Islam being a world religion has a clear and elaborate set of rules that guide followers’ behaviour, that is ethics. These codes of conduct are explicitly enshrined in the Quran, Sharia, Sunah of the Prophet Muhammad, the Hadith and Jurisprudence. However, the ethics in Islam have sparked controversy in religious circles as some are argued to be depriving members their fundamental rights. The mandate of this paper is to look in depth at where rules of behaviour are drawn from in Islam.
The Quran is one of the chief sources of rules of behaviour in Islam. It should be clearly pointed out that the Quran is an authoritative document that revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by Allah. As such, the Quran houses Allah’s direct words to Muslims on the behaviour that He expects from or rather ethics Muslims should conform to. For example, Surah(chapter) 112 of the Quran makes it crystal clear that Muslims should worship Allah alone, that is be monotheists. However, this ethic arguably denies Muslims the right to religious freedom as they are confined to worshipping Allah alone. This, nonetheless cannot rubber stamp the fact that the Quran is a critical source of ethics in Islam. Therefore, the Quran is a crucial source of rules of behaviour in Islam.
The Sharia is another pertinent source of rules of behaviour in Islam. It is key to highlight that the Sharia, which is a set of Islamic law, derived from the Quran and other sacred texts, houses important rules of behaviour in Islam. For instance, the Sharia makes it crystal clear that Islam has no tolerance to adultery. This is a vital value as it reduces conflict over extra-marital affairs as well as spreading of sexual transmitted diseases. On the contrary, the imposed penalties in the Sharia such as chopping off the central sexual organ after being caught committing adultery infringes one’s right to life and health as the organ in question is needed for survival. This surely cannot thwart the centrality of the Sharia in upholding ethics in Islam. Thus, the Sharia is a pertinent source of rules of behaviour in Islam.
The Sunah of the Prophet is yet another essential source of rules of behaviour in Islam. It should be stated that the Sunah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) refers to his teachings throughout his ministry. One of dominant themes taught by the Prophet Muhammad is love for both Allah, the prophet and other members of the Islamic community. This ethic is key as it eradicates acrimony and hate which later culminate in violence and war. On the contrary, Muhammad’s teaching on love seems to be largely inclined towards members of the Islamic community which then raises concern of the attitude of Muslims towards non-Muslims. This cannot upset the fact that the Sunah of the Prophet is a key source of ethics in Islam. Hence, the Sunah of the Prophet is an integral source of rules of behaviour in Islam.
The Hadith is another outstanding source of rules of behaviour in Islam. It is important to indicate that the Hadith refers to the acts by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). For instance, Muhammad expressed gestures of humility and meekness as he took custody and care of the orphaned as well as children whose parents were in absentia for their profession. This then makes Muslims’ down-to-earth, approachable and meek as they emulate from their final Prophet Muhammad. However, this ethic of humility nails the authoritativeness needed for progress in firms headed by Muslims as they are undermined by their subordinates under the banner of so-called meekness. This cannot take away the fact that the Hadith is an important source of ethics in Islam. Therefore, the Hadith is an important source of rules of behaviour in Islam.
The Jurisprudence is yet another vital source of rules of behaviour in Islam. It should be spelt out that the Jurisprudence is a compilation of Islamic law with scholarly input. For example, the Jurisprudence prescribes the dress-code of Muslims especially women who must in public places wear decent and non-revealing clothing. This ethic is indeed key as it prevents the provocation of men which results from loose, unethical dressing. On the contrary, the ethic violates women’s rights as they are confined to wearing religious regalia, forsaking their fashion tastes. This cannot nullify the fact that the Jurisprudence is of paramount importance in Islamic morality and ethics. Hence, the Jurisprudence is of utmost importance in stirring up behaviour amongst Muslims.
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conclusion, this paper has looked into the sources of rules of behaviour in Islam. These include; the Quran, the Sharia, the Sunah of the Prophet, the Hadith and the Jurisprudence. However, these some documents from which ethics are drawn appear to contravene human rights. From the above discussion, one can conclude that Islam has a plethora sources of rules of behaviour.
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