Chapter 4

Islam & Ethics

Ethics, like other Islamic sciences, takes its origin form the

Quran. The Quran lays down the foundation of a religious

system on purely ethical principles, hence there is not much to

distinguish between Islam as such and Islamic ethics.

The Muslims started the study of Ethics along with the study of

the Quran.

INCEIF 2

Ethics in Islam is nothing but the body of injunction laid down

in the Quran for the practical conduct of life and fully

exemplified in the practice of the Holy Prophet throughout his

life.

Within an Islamic Context, the term most closely related to

ethics is khuluq in the Quran which has been guided by

principles from the Quran and the Sunnah.

Islam consider the Prophet as an ideally perfect man,

par excellence, in all aspects of life.

The Quran exhorts the believers to follow the rightly

guided particularly the Prophet.

It is the desire of every pious Muslim to model his life in

every possible particular upon that of the Prophet.

In explaining the moral code of Islam, it is important to

categorize the action according to the degree of lawfulness

and unlawfulness as classified in fiqh to five categories;

fard, mustahabb, mubah, makruh and haram.

It represents the class of actions that is mandatory on every

Muslim, such as praying the five times a day, fasting the

month of Ramadan, paying zakah and performing hajj.

Describes the class of actions that are not obligatory but highly

recommended to do. e.g. fasting beyond the month of

Remadan, put perfume during Friday prayer, or praying

nawafil etc.

Actions are permissible in the sense they are specified neither

as mandatory nor as forbidden. e.g. trading during hajj.

Actions are not absolutely forbidden, but are detested.

Actions are unlawful and prohibited. Committing them is a

major sin. e.g. murder, commit adultery, dealing with riba,

drinking alcohol etc.

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The Sharia Law System

Category Arabic Do it Not do it

Obligatory

(Prescribed)

Fard

Wajeb

Reward

Punishment

Recommended

(Desirable)

MustahabMandub

Reward

No Punishment

Permitted

(Allowed)

Mubah

Halal

No Reward

No Punishment

Discouraged

(Disliked)

Makruh

Manboth

No Punishment

Reward

Forbidden

(Prohibited)

Haraam

Mahd’ur

Punishment

No Reward

Islam asks its believers to observe certain norms and moral

codes in;

dealings with relatives

with neighbours and friends;

in their business transactions;

in the market;

in their social affairs,

in all spheres of private and public life.

Islamic Law and Rules

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The Holy Book Quran

(Hadith), words or actions of the prophet

Sunnah

(Ijma) of the Clerics Consensus

(Ijtihad) personal study Wisdom

Maslow Way

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Forbidden

Discourage

d

Permitted

Recommended

Obligatory

Choice of Doing

Urging of not Doing

Enforcing of not Doing

Enforcing of Doing

Urging of Doing

Blood and organ donation. (giving and receiving).

Circumcision of male infants (7th day). Controversy of female circumcision.

Breast feeding (two years).

Human skin bank: lawful for medical grafting and unlawful for cosmetics and misleading others.

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Recommended

Autopsy: if for medically or by law indicated.

Reconstructive Surgery (post mastectomy).

Do Not Resuscitate order: when the treatment becomes futile.

Withdrawal or withheld therapy is permitted in brain death.

Genetic Engineering: to alter or cure diseased genes.

Abortion: pregnancy that risk the mother’s health, physically or mentally.

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Permitted

Forced feeding the sick.

Smoking

Divorce

Elective abortion before age 120 days (some sects before 40 days).

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Discourage

Surgical contraception: (Sterilization: Vasectomy & tubal ligation). Permitted for mentally sick or when another pregnancy risks mother’s life.

Sperm or ova donation.

Fetal Sex Determination.

Elective abortion in a healthy mother 120 days after fertilization.

Human milk bank.

Human cloning (permitted for tissues and organs).

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Forbidden

Surrogacy Uterus: Surrogacy involving a third person is not permissible. (even if the woman involved is another wife of the husband)..

Cosmetic surgery: Changing the creation of Allah.

Food: not Halal meat, of pork or dead animal/bird.

Drink: alcohol.

Others: interest, theft, gambling and drugs.

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Forbidden

Principles of Medical Ethics Necessity overrides prohibition (insulin from pork,

medications with alcohol).

Remove harm at every cost if possible (quit smoking, risk factors, disease therapy).

Accept the lesser of two harms if both cannot be avoided (abortion in risk to the pregnant woman).

Public interest overrides individual interest (blood and organ donation).

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Female Modesty Dress: Provide a long-sleeved gown or allow to wear her own

cloths.

Examination: exposure of the patient’s body parts should be limited to the minimum necessary.

Sex: sensitivity when asking a single, widow or a divorced about sexual habits.

Respect privacy and do not touch while talking.

Should not be placed in mixed rooms.

Avoid eye contact and shaking hands to prevent unnecessary embarrassment.

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Death definition: when spirit leave’s the body.

Death is Inevitable: “ Every soul shall have a taste of death: In the end to

Us shall you be brought back." Qur’an 29:57

The dying person: should sit up or lie with their face towards Mecca. Ideally one should die with the Declaration of Faith on the lips (Shahada).

When death occur: eyes should be closed; all connected tubes removed; all limbs flexed and the body straightened.

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Death

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After Death Washing and burying the body as soon as possible (same

day). On the right side, facing Mecca.

Respect for the body and prayers over the dead.

Recitation of the whole Quran if possible.

Mourning should not be excessive, as this would disturb the dead as well as show lack of acceptance of God’s will and purpose regarding death.