not any other	(153)	(37–39)	Do not make unto thee any graven image or idols neither kneel before them nor worship them

Hadith

Hadith,which are based on reports of the teachings, deeds and sayings, silent permissions (or disapprovals) of theIslamic prophetMuhammad,as well as various reports about Muhammad's companions, also serves as an important source for Islamic moral teachings.Some hadith cited expressing good conduct, deeds, morals in Islam, and the importance of these include:

• Narrated 'Aishah: the Messenger of Allah said: "Indeed among the believers with the most complete faith is the one who is the best in conduct, and the most kind to his family" (Jamiʽ al-Tirmidhi2612)
• "Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that the Messenger of Allah,... 'I was sent to perfect the ethical conduct'." (Muwatta Malik)

A "famous" hadith"Hadith of jibril"describes the angel Jibril (Gabriel) questioning Muhammad about "what is faith?" "what is Islam?" and "What isIhsan(perfection or virtue)? ", where in reply Muhammad lists the"Five Pillars of Islam",the"Six Articles of Faith",and describesIhsan(which Clark defines as ethics, or "virtue and including right living" ) thusly:

• "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you."

Other sources

Besides the Quran and hadith, there are a number of other sources, (not all universally followed in Islam):

• the works of Islamic scholars and philosophers;
• Arabic virtues that predate Islam, (such as "honor, courage, loyalty, hospitality, self-control", etc.;
• the moral examples set by important Islamic personalities (such as the four rightly guided caliphs for Sunni Muslims);
• works onAdab(i.e. etiquette, manners);
• "philosophical reflection" by the school of Islam known as the Mu`tazilites and others;
• "works of Greek ethicists", (which were translated into Arabic);
• the99 names of God,which among other qualities/attributes include names based on virtues – "the gentle, the grateful, the just, the giver, the equitable, the loving", etc.;
• Ethical values from Sufism "including humility and poverty".

Contrast with other faith-based systems

While Christian ethics (with itsoriginal sin), and to a lesser extent Judiaism, focus on the "universal presence of sin and related needs of salvation", and on holy nature of asceticism (at least in Catholicism). Fear of God has a more central place in Islam—the Quran making "over a hundred Qur'anic references to hell and judgment". Islam highlights the awesome power of God and limits of human beings but does not portray humans as "inherently sinful or corrupt".Social action and social consciousness also have a higher importance with the doctrine of man's vicegerency on earthand the alms-tax of zakat elevated to a "pillar" of the religion.

History

Some of the most important scholars who contributed to the area of moral philosophy during the Middle Ages were

• Miskawayh(932–1030), the Persian author ofRefinement of Character,
• Abu Hamid al-Ghazali(c.1058–1111), author ofRevival of the Religious Sciences,
• Ali ibn Hazm(994–1064) "the Andalusian man of letters".

Also influential were

• Abu Yusuf Yaacub al-Kindi(c.801–873),
• Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Razi(d. ca 925),
• Abu Nasr al-Farabi(d.950),
• Abu 'Ali al-Husayn Ibn Sina(aka Avicenna, d.1037),
• Muhammad ibn Rushd(aka Averroes, d. 1198),
• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi(1201–1274).

Moral philosophy as a topic of Muslim scholarly discussion "declined after the 12th century", but underwent a revival in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Codification of Islamic ethics

Islamic ethics was codified, based on the Qur'an and practices of Muhammad, over a period of time and in context of the practices of the Muslim community (ummah). The Quran commands every human being, in all spheres of life, to "command the good and forbid evil",as spelled out by Muhammad. Another key factor in the field of Islamic ethics is the belief (as described in the Qur'an) that all mankind has been granted the faculty to discern God's will (fitrah), and thus themoral responsibilityto submit to His will by following Islam, regardless of their environment.

This natural inclination to obey God, is, according to the Qur'an, in conflict with another human inclination, the desire for material possessions and comforts; first for basic survival or security, then for status in society. Ultimately, this desire results in a state ofjahiliyya,"heedlessness", or ignorance of mankind's responsibility to obey God.

The establishment of Islam brought a great transformation in the society, moral order of life,world view,and the hierarchy of values in theArabian Peninsula.

1. The division of Arabs into varying tribes (based upon blood and kinship), was confronted by the ideal of a unified community, an "ummah",based uponIslamic piety.
2. The acceptance of the worship of a multitude of deities besides Allah – a view challenged by strictIslamic monotheism,which dictates that Allah has no partner in worship nor any equal;
3. The trait ofmuruwwa(manliness), which Islam discouraged, instead emphasizing on the traits of humility and piety;
4. The focus on achieving fame or establishing a legacy, which was replaced by the concept that mankind would be called to account before God on theday of resurrection;
5. The reverence of and compliance with ancestral traditions, was challenged by Islam's assignment of primacy to submitting to God and following revelation.

But althoughpre-Islamic Arabiaexemplified "heedlessness", it was not entirely without merit, and certain aspects—such as the care for one's near kin, for widows, orphans, and others in need and for the establishment ofjustice—would be retained in Islam, re-ordered in importance and placed in the context of strictmonotheism.

Politics and public policy

According to Lenn Goodman, many medieval Muslim thinkers pursuedhumanisticandrationalapproaches in discourses regardingvalues.On the other hand, Roderick Hindery finds it difficult to find "humanistic values that have not been later affirmed" by Muslim (and Christian) "theologians and religious ethicians", as they "reexamine and rewrite" their religion's "history to make it coincide with a humanistic history".

Human rights

See also:Sharia,Early reforms under Islam,Caliphate,Islamic Jurisprudence: An International Perspective,Women in Islam,andIslamic feminism

Some scholars and activists have esteemed "the Islamic tradition as the highest manifestation of human right", while others have criticized the concept of "human rights" as a "western colonial invention used to oppress Muslims by making them conform to certain western norms". In 1990, theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) issued theCairo Declaration of Human Rights(CDHR), in reply to the 1948Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR). The CDHR is based on traditionalsharialaw ( "shari‘a is mentioned throughout the entire document as the most authoritative source of law" ), and guarantees some human rights, while denying some articles from the UDHR "dealing with gender, the family, religious freedom, and importantly,self-determination".

Ash'arism,one of three orthodox theological schools ofSunni Islamgenerally denies that there are universal moral truths. Ethics are based solely onGod's command,which might align with human rights by coincidence, but this is not necessary. Therefore, many conservative Muslims doubt that human rights are beyond cultural ties or universal.

Maturidism,another orthodox theological school of Sunni Islam, however, overshadowed by Ash'arism in the last centuries, yet still prominent inCentral Asia,adheres tothe belief of objective morality,which can bededucted through reason.Thus, Muslims adhering to Maturidi theology, might possibly agree on human rights.

Religious pluralism

While religious minorities were not granted equality with Islam, classicalSharia,allowed the functioning of thereligious lawsand courts ofChristians,JewsandHindusin lands ruled by Islam. These were usually accommodated within the Islamic legal framework, as seen in the early Caliphate,Al-Andalus,theIndian subcontinent,and theOttoman Milletsystem.Non-Muslims were allowed to engage in religious practices that were forbidden to Muslims by Islamic law. In a notable example,Zoroastrianpractice ofincestuous"self-marriage" where a man could marry his mother, sister or daughter, was to be tolerated according toIbn Qayyim(1292–1350). He based his opinion on the precedent that Muhammad had knowledge of their practices, coming in contact with them, but did not forbid such self-marriages.Religious minorities were also free to do whatever they wished in their own homes, provided they did not publicly engage in illicit sexual activity in ways that could threaten public morals.

Freedom of expression

Freedom of expression in Islamic history has not included the freedom toblaspheme(by denying any of the fundamental beliefs of Islam) orapostatize(abandoning Islam in word or through deed). According to Juan Campo, the charge of apostasy has often been used by religious authorities to condemn and punish skeptics, dissidents, and minorities in their communities. Expression of poetry and other literature was controlled in a number of ways in the medieval Arab Muslim world— "from mild self-censorship to the actual execution of authors by state authorities", according to scholar Zoltan Szombathy.Large numbers offreethinkers(Zindiq) were persecuted and executed byAl-Mahdi(d. 169/785) from 779 to 786 CE.

On the other hand, Amira Nowaira writes that

Islamic thinkers of the early medieval period expressed ideas and engaged in debates that would appear strangely enlightened in comparison with the attitudes and views adopted by modern Islamic scholarship.

An example being the toleration of medievalphysician,philosopherandalchemistAbu Bakr al-Razi(865–925 CE), who argued that the Quran was "illogical and self-contradictory".

Islamic literature also includes charming anecdotes of tolerance towards non-Muslims and others lacking in power.Imad-ad-Dean Ahmadquotes a letter by a cousin of Caliphal-Ma'mun,in which he gives permission to a Christian he was attempting to convert to speak his mind freely, as evidence that in Islam even religious controversies were not exempt from open discussion. In a letter written by the fourth Rashidun Caliph and first cousin of Muhammad,Ali ibn Abi Talibto his governor of Egypt,Malik al-Ashtar.The Caliph advises his governor on dealings with the poor masses thusly:

Out of your hours of work, fix a time for the complainants and for those who want to approach you with their grievances. During this time you should do no other work but hear them and pay attention to their complaints and grievances. For this purpose you must arrange public audience for them during this audience, for the sake of Allah, treat them with kindness, courtesy and respect. Do not let your army and police be in the audience hall at such times so that those who have grievances against your regime may speak to you freely, unreservedly and without fear.Nahjul Balaagha letter 53

Health and medical peer review

Because Islam views itself as a total system governing all areas, Islamic medical ethics view the patient as a whole. Classical texts speak more about "health", than "illness", showing an emphasis on prevention rather than cure.

The first documented description of apeer reviewprocess is found in theEthics of the PhysicianbyIshaq ibn 'Ali al-Ruhawi(854–931) of al-Raha,Syria,where the notes of a practisingIslamic physicianwere reviewed by peers and the physician could face a lawsuit from a maltreated patient if the reviews were negative.

Animal welfare

See also:Islam and animals

Concern for the treatment of animals can be found in the Qur'an and in the teachings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, which inspired debates overanimal rightsby later medieval Muslim scholars. The 10th-century work, "Disputes Between Animals and Man",part of theEpistles of the Brethren of Purity,has been considered a classic in this regard. Inspired by theQur'anic verse:"All living beings roaming the earth and winged birds soaring in the sky are communities like yourselves." (6:38), theShafi'ijurist'Izz al-Din Ibn 'Abd al-Salam al-Sulami(d. 1262) formulated the first full-fledged charter of the rights of livestock and animals in his legal treatiseRules for Judgement in the Cases of Living Beings(Qawa'id al-ahkam fi masalih al-anam) which was based on the stories and sayings of Muhammad.

Environmentalism

See also:Muslim Agricultural Revolution

A number of sources assert the benevolent attitude of Muhammad and Islam towards natural resources, conservation and wildlife. Tom Verde writes inAramco Worldthat in early Islam, after Muslims established themselves inMedina,Muhammad surveyed the natural resources in the region—the wadis (riverbeds); the rich, black volcanic soil; the high rangelands—and decreed that they be preserved and set aside as ahima( "protected place" ). Ibrahim Ozdemir writes that"approximately 200 verses" in the Quran are concerned with the environment—such as one stating "greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth".

TraditionalAkhlaqethical system

Akhlaqis described as a system of "Virtue ethics"that emphasize the virtues, or moral character of the human actor involved. Virtue ethics are one of" three major approaches innormative ethics"in human societies—the other two being" deontology ", which emphasizes duties or rules, and" consequentialism ", which emphasizes the consequences of actions of the human actor. Another source, (Technical University Darmstadt), describes "virtue theory" ethics as emphasizing moral education to "develop good habits of character based" on "rules like 'do not steal'," etc.

Virtue and good character

Moral Character primarily refers to the assemblage of moral qualities (virtues and vices) in an individual. Promotion of good/virtuous character is found in the canonical texts of Islam. The Quran describes Muhammad as being 'on exalted quality of character' (Q68:4), and refers to him as 'an excellent example' (Q33:21) which ultimately means that the religious and moral examples, set by Muhammad, are to be followed and cultivated by the Muslims in order to construct a morally good character.In addition, numerous sayings of Muhammad highlighted the importance of good character:

• Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet said: The one with good morals and character already owns the best of this world and the Hereafter (Tabarani andAbu Dawud).
• Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: I have been sent for the perfection of character (Imam Ahmadand Bayhaqi).
• Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah said: A person reaches the best and most honored levels in the Hereafter as a result of good character.... And bad character condemns a person to the lowest depths of Hell (Tabarani).
• One can repent for any sin but bad character – because with bad character, before a person can attempt to ask forgiveness for one sin, he commits a worse (Tabarani, Isfahani).

There was a debate among the early Islamicmoralistsas to whether character could be changed to promote virtue and diminish vices.They recognized the dual aspect of character – innate and acquired – and thus noted that with conscious practice it could be changed to a certain degree. "Just as a muscle grows stronger with exercise, character grows strong with practice... the good act becomes easier to us each time we do it."

Muslim moralists have discussed the importance of having a good character as well as the ways of acquiring it.Imam Birgivi,a 16th-century Muslim scholar and moralist, says that 'To cure yourself of a bad feature of character is an obligation'.Continuous practice of moral virtues and a conscious effort to internalize those qualities can lead to the formation of a morally good character.Al-Isfahanisays that purification of soul means the control, not the elimination, of desires. He taught that character meant not only obeying the laws of Islam but internalizing them in your soul.According to Birgivi, changing of character depends on such things as 'a person's wish' and 'the strength of one's understanding', and the preservation of a good character requires the avoidance of the company of evil-charactered people who indulge into indecent activities, drunkenness, and meaningless gossip.

Theory

Ethics or "Disposition" is a "faculty" (malakah),"a property of thesoul"(nafs), "which comes into existence through exercise and repetitive practice" is not easily destroyed. A particularmalakahmay appear because of one of the following reasons:

1. Fitrah(natural state): The original state in which humans are created byAllah.Muslims believe Allah determined certain aspects of their lives for which they are not accountable (e.g., their place of birth and physical appearance)
2. 'Āda (habit): Formed by continual repetition of certain acts and creates a certain disposition.
3. Practice and conscious effort: Which if persistent will eventually produce a disposition.

Althoughfitraproduces certain dispositions, (it is thought) man can surpass nature throughfree willand effort. While dispositions caused by mental faculties (i.e., intelligence, memory, mental agility etc.) are not alterable, others dispositions can change. Man's capacity to change his dispositions need not mean destroying instincts of reproduction or self-preservation, but avoiding extremes so they (the dispositions) perform their functions properly.

• "Indeed I have been sent to complete the best of character (akhlaq). "(Hadith of Muhammad narrated byAbu Hurairah)
• "The most complete of believers iniman(faith) are those who are best in character. "(Hadith narrated byAnas,the brother ofAbu Dharr)

'Ilm al-Akhlaq

ʿIlm al-Akhlaqis translated in English as "ethics, moral science, morals" (ʿIlmbeing science or study). Al-GhazalidefinedIlm al-Akhlaqas "the way to acquire the well being of the soul and to guard it against the vices".

The science also dwells on how the level of human virtue is determined by discipline and effort;the movement between the extremes of human behavior, "the lowest is below beasts and the highest surpasses even theangels;"how 'knowledge is the thickest of veils', preventing man from seeing reality (haqiqahwhen ethics and purification (tazkiyah) have not been mastered; and how by improving their akhlaq, the Muslims improve theirIbadah(worship).

Tazkiyah al-Nafs

Tazkiyah al-nafs,"is the purification of the soul from inclination towards evils and sins, and the development of itsfitrah(natural unsocialized state) towards goodness, which leads to its uprightness and its reachingihsaan[perfection or at least excellence] ", according to Anas Karzoon.Scholars (such asMulla Muhammad Mahdi Naraqi) teach that "moral virtues bring eternal happiness, while moral corruption leads to everlasting wretchedness", so that blameworthy traits (akhlāq madhmūma) must be purged.God will help those seeking purification: "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good." (Q.29:69)

Malakahof the Soul: effects & characteristics

The soul is created devoid of traits. As one progresses through life, he developsmalakatrelated to his lifestyle. The soul becomes accustomed to repeated behavior, which then determines actions. Noble faculties manifest moral and wise behaviour, while evil faculties manifest immorality. These faculties determine the fate in theAkhira.

TheQuransays:

• We have bound every human’s destiny to their neck. And on the Day of Judgment We will bring forth to each ˹person˺ a record which they will find laid open. ˹And it will be said,˺ "Read your record. You ˹alone˺ are sufficient this Day to take account of yourself."
• And the record ˹of deeds˺ will be laid ˹open˺, and you will see the wicked in fear of what is ˹written˺ in it. They will cry, "Woe to us! What kind of record is this that does not leave any sin, small or large, unlisted?" They will find whatever they did present ˹before them˺. And your Lord will never wrong anyone.
• ˹Watch for˺ the Day when every soul will be presented with whatever good it has done. And it will wish that its misdeeds were far off. And Allah warns you about Himself. And Allah is Ever Gracious to ˹His˺ servants.

Goodness and happiness

The aim oftazkiyahand moral development is to attain felicity and happiness.Tazkiyahcauses self-knowledge and knowledge of God.Man's most consummate felicity is reflecting divine attributes. According toQatada ibn al-Nu'man,the content soul (an-nafs al-mutma'inna) is, "the soul of the believer, made calm by what Allah has promised. Its owner is at complete rest and content with his knowledge ofAllah's Names and Attributes... "

Norms/codes

Main article:Morality in Islam

"Practical guidelines"or "specific norms or codes of behavior" for good doingbased primarily on theQuranand theHadith are primarily "commonly known moral virtues" whose major points "most religions largely agree on". They includekindness(to people and animals),charity,forgiveness,honesty,patience,justice,respectingparentsand elders, keeping promises, and controlling one'sanger.

Ethical education and behavior

Drawing on a cross-sectional study of Muslim youths in southernThailandand other sources, academic Kasetchai Laeheem found that the "common behavioral problem" of a lack of Islamic ethics within Muslim societies, often leads to Muslim youths committing "sin openly" and "as a habit without shame". However, high levels of Islamic ethical behavior among Muslim youth, are often correlated with "the Islamic way of upbringing, knowledge of the religion, participation in Islamic activities, and practicing Islamic principles".

See also

• Akhlaq
• Early Islamic philosophy
• Ethics in religion
  • Christian ethics
  • Jewish ethics
• Islam and humanity
• Islam and domestic violence
• Islamic bioethics
• Islamic democracy
• Islamic Golden Age
• Islamic sexual jurisprudence
• Islamic views on slavery
• Morality
• Peace in Islamic philosophy
• Women in Islam

References

Sources

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External links

• Islamic Ethics -Relationship between Pillars of Islam & Development of Excellent Moral & Character
• Islamic Human Resource Management –Islamic view of human resource management
• The meaning and origin of Akhlaq
• Forty Ahadith on Akhlaq
• The Path of the Wayfarer