The best form of manners is to know how to conduct yourself.
The best form of manners is to know how to conduct yourself.
The greatest aim of the divine messengers was to emphasize the importance of refinement, purification, and training of the human self. God-Almighty said in the Holy Qur’an:
“Certainly Allah bestowed a benefit upon the believers when He raised among them an Apostle from among themselves, reciting to them His communications and purifying them, ad teaching them the Book and wisdom, although before that, they were surely in manifest error.” (3:164)
Therefore, it is obvious that the subject of human education and training was of such vital importance that God-Almighty sent divine messengers especially for this purpose thus, conferring a great favor on the believers.
The individual, as well as collective personality, prosperity or cruelty (of this world and Hereafter) of a human being depends upon how much efforts he had already made or is still making for self-building. It is from this consideration that self-building is regarded something of such vital importance because it determines ones eventual destiny.
The divine messengers came to teach human beings regarding the path of self-building, nourishment, and perfection of self, as well as to accompany them as their guide and helper in this vital and determinant task. They came for cleansing and sanctifying human selves from their indecent moral characteristics and animal instincts, and bestowing upon them superior spiritual virtues. The prophets lectured human beings about the self-building program, acted as helper and knowledgeable guides in identifying the ugliness in their moral conducts, and showed them the ways and means for self-control against their selfish whims and passions.
By timely issuance of warning and intimidating they succeeded in sanctifying the human selves from the moral obscenities and indecencies. They came for plantation of sapling of higher moral virtues within human souls, nurtured and protected it for its eventual blooming, and in doing so acted as guides, friends, and helpers of the people by encouraging and pursuing them towards the desired sublime’ objectives. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
- “I emphasize the importance of good morals for you because God-Almighty has sent me especially for this purpose.”
- “I was appointed for the Prophethood so that I may accomplish the important task of moral perfection within human souls.”
- “There is nothing better than good moral conduct which could be written on the “Letter of Deeds” on the Day of Resurrection.”
- “My Ummah will enter into Paradise mostly on the basis of piety and excellence in moral conduct.”
And the following narration:
“A man approached the Holy Prophet (S) and asked: ‘What is religion?’ The Holy Prophet (S) replied: ‘Good moral conduct.’ The man asked the same questions from the Holy Prophet (S) alternatively by appearing from right, left, and behind the Messenger. Finally the Holy Prophet (S) took a deep look at him and said: ‘Why don’t you understand?’ Religion is defined as never to get angry.”
Islam has attached special importance on moral ethics, and because of this, the Holy Qur’an contains more verses regarding ethics, in comparison to the verses related to obligations. In the books of narrations, one may find thousands of narrations regarding ethics in comparison to narrations dealing with other topics; if this number is not regarded greater in quantity, certainly it is not smaller either.
The rewards and promises mentioned for good moral deeds are certainly no lesser than the rewards prescribed for other actions, and likewise the warnings and punishments described for indecent moral actions are certainly not less than the punishments for other actions. Therefore, in Islam, ethics constitute the basics and should not be treated simply or taken as secondary religious obligations or something related to the beautification and decoration of religious persons. If religion has defined do’s and don’ts for obligations, it has defined the same for ethics. If encouragement, persuasion, rewards, punishment, and warnings have been utilized for obligations, the same approach has been applied for ethics as well as.
Therefore, there exists no difference between ethics and obligations as far as religious recommendations are concerned, and in order to achieve perfection and prosperity, one cannot remain ignorant of ethical matters. The moral obligations cannot be ignored by taking the excuse of treating them simply as moral obligations, likewise forbidden moral acts should not be performed either. If performance of daily-prayers is compulsory and their non-performance is prohibited and brings Divine-Punishment, equally important is the fulfilment of a promise and its breach is prohibited and brings Divine-Wrath.
The real religious person and the prosperous one is he who is committed to his religious obligation, as well as being honest in the fulfilment of his moral commitments.
by Ibrahim Al-Amini
This post was originally featured here.
