In Islam, morality in the sense of "practical guidelines"
[ or "specific norms or codes of behavior" for good doing (as opposed to ]ethical theory
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concerns m ...
),[ Campo, ''Encyclopedia of Islam'', "Ethics and morality" 2009: p.214] are primarily based on the Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing.: ...
and the Hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval ...
– the central religious texts of Islam[Clark (2011), p. 283] – and also mostly "commonly known moral virtues"[ whose major points "most religions largely agree on".][
They include ]kindness
Kindness is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistant or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return.
Kindness is a topic of interest in philosophy, religion, and psychology. Kin ...
(to people and animals), charity
Charity may refer to:
Giving
* Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons
* Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing
* Ch ...
,[Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', "Morality", (2006), p. 415] forgiveness
Forgiveness, in a psychological sense, is the intentional and voluntary process by which one who may initially feel victimized or wronged, goes through a change in feelings and attitude regarding a given offender, and overcomes the impact of t ...
, honesty
Honesty or truthfulness is a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, thef ...
, patience, justice
Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...
, respecting parent
A parent is a caregiver of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is the caretaker of a child (where "child" refers to offspring, not necessarily age). A ''biological parent'' is a person whose gamete resulted in a child, a male ...
s and elders, keeping promises, and controlling one's anger
Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat.
A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, suc ...
, love of God and those God loves, love of his messenger (Muhammad) and of believers.
The "basic aim" of Islamic morality
Morality () is the differentiation of intentions, decisions and actions between those that are distinguished as proper (right) and those that are improper (wrong). Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of cond ...
and ethics
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concerns ...
is "to achieve" ''Raza-e Ilahi'' (the Pleasure of God)" or to make God's pleasure "the objective of man’s life";[Moral System of Islam: The Standard of Morality.]
(2006). ''IslamReligion.com'' Retrieved 19 Aug 2016. and the importance of moral behavior in this is reflected in the five Quranic verses calling on Muslims to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and hadith that quote Muhammad as saying 'I was sent to perfect the ethical conduct'.
Terminology
Terms associated with right-doing in Islam include:
*''Akhlaq'' ( ar, أخلاق) is the practice of virtue
Virtue ( la, virtus) is morality, moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is Value (ethics), valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. In other words, it is a behavior that sh ...
, morality
Morality () is the differentiation of intentions, decisions and actions between those that are distinguished as proper (right) and those that are improper (wrong). Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of cond ...
and manners in Islamic
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or ''Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the main ...
theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...
and ''falsafah'' ( philosophy). The science of ethics (''`Ilm al-Akhlaq'') teaches that through practice and conscious effort man can surpass their natural dispositions and natural state ('' Fitrah'') to become more ethical and well mannered. In the social sciences ''Akhlaq'' is a kind of normative ethical systems known as " virtue ethics", which is based on "virtues, or moral character", rather than "conceptions of the right (as in Kantian ethics
Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory developed by German philosopher Immanuel Kant that is based on the notion that: "It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be cons ...
) or the good (as in utilitarianism
In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for all affected individuals.
Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different charac ...
)".
*'' Al-Adāb'' ( ar, الﺁداب), has been defined as "decency, morals".
*'' Iḥsān'' ( ar, إحسان), is an Arabic term meaning "beautification", "perfection" or "excellence", but in Islam it is also defined (by Malcolm Clark) as ethics/morality "literally virtue, including right living," and (according to Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood) is a matter of taking one's inner faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people often ...
and showing it in both deed and action.
Difference between ''Akhlaq'' and morality in Islam
According to Juan E. Campo, editor of Encyclopedia of Islam,
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 …
Similarly, Malcolm Clark says, "... some Western ethicists make a distinction between ethics (theory) and morals (practical guidelines) ..."
[ Clark, ''Islam For Dummies'', 2011: p.246]
Scriptural sources
According to Nikhat Sattar, "Islamic ethics differ from the Western concept" in being based on divine revelation
Quran
The Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing.: ...
, which Muslims believe is God's revelation to humanity, declares "righteousness"[Clark (2011), p. 283] to include (besides specific religious beliefs such as believing in Allah, the Day of Judgement, Prophets, Angels, etc.), the spending of "your substance, ... for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the freeing of captives; ... practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain and adversity and throughout all periods of panic” (Q.2:177);[
to be "active in deeds of charity; who abstain from sex except with their wives, or whom their right hands possess. ... ofaithfully observe their trusts and covenants ....” (Q.23.3-11)][
According to a reading of the Surah 17, "Al-Israa" ("The Night Journey"), verses , by academic S. A. Nigosian, a set of moral stipulations that can be reasonably categorised as ten in number, and written to resemble the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Nigosian alleges this "represents the fullest statement of the code of behavior every Muslim must follow", although Islamic scholars have not set apart these verses from any other moral stipulations in the Qur'an, nor are they regarded as a substitute, replacement, or abrogation of some other set of commandments as found in the previous revelations.
# "Worship only God," ();
# "Be kind, honourable and humble to one's parents," () ;
# "Be neither miserly nor wasteful," ();
# "Do not engage in 'mercy killings' for fear of starvation," God will provide. ();
# "Do not commit adultery," ();
# "Do not kill unjustly," ();
# "Care for orphaned children,"();
# "Keep one's promises:" ();
# "Be honest and fair in one's interactions," ();
# "Do not be arrogant in one's claims or beliefs," ().
Many Muslim theologians see the "Golden Rule" implicit in some verses of the Qur'an and in the ]Hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval ...
. The Golden Rule was agreed 1993 also by Muslims as a central unconditional ethical norm in the Declaration Toward a Global Ethic.
Hadith
Hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval ...
, "the other major source of Islamic moral wisdom," is based on reports of the teachings, deeds and sayings, of the Islamic prophet
Prophets in Islam ( ar, الأنبياء في الإسلام, translit=al-ʾAnbiyāʾ fī al-ʾIslām) are individuals in Islam who are believed to spread God's message on Earth and to serve as models of ideal human behaviour. Some prophets a ...
Muhammad
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monot ...
.[ It is the basis of the Sunnah, which Muslims consider "to be a body of norms that should be followed in worship and in everyday life", and whose collections have
]"chapters about the virtues that he embodied. There included respect for parents and elders, maintaining strong family ties, being good to neighbors, caring for children, avoiding abuse of servants and slaves ... being well-mannered, offering hospitality to guests, visiting sick, showing mercy to animals, being patient and sincere, greeting people correctly, asking permission before entering a house, dressing modestly, and avoiding lying and rude speech."[ Campo, ''Encyclopedia of Islam'', "Ethics and morality" 2009: p.216]
One hadith reports Muhammad saying, "'I was sent to perfect the ethical conduct'." ( Muwatta Malik) They state that the one with the best or most complete faith “is the one who is the best in conduct, and the most kind to his family" ( Jami al-Tirmidhi).
Muhammad
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monot ...
reportedly said, "The best among you are those who have the best manners and character" ().
In the well known " Hadith of jibril", the angel Jibril (Gabriel
In Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Gabriel (); Greek: grc, Γαβριήλ, translit=Gabriḗl, label=none; Latin: ''Gabriel''; Coptic: cop, Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ, translit=Gabriêl, label=none; Amharic: am, ገብ� ...
) questions Muhammad about "what is faith?" "what is Islam?" and "what is ''Ihsan''?" (The last being defined variously as perfection or virtue, ethics, "including right living".) Muhammad then describes ''Ihsan
Ihsan ( ar, إحسان , also romanized ''ehsan''), is an Arabic term meaning "to do beautiful things", "beautification", "perfection", or "excellence" (Arabic: , ). Ihsan is a matter of taking one's inner faith ('' iman'') and showing it in b ...
'' as
*"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 literature
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 on Adab (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);][
*the 99 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".][
]
General principles
While the " Hadith of jibril" (see above), includes virtue (called ''Ihsan
Ihsan ( ar, إحسان , also romanized ''ehsan''), is an Arabic term meaning "to do beautiful things", "beautification", "perfection", or "excellence" (Arabic: , ). Ihsan is a matter of taking one's inner faith ('' iman'') and showing it in b ...
'') along with faith (''Iman
Iman, Imann, Imaan, Eman, Emaan, or Imman may refer to:
Places
* Iman, Iran, a village in Kalashi District, Kermanshah Province
* The Iman River, the former name of the Bolshaya Ussurka River, a tributary of the Ussuri River in Russia's Primors ...
'') and religious practice (called Islam) — the three are sometimes called the "three dimensions" or "three levels" of Islam — there is not a concise set of points for virtue/morality (no Ten commandments
The Ten Commandments ( Biblical Hebrew עשרת הדברים \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, ''aséret ha-dvarím'', lit. The Decalogue, The Ten Words, cf. Mishnaic Hebrew עשרת הדיברות \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְ ...
), as there is for religious practice (the Five Pillars
Five Pillars or five pillars may refer to:
*Five Pillars of Islam, often regarded as basic religious acts of Muslim life
*Five pillars puzzle, a mechanical puzzle also known as ''Baguenaudier'' and ''five pillars problem''
*''Five Pillars'' of c ...
of ritual declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage), or faith (the Six Articles of the oneness of God, angels, prophets, the Torah, Bible and Quran, predestination, and Judgement Day).
In addition, sections analyzing morality/ethics in works of Islamic philosophy are usually quite "slim" according to Oliver Leaman.
However, Quran is clear about the importance of Muslims taking action to "enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong
Enjoining (what is) right and forbidding (what is) evil ( ar, ٱلْأَمْرْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفْ وَٱلنَّهْيْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَرْ, al-amr bi-l-maʿrūf wa-n-nahy ʿani-l-munkar) are two important duties imposed ...
". Quranic verses 3:104, 3:110, 9:71, 9:112, 5:105, 31:17 all contain some variation of that phrase.[Cook, ''Forbidding Wrong'', 2003, p.3]
A famous hadith quotes the Islamic prophet Muhammad as saying:
*"Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest form of faith".
(Mutazilite and Shia Imamis quote different traditions than this Sunni Hadith, but all agree on the Quran and on "the existence of the duty" to command and forbid.)[Cook, ''Forbidding Wrong'', 2003, p.12]
In regards to the basis of Islamic morality/ethics, etc. (in fact the basis of the meaning of life), at least a couple of sources have proclaimed it to be "God’s pleasure" or the "worship fGod".
Islamic secondary sources and later Islamic scholarly works have made detailed discussions and laid down detailed instructions on moral issues. However, in popular works on Islam some general principles of morality have been offered. Often, teachings calling for leniency, universality and courtesy are emphasized. The Religion of Islam website states that whatever is good and beneficial for mankind is morally good, and vice versa.[ According to Islamic sharia, a Muslim is expected to act only in good manners][Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', (2006), p.252] as bad manners earn vices. Muhammad is reported as saying "It is not possible that you indulge in rebuking and reviling and remain righteous at the same time".[Al-Ghazali, ''Muslim's Character'', chptr. 14.]
Some principles/conditions of Islamic ethics/morality offered by writers on the subject are
*Muslims should call on everyone to do what is good and should forbid what is evil (Malcolm Clark);[ Clark, ''Islam For Dummies'', 2011: p.247]
*Moral actions are defined as those that result in justice (Malcolm Clark),[ following God's law (Nikhat Sattar);]
*Both faith and good works are needed to go to heaven (jannah
In Islam, Jannah ( ar, جَنّة, janna, pl. ''jannāt'',lit. "paradise, garden", is the final abode of the righteous. According to one count, the word appears 147 times in the Quran. Belief in the afterlife is one of the six articles of ...
) (Malcolm Clark),[ ]Faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people often ...
is incomplete without a sense of morality (Al-Ghazali),[Al-Ghazali, ''Muslim's Character'', chptr. 2.] Salat prayers offered that do not prevent wrongdoings are worthless;
*Insincere good deeds are not enough. Intentions must be good (Malcolm Clark),[ (Nikhat Sattar);]
*Good character, strong moral values
In ethics and social sciences, value denotes the degree of importance of something or action, with the aim of determining which actions are best to do or what way is best to live (normative ethics in ethics), or to describe the significance of dif ...
(wisdom, modesty, concern for justice, absence of greed, lust, etc.) must be cultivated (Malcolm Clark),[ (Al-Ghazali);]
*Extremes should be avoided, balance sought after (Malcolm Clark).[ Clark, ''Islam For Dummies'', 2011: p.248]
The pursuit of (most) moral qualities is not a religious obligation (fard
' ( ar, فرض) or ' () or fardh in Islam is a religious duty commanded by God. The word is also used in Turkish, Persian, Pashto, Urdu (''spelled farz''), and Malay (''spelled fardu or fardhu'') in the same meaning. Muslims who obey such c ...
) in Islam, but supererogatory or voluntary (its category of Ahkam is known as mustaḥabb/mandūb); and seen as the key to attaining the nearness of God.[Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', (2006), p. 139-143]
Emphasis on good character
Character
Character or Characters may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk
* ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...
—the assemblage of qualities that distinguish one individual from another—may be good or bad, innate or acquired. The canonical texts of Islam promote the idea of good character. The Quran describes Muhammad as 'an excellent example' ( Q33:21, this verse is one of the bases of the religious importance of hadith and sunnah), and also as having 'exalted quality of character' ( Q68:4). Thus his high quality character is an example to be imitated and cultivated by Muslims.[
There are may other sayings of Muhammad that highlight the importance of character that possesses good moral qualities, including:
* I have been sent for the perfection of character (reported by Abu Hurayrah, from Imam Ahmad and Bayhaqi).][
* The one with good morals and character already owns the best of this world and the Hereafter (reported by Anas ibn Malik, from Tabarani and Abu Dawud).][
* 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 (reported by Anas ibn Malik, from 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 (from Tabarani, Isfahani).][
Early Islamic ]moralists
Moralism is any philosophy with the central focus of applying moral judgements. The term is commonly used as a pejorative to mean "being overly concerned with making moral judgments or being illiberal in the judgments one makes".
Moralism has s ...
concluded that with conscious practice character could be changed to a certain degree.[ Medieval Islamic scholar Al-Isfahani (d. 1108/1109) believed that purification of soul meant the control, not the elimination, of desires.
Muhammad Birgivi, a 16th-century Muslim scholar and moralist, wrote that 'To cure yourself of a bad feature of character is an obligation'; and believed that continuous practice of moral virtues and a conscious effort to internalize those qualities can lead to the formation of a morally good character.][ He taught that changing of character depends on such things as 'a person's wish' and 'the strength of one's understanding'; and that the preservation of good character required avoiding of the company of those who indulge in indecent activities, such as drunkenness and meaningless gossip.][Birgivi (2005), p.111]
Virtues
Many virtues/good character traits/moral qualities such as kindness
Kindness is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistant or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return.
Kindness is a topic of interest in philosophy, religion, and psychology. Kin ...
(to people and animals), charity
Charity may refer to:
Giving
* Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons
* Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing
* Ch ...
, forgiveness
Forgiveness, in a psychological sense, is the intentional and voluntary process by which one who may initially feel victimized or wronged, goes through a change in feelings and attitude regarding a given offender, and overcomes the impact of t ...
, honesty
Honesty or truthfulness is a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, thef ...
, patience, justice
Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...
, respecting parent
A parent is a caregiver of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is the caretaker of a child (where "child" refers to offspring, not necessarily age). A ''biological parent'' is a person whose gamete resulted in a child, a male ...
s and elders, keeping promises, and controlling one's anger
Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat.
A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, suc ...
, are commanded or encouraged in verses in the Quran and hadith. (The heading of "Morality" in ''The Qur'an: an encyclopedia'' by Oliver Leaman, includes subheadings of numerous virtues/moral qualities -- "Goodness (''khayr'') and Righteousness (''birr'')", "Justice and responsibility", etc. -- and discussion of other qualities -- ''hilm'', (which means forbearance, self-mastery, etc.). According to Miskawayh
Ibn Miskawayh ( fa, مُسْکُـوْيَه Muskūyah, 932–1030), full name Abū ʿAlī Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb ibn Miskawayh was a Persian chancery official of the Buyid era, and philosopher and historian from Parandak, Iran. A ...
(932–1030 CE, chancery official of the Buyid era, and Islamic philosopher and historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the st ...
), "the four cardinal virtues" were "wisdom, courage, temperance and justice".[
]
Justice
To render justice ranks as the most noble of acts of devotion next to belief in God. It is the greatest of all the duties entrusted to the prophets…and it is the strongest justification for man’s stewardship of earth., Shams al-Din Sarkhasi
According to Majid Khadduri, the Quran warns people against injustice in an estimated 200 places, and directs people to establishing justice in another 100.[Khadduri (1984), p. 6] It uses the words ''qist'', ''qast'', ''wasat'', and ''mizan'' and especially ''adl'', in referring to justice
Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...
. It is not only a moral virtue but also an obligation to be fulfilled under all circumstances,[Khadduri (1984), p. 10] According to Oliver Leaman, "justice is a supreme virtue in Islam to the extent that it stands in order of priority after belief in the Oneness of God and the truth of the Prophet."[ The Quranic injunction of fairness and fair dealing is equally applicable to all people, irrespective of caste, creed, and color.][Justice in Islam.]
2006. ''IslamReligion.com'' Retrieved 19 Aug 2016.
Charity
Numerous verses of the Quran and the sayings of Muhammad tell the Muslims to be generous to the needy, to one's kinsmen and neighbors, and that this will earn God
In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
's mercy and reward in the afterlife. Verses in the Quran declare that the righteous are those people who fulfill their promises, and feed the needy, the orphans and the captive for the love of God (); and that "those who (in charity) spend their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve" ().
In a seerah (Prophetic biography
Al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya (), commonly shortened to Sīrah and translated as prophetic biography, are the traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad from which, in addition to the Quran and Hadiths, most historical information about his life and th ...
), Muhammed says:
O Aisha, Never turn away any needy man from your door empty-handed. Love the poor; bring them near to you and God will bring you near to Him on the Day of Resurrection.
In a Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim ( ar, صحيح مسلم, translit=Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim), group=note is a 9th-century ''hadith'' collection and a book of ''sunnah'' compiled by the Persian scholar Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj (815–875). It is one of the most valued bo ...
hadith, Jarir narrates how at the appearance of some starving people, Muhammad assembled Muslims and proclaimed, "Everyone should give in charity dinar, dirham, cloth, dates, wheat", and "give, even if it is a stone of a date."[Al-Ghazali, ''Muslim's Character'', chptr. 15.]
Miser
A miser is a person who is reluctant to spend, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. Although the word is sometimes used loosely to characterise anyone who ...
liness is discouraged in Islam, and the hoarding of wealth is punished in the afterlife.[ Helping people in time of their needs is seen as more important than praying in the mosque.
]
Forgiveness
The virtue of forgiveness
Forgiveness, in a psychological sense, is the intentional and voluntary process by which one who may initially feel victimized or wronged, goes through a change in feelings and attitude regarding a given offender, and overcomes the impact of t ...
(''ʿafwu'' or pardon) is much celebrated in both the Quran and the Sunnah. Forgiveness can be God's forgiveness for human beings for their sins, or forgiveness among fellow human beings for each other. In the first instance, human beings have been asked to seek God's forgiveness for their sins, for which they are promised mercy and forgiveness. In the second instance, human beings have been encouraged to [Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', "Forgiveness", (2006), p. 213-16] forgive a person who has done moral offense, and not to be cruel to him is seen as a noble virtue.[Maariful Quran. Chapter 7, verse 199.] This does not involve denying or underplaying the moral injury suffered by the victim; rather it involves a positive change in mentality toward the offender.[ Thus, an act of forgiveness means rising above one's self-interest or narrow-mindedness, and achieving nobler quality of heart.
Those who forgive are promised reward by ]God
In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
.
In a frequently quoted hadith, Muhammad is reported as saying: 'the best deeds before God are to pardon a person who has wronged you, to show affection for relatives who have broken ties with you, and to act generously towards a person who has deprived you.'[
S.A. Nigosian cites a teaching that when an offender is brought to justice, imposing a penalty on them in proportion to their offense is permissible and just; but forgiving them is better still, and going one step further by offering a favor to the offender is regarded as the highest excellence.][Nigosian (2004), p.116]
Tolerance
Islamic teaching and law calls for tolerance to be cultivated at personal, familial, social, and religious levels. It is the teaching of Islam that when faced with ill-treatment by any unwise person, a sensible person should not be provoked to seek vengeance, but be tolerant. During the initial years of Islam, Muslims faced persecutions by the Meccan pagans.[Buhl, F.; Welch, A. T. (1993). "Muḥammad". ]Encyclopaedia of Islam
The ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (''EI'') is an encyclopaedia of the academic discipline of Islamic studies published by Brill. It is considered to be the standard reference work in the field of Islamic studies. The first edition was published ...
7. pp. 360–376. After its introduction in 610 CE, Islam sought to moderate the qualities of vengeance and violence prevalent among the people of pre-Islamic Arabia
Pre-Islamic Arabia ( ar, شبه الجزيرة العربية قبل الإسلام) refers to the Arabian Peninsula before the emergence of Islam in 610 CE.
Some of the settled communities developed into distinctive civilizations. Information ...
, with the practice of tolerance and other virtues. During this period, Muhammad was once asked by his companions to invoke God's wrath on the persecutors. Muhammad became displeased with such a request and advised them to be more tolerant. Once a Bedouin became discontented and expressed his dissatisfaction even after receiving gifts from Muhammad. Muhammad understood his nature, showed tolerance to him, and satisfied him with more gifts, thus paving the way for the Bedouin to take lesson from this. In the History of Islam
The history of Islam concerns the political, social, economic, military, and cultural developments of the Islamic civilization. Most historians believe that Islam originated in Mecca and Medina at the start of the 7th century CE. Muslims ...
, Abdullah ibn Ubayy was known as the "leader of the hypocrites
Hypocrisy is the practice of engaging in the same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another or the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform. In moral psychology, it is the ...
". The activities of the hypocrites were condemned by several verses in the Quran. After Ubayy's death, at his son's request, Muhammad offered his own shirt as Ubayy's shroud.[Maariful Quran. Vol 4, p. 438. (Sura 9, verse 84.)] At his son's second request, Muhammad even led his funeral prayer.[ When ]Umar
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ( ar, عمر بن الخطاب, also spelled Omar, ) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphat ...
objected about this, Muhammad said: "If I knew that Allah will pardon Ubayy if I pray for his forgiveness more than seventy times, I would even do that."
On social and state levels, the importance of tolerance comes from the fact that it is related to such greater issues as peace
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
and justice which are said to be the desired goal of Islam.[Leaman, "Tolerance", (2006), p. 655-57] Given that diversity is a natural phenomenon in this world, the Quran puts much emphasis on the observance of tolerance in order to maintain peace and security. In , the Quran recognizes the diversity among people: 'O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you.' By mentioning the common origin of mankind, the Quran reminds them of their relating to each other, and urges them to 'rise above' the racial and national divisions.[ In a nutshell, it is the teaching of Islam that the diversity or difference in social, cultural, political,financial or religious spheres are to be accepted by members of communities to secure a peaceful co-existence.][ No forceful conversion is recognized in Islam. According to Islamic jurists, ]forced conversion
Forced conversion is the adoption of a different religion or the adoption of irreligion under duress. Someone who has been forced to convert to a different religion or irreligion may continue, covertly, to adhere to the beliefs and practices whic ...
is not possible in Islam because faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people often ...
basically relates to heart, and not so much to external affairs.
Kindness and leniency
The Quran and the hadith describe God as being kind and merciful to His creatures, and tell people to be kind likewise. Among the 99 Names of God in Islam, the most common and famous are "the Compassionate" (al-raḥmān) and "the Merciful" (al-raḥīm). The Quran says, "Verily, Allah is kind and merciful to the people" (). Numerous sayings of Muhammad tell the Muslims to be kind and merciful to the creatures of God. In Sahih Bukhari, it is said "He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully (by God)" (). Narrated in Sahih Muslim, Muhammad said, "Verily, Allah is mild and is fond of mildness, and He gives to the mild what He does not give to the harsh" (). He also said, "He who is deprived of kindness is in fact deprived of goodness ().
Muhammad has been described as being kind and compassionate to people and animals. Biographies of Muhammad record incidences showing his kindness
Kindness is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistant or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return.
Kindness is a topic of interest in philosophy, religion, and psychology. Kin ...
and leniency to others. Once, a man came to him and said that he had committed a certain sin. As reparation for his sin, Muhammad asked the man if he could free a slave upon which the man expressed his inability. Muhammad asked him if he could fast
Fast or FAST may refer to:
* Fast (noun), high speed or velocity
* Fast (noun, verb), to practice fasting, abstaining from food and/or water for a certain period of time
Acronyms and coded Computing and software
* ''Faceted Application of Subje ...
for two months upon which the man replied in the negative. Muhammad asked him again if he could feed sixty poor men upon which the man replied that he was even unable to do that. In the meantime, a bag of dates was brought there as gift for Muhammad. Muhammad gave the bag of dates to the man and told him to distribute the dates among the poor as reparation. The man passionately said "who is poorer than me in Medina
Medina,, ', "the radiant city"; or , ', (), "the city" officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (, , Turkish: Medine-i Münevvere) and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah (, ), is the second-holiest city in Islam, and the capital of the ...
?" Hearing this, Muhammad smiled and told the man to distribute the dates among his own family members.[Shibli Nomani, vol 2]
Kind treatment to animals
Islam has prescribed kind treatment not only to humans but also to animals.[D'Silva (2012), p. 129] Prophet Muhammad was probably the first in history to talk about the rights and proper treatment of animals.[Imam Kamil Mufti (2006)]
Humane Treatment of Animals.
''IslamReligion.com'' Retrieved 19 Aug 2016. Kind and humane treatment earn virtue, and can even be a means of salvation. Similarly, cruelty towards animals can lead to punishment by God.[D'Silva (2012), p. 130] Islamic tradition narrates the story of a man who got salvation for showing mercy to a thirsty dog.[D'Silva (2012), p. 130] On one occasion, the man saw a dog which was about to die because of extreme thirst. He realized its plight, went down into a well, brought some water for the dog, and saved its life. God became pleased with him and pardoned all his previous sins (). It also narrates the story of a woman who locked up a cat. She neither fed the cat nor set it free to feed for itself. For her cruelty, she was punished by God. The early rulers in Islamic world used to instruct people in behaving properly to the animals.[D'Silva (2012), p. 132]
For proper treatment of animals, Islam has specified some guidelines:
* All pet and farm animals have the rights of proper food and shelter. The owner has the obligation to arrange for food and shelter for his animals.
* Animals which are used to carry goods should not be over-loaded.[D'Silva (2012), p. 131]
* Animals must not be tortured, beaten, or hurt unnecessarily. They are not to be killed for recreation. Also, the body parts of any live animal must not be mutilated.
* Islam has prohibited the old custom of setting live animals or birds as targets for shooting practices.
* Prophet Muhammad has forbidden separating the birds from their off-springs.
* Animal slaughtering process should be such which is the least painful to the animal. Slaughtering of one animal in front of another is prohibited in Islam.
Chastity and modesty
The topic of chastity is mentioned 13 times in the Quran. Sharia (Islamic law) commands Muslims to preserve chastity and modesty is a principal means of doing so. Muhammad is narrated as saying:
*"Every religion has its characteristic, and the characteristic of Islam is modesty (Haya
Haya may refer to:
Biology
* ''Haya'' (dinosaur), a genus of basal ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous from Mongolia
* ''Haya'' (plant), a genus of plants in the family Caryophyllaceae
* Haya de Herguijuela (Spanish: beech ...
)," (collected in al-Muwatta, and
*"Modesty is part of faith" ().
Ibn Al-Qayyim writes, “Adultery combines all evils: it weakens faith, uproots religious prudence, corrupts nobility and wipes out jealousy". Sharia orders Muslims to lower their gaze, women to wear hijab to avoid exposing their beauty, get married at an early age, and sets "a severe punishment for adultery".
One conservative Salafi
The Salafi movement or Salafism () is a reform branch movement within Sunni Islam that originated during the nineteenth century. The name refers to advocacy of a return to the traditions of the "pious predecessors" (), the first three generat ...
fatwa
A fatwā ( ; ar, فتوى; plural ''fatāwā'' ) is a legal ruling on a point of Islamic law (''sharia'') given by a qualified '' Faqih'' (Islamic jurist) in response to a question posed by a private individual, judge or government. A jurist ...
website (IslamQA) talks of "''zina
''Zināʾ'' () or ''zinā'' ( or ) is an Islamic legal term referring to unlawful sexual intercourse. According to traditional jurisprudence, ''zina'' can include adultery, fornication, prostitution, rape, sodomy, incest, and bestiality. ...
'' of the eyes" being forbidden (''zina'' being normally defined as adultery), quoting a hadith: “Allaah has decreed for every son of Adam his share of zina, which he will inevitably commit. The zina of the eyes is looking, the zina of the tongue is speaking, one may wish and desire, and the private parts confirm that or deny it.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5889; Muslim, 2657).
Modesty is to be maintained in public, which is generally related to people; as well as in private,[Imam Kamil Mufti (2006)]
Modesty: An Overview.
''IslamReligion.com'' Retrieved 19 Aug 2016. where a Muslim is expected to feel shy in front of God, (and this shyness will prevent him from disobeying God).[ Modesty is seen as a human trait that distinguishes human beings from other animals.][ Muhammad has been described as being more bashful than a maiden.][
Modesty in dressing. According to ]Islamic Law
Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the ...
, known as sharia, Muslims are required to cover their body parts with proper dressing.[Long (2011), p.93] Covering everything from 'navel to knee' is mandatory for men.[ In some Muslim societies, women wear the niqab, a veil that covers the whole face except the eyes, or the full ]burqa
A burqa or a burka, or , and ur, , it is also transliterated as burkha, bourkha, burqua or burqu' or borgha' and is pronounced natively . It is generally pronounced in the local variety of Arabic or variety of Persian, which varies. Examp ...
, a full-body covering garment that occasionally does cover the eyes. Following is the most frequently cited verse of the Quran regarding modesty: "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. God is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their chests, and not to reveal their adornment" ().
Humility
Humility
Humility is the quality of being humble. Dictionary definitions accentuate humility as a low self-regard and sense of unworthiness. In a religious context humility can mean a recognition of self in relation to a deity (i.e. God), and subsequent ...
(''tawaduʿ'') is defined as being modest and respectful. Accepting less than you deserve. It is not the same as servility. (Q.65:43; Q.20:108)[Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', "Character", (2006), p. 142] In the Quran, God asks, "Is not there in hell a resting pace for the arrogant?" (Q.39:60)[
The prophetic narrations and Muhammad's own examples of simplicity and humbleness inspire the Muslims to practice humility in their life. According to tradition, Muhammad was rare to engage in argument with others. He was rare to laugh in a loud voice; rather, he preferred soft smiling.][ During the conquest of Mecca, when Muhammad was entering into the city riding on a camel, his head lowered, in gratitude to God, to the extent that it almost touched the back of the camel.][
]
Patience and anger management
Numerous verses have good things to say about patience—Q.3:200, 32:24, 8:46, 3:125, 42:43, 3.146.[Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', "Character", (2006), p. 143]
Islamic tradition holds that God has made this world a testing ground for mankind, especially for the believers, and that the sincerity and strength of their faith will be judged through various trials, and only those who can prove their faith and can remain grateful to God despite those adversaries will earn His blessings.[Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', "Sabr", (2006), p. 554] Patience
(or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. Patience may involve perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in disrespect/anger; or forbearance when under strain, especially when face ...
is one of the moral qualities which Islamic sharia considers necessary for a Muslim in order to keep away from evildoings, and in a broader sense, to protect his faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people often ...
.[Maariful Quran. Chapter 2, verse 177.] In Islamic theology, the solution to any crisis in a Muslim's life lies in two things: prayer and patience (Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing.: ...
), and Muslims have been asked to seek God's help through these two things.[
Management/control of anger][Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', "Character", (2006), p. 142-3] is an important issue in Islamic tradition, as anger weakens human conscience
Conscience is a cognitive process that elicits emotion and rational associations based on an individual's moral philosophy or value system. Conscience stands in contrast to elicited emotion or thought due to associations based on immediate sen ...
and is the cause of many evil and violent activities. Forbearance (''al-hilm''), or management of "the soul and temper when it is aroused to anger", is done (according to Al-Raghib al-Isfahani d.1108/1109) by restraining one's hands from violence, the tongue from indecency, the ears from eavesdropping and the eyes from excessive gazes.
Anger is considered one of the characteristic features of pre-Islamic period – a period known as age of ignorance. "Those who curb their anger and those who pardon their fellow-men. Allah loves the beneficent" (Q.3.134)
A hadith in Tirmizi says, "Adam's sons have been created of different types. … the best people among these are those who get angry late and immediately repent." In a famous hadith Narrated Abu Huraira, Muhammad said "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger" (). Controlling anger is seen as a virtue and a sign of righteous person. Muhammad is reported as suggesting several methods to assuage anger for a man when he gets angry: to sit down if he is standing, and/or to lie down if he is sitting; to perform ablution (Islamic way of washing hands and face); to seek refuge from God against the influence of Satan.
Respect for elders
The family and the social tradition in Islamic world has long fostered the idea of respecting the elders of family and society.[Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck]
Muslim Women in America: The Challenge of Islamic Identity Today
/ref> Particularly to parents, "And We have ordained on man to be good and dutiful to his parents" (Q.29:8).[Leaman, ''The Qur'an'', "Hasan/Hasuna/Ahsana", (2006), p.252]
Elders are generally honored by the young members as part of both Islamic culture
Islamic culture and Muslim culture refer to cultural practices which are common to historically Islamic people. The early forms of Muslim culture, from the Rashidun Caliphate to the early Umayyad period and the early Abbasid period, were pre ...
and religious duty. It is one of the important Islamic good manners found in Islamic world. Examples of respecting elders include, among others, not walking ahead of the elders, allowing them to talk first in meetings, avoiding argument with them, and not raising voice before them.[Rassool (2014), p. 65] Prophetic tradition narrates that 'he who does not love the younger and does not respect the elders is not one of us'[ (]Sunan al-Tirmidhi
Jami at-Tirmidhi ( ar, جامع الترمذي), also known as Sunan at-Tirmidhi, is one of "the six books" ('' Kutub al-Sittah'' - the six major hadith collections). It was collected by Al-Tirmidhi. He began compiling it after the year 250 A.H. ...
). Anas ibn Malik narrates that Muhammad said, 'If a young man honors an elderly on account of his age, Allah appoints someone to honor him in his old age'[ (]Sunan al-Tirmidhi
Jami at-Tirmidhi ( ar, جامع الترمذي), also known as Sunan at-Tirmidhi, is one of "the six books" ('' Kutub al-Sittah'' - the six major hadith collections). It was collected by Al-Tirmidhi. He began compiling it after the year 250 A.H. ...
).
Islamic traditions generally do not separate the older into old homes, rather accommodate them into their own houses.[ They are also respected as the guardian of the house. Among the elderly members of a family, the parents occupy a special position in case of receiving veneration by their children. With regard to the rights of parents, the Quranic injunction is to behave well with them, to take care of them especially in their old age, not to be rude to them, and to show highest respect to them.
]
Decent speech
Islam has instructed its followers to maintain decency in speech, and misuse of tongue has been admonished. Excessive or absurd talking, or useless gossiping are generally discouraged.[Al-Ghazali, ''Muslim's Character'', chptr. 11.] The person who talks too much is seen as having greater chances of making mistakes. Speech that hurts others' feelings or insults people are prohibited. Similarly, calling someone by any name that harms the honor of the person is prohibited. Decent and gentle speech has been encouraged as it is seen both as a virtue and as a means of cultivating goodness among people.[ Muhammad has preferred maintaining silence than engaging in meaningless talks. ]Polemic
Polemic () is contentious rhetoric intended to support a specific position by forthright claims and to undermine the opposing position. The practice of such argumentation is called ''polemics'', which are seen in arguments on controversial topics ...
s in speech or heated arguments with ignorant people are disapproved of in Islam. In The Quran and the hadith, there are many instructions regarding the decent use of tongue. Some of them are:
* "The faith of a man cannot be straight unless his heart is straight, and his heart cannot be straight unless his tongue becomes straight." ( Musnad Ahmad)
* "The faltering of the feet cause much less harm than the faltering of the tongue." (Baihaqui)
* Muhammad Ali once advised Abu Zar in this way: "Adopt silence. This is a way of causing Satan to run away, it is a support to you in the matter of your religion." ( Musnad Ahmad)
* "Before Allah the most hated are the quarrelsome person" ().
* “Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers, and who shun vain conversation, and who are active in deeds of charity." (Quran )
* "Say to My servants that they should say those things that are best. Verily, Satan sows discord among them. Verily, the Satan is for man an open enemy." (Quran )
* “A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Free of All Wants and Most Forbearing." (Quran )
* "And argue not with the People of the Book unless it be in a better manner than that." (Quran )
Honesty
In Islam, honesty
Honesty or truthfulness is a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, thef ...
(''sidq'') in the broadest sense, touches almost all aspects of human life:
*speaking truth;
*fulfilling commitments, whether written or verbal;
*remaining truthful to one's word;
*rendering the assigned duty sincerely and as meticulously as possible;
*imparting everyone's due rights without the person's asking for it;
*being objective in evaluating any case and giving judgments;
*avoiding falsehood, deception, and favoritism.[Alkhuli (2006), p. 12-3]
Selection and promotion of personnel in an organization based on merit and not on favoritism is also a part of honesty. In Islam, honesty should be maintained in private as well as in public; not only when supervised, but when unsupervised.[
; Honesty in business
Honesty has particularly been emphasized in business transactions, not only in selling and buying but in issues like ]pricing
Pricing is the process whereby a business sets the price at which it will sell its products and services, and may be part of the business's marketing plan. In setting prices, the business will take into account the price at which it could acq ...
and advertising
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...
policies. Correct measurement is to be maintained. Again, Muhammad has instructed that the sellers should put the commodities of poorer quality in clear display so that the customers are not deceived. Hiking the price to gain more profit or lowering the price to put the competitors at trouble are considered unethical. Similarly, exaggerated claims and suppression of unfavorable information in advertising are discouraged. Honesty is regarded by Muslim scholars as one of the five essential qualities for any Muslim accountants.
Unlike most virtues, honesty is also a religious obligation, and dishonesty is Fasiq (a departure from religion),[Al-Ghazali, ''Muslim's Character'', chptr. 7.] one of the major sins in Islam. Muhammad was asked whether a Muslim could be a coward. He answered: 'Yes.' He was asked whether a Muslim could be a miser. He answered: 'Yes.' He was again asked: 'Can a Muslim be a liar?' He replied: 'No.' Falsehood is seen as something which is against the general characteristics of human nature: it corrupts the human soul and paves the way for many other evil activities.[ According to the Quran, truthfulness was a characteristic virtue of the prophets (]Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing.: ...
; ; ; ; ).
according to Al-Ghazali
Al-Ghazali ( – 19 December 1111; ), full name (), and known in Persian-speaking countries as Imam Muhammad-i Ghazali (Persian: امام محمد غزالی) or in Medieval Europe by the Latinized as Algazelus or Algazel, was a Persian polym ...
:
* Untruth in jokes, or making up stories to amuse others is highly discouraged.[
* Telling lies to even children is prohibited. Prophetic tradition narrates that "Anybody who called a child saying that he would give him a certain thing, and did not give it, then it is a lie" (Ahmed). Children should be accustomed to truthfulness from their childhood so that they can grow up with this virtue.][
* Inventing falsehood and false story about God and His messengers, or inventing any false element in religion is seen as a grave sin.][
* Flattery, exaggeration in praising someone is prohibited. Exaggerated praising of any powerful of rich person in order to get illegal advantage falls into this category. Praise should be made to the extent a person knows about someone.][ ]Abu Hurairah
Abu Hurayra ( ar, أبو هريرة, translit=Abū Hurayra; –681) was one of the companions of Islamic prophet Muhammad and, according to Sunni Islam, the most prolific narrator of hadith.
He was known by the '' kunyah'' Abu Hurayrah "Fathe ...
narrates that "the Prophet has commanded us that we should throw dust in the face of those who indulge in exaggeration in their praises" ( Tirmizi).
* Giving false evidence against someone is seen as the worst type of falsehood, and is considered a major sin in Islam. A person is required to maintain truth in giving evidence even if that goes against their own interest.[
* Bringing false charge of ]adultery
Adultery (from Latin ''adulterium'') is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religi