Islamic teachings nurture noble, moral character.

Byline: Abid Ishaq

Dear readers, the purification mentioned in this divine verse includes the purification of the self (amongst other forms of cleanliness). Exalting the soul through high morals and cleansing it from wickedness, morality appears not only to be one of the goals of the final Prophet Mohammad's (peace be upon him) mission, but one of its most distinctive purposes. Possessing moral integrity is obligatory and essential as is clear from some of the prophet's supplications listed below. "O Allah, guide me to good character, none guides to good character but You...." [Muslim] "O Allah, I seek refuge in you from bad character, deeds, and desires." [Tirmidhi.] "O Allah, You perfectly created me, so perfect my character."

[Ahmad] "O Allah, I seek refuge in you from disability and laziness; from cowardice and avarice; from decrepitude and harshness; from negligence and impoverishment from lowness and humiliation. And I seek refuge in You from poverty and disbelief; from sinfulness, disunity and hypocrisy; from notability and riyaa' [show]..." [Hakim] Dear readers, because morality is one of the goals of the prophet's mission that Allah blessed the entirety of mankind with, He specified that the believers alone possess a special kind of it. Morality occupies such a lofty position in Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "I have only been sent to perfect moral integrity." [Ahmad] If we look at morality as a transaction between the servant and Allah, and between people, then the matter becomes clear. This is the whole religion.

How do you deal with the Creator? How do you worship Him, profess belief in His oneness, and avoid His Wrath? How do you deal with created beings including the angels, the Prophets, the righteous, the close relatives who possess the rights of love and affection? What should be a Muslim's stance towards sinners and hypocrites? All these and many other rulings are based on the divine morality that the Prophet was ordered to preach...