Islamic Ethics vs Liberal Ethics

Honestly offspring’s of Adam & Eve, Muslims develop their Islamic-ethics from the sacred book Al-Quran-e-Kareem and Hadith shareef (sayings of the Noble Prophet), while Quran-e-Kareem encloses more than a few commands and Muhammad’s (Ummatee) followers must act upon. The Hadith shareef presents Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ as the perfect human, whom Muslim-Ummah must imitate in all esteems. Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was revealed upon the Ummah as a mortal-being, appointed by Gracious Almighty Allah (God) to teach the word of Allah (God) and lead a model life, as the best “Model” for mankind in virtues and perfection. The beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is living evidence, of what man can be and of what he can achieve in the realm of excellence and virtues.

And those who struggled in Our path – We shall surely show them Our paths; and indeed Allah is with the righteous ones. (1)

Muslim believers look at the whole thing in a different way and morality comes from the beloved Prophet’s actions and good is whatever He exercised. Morality does not decide the Prophet’s actions; however His actions decide and outline morality. The acts of the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ are not conventional acts but are Gracious Almighty Allah’s own acts endowed, guided and permitted by Gracious Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

Whoever desires harvest of the Hereafter, We increase the harvest for him; and whoever desires the harvest of this world – We shall give him part of it, and he has no share in the Hereafter.(2)

It was for this approach and by this reason that beloved Prophet Muhammad’s sentiments became the beliefs of Islam while his personal lifestyles and habits became moral essentials; Gracious Almighty Allah’s directives for all disciples in all ages and places to follow.

You are the best amongst all the nations that were raised among the people – you command what is good and prohibit what is evil and you believe in Allah.(3)

Islam is a complete way of life, and ethics is one of the keystones of Islam.  Ethics is one of the essential sources of a nation’s power, just as immorality is one of the leading causes of a nation’s failure.  Islam has established some all-purpose essential rights for humankind as a whole, which are to be perceived in all situations.  To endorse these rights, Islam has delivered not only legal safety measure, but also a very operational moral system.  Therefore, whatever leads to the prosperity of the individual or the society and does not face any sayings of the religion is ethically good in Islam, and whatever is harmful is ethically bad.

And let there be a group amongst you who invites towards goodness, and commands what is good and forbids what is evil; it is they who are the successful ones.(4)

Well-known of its significance in a vigorous society, Islam supports ethics and substances that lead to it, and positions in the way of dishonesty and substances that lead to it.  The administrative principle for the conduct of a Muslim is (Virtuous Deeds) and this term covers all deeds, not only deeds of worship.  The Protector and Evaluate of all deeds is Gracious Almighty Allah (God) Himself.

The most essential characteristics of a Muslim are virtues and modesty and a Muslims should be modest with the Creator Gracious Almighty Allah (God) and also with all His Creations.

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. (5)

A Muslim should not be unproductive or devoted to the temporary desires of this world. While record people let the material world to fill their hearts, Muslims should keep Allah (God) in their hearts and the substantial world in their influence.  Instead of being devoted to the Pullman and the work and the credential and the bank figures, all these possessions become tools to mark us better societies.

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 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 perseverance in poverty and ailment and throughout all periods of fighting.  Such are the people of truth, the pious. (6)

Definition of the verse demonstrates that morality and piety is centered before all others on a correct and truthful faith.  The significant to virtues and good behavior has a strong bonding with Gracious Almighty Allah (God), who perceives all, at all times and universally.  He discerns the secrets of the hearts and the plans behind all acts.  And so, a Muslim must be ethical in all situations; Almighty Allah (God), is very well aware of every one, when no one else is therefore, we can deceive the whole world, except for Him.  We can escape from the world, but not from Him, so when there is no escape why disobey Him.  The affection and endless awareness of Gracious Almighty Allah (God) and the Day of compensation enable’s man, to be ethical in behavior and honest in intentions, with dedication and devotion:

Do not ever think of those who rejoice for their deeds and wish to be praised without doing (good deeds) – do not ever think that they are safe from the punishment; and for them is a painful punishment.(7)

Aj banta hun mu’azziz Jo khulay Ḥashr mayn ‘ayb

Haye ruswayi ki afat mayn phansun ga Ya Rab

Translation: Ya Rab! Today, I act as if I am a respected person. Alas, I will be disgraced if my faults are exposed on the Day of Judgement. (8)

Ethics in Islam lectures every feature of a Muslim’s life, from greetings to comprehensive relations.  It is collective in its scope and in its applicability’s, whereas morality rules in selfish needs, arrogance and evil behaviors.  Muslim-Ummah must not only be ethical, they should also command virtues and not only abstain from immoral but must also outlaw them.  Furthermore, must not only be ethically strong, but they must also contribute to the ethical condition of the society as a whole.

You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in God; and if the followers of the Book had believed it would have been better for them; of them (some) are believers and most of them are transgressors.(9)

Islamic Ethics <> Conclusion;

When observing Islamic-ethics, Muslims appreciate Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ as model human-being, the one all mankind should strive to imitate. Along with extra universal virtues, the 5 Pillars of Islam form a core of Islamic-ethics and supports incentives for ethical deeds along with keenness of final judgment is the strongest.

References;

  • (1) [Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 21, Surah Al-‘Ankabt, verse 69)
  • (2) [Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 25, Surah Ash-Shura, verse 20)
  • (3) [Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Surah Al-‘Imran, verse 110)
  • (4) [Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Surah Al-e-‘Imran, verse 104)
  • (5) (Quran 31:18-19)
  • (6) Verse 177 of Surat Al Baqarah
  • (7) [Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Surah Al-e-‘Imran, verse 188)
  • (8) (Wasail-e-Bakhshish, pp. 91)
  • (9) (Quran: 3:110)