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With regard to the continuity of the Islamic community, certain points are noteworthy.
It is the duty of Muslims to do everything within their means to insure that continuity.
The rules of marriage and inheritance, the duties of Zakah and Hajj, the mutual rights
and obligations of kin, the individual conscientiousness and social belonging – all
these are oriented to the healthy continuity of the community of Islam. On the other
hand, Allah has pledged to prophet this continuity in several ways. First, He has
pledged to preserve the Qur’ an and protect it purity (15:9).
This means that there shall always be a community to follow the Qur’ an; the Qur’ an
shall not be without followers even though there may be followers of other books.
Secondly, Islam itself is a continuity. Whenever a nation deviated from the path of
Allah, He restated His word, reaffirmed His truth, and commissioned new prophets or
reformers to carry on. Thirdly, Allah has issued a strong warning to the effect that if
Muslims turned away from the right path, they would be the losers; Allah would
replace them by other people unlike the failing Muslims (47:38).
Again, the believers are warned that if any of them turns back from his Faith, soon
will God produce people whom He will love and they will love Him, - humble toward
the believers and mighty against the disbelievers, fighting in the way of God and
never afraid of reproaches (Qur’ an, 5:57).
The Concept of Morality
The concept of morality in Islam centers around certain basic beliefs and principles.
Among these are the followings: (1) God is the Creator and Source of all goodness,
truth and beauty. (2) Man is a responsible, dignified, and honorable agent of his
Creator. (3) God has put everything in the heavens and the earth in the service of
mankind. (4) By His Mercy and Wisdom, God does not expect the impossible from
man or hold him accountable for anything beyond his power. Nor does God forbid
man to enjoy the good things of life. (5) Moderation, practicality, and balance are the
guarantees of high integrity and sound morality. (6) All things are permissible in
principle except what is singled out as forbidden, which must be avoided. (7) Man’ s
ultimate responsibility is to God and his highest goal is the pleasure of his Creator.
The dimensions of morality in Islam are numerous, far-reaching and comprehensive.
The Islamic morals deal with the relationship between man and God, man and his
fellow men, man and the other elements and creatures of the universe, man and his
innermost self. The Muslim has to guard his external behavior and his manifest deeds,
his words and his thoughts, his feelings and intentions. In a general sense, his role is
to champion what is right and fight what is wrong, seek what is true and abandon
what is false, cherish what is beautiful and wholesome and avoid what is indecent.
Truth and virtue are his goal. Humbleness and simplicity, courtesy and compassion,
are his second nature. To him, arrogance and vanity, harshness and indifference, are
distasteful, offensive and displeasing to God.
More specifically, the Muslim’ s relationship with God is one of love and obedience,
complete trust and thoughtfulness, peace and appreciation, steadfastness and active
service. This high – level morality will, undoubtedly, nourish and reinforce morality
at the human level. For in his relationship with his fellow men, the Muslim must show
kindness to the kin and concern for the neighbor, respect for the elderly and
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