A Journey into Islamic Morals

By Syed Haider Riza

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book contains carefully selected stories from various authentic Islamic narrations, traditions and the Holy Quran to perfect the morals (Akhlaq) from ordinary to exemplary (Akhlaq e Hasanah). The book cover shows a train which is a symbolic message to the reader that beautiful morals can only be achieve

• Language: English
• Publisher: Truth Seekers Foundation Limited
• Release date: Jun 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9781763572522

Book preview

FOREWORD

Writing a storybook might seem like an easy task, but the book before you has proven to be a colossal project for the author. Why and how? Because it is not simply a translation from scattered sources. Instead, it is a careful collection of events, enriched and expanded with explanations of concepts and morals that are crucial for building a true Islamic and human personality. To fulfill the essential requirements of truthfulness and correctness is particularly challenging. Significant effort has been made to sift through the vast database of Islamic stories and events. A concentrated endeavour has been applied to extract and present a clear and coherent methodology for learning Islamic morals. Therefore, I urge dear readers to study these stories. Carefully extract the meanings and morals from the content, rather than skimming or browsing through it like a comic book.

The main challenge in writing any Islamic text is the unavoidable use of Arabic words and terminologies. This can become a stumbling block for English-speaking readers who have little familiarity with the Arabic language, unlike Urdu-speaking individuals. Additionally, it is often impossible to translate every Arabic, and especially Quranic, word into English. Therefore, it is crucial for those who have no knowledge of Quranic terms to spend some time learning at least the basic meanings. In this text, I have highlighted non-English terms in italics and provided explanations within the context. One enlightening example is the word bandagi, often translated as servitude, and the related term abd e Ilahi, which is regarded as the servant of Allah. However, this translation is highly misleading and detracts from the beauty of this Quranic term. Bandagi signifies complete submission to Allah by choice, resulting in an unbreakable connection with the Lord. This meaning is vastly different from translating an abd to be a humble servant, akin to a slave under bondage with no authority or intent of their own.

Finally, a note about the references for the selected stories and events discussed in this book. Since this book is intended for a general audience, including non-Muslims, the referencing is not as rigorous as in a research document. Although references are provided throughout the text; they do not include the chain of narrators or the history of scholars quoting an event or a book. Instead, only the name of the book and sometimes the author and chapters are mentioned. Rest assured, no loose or weak references are used. All the stories mentioned are either narrated by highly respected scholars (e.g., Shaheed Mutahari, Sheikh Kulayni, and Sheikh Sadooq) or are present in our most authentic books (like Usul e Kafi, Amali Sadooq, etc.).

For the sake of brevity and continuity of the English text, Quranic verses are not quoted in Arabic except for one or two instances. Instead, only their translations are presented. However, dear readers are earnestly advised to refer to the Holy Book, consult the original verses, and ponder a bit deeper. This will greatly help in grasping and memorizing the discussed concepts.

Now I shall like to pray for the readers that may Allah grant them the wisdom and sagacity to comprehend the truth and righteousness in the Islamic teachings. I implore the Almighty Allah to bestow upon all of us the capacity to see the Divine light and bless us with the vastness of qalb for absorbing the hikmat of Quran.

Syed H Riza

Melbourne, Australia

December 2018.

INTRODUCTION

The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) has repeatedly mentioned the importance of morals for becoming a good Muslim. In one of the famous traditions, we find him saying that: إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ مَکارِمَ الْأَخْلَاقِ. A close translation of the Arabic sentence may be that "I have been appointed to complete the noblest of morals (Akhlaq). The word morals" is extensively used but not well understood. By morals, we generally mean polite, sophisticated, and kind behavior but this word takes a new meaning when conjoined with Islam. Succinctly speaking, Islamic morals are more dependent on the intentions (niyat) of a person rather than upon his outward actions. Decent and noble Islamic morals (Akhlaq e Kareemah) comprise of those set of behaviours which conform to the character of Prophet and Imams and performed with the pure niyat to attain the proximity of Allah. These exalted morals form a sphere of practical Islamic wisdom which is essentially different from the intellectual wisdom like philosophy and mysticism (Irfan). Without inculcation of practical wisdom in the person and society, the purpose of the revelation of holy scriptures and sending the prophets remain unfulfilled.

Islamic morality is, therefore, based on being truthful and continuously enhancing the level of righteousness (Taqwa) through the channels of intellectual and practical wisdom. In the ultimate book revealed to humanity from the Almighty Lord, Holy Quran, a great deal of guidance and wisdom is taught through the exemplary lives of Prophets and true believers. If we refer to the last verse of Surah Yusuf (12) we can extract the following message: indeed in the stories and events of the previous generations, there exists an opportunity of deeper ponderance and an invitation to look beyond the apparent remains, for the people of wisdom.

( لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ (سورة يوسف آيت 111 In this and many similar verses, we can find an invitation, an encouragement to study the fate and destiny of people who lived in past generations, albeit imbued with the caution to avoid dramatization and romanticism. The verses of Quran persuade all the sagacious people seeking truth and wisdom to extract the virtuous and perishable ways of life by pondering upon the true stories narrated by Allah. Thus, from this guiding light of Quran, we can find one of the easier but an extremely valuable methodology for gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the useful and harmful moral values in life. The resulting approach is not very complicated. It comprises of the following steps:

(a) Diligently study the events narrated in the Quran and those occurring in the lives of infallible household (AhlulBait) of Holy Prophet, with focus on Godly moral values. (b) Whichever manners and morals were detrimental for previous generations, find those and abstain from them. (c) Whatever morals brought success and blessings of Allah to the people who lived before us, comprehend those, and follow the same path.

We must be aware of the fact that all the vicegerents of Allah (Khulafa e Ilahi) never spoke a senseless or false word and never exhibited a hint of loose character. Their words, actions, and behaviour are filled with precious and unique pearls of profound knowledge. It is primarily dependent on our judicious inquiries how much we can procure from this treasure chest. Accordingly, this book originates from the motivation to extract some of the most valuable moral values from different incidents narrated in the life history of Rasool Allah and AhlulBait and their true followers. The book is not voluminous nor an attempt to cover a large part of Islamic history. Strictly speaking, in fact, it is not a simple book of Islamic stories, but a compilation of fundamental Islamic morals derived from the life stories of pious momineen, instructional events from the lives of masoomeen and enlightening advice gifted by the Quranic verses.

The book is arranged in three different sections. In the first part, relatively longer stories based on the events occurring during the noble lives of Holy Prophet and AhlulBait are presented with their morals explained before narrating the story. The main purpose is that the reader should comprehend the embedded truth before delving into the story. Some of the stories are not exactly based upon the events involving the masoomeen, but every story revolves around their teachings and advice, directly or indirectly. The second section is comprised of short events and occurrences which cannot be regarded as genuine stories, but these contain many deeper concepts useful