ISLAMIC VALUES AND

PERSPECTIVES

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Table of Contents
Tawhid

(Unity of God) and Al-akhirah (the Hereafter) and its implications Core values - Justice (adl) and trust (amanah) The concept of promoting goodness (maruf) and preventing evil (munkar) The concept of goodness (khair, birr) and sharr The concept of rewards (ajr) and sins (ithm) The concept of lawful (halal) and prohibited (haram) The relationship between conscience (dhameer), intention (niyyah), rationality (aqlaniyah), and action (aml)
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Islamic Ethical System

Two aspects of man: Individual & Collective (Naqvi, 1981, p.46). Individual provides raison detre (reason for being/a degree of realization) for that exists. Collective related to his/her environment e.g. he/she must provide for the sustenance of the poor and is required even to lay down his/her life for the survival of the Ummah (Muslim Community). Mans individual and collective actions are facets of an integrated theomorphic being (Gods image) extrovert & introvert; esoteric (inner) & exoteric (common) aspects of his/her life are linked together in an indissoluble chain. Man will not be alienated from his environment in a capitalistic which Hegelian-Marxian believes. Islam shows the best way to realize his theomorphic potential (bestowal of divine attributes on humanity, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theomorphism, 23 July 2008). The basic traits of mans nature can be neutralized at a personal level; they can never be abolished.
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Fundamental Ethical Axioms

Axioms self evident; universally recognized truth; maxims; established rules, principles, law; evident for an argument/postulate. Four ethical axioms: unity, equilibrium, free will and responsibility Equilibrium is implied by unity; responsibility is a property of free will; both can be contracted unity and free will Unity man reflects divine unity; is receptacle (container) of truth must reflect Allahs glory; cant associate Allah with other creatures Divide order is reflected in the quality of equilibrium (competing influences are balanced) all must be kept in balance Free Will man is given the freedom to choose God-like by realizing his theomorphic character Man acts according to the ethics of freedom; little coercion in reconciling private and social interests Responsibility man is responsible for what he does; Islam is not fatalistic (fixed tendency to disaster, it asks man to be dynamic Ihsan (benevolence) Kindness to others
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Ihsan (benevolence)
According to Al Ghazali, six kinds of benevolence: 1. Giving a person a thing the later needs, including as little profit as possible 2. Paying more to a poor person when a person purchases from the former 3. Extending the period of payment of loans to a debtor 4. Accepting a returned good from the purchaser 5. Paying debt to creditor before it becomes due 6. Refraining from pressing for payment on the debtor for goods purchased on credit
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Tawhid (Unity of God) and Al-akhirah (the Hereafter) and its implications
Mans roles: servant & vicegerent/deputy

Tawhid (Unity of God)

Al-Akhirah (the Hereafter)

Other creatures

Fellow human beings

Worldly life

Individual & Collective; God image

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Islamic Worldview
Islam worldview + strategy maqasid al shariah blueprint for a just and workable solution Three fundamental principles: (1) Tawhid (unity), (2) Khilafah (vicegerency), and (3) adalah (justice) [source of the maqasid & strategy) Tawhid foundation stone of the Islamic faith Khilafah with spiritual & mental characteristics, material resources to enable man to carryout his mission. (see implications for Khilafah) Adalah (justice) Islam abhors zulm in all forms inequity, injustice, exploitation, oppression, wrongdoings. (see implications for Adalah ) Islam emphasizes duties rather than rights; generally, rights have corresponding duties; Islamic law more rights

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Implications for the concept of Khilafah

Universal

brotherhood Man should manage all resources as a trust The Khalifah should lead a humble life style One should not make others subservient to him because all are servants of Allah
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Implications for Adalah (justice)

Ensure

the fulfillment of the needs of others (a collective duty Fard Kifayah Obtain respectable source of earning through individuals own effort Fard Ayn Give equitable distribution of income and wealth lack suitable programs will not reduce inequalities and destroy the feelings of brotherhood Promote growth and stability the need to use resources efficiently

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Core values - Justice (adl) and trust (amanah)

Justice - distribution of things and position of people within society. Conditions:

Closely linked to fairness, views of what constitutes justice vary from society to society (and person to person), but some concept of justice is one of the key features of social organization. It can also refer to the administration of law within a society.

Amanah

trust, free will (a person can exercise control over his/her actions and decisions)

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The concept of promoting goodness (maruf) and preventing evil (munkar)

Let there be among you a community who enjoin good and forbid evil; it is they that shall be successful [3:104]
You are the best community that has ever been brought forth for mankind: you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in God[3:110] Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who persevere, those who bow down, those who prostrate, and those who enjoin good and forbid evil [9:112] Those of the Israelites who were unbelievers have already been cursed on the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary, for they were disobedient, and transgressed. They did not forbid one another from committing the evil that they wrought. What they used to do was foul indeed [5:79] Muslim relates on the authority of Abu Sa`id (radhiallahu `anhu) that the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever sees something evil should change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot do even that, then in his heart. That is the weakest degree of faith." Enjoining good and forbidding evil is every mukallaf's business Conditions of takleef: Knowledge of what is good and what is evil Ensure their personal safety, honor, and property from injury

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Hadith no. 27/40

Al Birr (righteous)

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The concept of goodness (khair, birr) and sharr

Hadith no. 27 of Forty Hadith by Imam Nawawi: Al-Nawwas bin Sam'an, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said: "Righteousness (Al Birr) is good character, and sin (Al Ithm) is that which wavers in your heart and which you do not want people to know about. [Muslim] According to Wabisah bin Ma'bad, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I came to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, and he said: "You have come to ask about righteousness ?" " Yes," I answered. He said: "Consult (Istafti, get fatwa) your heart. Righteousness is that about which the soul feels tranquil and the heart feels tranquil, and sin is what creates restlessness in the soul and moves to and fro in the breast, even though people give you their opinion (in your favour) and continue to do so."
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Al Birr and its implications for Ethics: Internal Controlling System

The two hadiths reveal a significant aspect of Islam that is an internal controlling and guiding system that is established as a result of several factors: 1. The pure fitra (natural disposition). Allah created everybody with a pure fitra and not just Muslims. The Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, mentions many factors in the environment that play an influential role in subjecting the fitra to corruption. 2. The realization of tawhid. This means practicing all the essentials of tawhid like loving Allah, seeking His Help as the only refuge, depending on Him (tawakul), asking for His Mercy, and many other essentials associated with the idea of tawhid. 3. Adhering to shari'ah instructions. 4. Seeking knowledge. 5. Tazkiyah and tarbiyah - that is the purification of the soul and the heart of the Muslim.
Source: Forty Hadith. http://fortyhadith.iiu.edu.my/hadith27.htm, 23 Jul 2008

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The concept of ajr and ithm

Ajr - Reward/Wage motivation; encouragement to do good things; good manners; ethical Ijr Reward positive reinforcement Ithm Sin punishment; penalty. Major sins in Islam (al Kabair), e.g. Associating anything with Allah, Murder, Practicing magic, Not Praying, Not paying Zakat, Not fasting on a Day of Ramadan without excuse, Not performing Hajj, while being able to do so, Disrespect to parents, Abandoning relatives, Fornication and Adultery, Homosexuality(sodomy), Interest(Riba), Wrongfully consuming the property of an orphan, Lying about Allah and His Messenger, Running away from the battlefield, etc. Repentance (Tawbah)
(Source: The Major Sins Al-Kaba'r By Muhammad bin 'Uthman Adh-Dhahabi)
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The concept of lawful (halal) and prohibited (haram)

The Prophet (peace be on him) said: What Allah has made lawful in His Book is halal and what He has forbidden is haram, and that concerning which He is silent is allowed as His favor. So accept from Allah His favor, for Allah is not forgetful of anything. He then recited, "And thy Lord is not forgetful." (19:64) (This hadith was reported by al-Hakim, classified as sahih (sound), and quoted by alBazzar.) "Any innovation in our matter (worship) which is not a part of it must be rejected.'' (This hadith is classified as muttafaq'alayh ("agreed upon" by the two great scholars al-Bukhari and Muslim). The first asl or principle, established by Islam is that the things which Allah has created and the benefits derived from them are essentially for man's use, and hence are permissible.

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The relationship between conscience (dhameer), intention (niyyah), rationality, and action (aml) (dhameer, heart) is a hypothesised ability or faculty that distinguishes whether our actions are right or wrong Intention (niyyah) an action is his or her specific purpose in doing so, the end or goal that is aimed at something Rationality (aqlaniyah) idea of reason, comprehension, inference, intelligence
Conscience
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscience, 23 Jul 08) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intention, 23 Jul 08)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality, 23 Jul 08)

Action

(amal) something a person can do

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action, 23 Jul 08)

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