Concept of Ethics in Islam
Fields of Ethic
Normative - Set norm & standard for conduct
Metaethics - Study the meaning of ethical term & judgement used in normative ethic
Applied ethics - application of normative to practical
Importance
Spririt of Islam
Validation and authentication of Iman
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ”إنَّماَ بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِم مَكَارِم الأَخلاَق“ (البخاري)
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “I have been sent (as the Messenger of Allah) only for the purpose of perfecting good morals.” (hadith, al-Bukhari)
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا … (الترمذى(
“The most perfect believer in faith is the one who is best in moral character. ..” (al-Tirmidhi)
Structure
Spiritual -> Academic/Intellectual -> Practical -> Moral
Ethics
Literal Meaning : Derived from Greek, ethos, means character
Technical Meaning : Field of study that has morality as its subject matter, and values or rules of conduct held by an individual or a group.
Arabic - 'ilm al-Akhlaq, which studies about morals, by referring to morality (Akhlaq), which means the nature, or an innate disposition or temperament
Significant : Moral character, or the fashion of inner man, his mind or soul and its peculiar qualities and attributes.
According to Abdul Qadir al-Jurjani, Akhlaq is “a deep (rasikha) state of the self (haya’a nafs) produces acts, behavior with ease with no need of sophisticate thinking and reflection (fikr wa rawiyah)”
Al-Ghazali states that ethics is “the study of certain religious beliefs (i‘tiqadat) and of rightness and wrongness of action for the purpose of practice and not for the sake of mere knowledge.” And character is an established state (of the soul) from which actions proceed easily without any need for reflection or deliberation.
Benefits
Spiritual : Voluntary worship, dearest one to ALLAH, eliminate sins
Social : Stable, Secure & Harmonious society, Good leadership, Strong & Peaceful family life, build good reputation, winning peoples' hearts.
Core Moral Values
Amanah - The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “The person who does not keep trust has no Iman (faith) and the person who does not respect his covenant [promise] has no religion.” (hadith)
Taklif, Family, Returning Deposits to their Owner, keeping Secrets, Work & Wealth
'Adl - to place things in their rightful places.
Between People, saying, state of mind, & way of treating people
Requirement - a) Individual - 1)keep in mind the dire consequences of injustice, 2)Distance Oneself from Oppressors, 3)examine whatever we hear before acting against people on mere suspicion
, b)Societal - ﴿لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمْ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ﴾
(الحديد: 25).
“We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the Book and the balance that men may conduct themselves with equity; and We have made the iron, wherein is mighty power and (many) uses for mankind, and that Allah may know who supports Him and His messengers, though unseen; surely Allah is Strong, Almighty.” (57: 25)