Islam Enjoins Believers to Observe the Following Moral Obligations and Recommendations to Promote Peace
Islam enjoins truth
Allah the Exalted and Almighty said:
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O you who believe! Fear God and be with those who are truthful.
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(9:119)
Allah the Exalted and Almighty said:
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And he who brings the Truth and he who confirms and supports it - such are the men who are god fearing.
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(39:33)
Islam enjoins justice
Allah, the Exalted and Almighty said:
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Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and generosity to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that you may receive admonition.
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(16:90)
Justice and fairness are commanded and required in all situations, when one is happy and satisfied, and when one is upset and unsatisfied, with Muslims and with non-Muslims alike. Allah the Exalted and Almighty said:
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O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-aware with all that you do.
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(5:8)
And He, the Exalted, says:
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O you who believe! Stand out for justice, as witnesses to Allah, and even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor…
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(4:134)
Islam enjoins altruism
Philanthropy and benevolence are the results of sincere altruism, and the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him were especially noteworthy of this trait, offering their help and assistance to others solely for the Pleasure of Allah.
Allah the Exalted and Almighty says:
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And do good. Truly Allah loves those who do good.
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(2:195)
Allah, the Exalted, said:
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But those who, before them, had homes (in Medina) and had adopted the Faith, show their affection to such as came to them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls; they are the ones that achieve prosperity.
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(59:9)
Allah's Messenger (p) said:
“Do favors for those who deserve to have them done for them and also for those who do not deserve to have them done for them. If the doer did the favor for those who deserve it, it is fine and good, and if not, the doer himself is one of those who are worthy for favors”
(Tirmidthi)
Islam enjoins brotherhood
Allah, the Exalted, says:
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Verily the believers are but brothers…
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(49:10)
The Messenger of Allah (p) said:
“Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbor malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here, (and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property and his honor.”
(Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (p) said:
"A Muslim is a brother to a Muslim. He should neither deceive him nor lie to him, nor leave him without assistance. Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honor, his blood and property. Piety is here (and he pointed out to his chest thrice). It is enough for a Muslim to commit evil by despising his Muslim brother."
(Tirmidthi)
Islam enjoins the maintenance of righteous company
Muslims are advised to gain good company and avoid bad company. The Prophet of Allah (p) said:
“The example of good and evil companions is like that of a person who is carrying musk and the blacksmith who is blowing the fire of his furnace. The carrier of musk would either give you some of it or you may buy some from him or at least you would receive the smell of perfume from him. As for the blacksmith who is blowing fire, you may either burn your clothes, be disturbed with the sparks of his fire, or the least you would receive is bad odor coming from him and his place of work” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Islam enjoins reconciliation and peace making
Reconciliation
is enjoined at all times and especially when there is a serious rift in relationship that may lead to increased conflict.
Allah the Almighty and Exalted said:
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The Believers are but brothers so make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear God, that you may receive Mercy.
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(49:10)
Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says:
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In most of their secret talks there is no good; but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or reconciliation between men, (then secrecy is permissible): to him who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give a reward of the highest value.
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(4:114)
Islam enjoins maintaining a good character and morals.
Good morals and virtues are essential for a better society. Allah's Messenger (p) said:
“Amongst the best Believers are the persons with the best of morals and characteristics and those who are most kind to their families.”
(Tirmidthi)
And he (p) said:
“I was sent only to perfect the good conduct” and in another report “to perfect the noble of conduct.”
(
Malik, Ahmad & al-Bazzar)
Islam enjoins generosity.
Generosity brings people closer to each other and enables the generous to gain the love and affection of others. Allah's Messenger (p) said:
“Allah, the Almighty, loves two traits; to be good to others and to be generous to them. Similarly, Allah, the Almighty, hates two traits; to be mean to others and to be miser to people. [On the other hand,] If Allah, the Almighty, favors a person, He would employ him to assist others achieve their goals and fulfill their needs. ”
(Bukhari & Muslim)
The criterion of generosity in Islam is mentioned in the verse of the Glorious Qur’an:
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Do not tie your hand to your neck (like a niggard), nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (being extravagant) so that you become blameworthy and destitute.
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(17:29)
The criterion is set to restrict people from exceeding limits. Allah, the Almighty said:
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And render to the kindred their due rights, as to those in need and want, and to the wayfarer: but do not squander your wealth in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is Ungrateful to his Lord.
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(17:26-7)
Islam enjoins on Muslims to hide mistakes and omissions of others
The Prophet of Allah (p) said:
“Whosoever alleviates a Believer's hardship of this world, Allah, the Almighty, would alleviate his hardship and difficulty of the Day of Judgment. Whosoever eases the terms on [a financially] stranded person, Allah, the Almighty, would ease his difficulties in both this world and the Hereafter. Whosoever hides the defects of a Muslim in this world, Allah, the Almighty, would hide the defects of that person both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah, the Almighty, would continue to assist a slave-servant so long as such a person is extending his help and assistance to his Muslim brethren.” (Muslim)
Islam enjoins upon patience.
People are encouraged to be patient in order to perform their religious and mundane duties and to avoid all evils. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Qur’an:
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Now await in patience the Command of thy Lord: for verily you are in Our eyes: and celebrate the praises of thy Lord while you stand forth.
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(52:48)
Islam also urges and encourages Muslims to be patient on what they have been predestined for such as fear, poverty, hunger, lack of resources, terminal illness, etc. Allah the Almighty and Exalted said:
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Be sure that We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives, or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say, when afflicted with calamity: ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom (descend) blessings from their Lord, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.
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(2:155-7)
Allah the Almighty and Exalted illustrates the reward of the patient people as follows in the Glorious Qur’an:
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Say: O My servants who believe! Fear your Lord. Good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth! Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!
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(3:10)
Part of mercy and forgiveness is to control the temper and forgive others even though one is capable of taking revenge, which strengthens the relationships and ties amongst people and creates a better atmosphere within the society. Allah promises a great reward for controlling one's temper. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Qur’an:
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Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous. Those who spend (for Allah’s sake), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger and pardon; for Allah loves those who do good.
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(3:133-4)
Also, Allah, the Almighty, commands Muslims to practice righteousness at all times and in all circumstances and not to return evil when mistreated with evil acts. Allah the Almighty and Exalted said:
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Goodness and Evil are not equal. Repel Evil with that which is better; then it will be that the one between whom and you there was hatred will become as if he were your friend and intimate!
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(41:34)
The above examples are mere glimpses of what Islam commands Muslims to comply with in their personal and public lives for the Pleasure of Allah. The Book of Allah, the Qur’an, and the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, provide additional commands and details related to these and other high and noble morals.
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Author: Dr.Abdur-Rahman Abdul-Kareem Al-Sheha
