Moral behaviour is the bottom line or essential message of Islam. It has been narrated in a hadith of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam):
“Verily, I have been sent to perfect morals.”
Allah also emphasized this in linking belief or Aqidah with action:
“It is not piety that you turn your faces towards East or West – But truly pious is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; and spend of his substance, out of love for Him, upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and those who ask, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is steadfast in prayer, and gives regular charity; and (truly pious are) they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and in times of peril. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.” [Qur’an Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:177]
In another verse:
“[Allah is well aware of] those who, when We establish them in the land, remain constant in prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, with Allah rests the end (decision) of (all) affairs.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-Hajj, 22:41]
Morality is the sign and fruit of true belief. Belief without the resulting moral behaviour is worthless. The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) portrayed this in his various sayings. He was asked: “What is the religion?” He replied: “The religion is morality.” When asked, “What is woe (or affliction)?” he replied, “Real affliction is lack of morality.”
On the Day of judgement, morality will be weighed more heavily than anything else. Those whose morals are weak and deeds are slight, will be judged accordingly.
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Nothing that will be weighed on the Day of Judgement will weigh heavier than moral action.” [Reported by Abu Da’ud and Tirmidhi]
In Islamic teaching, morality is the core of worship. Without morality, worship is meaningless and is considered to be no more than worthless custom and self- serving habit. Allah, the Almighty, said concerning prayers (salah): “Verily, prayers restrain from shameful and unjust deeds.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Ankaboot, 29:45]
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “A person who does not desist from bad and unjust deeds after offering prayers (salah), strays away from Allah.” [Narrated by Tabrani]
Concerning fasting, the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “None of you should utter foul words or go to his wife or argue on a day of fasting, and when somebody reproaches or attacks you, say to him: “I am fasting.”” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
About Hajj, Allah, the Almighty, has said: “For Hajj are the months well-known. And whoever undertakes the pilgrimage in those [months] shall while on the pilgrimage, abstain from lewd speech, from all wicked conduct, and from wrangling; and whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah is aware of it.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:197]
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever performs hajj and abstains from evil words and unlawful acts will return like the day he was born.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
The Moral behaviour of a Muslim should be guarded by the following characteristics:
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Scrupulous Conscience (wara)
A Muslim not only must avoid prohibited deeds but must be careful to avoid even any doubtful matter. This characteristic is expressed by the Qur’anic word, wara’, which means both piety and caution.
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “What is lawful is plain and what is unlawful is plain, and between the two are doubtful matters about which not many people know. Thus whoever avoids doubtful matters maintains clarity and assurance in practicing the religion and protecting his or her honor; but whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into the unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures his flock around a sanctuary, letting it graze almost but not quite inside. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be whole, all the body is whole and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased, and truly it is the heart.”[Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
The highest degree of wara’ is indicated in the saying of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam): “One will never achieve the level of mutaqqin (Godfearing virtuous persons) until he avoids even what is not considered sinful because he is afraid of failing into the prohibited.” [Reported by Tirmidhi]
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Modesty, By Guarding One’s Eyes Against Lust
A Muslim should avoid looking at occasions of sin, such as at an improperly dressed woman, because such a sight tends to arise one’s desire and might lead to committing a sin. Allah, the Almighty, has said: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze.” [Qur’an Surah An-Nur, 24:30]
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “You should guard your sight and protect your dignity, or Allah will cover your face with humiliation.” [Reported by Tabrani]
