Ethics and Morals in Islam
(This talk is for two Fridays)
Written by: SK.
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
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Thanks be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the
most honorable of all messengers Mohammad; and all his folks, companions, and
followers to the day they are all summoned together.
Dear brothers
and sisters, we all know that good ethics and character is the main aim for
the message of Islam. The messenger said: “I was only sent to complement the
virtues of ethics”
Allah said:
{It is not piety, righteousness, and obedience to Allah, that you turn your
faces towards east and (or) west; but piety and righteousness is the one who
believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives
money, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to the
poor, and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free,
performs prayers, and gives charity, and who fulfill their covenant when they
make it, and the patient ones in extreme poverty and ailment or calamity, and
at rough times as during battles. Such are the people of the truth and they
are pious and fearing- V.177:2).
Good ethic and
character is the proof to belief. In fact belief has no value with out good
ethics. The messenger PPBU said [belief is not through wishing it, but it is
what stays in the heart and the action to verify it].
What are the
conditions, signs, types benefits of good ethics. This is what this Friday’s
talk is about.
First: the definition of best of ethics.
Linguistically, it is the character or nature of an individual, basic human
ethics, prowess and religion.
Religiously,
ethics and character, is a firm state of mind and soul which is the source
which initiates actions, good and bad, without thinking.
Best of
ethics: is a firm state which initiates good acts without the need to think.
Secondly, How important is the good ethics:
1) The real truth in messenger’s message.
2) Allah’ loves good ethics.
3) Through good ethics many will be
elevated in status, and without such ethics many, their status will be
dropped.
4) The ethics and standards of the
Messenger PPBU were of the highest and best standard. He said [The best of you
are those with the best of ethics]
Thirdly: Conditions for good ethics:
1)
The sincerity to
Allah for all acts
2)
The source of the
ethics has to be Koran and the Sunnah.
One who does a
good ethical act; it must have no intention purely for a worldly benefit or
purpose. The act must be purely for Allah. The act or ethic must be according
to the Koran and Sunna.
Fourthly, the signs of good ethics:
There are two
signs, if an individual has those two signs then he/she will know that they
possess good ethics and must maintain and nourish it:
1)
Wishing good for
other fellow Muslims. The Messenger PPBU said: [None of you is a believer
until he/she loves for his brother what he would love for himself.]
2)
Toleration to hurt
and wrong doings of others. In this respect there are 11 different levels or
attitudes in different situations when faced with natural or man inflicted
calamities or oppression, and they are:
1.
Accepting fate:
Believing what happens to an individual only happens due to Allah’s well and
predestined fate. Allah says: {No calamity befalls on the earth or in
yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees, before we bring it into
existence, verily, that is easy for Allah * In order that you may not be sad
over matters that you fail to get, nor rejoice because of that which has been
given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters.} 22,23 Hadeed.
2.
Patience:
Allah says: {You shall certainly be tried
and tested in your wealth and properties and
in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve
you from those who received the Scripture before you, and from those who
ascribe partners to Allah, but if you persevere patiently, and become the
pious fearing then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs,
and that is from the great matters, which you must hold on with all your
efforts.} 186 Al-IEmran. Allah also said: {and verily, whosoever shows
patience and forgives, that would truly be from the things recommended by
Allah} aya 43-ashoura 42.
3.
Forgiving and keeping cool:
The messenger PPBU said: [A slave who forgives, Allah gives him more pride and
status]. And Allah said: {The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof,
but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.
Verily, He likes not the oppressors.}
4.
Acceptance and satisfaction:
This is a higher level than forgiving.
5.
Responding with goodness:
Responding to the aggressor with goodness. Allah said: {The good deed and the
evil deed can not be equal. Repel the evil with one which is better, then
verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, will become as though he was
a close friend}.
6.
Safety and calmness of the heart:
This is where heart and mind do not remain busy worrying about the hurt that
took place and how to revenge.
7.
Security:
When one does not keep on thinking and worrying about revenge will also avoid
something even worse. For if he does take revenge, and then counter revenge
can reoccur. One can get into the cycle of enmity.
8.
Jihad:
That is being hurt by people because of one’s jihad or striving in the line of
Allah, by commending and soliciting good and deterring evil, establishing
Allah’s religion. When Abu-Baker was going to punish those who destroyed and
killed many Muslims, Omar recommended (and his recommendation was taken) that
those who lost lives and monies was lost for the sake of Allah, and Allah will
reward for it, and no compensation is taken for a Saheed (or one who dies in
the line of Allah). Allah said quoted prophet Loqman’s advice to his son
saying: {O my son, do your prayers, solicit good and deter evil, and bear with
patience whatever befall you. Verily, these are some of the important
commandments ordered by Allah}.
9.
Taking the tragedy as a Mercy:
In many ways more than one what may seem as bad happening to an individual can
be a mercy from Allah.
i.
For it is a mercy to
be a victim awaiting reward and victory from Allah rather than be an aggressor
awaiting the punishment from Allah.
ii.
Also, sins can be
cleared for an individual in this worldly life rather than be punished for
them in the life after. That can happen by hearts or calamities befall on to
him/her.
iii.
In a third manner,
one can take the calamity to be better than a bigger one. And remembering that
any calamity can be handled but the true catastrophic calamity is the disaster
of loosing the religion.
iv.
Receiving reward for
such heart on that day of real need. Allah said: {Only those who are patient
shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning. (or without being
brought to an account)}
10.
Similarity with the messenger PPBU and other
prophets. One can be satisfied by put
in similar situations and take similar actions like Allah’s messengers and
prophets and the chosen ones. They were the ones who were tested by the most
suffering inflicted by other people.
11.
The Oneness of Allah.
For this that loves Allah, and is sincere to Allah, and prefers Allah’s
satisfaction to his, those who feel safe with Allah, and those who trust in
and rely on Allah, those will not feel for people’s heart.
Fifth: Types of ethics
1)
Given ethics:
Some ethics the individual is created and molded into. These are the ethics
one is born with.
2)
Acquired ethics:
are those that one learns and adapts to by interacting with people round him.
Those ethics an individual will try to learn and adheres to on his own or with
the help of the good friends. One would also ask Allah to improve his standard
of ethics.
The messenger PPBU was reported saying:
“Knowledge is through learning, discretion is through wisdom, and he who seeks
goodness shall be given it, and he who avoids evil shall be protected from it”
He was also reported saying: “Every man will
take up the religion of his mate, so, let each of you see who they become
friends with”
Sixth: The benefits of good ethics.
1)
Blessings are in the
homes and the age. The messenger was reported saying: “Good ethics and the
good neighbors will build homes and makes the long living”
2)
Good ethics will add to
the scale in the day after. The messenger was reported saying talking to
Aba-Athar (ÃÈÇ ÇáÐÑ):
“Ab-tharr, shall I guide you to two characters, that put lighter burden on the
back, yet they place a heavier weight in the scale than any other? He said
Yes, messenger of Allah, the messenger said: Go for good ethic (good behavior,
and lengthy silence. There are no other characters like them.” In another
hadeeth the messenger said: “Nothing in the scale is heavier than good ethics”
3)
A reason for hearts to
unite and become more friendly.
4)
The complement of
belief or Iman. The messenger PPBU said: “The most complete of the believers
are the ones with the better ethics” and also reported saying “The best
amongst you are those with the better ethics”
5)
Being loved by Allah. .
The messenger PPBU said: “The most loved of the slave of Allah to Allah are
those with the better ethics”
6)
Deserving paradise: .
The messenger PPBU said: “I guarantee a house in the main part of paradise to
whoever gives up double-faced even when he is right, and a house in the upper
part of paradise to whoever has good ethics”
The
messenger PPBU was asked, what is it that will make people go to paradise more
than anything else? He replied: “Fear of Allah and Good ethics”. And he was
asked what is it that makes people go to hell fire more that anything else? He
replied: “The mouth and the organ” meaning problems of talking and problems of
sex.
7)
Be at the level of
those who fast and those who stay up the nights in prayers. . The messenger
PPBU said: “for a man would due to his good ethics reach the grades of this
who prays the night and fasts the day”
8)
He will be close to the
beloved the chosen one may PPBU. The messenger PPBU said: “Those of you who
are most loved by me and who is nearest to me in life after are those of you
with the best ethics”
9)
Be forbidden for the
fire. . The messenger PPBU said: “The fire is forbidden for everyone who is
near or close, easy, simple and uncomplicated”
Notes:
-
Adhan
- The call to prayer.
-
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the
messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of
Islam.
Assalam Alaikum -
The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace
be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching
it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during
leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
is a verse of the Koran.
It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
is a mountain
outside the city of Mecca
that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing
Hajj must stay at this location on the same
day.
Badr
- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the
pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph
- A Muslim ruler. See:
(Khalifa)
Dajjal
- Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah
- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din)
- Religion or way of life.
Duaa:
a prayer in the form of
talking to Allah;
praising him and asking him for help.
Fatwa
- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are
the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose:
is the highest level of
the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh
- Religious law.
Hadeeth:
is something reported
that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave.
It is usually narrated or told by one
of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are
reported and checked to be genuine. No
more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar -
The Black Stone set into the corner of the
Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj -
The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in
the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas:
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith
- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his
followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is
the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or
Hejrah):
the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This
event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12
months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a
name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah -
Worship. All the words and deeds with which
Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese):
On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used
by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar
or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn
Omar.
Imam
(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman:
belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) -
The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the
Christians.
Islam
- Submission, the religion of all the
prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah -
The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of
the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad:
is striving in the
line
of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving
oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection
of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the
fight one's self against temptations.
It also means "holy war."
Jinn
-
Supernatural, invisible beings race of
beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst
them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on
Judgment Day.
Ka'aba:
A cube shaped building in
Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say
Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by
Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage
in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa:
is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation:
"Successor".
Khutbah -
A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr -
Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for
anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran
- Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book
of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran
literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to
the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the
Arabian
peninsula
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to
immigrate to.
Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid -
A
center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah -
A
sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah:
is
the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous
black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim
house of worship.
Muhajir -
(Muhajireen)
Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It
was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median
and Ethiopia.
Muhammad -
the final messenger and
prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He
received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in
Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad
ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim
- One who holds faith to the religion of
Islam.
Nafilah:
a voluntary prayer other
than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara -
Christians. Nasrani:
A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
Christianity.
Ommah:
is the Arabic word for a
nation. It usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise -
Another word for heaven. A
garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and
imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels.
All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty
Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise
is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU
(P.B.U.H.) :
Peace and Prayers Be
Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the
messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar -
Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all
things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr):
The night when the first
revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to
the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and
few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the
holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla -
The direction which Muslims turn for daily
prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish -
An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger
Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan -
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which
is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat -
Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of
worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is
performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa:
A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion
leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants
of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who
ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk -
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with
Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of
Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam-
Fasting
Sunni:
is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life
style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah):
Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he
dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought.
Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered
the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an
important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes.
It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all
Muslims.
Surah -
A
chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf:
part of the pilgrimage (Hajj)
ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise
direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed -
Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that
there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement
of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new
Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah -
Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person
to understand God.
Taurat: The old
Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah -
the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah):
A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic
year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual
done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor -
The
Psalms
Zakat -
The
third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
