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1. Khalq vs khuluq
| Arabic word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Khalq (الخَلْق) | A person's outward appearance |
| Khuluq (الخُلُق) | A person's character (morals) |
- People who are drawn to someone with a beautiful khalq turn away in dislike if his khuluq is bad.
- People who avoid someone with an unattractive khalq are drawn to him if his khuluq is excellent.
- Character matters more than appearance.
- The Prophet's ﷺ supplication (meaning): "O Allah! As You have made my appearance beautiful, make my character beautiful too."
Who decides the limits of morality?
- Although everyone, of every race and religion, praises good morals, people's beliefs and customs set the limits, so what one group sees as good conduct another may not.
- Because Islam gives morals great importance, its scope is very wide, and it also gives guidance for moral training.
2. The importance of morals – hadiths
| Hadith (meaning) | Source |
|---|---|
| Through his good character a believer reaches the reward of one who fasts and stands in prayer | Abu Dawud |
| What most often brings people into Paradise? – God-consciousness and good character | — |
| I guarantee a house on the edge of Paradise for one who avoids arguing even when he is in the right; a house in the middle of Paradise for one who avoids lying even in jest; and a house in the highest part of Paradise for one whose character is good | Abu Dawud |
Three houses in Paradise – memory tip:
| Quality | House |
|---|---|
| Avoiding pointless argument | The edge |
| Not lying even in jest | The middle |
| Good character | The highest part |
3. Five categories of good morals
(1) Keeping to high values
- Love, justice, truthfulness, honesty, keeping one's word, loyalty, a cheerful face.
- Islam not only welcomes these but expects them to be what identifies a Muslim.
(2) Respecting what deserves respect
- Honouring parents, teachers, scholars and elders; being humble before them.
- Respecting other people's self-respect; a sense of modesty (haya').
(3) Avoiding uncivilised behaviour
- Spitting, or relieving oneself, in public places
- Speaking loudly without need
- Breaking the manners of a gathering
- When eating, putting one's hand all over the plate
(4) Avoiding indecency
- Dress, adornment, words, revelry, shows and mixed gatherings of men and women that stir up sexual desire in a vulgar way.
- Islam has explained the rules to follow in these matters and the punishments for breaking them.
(5) Keeping environmental values
- Protecting useful plants
- Keeping public places and water sources clean
- Removing from the environment anything that causes harm or obstruction to people or other creatures.
Memory tip – the 5 categories: High values – Respect – Civilised manners – Avoiding indecency – Environment.
4. Good morals and iman
- The reason people do evil: sound beliefs have not been formed in them, and they have not been well guided.
- So Islam links every good deed with iman and trains it through acts of worship.
The Prophet ﷺ (meaning): "Good character and faith are bound up with each other. Whoever gives up one may as well give up the other."
5. How Islamic duties train good morals
| Duty | What it trains | Evidence (meaning) |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer | One who prays with life in his prayer gains God-consciousness and closeness to Allah; light in the heart; he can tell good conduct from evil | 29:45 – prayer restrains from shameful and evil deeds and sins |
| Zakat | Love and generosity towards the poor; miserliness goes; the heart is purified from the impurity of love of the world | 9:103 – take charity from their wealth to purify them… |
| Fasting | Controls desires and evil feelings → God-consciousness, patience, generosity | (Ibn Khuzaymah): fasting is not merely going without food and drink; it is keeping away from evil and shameful things. If anyone argues with you, say, "I am fasting" |
| Hajj | Training in sacrifice and dedication; among people from every direction – brotherhood, equality, tolerance, understanding | 2:197 – one in ihram must not have sexual relations, use bad language or quarrel |
6. The role model
- A role model is very important for following good morals.
- (33:21)* – In the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example.
- (68:4) – O Prophet, you are of a great, noble character.
- Good moral qualities are an expression of a person's inner feelings and beliefs → to adorn life with good morals, purifying the heart is essential.
*At this point the textbook prints "(33 al-Ahzab: 31)"; the verse is 33:21 (it is given correctly as 33:21 in Chapter 11) – confirm with the teacher.
Quick revision
- 31:18 – do not turn your face away; do not walk proudly.
- Khalq = appearance; khuluq = character; character matters more.
- Through good character, the reward of one who fasts and prays (Abu Dawud); three houses in Paradise (Abu Dawud).
- 5 categories: high values, respect, avoiding uncivilised behaviour, avoiding indecency, environmental values.
- Good character and faith are bound up with each other.
- Prayer (29:45), zakat (9:103), fasting (Ibn Khuzaymah), hajj (2:197).