Islam & Ethics
Ethics from Islamic Perspective
Ethics, like other Islamic sciences, takes its
origin form the Quran. The Quran lays down
the foundation of a religious system on purely
ethical principles, hence there is not much to
distinguish between Islam as such and Islamic
ethics.
The Muslims started the study of Ethics along
with the study of the Quran.
Cont. Ethics from Islamic Perspective
Ethics in Islam is nothing but the body of
injunction laid down in the Quran for the
practical conduct of life and fully exemplified
in the practice of the Holy Prophet throughout
his life.
Within an Islamic Context, the term most
closely related to ethics is khuluq in the Quran
which has been guided by principles from the
Quran and the Sunnah.
Code of Ethics of the Prophet(PBUH) Peace
be upon him
Islam consider the Prophet as an ideally perfect
man, par excellence, in all aspects of life.
The Quran exhorts the believers to follow the
rightly guided particularly the Prophet.
It is the desire of every pious Muslim to model
his life in every possible particular upon that of
the Prophet.
Degrees of lawful and unlawful
behavior in Islam
In explaining the moral code of Islam, it
is important to categorize the action
according to the degree of lawfulness
and unlawfulness as classified in fiqh to
five categories; fard, mustahabb,
mubah, makruh and haram.
Fard .1
It represents the class of actions
that is mandatory on every
Muslim, such as praying the five
times a day, fasting the month of
Ramadan, paying zakah and
performing hajj.
Mustahabb .2
Describes the class of actions that
are not obligatory but highly
recommended to do. e.g. fasting
beyond the month of Remadan,
put perfume during Friday prayer,
or praying nawafil etc.
Mubah .3
Actions are permissible in the
sense they are specified neither
as mandatory nor as forbidden.
e.g. trading during hajj.
Makruh .4
Actions are not absolutely forbidden, but
are detested. e.g. Great amount of water for
the pre-prayer ablutions, Consumption of
garlic before attending the masjid or
socializing with other, Swearing, Talking
while taking Wudu for prayer, Slaughtering
an animal for food while other animals of its
kind can see.
Haram .5
Actions are unlawful and
prohibited. Committing them
is a major sin. e.g. murder,
commit adultery, dealing with
riba, drinking alcohol etc.
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The Sharia Law System
Category Arabic Do it Not do it
Obligatory Fard
Reward Punishment
(Prescribed) Wajeb
Recommended Mustahab
Mandub Reward No Punishment
(Desirable)
Permitted Mubah
Halal No Reward No Punishment
(Allowed)
Discouraged
No Punishment Reward
(Disliked) Makruh
Forbidden
Punishment No Reward
Norms and Moral Codes in Islam
Islam asks its believers to observe certain
norms and moral codes in;
dealings with relatives
with neighbours and friends
in their business transactions
in the market
in their social affairs
in all spheres of private and public life.
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Islamic Law and Rules
The Holy Book Quran
(Hadith), words or actions
of the prophet
Sunnah
(Ijma) of the Clerics Consensus
(Ijtihad) personal study Wisdom
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Forbidden
Enforcing of not Doing
Maslow
Discourage
d
Way
Urging of not Doing
Permitted
Choice of Doing
Recommended
Urging of Doing
Obligatory
Enforcing of Doing
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Recommended
Blood and organ donation. (giving and
receiving).
Human skin bank: lawful for medical
grafting and unlawful for cosmetics and
misleading others.
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Permitted
Autopsy: if for medically or by law indicated.
Reconstructive Surgery.
Surgery to restore function or normal appearance by
reconstructing defective organs or parts.
Abortion: pregnancy that risk the mother’s
health, physically or mentally.
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Discourage
Forced feeding the sick.
Force-feeding is the practice of feeding a human or
other animal against their will.
Smoking
Divorce
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Forbidden
Human cloning (permitted for tissues
and organs).
Cosmetic surgery: Changing the creation
of Allah.
Food: not Halal meat, of pork or dead
animal/bird.
Drink: alcohol.
Others: interest, theft, gambling and
drugs.
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Principles of Medical Ethics
Necessity overrides prohibition (insulin from
pork, medications with alcohol).
Accept the lesser of two harms if both cannot
be avoided (abortion in risk to the pregnant
woman).
Public interest overrides individual interest
(blood and organ donation).
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Female Modesty
Dress: Provide a long-sleeved gown or allow
to wear her own cloths.
Examination: exposure of the patient’s body
parts should be limited to the minimum
necessary.
Respect privacy and do not touch while
talking.
Avoid eye contact and shaking hands to
prevent unnecessary embarrassment.
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Death
Death definition: when spirit leave’s the body.
Death is Inevitable: “ Every soul shall have a taste of
death: In the end to Us shall you be brought back." Qur’an
29:57
The dying person: Ideally one should die with
the Declaration of Faith on the lips (Shahada)
and face towards Makka.
When death occur: eyes should be closed; all
connected tubes removed; all limbs flexed and
the body straightened.
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After Death
Washing and burying the body as soon as
possible (same day). On the right side, facing
Makka.
Respect for the body and prayers over the
dead.
Recitation of the whole Quran if possible.
Mourning should not be excessive, as this
would disturb the dead as well as show lack
of acceptance of God’s will and purpose
regarding death.
