Ethical Judgment
in Islam
In whatever matter you may be involved, whatever
portion of the Qur’an you may be reciting,
and whatever work you may be doing, We witness you
when you are engaged in it. Not even the weight
of a speck of dust in the earth or sky escapes your
Lord, nor anything lesser or greater: it is all
written in a clear record. But for those who are
on Allah’s side there is no fear, nor shall
they grieve. For those who believe and are conscious
of Allah, for them there is good news in this life
and in the Hereafter – there is no changing
the promises of Allah – that is truly the
supreme triumph. (Yunus 10:61-64)
Every day we are involved in some decisions whether
related to our food, our clothes, our business,
our sports, our entertainment, our relations with
family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, Muslims,
non-Muslims. Sometimes the issues are simple and
easy and sometimes complex and difficult. Sometimes
they are of social and financial nature, sometimes
they are of economic and political nature, sometimes
they are national and sometimes international. Depending
on who we are, our age, profession and position
in life; where we live and under what circumstances
and conditions; we are all involved more or less,
one way or another in some decision making.
Islam has a very strong ethical perspective. Islam
teaches us that whatever we say and whatever we
do, we must think very carefully and our decisions
must be ethical. We must keep in mind certain principles
of our faith (Iman) and certain rules of our life.
Basically each one of us is urged to consider the
following:
1. Allah knows everything that I say and do and
everything is recorded in a permanent record of
deeds.
2. On the Day of Judgment I may be asked by Allah
to give the account of everything that I said and
did in my life.
3. Is my action Halal or Haram, right or wrong,
fair or unfair, good or bad?
4. What will be the consequences of my words and
actions?
5. What are my other duties and responsibilities?
Am I keeping a balance between all my duties and
responsibilities?
6. What are the rights of others with whom I have
relations and among whom I live?
7. What does my conscience say about it?
8. What is the goal of my life? What is my vision
and mission?
In all these matters we have to consult
the Qur’an and Sunnah, consensus of Muslim
scholars, mind and reason, customs and traditions,
different cultures, rules and regulations. Islam
emphasizes all these things and keeps them into
consideration. In Islamic terminology this is also
called al-Hikmah (wisdom, sagacity). A wise person
is he or she who knows what to do, when and in which
situation.
The Prophet Muhammad –peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him- came to teach the Book of
Allah, the Qur’an and the wisdom (al-hikmah).
This is mentioned many times in the Qur’an.
(See al-Baqarah 2:129; 151; 231; Al ‘Imran
3:164; al-Nisa’ 4:113; al-Ahzab 33:34; al-Jumu’ah
62:2). The Qur’an does not contain the rules
only, but also the wisdom. The Sunnah is full of
wisdom. It gives us practical rules and guidelines
for making ethical decisions. No one can make proper
ethical decision without using wisdom (hikmah).
The story of Prophet Yusuf – peace be upon
him- is the most beautiful and detailed story in
the Qur’an. It is the most rich, dramatic
and compelling story. It is full of ethical judgments.
Prophet Yusuf – peace be upon him- was a very
talented, intelligent and beautiful person. He had
to deal with all kind of situations: jealousy, deceit,
slavery, seduction, imprisonment, and also power,
prestige and authority. In every situation he acted
in the most ethical manner. He survived the hardship,
he had self control under seduction, he was compassionate
and forgiving when he became powerful. He had no
grudge against those who mistreated him. He forgave
his brothers who threw him in a ditch. He had no
hate against those who sold him into slavery. He
entertained no grudge into his heart against those
who put him in prison and against the inmate whose
release he predicted but who forgot him for about
ten years. He did not hesitate to help the people
of Egypt when they needed his help. He saved them
from a great disaster and in the process he was
able to save his own family and his people as well.
He was able to have them all immigrated to Egypt.
He was smart but he was not cunning. He knew how
to take advantage of the situations; but he was
not an opportunist. He was a man of character, truth
and sincerity.
We have to learn how to live in every situation
with great vision and understanding. We must not
lose sight of our moral values under any situation.
Whatever we say and we do we should do with great
wisdom and all our decisions must be ethical. Not
all rules are written in the Qur’an and Hadith;
a lot of rules and decisions depend upon our own
conscience, the inner voice of our heart. It is
reported in a Hadith:
Wabisah ibn Ma’bad said, “I came
to the Messenger of Allah –peace be upon him-
wishing to ask him everything concerning virtue
and sin, but I found a gathering of people around
him. I went towards him crossing the people. They
said to me, “Away, O Wabisah, get away from
the Prophet –peace be upon him.” I said,
“I am Wabisah, allow me to go near him. I
really love to be close to him.” The Prophet
said, “Come near, O Wabisah, Come near.”
So I want very close to him (and sat so close to
him) until my knees touched his knees. The Prophet
–peace be upon him- said, “O Wabisah,
should I tell you what you want to know or do you
want to ask?” I said, “O Messenger of
Allah, “You tell me.” He said, “You
came to ask me about the virtue and sin.”
I said, “Yes.” The Prophet put his three
fingers together and then kept sticking them to
my chest and said, “O Wabisah, seek answer
from your own self. The virtue is that in which
the heart finds rest and soul finds peace; and sin
is that which makes waves in the heart and creates
hesitation in the chest, even if people allow you
or say it is all right.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith n. 17315)
Khutbah at ISOC – Jumada al-‘Ula 15,
1428/ June 1, 2007
