Prof Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Islam’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary on the Quran into English. She can be reached at [email protected]

CODE OF ETHICS

THE Prophet of Islam said: “I have been sent to perfect the code of high ethics.” Islam attaches such great importance to moral values that, according to Islamic belief, only worshipping God is not enough to make one a perfect believer. In addition to this, it is necessary for the believer in dealing with others, to observe all the norms of a sublime moral character. That is, in all circumstances, he should adhere to the highest standard of ethical values. We learn of this high standard from the following teachings of the Prophet and the Quran.

In the Quran the Prophet Muhammad is described as possessing a “sublime character”. Here is a saying of the Prophet, which throws light on what constitutes this “sublime character”.

“Never debase your character by saying that if people treat you well, you will treat them well, and if they harm you, then you will do worse to them. Rather, become accustomed to being good to those who are good to you, and not wronging those who harm you.”

The sublime character described here was displayed in its noblest form by the Prophet himself. With the Prophet such a character was a basic requisite, while for the ordinary Muslim it is an ideal he should strive for.

There are two types of character, the ordinary and the extraordinary. An ordinary character is based on the principle: ‘Do as you have been done by.” This might be termed a “Knee-jerk character.” Since it offers only reflex responses to treatment by others. People of such a character break with those who break with them, wrong those who wrong them, and harm those who harm them.

However, those who are of a high character are reconciliatory, even re-establishing relations with those who break with them. They are compassionate, even to those who seek to harm them. They are forbearing, even towards those who wrong them.

Adopting a high code of ethics means practising what one preaches; treating the weak with the same courtesy and deference as one shows to the strong; setting the same standards for oneself as one sets for others; never budging from one’s principles; maintaining a high moral bearing, even when others stoop to the depths of degradation. From this point of view, the Prophet of Islam stood at the highest pinnacle of human ethics, never abandoning the lofty standards that he preached.