The Concept of Ethics in Islam (Sociological Perspective)

Abstract

It has been stated in various Encyclopaedias that Islamic ethics took shape gradually and achieved maturity after a long process of cultural assimilation and in this process various practical ideals were amalgamated to form standard norms of conduct within the Muslim community. The origin of ethics in Islam does is not based in Greek thinking, but in the Scriptures. The biblical Pentateuch contains Ten Commandments of negative nature, and Christianity only adds one — ‘love thy neighbour like thyself’. Al-Qur’an, in continuation of those commandments, adds numerous commandments, both positive as well as negative. The other source of these ethical values is the Tradition of the Prophet. Muslim Philosophers and scholars explained these moral values from time to time, during the course of which they had the benefit of Greek thought, but to the extent of proving the virtues and vices, without of course adding to the sum total given in the Qur’an and the Tradition. They followed the same method in their expositions as did the Schoolmen before them, i.e. with the help of Aristotle’s logic they tried to prove Christian dogmas. The present paper deals with the origin of ethics in Islam from sociological point of view as well as great philosophers’ perspective like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle etc.