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Islamic Society Values:
By introducing higher values in the society Islam has laid down the foundation for such a healthy and balanced society where every one is secure, satisfied and content. It promotes those deeds which are virtuous and have great merits and excellence, while declines evil deeds, acts of immorality and impolite behavior. Following are some key features of Islamic society values.
Key Features:
1) High Moral Character 2) Ethical Behavior 3) Modesty 4) Simplicity and Moderation
5) Respect for the Elderly 6) Kindness for the Young 7) Help to the Weak
1) High Moral Character: According to Islamic teachings the purpose of sending Prophets, to human beings by God, was to show them the right path of faith and to teach them good manners & morals.
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'Allah has ordained me as Prophet so that I may teach good morals.'
Good morals & manners are the essential parts of character building. The peoples with good manners and high morals make a healthy society. Therefore after revival of the faith, Islam has emphasized on adopting high morals next. It is apparent that to adopt good morals is for the benefit of every human being and it is the duty of every Muslim to follow them.
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'The most perfect believer in respect of faith is he who is best of them in manners.' (Narrated by: Abu Hurayrah)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.' (Narrated by: Abdullah bin Amr)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'On the Day of Judgment the dearest and closest to me, as regards my company, will be those persons who will bear the best moral character.' (Narrated by: Jabir ibn Abdullah)
2) Ethical Behavior: In Islamic society all men and women are expected to act ethically towards each other at all times. Ethical behavior encompasses all actions and good deeds like speaking truth, being honest, fulfillment of pledges & trust, to be kind & gentle with others and patience at the time of hardship. Islam persuades Muslims to adopt good ethical behavior to build a better society. The following are few sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in this regards.
Truth Trust & Promises:
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'If you have four characteristics, whatever worldly advantage passes you by does not matter to you: keeping a trust, speaking the truth, a good character, and abstemiousness in food.'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise. Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your eyes, and restrain your hands from injustice.' (Narrated by Ubadah)
Gentleness & Kindness:
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Show gentleness, for if gentleness is found in anything, it beautifies it and when it is taken out from anything it damages it.'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'He who is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good.'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'If anyone possesses these three characteristics Allah will give him an easy death and bring him into His Paradise: gentleness towards the weak, affection towards parents, and kindness to slaves (for those days when slavery was not ban).'
3) Modesty: Modesty is also a very essential part of Islamic teachings. In Islamic society Muslims are supposed to practice modesty in their daily lives. It is a religious obligation to Muslims that they must avoid all kind of immoral and immodest activities and behave modestly as a part of their religion, so they may be distinctly identified with other nations. Following are some sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) about the topic.
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'Every religion has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.' (Narrated by: Zayd ibn Talha )
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Modesty is part of faith and faith is in Paradise, but obscenity is a part of hardness of heart and hardness of heart is in Hell.' (Narrated by: Abu Hurayrah)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Indecency disfigures everything and modesty enhances the charm of everything.' (Narrated by: Anas ibn Malik)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'Modesty and inability to speak are two branches of faith, but obscenity and eloquence are two branches of hypocrisy.' (Narrated by: AbuUmamah)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Coarse talk does not come into anything without disgracing it, and modesty does not come into anything without adorning it.' (Narrated by: Anas ibn Malik)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'Avoid being naked, for with you are those who never leave you except when you are relieving yourselves and when a man has intercourse with his wife; so observe modesty before them and honor them.' (Narrated by: Abdullah ibn Umar)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.' (Narrated by: Abdullah)
4) Simplicity and Moderation: Simplicity and moderation are the basic parts of Islamic faith. The God has advised human beings to employee his bounties justly and moderately, so that they pass their lives with contentment. The simplicity teaches human beings to control their self indulgence for the peace of their conscience which is actual achievement of a human. If self indulgence is not controlled, a man can not secure even a minute of comfort, peace and contentment.
The desires of man rob, grow and rob man of his peace of mind, and entrap him in such a quicksand, that the more he struggles, the more he sinks. If a man indulges himself in desires without any check, the desire for rich and splendorous attire leads him to trials and tribulations. He becomes a slave of his desires and gathers wealth by unlawful means to pass a peaceful and content life, but the prick of conscience and the ravages of sin do not give him a moment of peace.
Therefore it is necessary, to secure contentment, and a peaceful conscience , to control our desires and to attain real happiness and eternal bliss. This is an easy and unfailing bounty, which can be obtained only by simplicity.
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Moderation is the best in all deeds'
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'He who controls his expenditures moderately will never become poor'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'A good manner of conduct, deliberation and moderation are a twenty-fourth part of Prophecy.' (Narrated by Abdullah ibn Sarjis)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'The believer is simple and generous, but the profligate is deceitful and ignoble.' (Narrated by: Abu Salamah And Abu Hurayrah)
5) Respect for the Elderly: Islam has given great importance to pay respect and regards to parents and other elderly people. In many verses the Holy Quran stress the people to be obedient, dutiful, kind and respectful to their parents. It is considered one of the great sins in Islam to even raise voice in their presence, disobeying or to be impertinent with them stands afar. God asks that we not only pray for our parents, but act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they preferred us to themselves. Apparently a person who shows no gratitude to his parents and other people who have reared him in this world is not likely to feel thankful to the "Real Creator" (God).
The Holy Quran says: "Be grateful to Me and your parents."
The Holy Quran says: "And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command) "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal."(31.14)
The Holy Quran says: "We have enjoined on man Kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years he says 'O my Lord! grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed upon me and upon both my parents and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam." (46.15)
A man said, "Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) what rights can parents demand from their children?" He (Peace be upon him) replied, 'They are your Paradise and your Hell.'
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: 'Don't be disobedient to your parents even if they command you to abandon your family and your property.'
A man said to the Prophet (Peace be upon him), "Shall I participate in war (Jihad)?" The Prophet asked, 'Are your parents alive?' The man said, "Yes." the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Do Jihad for their benefit.' (means attending and serving one's parents is equal in honor as to one who fights against an enemy for the benefits/interests of his nation)
6) Kindness for the Young: Treating the young with kindness and gentleness is another essential part of Islamic values. It not only causes love and blessings upon all but also helps to teach them good manners and morals to become a useful member of the society. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) was very kind to the children.
Once the Prophet of God (Peace be upon him) was kissing his grand son while a man was sitting beside him. The man said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them." The prophet of God (Peace be upon him) cast a look at him and said, 'Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully.'
A man came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and said, "You (people) kiss the children! We don't kiss them." The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'I can not put mercy in your heart after Allah has taken it away from it.'
7) Help to the Weak: This is yet another precious value of the Islamic society that it does not ignore its weak members in any case. Islam demands Muslims to fulfill their duties about the weak, the old, the helpless, the orphans, the widows and the poor members of the society. It is a religious obligation for Muslims to help these people to the best of their abilities both in terms of finance (charity) and providing a helping hand.
The Holy Quran says: "Seest thou one who denies the Judgment (to come)? Then such is the (man) who repulses the orphan (with harshness) And encourages not the feeding of the indigent."
The Quran says: " He shell be saved from Hell fire who is God fearing and who gives riches to other for the purification of his soul."
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this, (putting his index and middle fingers together).'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'Treat them as generously as you treat your children and give them food from what you eat.'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person, is like a warrior fighting for Allah's Cause or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all the night.'
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