Islam originated during the seventh century A.D. when, over a span of 23 years, the prophet Muhammed, who was a descendent of Ishmael, the eldest son of the Prophet Abraham and slave girl Hagar, received several revelations from the angel Gabriel. Muhammed compiled these revelations into the center of the Muslim Faith, the Quran, their holy book.
Moral System
Those who are a part of the Islamic religion are given four heads, the standard by which "a particular mode of conduct is classified as good or bad."
1. "Our faith should be true and sincere."
2. "We must be prepared to show it in deeds of charity to our fellow men."
3. "We must be good citizens, supporting social orgainizations."
4. "Our own individual soul must be firm and unshaken in all circumstances."
A large part of moral discipline in the Islam religion centers around the belief that one's actions can always be seen by God, even if they are hidden from others. If the objective of one's life is to acheive God's pleasure, this moral system is certainly expectant of its members. Because the moral system is based off of divine revelation, a certian stability is granted to the moral system. It will not change because the revelations will not change. Because Islamics believe that God can see you all the time, their moral system is used in every aspect of their life, including family life, eduacational life, and life in battle.
"It is not righteusness that you turn your faces towards east or west; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angles, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for him, for your kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wyfarer, for those who ask; and for the freeing of captives; to be steadfast in your prayers, and practice regular charity; to fufill the contracts which you made, and to be firm and patient in pain and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-Conscious."(2:177)
A persons call to be righteous is clearly outlined in this passage from the Quran, including what one must to to be righteous.
God-Conscious- Mentioned by the Quran as the highest quality of a Muslim. As an objective moral standard, a good Muslim is supposed to be aware of God watching over his life and he is supposed to do whatever will make God happy.
The Five Pillars of Islam
1. Shahahada- The duty to recite the Creed: "There is no god save Allah, and Muhammed is the messenger of Allah."
2. Salat- The duty to worship Allah in prayer five times each day facing Mecca.
3. Zakat- The duty to give alms to the poor and needy.
4. Siyam- The duty to keep holy the ritual Fating during Ramadan.
5. Hajj- The duty to make a pilgimage to Mecca at leat once in a lifetime.
Islamic Moral Terms
Allah- God
Fiqh- Religious Law
Ibadah- The belief that all people are meant to worship God.
Jihad- A personal, inner struggle
Maksiat- A sinful action
Tayib- Pure and wholesome
Quatl- Murder
Zinah- Illicit Sexual Activity
All information obtained from www.islam101.com and wikipedia.org
