Structure and Foundation of Ethics in Islam

• Definition of Ethics

• Ethics is defined as a system or a moral code of a particular person, religion, group or

profession or any other social units.

• Ethics is sometimes called as moral philosophy.

• What is good? What is bad?

• Definition: Literally: Derived from Greek ethos, means character.

• Technically:

Ethics:

The field of study that has morality as its subject matter

(Branch of science)

The values or rules of conduct held by an individual or a group = morality/ morals

• Definition of Ethics in Islam

• Ilm al-akhlaq (‫)علم االخالق‬

• Amal salih (‫) عمل صالح‬

• Adab (‫ادب‬, pl. ‫) آداب‬, which means good manners.

• Purification of the soul (‫ ) تزكية النفس‬or science of self-purification (‫) علم التصوف‬

• )91:10( ‫َاب َمن دَسَّاهَا‬ َ ‫) فَأ َ ْل َه َم َها فُ ُج‬91:7( ‫س َّواهَا‬

َ ‫) َوقَدْ خ‬91:9( ‫) قَدْ أ َ ْفلَ َح َمن زَ َّكاهَا‬91:8( ‫ورهَا َوتَ ْق َواهَا‬ َ ‫َو َن ْف ٍس َو َما‬
• By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; And its enlightenment as to its wrong
and its right; Truly he succeeds that purifies it, And he fails that corrupts it! (al-Shams:7-10)

❖ Ethics in Arabic is ‘ilm al-Akhlāq (science of morality), which is the branch of knowledge that
studies akhlaq (morals).

❖ al-Akhlāq (the plural of khuluq (‫ )) ُخلُق‬refers to morality, which means a nature, or an innate
disposition, while the word khalq refers to the physical of man (the body).

❖ Khuluq is the moral character; or the fashion of the inner man; his soul and its peculiar
qualities and attributes.

❖ This inner aspect (khuluq) of man and the outer aspect (khalq) is INTERELATED and
COMPLIMENTARY to each other.

• Cont.

• Al-Akhlaq according to Abdul Qadir al-Jurjani is “a deep (rasikha) state of the self (haya’a
nafs) produces acts, behavior with ease with no need of sophisticate thinking and reflection
(fikr wa rawiyah)” (Ref. Kitab Ta‘rifat)

• Cont.
 • Ethics for al-Ghazali is “the study of certain religious beliefs (i‘tiqadat) and of rightness and
wrongness of action for the purpose of practice and not for the sake of mere knowledge.”

• According to Imam al-Ghazali, character is an established state (of the soul) from which
actions proceed easily without any need for reflection or deliberation.

• Morality as validation of Iman

Definition of Iman:

‫ وأدناها اماطة األذى عن‬،‫ فأفضلها ال اله اال هللا‬،‫ أو بضع وستون شعبة‬،‫ االيمان بضع وسبعون‬: ‫قال رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬
‫ والحياء شعبة من االيمان‬،‫الطريق‬. )‫(البخاري‬

“Iman has over sixty branches (parts): the highest of which is the belief that nothing
deserves to be worshipped except Allah and the lowest of which is the removal from the way of that
which might cause harm to anyone. And modesty (haya’ ‫ )الحياء‬is a branch of it.” (hadith)

• Morality as validation of Iman

• ‫ إذا حدث كذب وإذا وعد أخلف وإذا اؤتمن خان ] متفق عليه‬: ‫ [ آية المنافق ثالث‬: ‫قال رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه و سلم‬
] ‫ [ وإن صام وصلى وزعم أنه مسلم‬: ‫زاد في رواية لمسلم‬
"Three are the signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he
breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Another narration
adds the words: "Even if he observes Saum (fasts), performs Salat (prayer) and claims to be a
Muslim.

➢ Lacking in good morals = Lacking in faith (iman)

➢ ‫َّللاُ عَ َل ْي ِه َوسَ َّلم َ َأ ْك َم ُل ا ْل ُمؤْ ِمنِي َن إِي َما ًنا َأ ْحسَ ُنهُ ْم ُخ ُل ًقا‬
َّ ‫َّللاِ صَ َّلى‬
َّ ‫( (الترمذى… َقا َل َرسُو ُل‬
➢ “The most perfect believer in faith is the one who is best in moral character. ..” (al-Tirmidhi)

The level of faith (iman) is proportional to the level of morals

“He who believes in Allah and the Last Day of Judgment is forbidden to cause any harm to his
neighbour, is to be kind to his guests – especially the strangers, and is to say the truth or else
abstain.” (hadith)

)‫ ال يؤمن أحدكم حتى يحب ألخيه ما يحب لنفسه (البخاري‬: ‫قال رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬
“None of you will have faith (will be a true believer) till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he
likes for himself.” (hadith)

Good morals are conditions of validity of Iman

ِ ‫ت َوت ََواص َْوا ِبا ْلح‬

َّ ‫َق َوت َ َواص َْوا ِبال‬
﴾‫صب ِْر‬ ِ ‫س ٍر * ِإالَّ الَّذِينَ آ َمنُوا َوعَمِ لُوا الصَّا ِلحَا‬
ْ ‫سانَ لَفِي ُخ‬ ِ َّ‫﴿وا ْل َعص ِْر * ِإن‬
َ ‫اإلن‬ َ
)3-1 :‫(العصر‬

“I swear by the time, Most surely man is in loss, Save those who believe and do good works, and
exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.” (103: 1-3)

﴾ َ‫َاب ا ْل َجنَّ ِة هُ ْم فِيهَا َخا ِلدُون‬

ُ ‫صح‬ْ َ ‫ت أُولَ ِئكَ أ‬
ِ ‫﴿ َوالَّذِينَ َءا َمنُوا َوعَمِ لُوا الصَّا ِلحَا‬
)82 :‫(البقرة‬
 “Those who have Faith and work righteousness. They are the ones who shall be rewarded with
Jannah. therein they shall have an everlasting life”. (2: 82)

Why we have to be moral people?

Spiritual benefits:

Good morals = voluntary worship

“A believer by virtue of his good morals may attain the status of one who fasts (voluntary
fast) regularly and performs prayer at night”. (hadith)

The dearest one to Allah:

When the Prophet (saw) was asked: Whom Allah likes most amongst His subjects? He
replied: “The one who possesses superior moral qualities”. (hadith)

Good morals eliminate sins – bad morals spoil virtues

“Courtesy and good morality melt the sins just like water melts the ice. And immorality spoils
good deeds as vinegar spoils honey.” (hadith)

“A certain woman is famous for her voluntary prayers, fasting and charities, but she harms
her neighbours. She is in Hell. Another woman does not do much by way of voluntary prayers and
fasting and she gives pieces of cheese in charity but she does not harm her neighbours. She is in the
Paradise.” (hadith)

Social benefits:

Stable, secure, and harmonious society

Directing civilization to a just end

Strong and peaceful family life

Good leadership

Building good reputation

Wining hearts of people

Commitment To Values

▪ “Fear Allah wherever and whenever you are (obey his obligations and avoid his
prohibitions) and follow your sins with virtues so that it will eliminate it, and treat
people with high morals.” (hadith)

▪ “Do not follow others blindly and say: if people do good, we do good too, and if they
do injustice, we do too. Rather, make up your minds for yourselves and if people do
something good, do it too, but if they do something unjust, do not do it yourselves.”
(hadith)

The Foundation of Ethics in Islam

A. Division of Knowledge

1. Knowledge as the Real Knowledge

 Based on al-Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad(SAW)

2. Knowledge as Information

Other knowledge that is derived not from the two main sources.

In the words of Ibn Khaldun: “It should be known that instruction of children in the Qur’an is a
symbol of Islam. Muslims have, and practice, such instruction in all their cities, because it imbues
hearts with a firm belief [in Islam] and its articles of faith, which are derived from the verses of the
Qur’an and certain Prophetic traditions. The Qur’an has become the basis of instruction, the
foundation of all habits that may be acquired later on. The reason for this is that the things one is
taught in one’s youth take root more deeply [than anything else]. They are the basis of all later
knowledge. The first impression the heart receives is, in a way, the foundation of [all] habits.”

B. The True Servant (‘abd) of Allah SWT

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Aishah (RA) said, “The character of the Emissarry of God (SAW) was the Qur’an.”

In a hadith, “I was sent only to perfect the noble qualities of character.”

)3:83( َ‫ط ْوعًا َوك َْرهًا َوإِلَ ْي ِه ي ُْر َجعُون‬ ِ ‫ت َواأل َ ْر‬
َ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫اوا‬ َّ ‫َّللا َي ْبغُونَ َولَهُ أ َ ْسلَ َم َمن فِي ال‬
َ ‫س َم‬ ِ ‫أَفَغَي َْر د‬
ِ ‫ِين ه‬
Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah.-while all creatures in the heavens and on earth
have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (Accepted Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought
back. (al-Imran:83)

َ ‫ش ِهدْنَا أَن تَقُولُواْ َي ْو َم ْال ِق َيا َم ِة ِإ َّنا ُك َّنا‬

‫ع ْن َهذَا‬ َ ‫علَى أَنفُ ِس ِه ْم أَلَسْتُ ِب َر ِهب ُك ْم قَالُواْ َبلَى‬
َ ‫ور ِه ْم ذُ ِ هر َّيتَ ُه ْم َوأ َ ْش َهدَهُ ْم‬ ُ ‫َو ِإذْ أ َ َخذَ َربُّكَ مِ ن َبنِي آد ََم مِ ن‬
ِ ‫ظ ُه‬
)7:172( َ‫غَافِلِين‬

When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants, and
made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains
you)?"- They said: "Yea! We do testify!" (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of this we
were never mindful" (al-A’raf:172)

• C. Servanthood (‫)عبدهللا‬

• To serve Allah SWT by remembering Him.

• ِ ‫فَاذْ ُك ُرونِي أَذْ ُك ْر ُك ْم َوا ْش ُك ُرواْ لِي َوالَ تَ ْكفُ ُر‬

‫ون‬
• “Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.” (al-
Baqarah:152)

• To serve Him by serving His creatures for His Cause.

• ‫لِل َربه ِ ْال َعالَمِ ينَ ؛ الَ ش َِريكَ لَهُ َو ِبذَلِكَ أُمِ ْرتُ َوأ َ َنا ْ أ َ َّو ُل ْال ُم ْسلِمِ ينَ ؛‬
ِ ‫اي َو َم َماتِي ِ ه‬
َ ‫سكِي َو َمحْ َي‬ َ ‫قُلْ ِإ َّن‬
ُ ُ‫صالَتِي َون‬
• Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the
Cherisher of the Worlds: No partner hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of
those who bow to His will. (al-An’am, 6:162 – 163)

• ‫ع ْبدًا‬
َ ‫الرحْ َم ِن‬ ِ ‫ت َو ْاأل َ ْر‬
َّ ‫ض إِ َّال آتِي‬ ِ ‫اوا‬ َّ ‫إِن ُك ُّل َمن فِي ال‬
َ ‫س َم‬
• Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to ((Allah)) Most Gracious
as a servant. (Maryam, 19:93)
 ِ َّ ‫ع ِن ْالفَحْ شَاء َو ْال ُمنك َِر َولَ ِذ ْك ُر‬
َّ ‫َّللا أ َ ْك َب ُر َو‬
ْ َ‫َّللاُ َي ْعلَ ُم َما ت‬ ِ ‫ي ِإلَيْكَ مِ نَ ْال ِكتَا‬
َّ ‫ب َوأَق ِِم ال‬ ُ
• َ‫ص َنعُون‬ َ ‫ص َالة َ تَ ْن َهى‬
َّ ‫ص َالة َ ِإ َّن ال‬ َ ِ‫ا ْت ُل َما أوح‬
)29:45(

• Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer
restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in
life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do. (al-Ankabut:45)

• َ ‫) الَّذِينَ َي ْذ ُك ُرونَ ه‬3:190( ‫ب‬

‫َّللا قِ َيا ًما َوقُعُودًا‬ ْ ‫ت هِأل ُ ْولِي‬
ِ ‫األل َبا‬ ِ ‫اخ ِتالَفِ اللَّ ْي ِل َوال َّن َه‬
ٍ ‫ار آل َيا‬ ْ ‫ض َو‬ ِ ‫ت َواأل َ ْر‬ ِ ‫اوا‬ َ ‫س َم‬ ِ ‫إِ َّن فِي خ َْل‬
َّ ‫ق ال‬
)3:191( ‫ار‬ ِ ‫اب ال َّن‬ َ َ‫عذ‬ ُ ً‫ض َر َّبنَا َما َخلَ ْقتَ هَذا بَاطِ ال‬
َ ‫س ْب َحانَكَ فَ ِقنَا‬ ِ ‫ت َواأل َ ْر‬ ِ ‫اوا‬ َ ‫س َم‬ ِ ‫ى ُجنُو ِب ِه ْم َو َيتَفَ َّك ُرونَ فِي خ َْل‬
َّ ‫ق ال‬ َ َ‫عل‬َ ‫َو‬
• Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,-
there are indeed Signs for men of understanding. Men who celebrate the praises of Allah,
standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in
the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created
(all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.

• D. The Way of Purification of the Soul (‫)تزكية النفس‬

• َ ‫ب َو ْالحِ ْك َمةَ َوإِن كَانُوا مِ ن قَ ْب ُل لَفِي‬

ٍ ‫ض َال ٍل ُّم ِب‬
‫ين‬ َ ‫علَ ْي ِه ْم آ َيا ِت ِه َويُزَ هكِي ِه ْم َويُعَ ِله ُم ُه ُم ْال ِكتَا‬
َ ‫وال ِ هم ْن ُه ْم َي ْتلُو‬
ً ‫س‬ُ ‫ه َُو الَّذِي َبعَثَ فِي ْاأل ُ ِ هم هِيينَ َر‬
)62:2(

• “It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered an apostle from among themselves, to
rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom,-
although they had been, before, in manifest error.” (Al-Jumuah:2)

• Right Intention and Determination.

• Right intention means to do every action for the sake of Allah SWT and His Prophet
Muhammad (SAW).

• Determination (‫ )عزم‬means using our will power to overcome the whisperings of shaytan
(‫ )وسواس‬and desires (‫)هوى‬.

• ‫َّللا الَ يُغَ هِي ُر َما ِبقَ ْو ٍم َحتَّى يُغَ هِي ُرواْ َما ِبأ َ ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم َوإِذَا أ َ َرادَ ه‬
‫َّللاُ ِبقَ ْو ٍم‬ َ ‫َّللا إِ َّن ه‬ ُ َ‫لَهُ ُمعَ ِقه َباتٌ ِ همن َبي ِْن َيدَ ْي ِه َومِ ْن خ َْل ِف ِه َيحْ ف‬
ِ ‫ظو َنهُ مِ ْن أ َ ْم ِر ه‬
‫سو ًءا فَالَ َم َردَّ لَهُ َو َما لَ ُهم ِ همن دُو ِن ِه مِن َوا ٍل‬ ُ
• For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard
him by command of Allah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they
change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's
punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
(al-Ra’d, 13:11)

• ً‫ي لَئ ِْن أ َ َّخ ْرت َِن إِلَى َي ْو ِم ْال ِق َيا َم ِة ألَحْ تَ ِنك ََّن ذُ ِ هر َّيتَهُ إَالَّ قَلِيال‬ َ َ‫قَا َل أ َ َرأ َ ْيتَكَ هَـذَا الَّذِي ك ََّرمْت‬
َّ َ‫عل‬
• He said: "Seest Thou? this is the one whom Thou hast honoured above me! If Thou wilt but
respite me to the Day of Judgment, I will surely bring his descendants under my sway - all but
a few!" (al-Isra’, 17:62)

• ‫َّللا أ َ َف َال‬
ِ َّ ‫َاوة ً فَ َمن َي ْهدِي ِه مِ ن َب ْع ِد‬ َ ‫س ْم ِع ِه َوقَ ْل ِب ِه َو َج َع َل‬
َ ‫علَى َب‬
َ ‫ص ِر ِه ِغش‬ َ ‫علَى ع ِْل ٍم َو َخت ََم‬
َ ‫علَى‬ َّ ُ‫ضلَّه‬
َ ُ‫َّللا‬ َ َ ‫أَفَ َرأَيْتَ َم ِن اتَّ َخذَ ِإلَ َههُ ه ََواهُ َوأ‬
َ‫تَذك ُرون‬ َّ َ

• Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him
as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a
cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)? Will ye
not then receive admonition? (al-Jathiya, 45:23)
• Continuous Learning and Reminding

• Continuous learning of the first kind of knowledge.

• Always be on guard and vigilant (‫)مراقبة‬.

• Remembering death as a reminder of one’s feeble existence.

• َ‫ش َهادَةِ فَيُ َن هِبئ ُ ُكم ِب َما ُكنت ُ ْم تَ ْع َملُون‬ ِ ‫عال ِِم ْالغَ ْي‬
َّ ‫ب َوال‬ َ ‫( قُلْ إِ َّن ْال َم ْوتَ الَّذِي تَف ُِّرونَ مِ ْنهُ فَإِ َّنهُ ُم َالقِي ُك ْم ث ُ َّم ت ُ َردُّونَ إِلَى‬62:8)
• "The Death from which ye flee will truly overtake you: then will ye be sent back to the
Knower of things secret and open: and He will tell you (the truth of) the things that ye did!"
(al-Jumuah:8)

• Ibn Omar said: I along with ten other Companions was near the Messenger of God (PBUH).
Then an Ansari asked him: O Prophet of God who is the wisest and honoured of men? He
said: Those who remember death most and prepare most for it. They pass away with
honour in this world and the next.

• Caliph Harun Ar-Rashid has a servant, by the name of Bahlul (‫)بهلول‬, who is a bit fool and
unwise. One day, the Caliph gave Bahlul a stick, and said to him that if he found anybody who
is more stupid than him, he should give that person this stick himself.

• One day the Caliph prepare a large entourage of a large group of palace servants and armies,
with all the necessary supplies and enough animals to carry them to travel to a distant land.

• He said to Bahlul: “See Bahlul I have made an extensive preparation for this journey, but
there is another journey that all human beings will go.” Bahlul asked, “What is that?” The
Caliph said, “The journey to the next life.” Bahlul asked again, “What is that?” The Caliph
said, “The eternal life after our temporary life in this world.” Bahlul asked, “Would you made
the same preparation for that journey?” The Caliph said, “No, in that journey, I’m going
alone!”

• Then Bahlul said, “In that case, I have found the person to whom I should give the stick that
you have given to me. You made a large preparation to that distant land, but you are not
going to make the same preparation to a place where you will dwell in forever.” Hearing this,
the Caliph Harun ar-Rashid was dumbfounded. Although he understood that Bahlul does not
understand what kind of preparation that should be prepared for the eternal life, but what
Bahlul said struck his heart and he understood the truth in it.

• Association with the Pious and Religious People.

• The need for a teacher is a must, since seeking for any kind of knowledge requires a teacher,
and so does in the way of purifying one’s soul.

• Being with the good and pious people can influence one’s character.

• َ‫صا ِدقِين‬ َ ‫َيا أ َ ُّي َها الَّذِينَ آ َمنُواْ اتَّقُواْ ه‬

َّ ‫َّللا َو ُكونُواْ َم َع ال‬
• O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed) (al-
Tawbah:119).

• ‫صا ِب ِرينَ ؛‬ َ ‫صالَةِ ِإ َّن ه‬

َّ ‫َّللا َم َع ال‬ َّ ‫صب ِْر َوال‬َّ ‫َيا أ َ ُّي َها ا َّلذِينَ آ َمنُواْ ا ْستَعِينُواْ ِبال‬
َّ َ َ
َ‫َّللا أ ْم َواتٌ َبلْ أحْ َياء َولكِن ال تَ ْشعُ ُرون‬َ َ ‫َوالَ تَقُولُواْ ِل َم ْن يُ ْقتَ ُل فِي‬
ِ ‫سبي ِل ه‬
• O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those
who patiently persevere. And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah. "They are
dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not. (2:153-154)

• ‫ )رضي ه‬reported that the Messenger of Allah (‫َّللا عليه و سلهم‬

Abu Hurayrah (‫َّللا عنه‬ ‫ )صلهى ه‬said,
“Truly Allah—may He be exalted—has said: ‘Whosoever acts with enmity towards a friend of
Mine, against him will I indeed declare war. Nothing endears My servant to Me than doing
of what I have made obligatory upon him to do. And My servant ceases not seeking My
nearness by offering supererogatory (‫ )نوافل‬prayers till I love him. When I love him, I shall be
his hearing with which he shall hear, his sight with which he shall see, his hands with which
he shall hold, and his feet with which he shall walk; and if he asks Me, I shall surely give him,
and if he takes refuge in Me, I shall certainly give him refuge’.”

• Practices

• Sincere Repentance (‫)توبة نصوحة‬

• َ‫َّللا َجمِ يعًا أ َ ُّي َها ْال ُمؤْ مِ ُنونَ لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم ت ُ ْف ِلحُون‬
ِ َّ ‫( َوتُوبُوا ِإ َلى‬24:31)
And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.

• On the authority of Anas b. Malik, the Messenger of God (SAW) is reported to have said,
“There is nothing more loved by God than the youth who repents.”

• َ‫َّللا إِالَّ ْالقَ ْو ُم ْالكَاف ُِرون‬ ُ َ ‫َّللا إِ َّنهُ الَ َي ْيأ‬

ِ ‫س مِ ن َّر ْوحِ ه‬ ُ َ ‫ف َوأَخِ ي ِه َوالَ تَ ْيأ‬
ِ ‫سواْ مِ ن َّر ْوحِ ه‬ ُ ‫سواْ مِ ن يُو‬
َ ‫س‬ َّ ‫ي اذْ َهبُواْ فَتَ َح‬
ُ ‫س‬ َّ ‫َيا َب ِن‬
• "O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of
Allah's Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah's Soothing Mercy, except those who
have no faith." (Yusuf:87)

• ُ ‫ت تَجْ ِري مِ ن تَحْ ِت َها ْاأل َ ْن َه‬

‫ار َي ْو َم‬ ٍ ‫س هِيئَا ِت ُك ْم َويُدْخِ لَ ُك ْم َج َّنا‬
َ ‫عن ُك ْم‬ َ ‫سى َر ُّب ُك ْم أَن يُ َكفه َِر‬ َ ‫ع‬َ ‫صو ًحا‬ ِ َّ ‫َيا أ َ ُّي َها الَّذِينَ آ َمنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى‬
ُ ‫َّللا ت َْو َبةً َّن‬
‫علَى ُك ِهل‬ َ ُ‫ورهُ ْم َي ْس َعى َبيْنَ أ َ ْيدِي ِه ْم َو ِبأ َ ْي َما ِن ِه ْم َيقُولُونَ َر َّبنَا أ َ ْتمِ ْم لَنَا ن‬
َ َ‫ورنَا َوا ْغف ِْر لَنَا ِإ َّنك‬ ُ ُ‫ي َوالَّذِينَ آ َمنُوا َم َعهُ ن‬ َّ ‫َال ي ُْخ ِزي‬
َّ ‫َّللاُ ال َّن ِب‬
‫ِير‬ٌ ‫ش ْيءٍ قَد‬ َ (66:8)

• O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance: In the hope that your Lord will
remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow,- the Day that
Allah will not permit to be humiliated the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their
Light will run forward before them and by their right hands, while they say, "Our Lord!
Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for Thou hast power over all things." (At-
Tahrem:8)

• Abu Huraira reported from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) that his Lord, the Exalted and Glorious,
thus said: A servant committed a sin and he said: “O Allah, forgive me my sin,” and Allah said:
“My servant committed a sin and then he came to realise that he has a Lord Who forgives
the sins and takes to account (the sinner) for the sin. So I forgive My servant.” He then again
committed a sin and said: “O Allah, forgive me my sin,” and Allah said: “My servant
committed a sin and then he came to realise that he has a Lord Who would forgive his sin
and would take to account for the sin. So I forgive My servant.” He then again committed a
sin and said: “O Allah, forgive me my sin,” and Allah said: “My servant committed a sin and
then he came to realise that he has a Lord Who forgives his sin and takes to account for the
sin. So I forgive My servant.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

• Consistent (‫)استقامة‬
• َ ‫علَ ْي ِه ُم ْال َم َال ِئ َكةُ أ َ َّال تَخَافُوا َو َال تَحْ زَ نُوا َوأ َ ْبش ُِروا ِب ْال َج َّن ِة الَّتِي ُكنت ُ ْم تُو‬
َ‫عدُون‬ َّ ‫( ِإ َّن الَّذِينَ قَالُوا َر ُّبنَا‬41:30)
َ ‫َّللاُ ث ُ َّم ا ْستَقَا ُموا تَتَن ََّز ُل‬
In the case of those who say, "Our Lord is Allah, and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the
angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest), "Nor grieve! but
receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), the which ye were promised! (Fussilat:30)

• ً ‫ضى نَحْ َبهُ َومِ ْن ُهم َّمن َينتَظِ ُر َو َما َبدَّلُوا تَ ْبد‬
‫ِيال‬ َ َ‫علَ ْي ِه فَمِ ْن ُهم َّمن ق‬ َ َّ ‫عا َهدُوا‬
َ ‫َّللا‬ َ ‫مِ نَ ْال ُمؤْ مِ نِينَ ِر َجا ٌل‬
َ ‫صدَقُوا َما‬
• Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. of them
some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but they have never
changed (their determination) in the least: (al-Ahzab, 33:23)

• )29:7( َ‫سنَ الَّذِي كَانُوا َي ْع َملُون‬

َ ْ‫س هِيئَا ِت ِه ْم َولَنَجْ ِز َي َّن ُه ْم أَح‬ َ ‫ت لَنُ َكفه َِر َّن‬
َ ‫ع ْن ُه ْم‬ ِ ‫صا ِل َحا‬ َ ‫َوالَّذِينَ آ َمنُوا َو‬
َّ ‫عمِ لُوا ال‬
• Those who believe and work righteous deeds,- from them shall We blot out all evil (that may
be) in them, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds. (al-Ankabut:7)

• The Prophet SAW said, “Whoever helps a brother in difficulty, God will help him through his
difficulties on the Day of Judgement.”

• Sources:

• Bakar, Osman, Classification of Knowledge in Islam, Kuala Lumpur: ISTAC, IIUM, 2006.

• Imam Al-Ghazzali, Ihya Ulum-Din, trans. Fazlul Karim, New Delhi: Islamic Book Service, 1991.

• Kabbani, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham, Self-Purification and the State of Excellence, Mountain
View: As-Sunna Foundation of America, 1998.