Values and Ethics in Islam

Islam is a religion that provides a complete way of living through its ethical standards and values provided in the Holy Quran. It has described moral values and ethics in a proper way and has emphasized the Muslims to follow them in order to please the Almighty Allah. The Creator of this world and the eternal one has allowed human beings to choose their living style according to their will. The reason behind this freedom is that Allah has described this worldly life as a test in the Holy Quran to earn a reward on the day of judgment according to the deeds.

Islam has provided fundamental rights to all the living things in the world. Therefore, these rights of all living things must be well observed according to the ethical principle and values of Islam. In the Holy Quran Almighty Allah says:

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask; and for the freeing of captives; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-conscious”. (Quran, 2:177)

The most glorifying example of practicing Islamic values and ethics is the Last Prophet of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He (SAW) set standards and provided guidelines to the followers to practice in life. He (SAW) ended the ill customs and traditions found in the Arabic world and other regions regarding racism, killing of daughters, alcohol, fraud, interest, adultery and brutal killings.

In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah describes Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as,

“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”(Quran, 68:4)

With contrast to other systems, the ethical system in Islam takes guidelines from the divine source of teachings “The Noble Quran” and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The ethical values set by Islam cannot be altered according to the will of human beings and the situation they are in. The system is working for thousands of years and it will do the same until the day of judgment. This system cannot be affected by the cultural norms as Allah (SWT) is the one whose acceptance is most important when it comes to performing the deeds in this world.

In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has mentioned the following values that Muslims must practice in their lifetime.

• Almighty Allah is the only one to be worship.
• Parents must be dealt with kindness.
• Whenever a promise is made it, fulfill it.
• The poor and orphans are the responsibility of the society.
• Performing the religious duties set by Islam.
• Staying away from the deeds that are recommended as sin in Islam.
• Dear of Allah should be in the heart of everyone with the truth on the tongue.
• Killing a person is like killing the whole of humanity.
• Practice honesty in personal and professional life.

The Almighty Allah with his unparalleled wisdom has devised such a system that enables a person to live a perfect life. May Allah Almighty give us the strength to perform life practices just according to the teachings of Islam. Ameen!