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Religious Doctrine and Social Ethics in Islam

A connection exists between religious doctrine and social ethics in the Holy Qur'an because one of the goals of Islam is the establishment of a holy, organized society. Ideally, this society would be based on eternal principles of righteousness and fair dealing, cleanliness and sobriety, honesty and helpfulness. The moral code in the Qur'an is an attempt to put these principles into concrete form, to create a complete system of religion that suits the times and circumstances, and the varying needs of the average individual. The laws governing human conduct in the Qur'an define both social and economic justice, and the pursuit of a good life in society.

The Qur'anic code of social ethics sets forth spiritual guidelines regarding lawful and unlawful actions, and rewards for the virtuous and threats of punishment for the wicked. It also consists of religious observance obligations, such as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage. The Qur'an is explicit in these principles because of the moral tension that exists in daily living: "[The Qur'an] is therefore deeply involved with the daily life of Muslim society. For this reason, in some way it had to reflect the problems of society directly and concretely" (Ayoub 18).

The Qur'an was revealed through the Prophet Muhammad, and much of the revelation resulted from specific personal or social problems that the Prophet encountered. Muhammad himself is considered to be the model of social conduct: "Muhammad's moral intuitive perception rose to the highest point and became identified with the moral law itself" (Rahman 33).

The Qur'an is divided into 114 Chapters, known as Suras. Throughout the Qur'an there are moral injunctions, describing what a Muslim should or should not do. The specific rules laid down generally fall within the headings of conscience, virtue, honor, loyalty, and the sense of duty and responsibility: "Thus, besides being an ethical guide and a handbook of morali...

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Religious Doctrine and Social Ethics in Islam. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 15:33, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1687092.html