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Improving morals and ethics
Written by: Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
26 Rajab
1436.15 May 2015.
Dearly beloved, on a previous Friday we talked about noble morals and ethics, and the question now is: is there a way to improve our morals? And what are the methods of improving good morals? The simple answer to the two questions is: Yes.
Morals and good behaviour are of two types, one is natural or instinctive. The other is acquired or learnt.
The first type is the instinctive one. Allah created humans with this type of moral. The evidence is in what the messenger ppbu one day said to Al-Ashaj (ÇáÃÔÌ ÚÈÏÇáÞíÓ): {There are two characteristics in you which Allah loves} and in other narration the messenger ppbu said: {There are two characteristics which Allah loves; patience, insight and endurance, timely cautious}. Al-Ashaj asked the messenger ppbu: Did I teach my self those or have I acquired them, or Allah has granted me them instinctively. The messenger ppbu said: {Allah has naturally given them to you}. This is an evidence that some of the noble characters are natural or instinctive granted by Allah to the individual. So, you may see one who has politeness and civility, and another who only speaks the truth. Another who when dealing with you; only treats you with honour and, leniency, tolerance and politeness. That is a grace from God which He grants to whom He wishes; He has the greatest blessings of all.
The other type of morals and behaviour is the acquired type. This is the type that the individual will learn or is trained and the individual adopts. As you know a person can learn noble characteristics and morals if he or she is placed in a good environment; an environment that adopts the morals of the Quran and the morals of the master of all messengers ppbu. Similarly; a person can learn bad and evil characteristics and morals if placed in an evil environment.
Allah says: {He is successful who purifies himself, (14) And remembers the name of his Lord, so prays, (15)} 87:14-15. Allah also says: {He is indeed successful who purifies his soul, (9) And he is indeed a failure who filled it with evil. (10)} 91:9-10. So this who purifies himself from faults, and elevated it by staying away from sins, elevated it by obeying the Lord; then this is the one who is taking the noble morals, and the one who tries to acquire the good and noble morals. The improvement of your affairs all returns to the morals standard you take. And straighten your soul with good morals it will be straight. Look at and reflect at the conduct of the companions. How they were and where that led them to. Omar one day said to the prophet ppbu: O’ messenger of Allah, you are more loved to me from everything else except from myself. The messenger ppbu said: {No, Omar; not until I become more loved to you than you}. Omar said: By Allah, you are more loved to me that myself. The messenger ppbu said: {Now Omar, now}.
Imam Khuttabi said: it is natural for one to love himself (/herself); while for one to love someone else is a choice based on some causes. The messenger ppbu did not from ask Omar the instinctive or natural love. There is no control over the heart to change what it instinctively has. But; he asked him for love by choice for many reasons. When Omar considered the reasons he found that the prophet ppbu was the main reason for saving him from doom in this life and eternal torture in the life after. He knew that he has no value what so ever without the messenger ppbu. He then acknowledged and said: {By the Almighty who sent you with the truth; indeed; you are more loved to me than myself}. For if not for the messenger of Allah then Omar would have been doomed. This is what a person may gain when considering the causes.
What are the reasons or causes which help fulfil the acquiring of noble morals?
1) Truthfully seeking Allah’s help through continuous appealing in humility to bless you with noble morals. Listen to the messenger who had the morals of the Quran, he was reported appealing to Allah by saying: {O Allah, as you have perfected my creating; do perfect my morals}. He was also reported making this Duaa {O’ Allah guide me to the best of morals, for no one guides to the best of morals except you. And keep away from me the evil morals; No one else will keep it away but you. O’ Allah, I seek your support against the bad morals and bad deeds, and bad temptations and bad diseases or illnesses}
2) Earnestly and continuously keeping at it. This is a great cause in changing and improving morals. Do not give in to a twisted moral, and do not give in to evil talk; or evil acts. Allah says: {As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with those who are kind that do perfect deeds. (69)} 29:69
3) Bring your self to an account; and examine each and every word you say. Remember that a faithful person will bring himself to account day and night. For each and every word or behaviour.
4) Be a person with a great eagerness and activeness. Remember that a slave only goes through distances getting closed to Allah with his heart and activeness and not by his body. In fact God fearing is the heart God fearing and not the other senses.
5) Keeping good company of those with noble morals. There is a saying which says: an individual is as devout as his friend or buddy. The messenger ppbu said: {the example of the good and evil mates one hangs round with are just like the Misk carrier (one who deals with perfumes) and the furnace blower (this who blows air into a furnace (to keep it going) or blacksmith. This who carries misk; may give you a gift; or you may buy from him; or the least is that you would get to smell some good fragrant. While the blacksmith will either burns your cloths; or you may get to smell bad odour}.
6) Then look into the conduct of the early Muslims. Whoever reads about the conduct and morals of our early Muslims feels how little and insignificant he is when compared with them. Then one tends to start pushing himself to improve, and bringing himself to account.
Slaves of Allah, those were the causes which would make Allah support us to acquire the good and noble morals. Finally let me finish with this verse from the Quran; Allah says: { … though if they did what they are exhorted or preached to do it would be better for them, and more affirming; } 4:66.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
