[7] The "basic aim" of Islamic morality and ethics is "to achieve" Raza-e Ilahi (the Pleasure of God)"[8] or to make God's pleasure "the objective of man’s life";[4] and the importance of moral behavior in this is reflected in the five Quranic verses calling on Muslims to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and hadith that quote Muhammad as saying 'I was sent to perfect the ethical conduct'.
Morality encompasses the values and rules that govern human conduct … [15]Similarly, Malcolm Clark says, "... some Western ethicists make a distinction between ethics (theory) and morals (practical guidelines) ..." [1][Note 1] According to Nikhat Sattar, "Islamic ethics differ from the Western concept" in being based on divine revelation.
), the spending of "your substance, ... for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the freeing of captives; ... practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain and adversity and throughout all periods of panic" (Q.2:177);[4] to be "active in deeds of charity; who abstain from sex except with their wives, or whom their right hands possess.
)[25] Muhammad then describes Ihsan as Besides the Quran and hadith, there are a number of other sources, (not all universally followed in Islam): While the "Hadith of jibril" (see above), includes virtue (called Ihsan) along with faith (Iman) and religious practice (called Islam) — the three are sometimes called the "three dimensions"[28] or "three levels"[29] of Islam — there is not a concise set of points for virtue/morality (no Ten commandments),[30] as there is for religious practice (the Five Pillars of ritual declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage), or faith (the Six Articles of the oneness of God, angels, prophets, the Torah, Bible and Quran, predestination, and Judgement Day).
The Quran describes Muhammad as 'an excellent example' (Q33:21,[46] this verse is one of the bases of the religious importance of hadith and sunnah), and also as having 'exalted quality of character' (Q68:4).
[48] Many virtues/good character traits/moral qualities such as kindness (to people and animals), charity,[5] forgiveness, honesty, patience, justice, respecting parents and elders, keeping promises, and controlling one's anger,[6] are commanded or encouraged in verses in the Quran and hadith.
(The heading of "Morality" in The Qur'an: an encyclopedia by Oliver Leaman, includes subheadings of numerous virtues/moral qualities -- "Goodness (khayr) and Righteousness (birr)", "Justice and responsibility", etc.
[51] According to Miskawayh (932–1030 CE, chancery official of the Buyid era, and Islamic philosopher and historian), "the four cardinal virtues" were "wisdom, courage, temperance and justice".
[56] Numerous verses of the Quran and the sayings of Muhammad tell the Muslims to be generous to the needy, to one's kinsmen and neighbors,[57] and that this will earn God's mercy and reward in the afterlife.
Verses in the Quran declare that the righteous are those people who fulfill their promises, and feed the needy, the orphans and the captive for the love of God (76:5-8); and that "those who (in charity) spend their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve" (2:274).
[65] Islamic teaching and law calls for tolerance to be cultivated at personal, familial, social, and religious levels.
[66] After its introduction in 610 CE, Islam sought to moderate the qualities of vengeance and violence prevalent among the people of pre-Islamic Arabia, with the practice of tolerance and other virtues.
"[72][73] On social and state levels, the importance of tolerance comes from the fact that it is related to such greater issues as peace and justice which are said to be the desired goal of Islam.
[74] Given that diversity is a natural phenomenon in this world, the Quran puts much emphasis on the observance of tolerance in order to maintain peace and security.
[74] In a nutshell, it is the teaching of Islam that the diversity or difference in social, cultural, political, financial or religious spheres are to be accepted by members of communities to secure a peaceful co-existence.
Muhammad is narrated as saying: Ibn Al-Qayyim writes, “Adultery combines all evils: it weakens faith, uproots religious prudence, corrupts nobility and wipes out jealousy".
[84] Sharia orders Muslims to lower their gaze, women to wear hijab to avoid exposing their beauty, get married at an early age, and sets "a severe punishment for adultery".
Following is the most frequently cited verse of the Quran regarding modesty: "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest.
[94][95][96] Patience is one of the moral qualities which Islamic sharia considers necessary for a Muslim in order to keep away from evildoings, and in a broader sense, to protect his faith.
[41] Forbearance (al-hilm), or management of "the soul and temper when it is aroused to anger", is done (according to Al-Raghib al-Isfahani d.1108/1109) by restraining one's hands from violence, the tongue from indecency, the ears from eavesdropping and the eyes from excessive gazes.
With regard to the rights of parents, the Quranic injunction is to behave well with them, to take care of them especially in their old age, not to be rude to them, and to show highest respect to them.
[114] Unlike most virtues, honesty is also a religious obligation, and dishonesty is Fasiq (a departure from religion),[115] one of the major sins in Islam.
[120] A number of verses in the Quran mention upholding of promises: Surah 23 starts by listing the good qualities of believers including: One of the qualities of the righteous listed in Surah Al-Baqarah is that they In Islamic sharia, fulfilling a contract is regarded as compulsory The famous hadith says Business contracts and words are not to be breached in pursuance of more profits.
[124] Islam has made every person responsible for returning the trust to their due recipients; and this command applies to both the common people and the ruling men.
The rulers of the state or the government officials who do not care for the welfare of their citizens and thus cause sufferings to them are seen as the worst deceiver and have been warned with the direst consequences in afterlife.
It is narrated in Sahih Muslim that After Muhammad started his preaching in 610 CE, his relationship with his own tribesmen, the Quraysh people, deteriorated gradually.
Although in Shia Islam, some tolerance is shown towards men who have premarital sex, as temporary marriage, Nikah mut'ah (which may last only a few hours).
This is to prevent a Muslim from leaving Islam, the idea being a woman is more likely to adopt the religion of her husband than vice versa.
Opinions differ as to whether this means only dressing modestly or, on the other end of the spectrum, covering the entire body from head to toe, such as hijab and niqab.
[134] Public opinion surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center between 2008 and 2012 in 39 countries and territories in Africa, Asia and Europe found "most Muslims agree on certain moral principles."