Ethics in IslamEthics in Islam

‘‘Ilm al-AkhlaqIlm al-Akhlaq

االخالق االخالق علم علمSayyid Ali Raza Rizvi - info@thesaviour.org

Hadith of the Holy Prophet (SA)Hadith of the Holy Prophet (SA)

Abu al-Hasan Musa (AS) said: Abu al-Hasan Musa (AS) said: ““The The Messenger of Allah once entered the Messenger of Allah once entered the mosque where there were a group of mosque where there were a group of people surrounding a man. 'Who is that?', people surrounding a man. 'Who is that?', asked the Prophet (SA). He was told, asked the Prophet (SA). He was told, ‘‘He is He is an an 'allamah'allamah’’.. ‘‘What is an What is an 'allamah?'allamah?’’ asked asked the Prophet (SA). They told him, 'He is the the Prophet (SA). They told him, 'He is the most learned of men regarding Arab most learned of men regarding Arab genealogies, past episodes, the days of genealogies, past episodes, the days of the Jahiliyyah and Arabic poetry'. The the Jahiliyyah and Arabic poetry'. The Prophet (SA) said, 'That is a knowledge Prophet (SA) said, 'That is a knowledge whose ignorance does not harm one nor is whose ignorance does not harm one nor is its possession of any benefit to one'. its possession of any benefit to one'.

Types of KnowledgeTypes of Knowledge

Then the Prophet, may God's Then the Prophet, may God's benedictions be upon him and his benedictions be upon him and his family, declared, 'Verily knowledge family, declared, 'Verily knowledge consists of these three: the firm sign, consists of these three: the firm sign, the just duty and the established the just duty and the established sunnah. sunnah. AllAll else is superfluous.else is superfluous.’”’”

Al-Kulayni: Al-Kulayni: al-Kafial-Kafi, i, "kitab fadl al-'ilm", "bab sifat al-'ilm wa fadluh", , i, "kitab fadl al-'ilm", "bab sifat al-'ilm wa fadluh", hadith no. 1.hadith no. 1.

Three SciencesThree Sciences

The firm signThe firm sign BeliefsBeliefs

The just dutyThe just duty PracticesPractices

The established The established sunnahsunnahEthicsEthics

Why Study EthicsWhy Study Ethics??

The Holy Prophet (SA) said:The Holy Prophet (SA) said:

On the Day of Judgement, nothing On the Day of Judgement, nothing more weighty than good conduct is more weighty than good conduct is placed in the Balance of every man.placed in the Balance of every man.

Imam Baqir (AS) said:Imam Baqir (AS) said:

Indeed the most complete believers in Indeed the most complete believers in faith are the ones best of conduct.faith are the ones best of conduct.

Self-RecognitionSelf-Recognition

The QurThe Qur’’an says:an says:We will show them Our signs in the We will show them Our signs in the

Universe and in their own Universe and in their own selvesselves, , until it will become quite clear to until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth.them that it is the truth.

QurQur’’an: 41: 53.an: 41: 53. The Hadith by the Prophet (SA) says:The Hadith by the Prophet (SA) says:He who knows his He who knows his selfself knows his Lord. knows his Lord.

Bihar al-Anwar: vol. 2 hadith 23.Bihar al-Anwar: vol. 2 hadith 23.

Knowledge & PurificationKnowledge & Purification

Surely prayer keeps (one) away from Surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil.indecency and evil.

QurQur’’an: 29: 45.an: 29: 45.

Lest a soul should say: O woe to me! Lest a soul should say: O woe to me! for what I fell short of my duty to Allah.for what I fell short of my duty to Allah.

QurQur’’an: 39: 56.an: 39: 56.

Angels do not enter a house that has a Angels do not enter a house that has a dog.dog.

Al-Faqih: vol. 1 hadith 744.Al-Faqih: vol. 1 hadith 744.

Humans and AnimalsHumans and Animals

Both Eat & Drink.Both Eat & Drink. Both have offspring.Both have offspring. Both have Emotions.Both have Emotions. Both Move About with Free-will.Both Move About with Free-will. Both have Five Senses.Both have Five Senses.Or do you think that most of them do Or do you think that most of them do

hear or understand? They are nothing hear or understand? They are nothing but as cattle; nay, they are straying but as cattle; nay, they are straying farther off from the path.farther off from the path.QurQur’’an: 25: 44.an: 25: 44.

Difference of IntellectDifference of Intellect

However, Human Beings have However, Human Beings have the power to reason, while the the power to reason, while the animals do not.animals do not.

And surely We have honoured the children And surely We have honoured the children of Adam, and We carry them in the land of Adam, and We carry them in the land and the sea, and We have given them of and the sea, and We have given them of

the good things, and We have made the good things, and We have made them to excel by an appropriate them to excel by an appropriate

excellence over most of those whom We excellence over most of those whom We have created.have created.

QurQur’’an: 17: 70.an: 17: 70.

The Base of all SinsThe Base of all Sins

Imam Hasan (AS) said:Imam Hasan (AS) said:

““The people are destroyed in three The people are destroyed in three things: pride, greed and jealousy.things: pride, greed and jealousy.””

Imam Imam ‘‘Ali (AS) said:Ali (AS) said:

““He who gets married has saved half of He who gets married has saved half of his faith.his faith.”” In another tradition he In another tradition he says: says: ‘‘two thirds of his faithtwo thirds of his faith’’..

Proportion of Human DesiresProportion of Human Desires

Pride 11%

Greed 11%

Lust 67%

Jealousy 11%

Pride

Greed

Jealousy

Lust

PridePride تکبر تکبر Its root is Self-admiration.Its root is Self-admiration. Types of Pride:Types of Pride:

Pride over the Creator: Pride over the Creator: Surely those who are Surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.abased.

QurQur’’an: 40: 60.an: 40: 60.

Pride over the creation.Pride over the creation. Pride over having Knowledge.Pride over having Knowledge. Pride over good actions.Pride over good actions. Pride over onePride over one’’s cast or race.s cast or race. Pride over onePride over one’’s appearance/ looks.s appearance/ looks. Pride over all other things; wealth, power etc.Pride over all other things; wealth, power etc.

Solution to the PrideSolution to the Pride It is due to ignorance, so one must educate It is due to ignorance, so one must educate

himself.himself. Supplication; one who asks Allah destroys his Supplication; one who asks Allah destroys his

ego.ego. To eat sitting on the floor.To eat sitting on the floor. To dress humbly; Salman (RA) was asked why To dress humbly; Salman (RA) was asked why

dondon’’t you wear new clothes? He replied: t you wear new clothes? He replied: ““I am a I am a servant (servant (‘‘abd), the day I am freed (from this abd), the day I am freed (from this world) Iworld) I’’ll wear new dress.ll wear new dress.

To pray recommended prayers.To pray recommended prayers. To accept our mistake when it seems difficult.To accept our mistake when it seems difficult. To give priority to our peers over ourselves.To give priority to our peers over ourselves.

GreedGreed حرص حرص Its root is the love for this world (dunya).Its root is the love for this world (dunya).The Holy Prophet (SA) says:The Holy Prophet (SA) says:““Nothing fills the stomach of a greedy person, except Nothing fills the stomach of a greedy person, except

dust.dust.”” ““Human beings become old, but two things Human beings become old, but two things grow younger in them; greed and long hopes.grow younger in them; greed and long hopes.””

Mahajjat al-BaydaMahajjat al-Bayda’’: vol. 6 pp. 50.: vol. 6 pp. 50.

Imam Imam ‘‘Ali (AS) says in Nahjul Balaghah:Ali (AS) says in Nahjul Balaghah:““Two seekers are never satisfied; the seeker of Two seekers are never satisfied; the seeker of

knowledge and the seeker of this world.knowledge and the seeker of this world.”” The Greedy want to live longer.The Greedy want to live longer. He does not like to spend anything, even on He does not like to spend anything, even on

himself and things he likes.himself and things he likes.

Solutions to GreedSolutions to Greed

It is due to lack of contentment, so one It is due to lack of contentment, so one must strengthen contentment.must strengthen contentment.

Remembrance of death.Remembrance of death. Firm belief in AllahFirm belief in Allah’’s mercy.s mercy. Generosity, to start giving little amounts Generosity, to start giving little amounts

to the deserving and then building on it.to the deserving and then building on it. To think of the less fortunate than To think of the less fortunate than

oneself.oneself. Disassociate with the worldly.Disassociate with the worldly.

JealousyJealousy حسد حسد Its root is grudge and grudge is due to anger.Its root is grudge and grudge is due to anger. Imam Baqir (AS) says: Indeed, jealousy eats up Imam Baqir (AS) says: Indeed, jealousy eats up

faith (good deeds) like fire burns dry wood.faith (good deeds) like fire burns dry wood. Stages of Jealousy:Stages of Jealousy:

1.1. To envy a thing or quality others possess.To envy a thing or quality others possess.

2.2. To speak against the one you envy.To speak against the one you envy.

3.3. To do something against the one envied.To do something against the one envied.

The first stage is forgivable, but not the other two.The first stage is forgivable, but not the other two.

Solutions to JealousySolutions to Jealousy

Intellectual solutions:Intellectual solutions:1.1. To keep in mind that it destroys both this To keep in mind that it destroys both this

world and the hereafter.world and the hereafter.2.2. To bear in mind that jealousy does not To bear in mind that jealousy does not

cause any harm to the envied.cause any harm to the envied.3.3. To bear in mind that it punishes no one To bear in mind that it punishes no one

but the one suffering from it.but the one suffering from it. Practical solution:Practical solution:1.1. Do not backbite the envied, instead praise Do not backbite the envied, instead praise

him.him.2.2. Do not physically harm the envied.Do not physically harm the envied.

Four Human FacultiesFour Human Faculties

Intellectual FacultyIntellectual Faculty Faculty of DesireFaculty of Desire Faculty of AngerFaculty of Anger Faculty of ImaginationFaculty of Imagination

Intellectual FacultyIntellectual Faculty

عاقله عاقله قوه قوه Refinement of this power results in Refinement of this power results in

Wisdom.Wisdom. The two extreme ends of this are The two extreme ends of this are

craftiness and stupidity.craftiness and stupidity.

Faculty of DesireFaculty of Desire

شهویه شهویه قوه قوه Refinement of this power results in Refinement of this power results in

chastity.chastity. The two extreme ends of this are The two extreme ends of this are

gluttony and immobility.gluttony and immobility.

Faculty of AngerFaculty of Anger

غضبیه غضبیه قوه قوه Refinement of this power results in Refinement of this power results in

courageousness.courageousness. The two extreme ends of this are The two extreme ends of this are

audaciousness and cowardice.audaciousness and cowardice.

Faculty of ImaginationFaculty of Imagination

وهمیه وهمیه قوه قوه Refinement of this power results in Refinement of this power results in

justice.justice. The two extreme ends of this are The two extreme ends of this are

tyranny and bearing tyranny.tyranny and bearing tyranny.

Balance in LifeBalance in Life

WisdomWisdom CourageousnessCourageousness ChastityChastity JusticeJustice