1. Ethics in IslamEthics in Islam
‘‘Ilm al-AkhlaqIlm al-Akhlaq
‫اللخل ق‬ ‫علم‬‫اللخل ق‬ ‫علم‬
Sayyid Ali Raza Rizvi - info@thesaviour.org

2. Hadith of the Holy Prophet (SAHadith of the Holy Prophet (SA((
Abu al-Hasan Musa (AS) said:Abu al-Hasan Musa (AS) said: ““The Messenger ofThe Messenger of
Allah once entered the mosque where thereAllah once entered the mosque where there
were a group of people surrounding a man.were a group of people surrounding a man.
'Who is that?', asked the Prophet (SA). He was'Who is that?', asked the Prophet (SA). He was
told,told, ‘‘He is anHe is an 'allamah'allamah’’.. ‘‘What is anWhat is an 'allamah?'allamah?’’
asked the Prophet (SA). They told him, 'He isasked the Prophet (SA). They told him, 'He is
the most learned of men regarding Arabthe most learned of men regarding Arab
genealogies, past episodes, the days of thegenealogies, past episodes, the days of the
Jahiliyyah and Arabic poetry'. The Prophet (SA)Jahiliyyah and Arabic poetry'. The Prophet (SA)
said, 'That is a knowledge whose ignorancesaid, 'That is a knowledge whose ignorance
does not harm one nor is its possession of anydoes not harm one nor is its possession of any
benefit to one'.benefit to one'.

3. Types of KnowledgeTypes of Knowledge
Then the Prophet, may God's benedictionsThen the Prophet, may God's benedictions
be upon him and his family, declared,be upon him and his family, declared,
'Verily knowledge consists of these three:'Verily knowledge consists of these three:
the firm sign, the just duty and thethe firm sign, the just duty and the
establishedestablished sunnah.sunnah. AllAll else iselse is
superfluous.superfluous.’”’”
Al-Kulayni:Al-Kulayni: al-Kafial-Kafi, i, "kitab fadl al-'ilm", "bab sifat al-'ilm wa fadluh", hadith no. 1., i, "kitab fadl al-'ilm", "bab sifat al-'ilm wa fadluh", hadith no. 1.

4. Three ScienceSThree ScienceS
 The firm signThe firm sign BeliefsBeliefs
 The just dutyThe just duty PracticesPractices
 The establishedThe established sunnahsunnah EthicsEthics

5. Why Study EthicsWhy Study Ethics??
 The Holy Prophet (SA) said:The Holy Prophet (SA) said:
On the Day of Judgement, nothing moreOn the Day of Judgement, nothing more
weighty than good conduct is placed in theweighty than good conduct is placed in the
Balance of every man.Balance of every man.
 Imam Baqir (AS) said:Imam Baqir (AS) said:
Indeed the most complete believers in faithIndeed the most complete believers in faith
are the ones best of conduct.are the ones best of conduct.

6. Self-RecognitionSelf-Recognition
 The QurThe Qur’’an says:an says:
We will show them Our signs in theWe will show them Our signs in the
Universe and in their ownUniverse and in their own selvesselves, until it, until it
will become quite clear to them that it iswill become quite clear to them that it is
the truth.the truth.
QurQur’’an: 41: 53.an: 41: 53.
 The Hadith by the Prophet (SA) says:The Hadith by the Prophet (SA) says:
He who knows hisHe who knows his selfself knows his Lord.knows his Lord.
Bihar al-Anwar: vol. 2 hadith 23.Bihar al-Anwar: vol. 2 hadith 23.

7. Knowledge & PurificationKnowledge & Purification
 Surely prayer keeps (one) away fromSurely prayer keeps (one) away from
indecency and evil.indecency and evil.
QurQur’’an: 29: 45.an: 29: 45.
 Lest a soul should say: O woe to me! forLest a soul should say: O woe to me! for
what I fell short of my duty to Allah.what I fell short of my duty to Allah.
QurQur’’an: 39: 56.an: 39: 56.
 Angels do not enter a house that has aAngels do not enter a house that has a
dog.dog.
Al-Faqih: vol. 1 hadith 744.Al-Faqih: vol. 1 hadith 744.

8. Humans and AnimalsHumans and Animals
 Both Eat & Drink.Both Eat & Drink.
 Both have offspring.Both have offspring.
 Both have Emotions.Both have Emotions.
 Both Move About with Free-will.Both Move About with Free-will.
 Both have Five Senses.Both have Five Senses.
Or do you think that most of them do hear orOr do you think that most of them do hear or
understand? They are nothing but asunderstand? They are nothing but as
cattle; nay, they are straying farther offcattle; nay, they are straying farther off
from the path.from the path. QurQur’’an: 25: 44.an: 25: 44.

9. Difference of IntellectDifference of Intellect
 However, Human Beings have the power toHowever, Human Beings have the power to
reason, while the animals do not.reason, while the animals do not.
And surely We have honoured the children ofAnd surely We have honoured the children of
Adam, and We carry them in the land and theAdam, and We carry them in the land and the
sea, and We have given them of the goodsea, and We have given them of the good
things, and We have made them to excel by anthings, and We have made them to excel by an
appropriate excellence over most of thoseappropriate excellence over most of those
whom We have created.whom We have created.
QurQur’’an: 17: 70.an: 17: 70.

10. The Base of all SinsThe Base of all Sins
 Imam Hasan (AS) said:Imam Hasan (AS) said:
““The people are destroyed in three things:The people are destroyed in three things:
pride, greed and jealousy.pride, greed and jealousy.””
 ImamImam ‘‘Ali (AS) said:Ali (AS) said:
““He who gets married has saved half of hisHe who gets married has saved half of his
faith.faith.”” In another tradition he says:In another tradition he says: ‘‘twotwo
thirds of his faiththirds of his faith’’..

11. Proportion of Human DesiresProportion of Human Desires
Pride 11%
Greed
11%
Lust 67%
Jealousy
11%
Pride
Greed
Jealousy
Lust

12. PridePride‫تکبر‬‫تکبر‬
 Its root is Self-admiration.Its root is Self-admiration.
 Types of Pride:Types of Pride:
Pride over the Creator:Pride over the Creator: Surely those who are tooSurely those who are too
proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.
QurQur’’an: 40: 60.an: 40: 60.
 Pride over the creation.Pride over the creation.
 Pride over having Knowledge.Pride over having Knowledge.
 Pride over good actions.Pride over good actions.
 Pride over onePride over one’’s cast or race.s cast or race.
 Pride over onePride over one’’s appearance/ looks.s appearance/ looks.
 Pride over all other things; wealth, power etc.Pride over all other things; wealth, power etc.

13. Solution to the PrideSolution to the Pride
 It is due to ignorance, so one must educate himself.It is due to ignorance, so one must educate himself.
 Supplication; one who asks Allah destroys his ego.Supplication; one who asks Allah destroys his ego.
 To eat sitting on the floor.To eat sitting on the floor.
 To dress humbly; Salman (RA) was asked why donTo dress humbly; Salman (RA) was asked why don’’t yout you
wear new clothes? He replied:wear new clothes? He replied: ““I am a servant (I am a servant (‘‘abd), theabd), the
day I am freed (from this world) Iday I am freed (from this world) I’’ll wear new dress.ll wear new dress.
 To pray recommended prayers.To pray recommended prayers.
 To accept our mistake when it seems difficult.To accept our mistake when it seems difficult.
 To give priority to our peers over ourselves.To give priority to our peers over ourselves.

14. GreedGreed‫حرص‬‫حرص‬
 Its root is the love for this world (dunya).Its root is the love for this world (dunya).
The Holy Prophet (SA) says:The Holy Prophet (SA) says:
““Nothing fills the stomach of a greedy person, except dust.Nothing fills the stomach of a greedy person, except dust.””
““Human beings become old, but two things growHuman beings become old, but two things grow
younger in them; greed and long hopes.younger in them; greed and long hopes.””
Mahajjat al-BaydaMahajjat al-Bayda’’: vol. 6 pp. 50.: vol. 6 pp. 50.
ImamImam ‘‘Ali (AS) says in Nahjul Balaghah:Ali (AS) says in Nahjul Balaghah:
““Two seekers are never satisfied; the seeker of knowledgeTwo seekers are never satisfied; the seeker of knowledge
and the seeker of this world.and the seeker of this world.””
 The Greedy want to live longer.The Greedy want to live longer.
 He does not like to spend anything, even on himself andHe does not like to spend anything, even on himself and
things he likes.things he likes.

15. Solutions to GreedSolutions to Greed
 It is due to lack of contentment, so oneIt is due to lack of contentment, so one
must strengthen contentment.must strengthen contentment.
 Remembrance of death.Remembrance of death.
 Firm belief in AllahFirm belief in Allah’’s mercy.s mercy.
 Generosity, to start giving little amounts toGenerosity, to start giving little amounts to
the deserving and then building on it.the deserving and then building on it.
 To think of the less fortunate than oneself.To think of the less fortunate than oneself.
 Disassociate with the worldly.Disassociate with the worldly.

16. JealousyJealousy‫حسد‬‫حسد‬
 Its root is grudge and grudge is due to anger.Its root is grudge and grudge is due to anger.
 Imam Baqir (AS) says: Indeed, jealousy eatsImam Baqir (AS) says: Indeed, jealousy eats
up faith (good deeds) like fire burns dry wood.up faith (good deeds) like fire burns dry wood.
 Stages of Jealousy:Stages of Jealousy:
1.1. To envy a thing or quality others possess.To envy a thing or quality others possess.
2.2. To speak against the one you envy.To speak against the one you envy.
3.3. To do something against the one envied.To do something against the one envied.
The first stage is forgivable, but not the other two.The first stage is forgivable, but not the other two.

17. Solutions to JealousySolutions to Jealousy
 Intellectual solutions:Intellectual solutions:
1.1. To keep in mind that it destroys both this worldTo keep in mind that it destroys both this world
and the hereafter.and the hereafter.
2.2. To bear in mind that jealousy does not causeTo bear in mind that jealousy does not cause
any harm to the envied.any harm to the envied.
3.3. To bear in mind that it punishes no one but theTo bear in mind that it punishes no one but the
one suffering from it.one suffering from it.
 Practical solution:Practical solution:
1.1. Do not backbite the envied, instead praise him.Do not backbite the envied, instead praise him.
2.2. Do not physically harm the envied.Do not physically harm the envied.

18. Four Human FacultiesFour Human Faculties
 Intellectual FacultyIntellectual Faculty
 Faculty of DesireFaculty of Desire
 Faculty of AngerFaculty of Anger
 Faculty of ImaginationFaculty of Imagination

19. Intellectual FacultyIntellectual Faculty
‫عاقله‬ ‫قوه‬‫عاقله‬ ‫قوه‬
 Refinement of this power results inRefinement of this power results in
Wisdom.Wisdom.
 The two extreme ends of this areThe two extreme ends of this are
craftiness and stupidity.craftiness and stupidity.

20. Faculty of DesireFaculty of Desire
‫شهویه‬ ‫قوه‬‫شهویه‬ ‫قوه‬
 Refinement of this power results inRefinement of this power results in
chastity.chastity.
 The two extreme ends of this are gluttonyThe two extreme ends of this are gluttony
and immobility.and immobility.

21. Faculty of AngerFaculty of Anger
‫غضبیه‬ ‫قوه‬‫غضبیه‬ ‫قوه‬
 Refinement of this power results inRefinement of this power results in
courageousness.courageousness.
 The two extreme ends of this areThe two extreme ends of this are
audaciousness and cowardice.audaciousness and cowardice.

22. Faculty of ImaginationFaculty of Imagination
‫وهمیه‬ ‫قوه‬‫وهمیه‬ ‫قوه‬
 Refinement of this power results in justice.Refinement of this power results in justice.
 The two extreme ends of this are tyrannyThe two extreme ends of this are tyranny
and bearing tyranny.and bearing tyranny.

23. Balance in LifeBalance in Life
 WisdomWisdom
 CourageousnessCourageousness
 ChastityChastity
 JusticeJustice