Moral Values In The Quran Essay Research

Moral Values In The Quran Essay, Research Paper

Topic: The moral values of Qura`nic parables and similitudes.

“Alif Laam Raa. A book which we have revealed to you (Muhammad) so that you may lead the people from out of the darknesses into the light by their Lord’s leave to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy.” [Qur'an 14:1]. To start with, it is necessary to introduce the Qur’an. It is a Message from Allah to humanity, which was transmitted to us in a chain starting from the Almighty Himself to the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. This message was given to the Prophet in pieces over a period of approximately 23 years. The language of the original message was Arabic, but it has been translated into many other languages. The Qur`an includes numerous moral values which are worth mentioning. In this essay, the moral values of Qur`anic parables and similitudes will be discussed in detail.

The moral values of the community we live in are rather distorted. These moral principles, which are the products of selfish passions and the greed of people, yield then to selfishness, arrogance, sarcasm, rudeness and cruelty. People believe that, in order to improve their living standards they have to cheat or deceive others. However, these are not the values that Allah has determined for the human beings He created. The Qur an orders people to be dignified, modest, trustworthy, kind, faithful, mature and responsive. The Qur an even describes the way we should walk: “Turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boast” [Surat al-Luqman, 31:18]

On that account, duty of a believer is to apply these superior principles that Allah has decreed. Yet, today believers live in a mislead community where these divine ethics have been forgotten. For that reason, they have to be extremely careful against the perpetrating effects of this perverted culture. They must continuously judge themselves within this community not to be affected by their degenerated culture, and to be able to apply the moral values of the Qur an.

The tongue and the language are two great gifts of Allah. These gifts that Allah has given humans make them superior to all other creatures: The most Gracious Allah has taught the Quran; He has created man; He has taught him speech. [Ar-Rahman: 1-4].

The greater the gift, the higher would be its re-payment. Being grateful for it is as necessary as being ungrateful is reprehensible. Islam has explained how people can derive benefit from this unparalleled blessing, and how the speech that flows from their tongues throughout the day be used for goodness and truth. People who are never tired of talking are not few in numbers. If you examine their talks you will find that most of these consist of senseless, absurd and trash things, whereas Allah has not given men their tongues for this purpose, nor these capabilities were given for such a purpose: In most of their secret talks there is no good; but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice conciliation between men, (secrecy is permissible); to him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon given a reward of the highest (value). [An-nisa a , 4:114]

The Qur an informs us of the true attributes of Allah: Allah! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits. He knows what (appears to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne does extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory). (Surat al-Baqara, 2:255)

Allah is He Who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like of them; the decree continues to descend among them, that you may know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah indeed encompasses all things in (His) knowledge. (Surat at-Talaq, 65:12)

However, most people not perceiving Allah as He is described in the above ayas, and they cannot comprehend His eternal power and greatness. They believe in superstitions that they have made up themselves, and think that Allah is somewhere far off in the universe, and rarely interferes in earthly matters . The limited understanding of these people is mentioned in the Qur an, in Surat al-Hajj, 22:74. No just estimate have they made of Allah: for Allah is He Who is strong and able to Carry out His Will.

Having a picture of the extent of Allah s power is the first step in the chain of belief. True believers leave behind them the distorted vision of Allah prevailing in their community, and deny these perverted beliefs by saying: There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah. (Surat al-Jinn, 72:4)

The faithful believe in Allah in the way the Qur an describes. They examine the signs of Allah in both external and internal worlds, and thus begin to understand the great art and power of Allah. But if the believers happen to overlook Allah and fail to ponder deeply on Him and on His Creation, they may start to be influenced by immoral beliefs particularly at times of difficulty. Allah mentions this as a potential risk