Concept

Islamic ethics

Overview

Islamic ethics (Arabic: أخلاق إسلامية) is the "philosophical reflection upon moral conduct" with a view to defining "good character" and attaining the "pleasure of God" (raza-e Ilahi). It is distinguished from "Islamic morality", which pertains to "specific norms or codes of behavior".

It took shape as a field of study or an "Islamic science" (ʿIlm al-Akhlaq), gradually from the 7th century and was finally established by the 11th century. Although it was considered less important than sharia and fiqh "in the eyes of the ulama" (Islamic scholars) "moral philosophy" was an important subject for Muslim intellectuals. Many scholars consider it shaped as a successful amalgamation of the Quranic teachings, the teachings of Muhammad, the precedents of Islamic jurists (see sharia and fiqh), the pre-Islamic Arabian tradition, and non-Arabic elements—including Persian and Greek ideas—embedded in or integrated with a generally Islamic structure. Although Muhammad's preaching produced a: "radical change in moral values based on the sanctions of the new religion [...] and fear of God and of the Last Judgment"; the tribal practice of Arabs did not completely die out. Later Muslim scholars expanded the religious ethic of the Quran and Hadith in immense detail.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).

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It is customary, however, to include under the term moral knowledge, and even (though improperly) under that of moral science, an inquiry the results of which do not express themselves in the indicative, but in the imperative mood, or in periphrases equivalent to it; what is called the knowledge of duties; practical ethics, or morality. Now, the imperative mood is the characteristic of art, as distinguished from…
John Stuart Mill, A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive
States what Islamic ethics is.
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Speaking in a general way, a person is understood to deserve good if he does right, evil if he does wrong; and in a more particular sense, to deserve good from those to whom he does or has done good, and evil from those to whom he does or has done evil. The precept of returning good for evil has never been regarded as a case of the fulfilment of justice, but as one in which the claims of justice are waived, in…
John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism
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Now the power and resolved purpose to resist a strong but unjust opponent is called fortitude (fortitudo), and when concerned with the opponent of the moral character within us, it is virtue (virtus, fortitudo moralis). Accordingly, general deontology, in that part which brings not external, but internal, freedom under laws is the doctrine of virtue.
Immanuel Kant, The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics
States what Islamic ethics is.
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Islamic ethics

Overview

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