Foundation of Islamic Ethics (A Book Chapter)
What differentiates Man from other creations of God is not only his knowledge and mental capacity, but also the way he behaves and interacts with the environment and humanity at large. Morality, Ethics and Akhlāq, are three terms of different origin that relate to human good conduct, character, behaviour, mental attitude, etc. In modern times, Muslim scholars use all the three terms interchangeably when referring to the ideal human character mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah. No study on akhlāq is complete without the proper understanding on the status quo enjoyed by Man in the hierarchy of God’s creations. This chapter of the book explores the real nature of the three terms (Morality, Ethics and Akhlāq) that refer to Man’s conduct and behaviour, and what differentiate them. Besides that, the chapter will also look into the edifice on which the Islamic teaching of akhlāq is built upon. Moreover, the chapter will also explore the definition of akhlāq given by early Muslims scholars and philosophers. Lastly, some discussion is also allocated to understand the scope of akhlāq and ‘ilm al akhlāq.
