30/30 OF ISLAMIC CODE OF CONDUCT - Part-1

Islamic Code of Conduct

30 Verses of The Quran,

30 Rules of Conduct.

(Part 1 of 2)

Islam Means Peace

And Good Manners

(M. Javed Naseem)

We love to preach to others what we don’t practice ourselves. Preaching and criticizing others are the easiest things to do.

If a regular preacher gets hold of you, he would make your life miserable. He would want to convert you into an angel and deprive you of the privilege of being a human being. He would bombard you with dry and rigid rituals and rules of conduct; and would insist, by quoting many Ahadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.), that his view is the true Islam. A Mullah emphasizes on the superficial things (left foot, right foot, left hand, right hand, fingers, beard, hair, pants, style of hijab, etc., etc.). The truth is that he won’t be able to support his claim by the verses from the Quran. On the day of Judgment, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) himself would complain to Allah that these people had abandoned the Quran:

So, the best option is to study the Quran yourself (with translation, of course), again and again and again. I guarantee you that you’ll get the guidance from Allah, the Almighty. That’s His promise!

We love films and film-stars; sports and sportsmen; and spend a lot of time watching them on TV. We also spend a lot of time on the internet or on mobile phones. If we spend just 20% of the time we consume on sports, internet and mobiles phones, we’ll learn a lot more about Islam. And that will set us free from depending on Mullahs in seeking guidance. It is unfortunate that we know a lot about sportsmen and filmstars  but don’t know much about Islam.

I have compiled “30/30 of Islamic Manners” – a glossary of Islamic Code of Conduct. I assure you that many Muslims and non-Muslims amongst you would be surprised to know the truth that Islam is a simple but beautiful and practical Deen (Way of Life) that covers all aspects of our daily life. It explains, recommends, sometime obligates, the rules of conduct that are plain, simple and common sense but can make your life pleasant and easy. You might already be practicing those rules without even knowing that they are from the Quran!

There are hundreds, even thousands, of such golden rules of conduct in the Quran. I just picked up some, at random, in no particular order, to give you some satisfaction that you are already practicing these rules. These verses relate to 30 topics but the verses' count is more than 30. For ease, we can call it 30/30 of Islam. First, learn what is prohibited (Haraam)!

Know What Is ‘Haraam’!

“Say: Come, I will rehearse what Allah has (really) prohibited you from:

Join not anything as equal with Him;

Be good to your parents;

Kill not your children on a plea of want – We provide sustenance for you and for them;

Come not nigh to shameful deeds, whether open or secret; 

Take not life which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law!

Thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.”

(al-Quran 6:151)

If you keep your conduct and manners in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), who followed the Quran in letter and spirit; and who was declared by Allah the ‘Best Role Model’ for mankind, you would be a winner! You cannot lose if you abstain from what Allah has prohibited!

1. Cooperate in Righteousness,

Not in Sin!

“… Help one another in righteousness and piety, but help not one another in sin and rancor! Fear Allah, for Allah is strict in punishment!”

(al-Quran 5:2)

2. Justice & Fairplay
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is next to piety, and fear Allah! For Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.”

(al-Quran 5:8)

3. Criminal Justice

“We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) wrong-doers.”

(al-Quran 5:45)

4. Respect Everybody!

Allah has honored us, so respect and honor all human beings irrespective of their religion, color, race, sex, language, status, property, family, birth, profession or job!
”We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of our creation.”

(al-Quran 17:70)

5. Be Polite And Courteous!

Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way! Be civilized and courteous! Vulgarity and bad manners come from the Devil and he is man’s enemy.

“Say to My servants that they should (only) say those things that are best, for Satan does sow dissensions among them. For Satan is to man an avowed enemy.”

(al-Quran 17:53)

6. Drinking, Gambling:
”O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination – of Satan's handwork! Eschew such (abomination) that you may prosper.”

(al-Quran 5:90)

7. Hunting Animals: a) Halal Food

“They ask you what is lawful to them (as food). Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what you have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah. Eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of Allah over it and fear Allah; for Allah is swift in taking account.”

(al-Quran 5:4)

b) Haraam Food:

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: Dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which has been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless you are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows; that is impiety.”

(al-Quran 5:3)

8. Food of The People of The Book (Jews/Christians)
“This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. …”

(al-Quran 5:5)

9. Inter-Faith Marriages

"Lawful (unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time – when you give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).”

(al-Quran 5:5)

10. Wuzu (Wudu) or Ablution
“O you who believe! When you prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows! Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles! If you are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from offices of nature, or you have been in contact with women, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah does not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete his favor to you, that you may be grateful.”

(al-Quran 5:6)

11. Worshipping The Dead/Graves
“O men! Here is a parable set forth! Listen to it! Those on whom, besides Allah, you call, cannot create (even) a fly, if they all combine together for the purpose! And if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!”

(al-Quran 22:73)

12. Allah’s Way Is The Right Way
“O you who believe! Guard your own souls! If you follow (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who stray. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of all that you do.”

(al-Quran 5:105)

“O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him, and strive with might and main in his cause, that you may prosper.”

(al-Quran 5:35)

13. Avoid Suspicion & Eaves-dropping!
“O you who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible); for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it...But fear Allah! For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.”

(al-Quran 49:12)

14. Don’t Shout, Be Polite!

Speak in a civilized manner in a language that is recognized by the society and is commonly used. Do not shout! Speak politely keeping your voice low!
"And be moderate in your pace, and lower your voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass."  

(al-Quran 31/19)

15. Talk Straight, justly!

Talk straight to the point, truthfully, without any ambiguity or deception!

“O you who believe! Fear Allah, and (always) say a word directed to the Right!”

(al-Quran 33:70) 

“… Whenever you speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfill the covenant of Allah! Thus does He command you, that you may remember.”

(al-Quran 6:152)

                                                             (To be continued …)

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