Islamic Ethics
(From Wikipedia) is defined as "good character," historically took shape gradually
from the 7th century and was finally established by the 11th century. It
was eventually shaped as a successful amalgamation of the Qur'anic teachings
In the 17th chapter, "Al-Israa" ("The Night Journey"),
verses, the Qur'an provides
a set of moral stipulations which are "among the (precepts of) wisdom,
which thy Lord has revealed to thee" that can be reasonably categorized as
ten in number. According to S. A. Nigosian, Professor of religious studies at the University of Toronto, these resemble
the Ten Commandments in the Bible and "represents the fullest statement of
the code of behavior every Muslim must follow".
Worship only
God: Take not with Allah another object of worship; or thou (O man!) wilt
sit in disgrace and destitution. (Quran 17:22)
Be kind,
honorable and humble to one's parents: Thy Lord hath decreed that ye
worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of
them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel
them, but address them in terms of honour. (Quran 17:23)
And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My
Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood." (Quran 17:24)
Be neither
miserly nor wasteful in one's expenditure: And render to the kindred their
due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not
(your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. (Quran 17:26)
Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his
Lord (himself) ungrateful. (Quran 17:27)
And even if thou hast to turn away from them in pursuit of the Mercy from thy
Lord which thou dost expect, yet speak to them a word of easy kindness. (Quran 17:28)
Make not thy hand tied, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou
become blameworthy and destitute. (Quran 17:29)
Do not
engage in 'mercy killings' for fear of starvation: Kill not your children
for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you.
Verily the killing of them is a great sin. (Quran 17:31)
Do not
commit adultery: Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed)
and an evil, opening the road (to other evils). (Quran 17:32)
Do not kill
unjustly: Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just
cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to
demand qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of
taking life; for he is helped (by the Law). (Quran 17:33)
Care for
orphaned children: Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to
improve it, until he attains the age of full strength...(Quran 17:34)
Keep one's
promises: ...fulfill (every) engagement [i.e. promise/covenant], for
(every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). (Quran 17:34)
Be honest
and fair in one's interactions: Give full measure when ye measure, and
weigh with a balance that is straight: that is the most fitting and the most
advantageous in the final determination. (Quran 17:35)
Do not be
arrogant in one's claims or beliefs: And pursue not that of which thou
hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of (feeling in)
the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). (Quran 17:36)
Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou canst not rend the earth
asunder, nor reach the mountains in height. (Quran 17:37)
Many Muslim
theologians see the Golden Rule implicit
in some verses of the Qur'an and in the Hadith. The
Golden Rule was agreed in 1993 by Muslims as a central unconditional ethical
norm in the Declaration Toward a Global Ethic.