Chapter 4
Islam & Ethics
Ethics, like other Islamic sciences, takes its origin form the Quran. The Quran lays down the foundation of a religious
system on purely ethical principles, hence there is not much to distinguish between Islam as such and Islamic ethics.
The Muslims started the study of Ethics along with the study of the Quran.
INCEIF 2
Ethics in Islam is nothing but the body of injunction laid down in the Quran for the practical conduct of life and fully
exemplified in the practice of the Holy Prophet throughout his life.
Within an Islamic Context, the term most closely related to ethics is khuluq in the Quran which has been guided by principles from the Quran and the Sunnah.
Islam consider the Prophet as an ideally perfect man, par excellence, in all aspects of life.
The Quran exhorts the believers to follow the rightly guided particularly the Prophet.
It is the desire of every pious Muslim to model his life in every possible particular upon that of the Prophet.
In explaining the moral code of Islam, it is important to
categorize the action according to the degree of lawfulness and unlawfulness as classified in fiqh to five categories;
fard, mustahabb, mubah, makruh and haram.
It represents the class of actions that is mandatory on every Muslim, such as praying the five times a day, fasting the month of Ramadan, paying zakah and performing hajj.
Describes the class of actions that are not obligatory but highly recommended to do. e.g. fasting beyond the month of
Remadan, put perfume during Friday prayer, or praying nawafil etc.
Actions are permissible in the sense they are specified neither as mandatory nor as forbidden. e.g. trading during hajj.
Actions are not absolutely forbidden, but are detested.
Actions are unlawful and prohibited. Committing them is a major sin. e.g. murder, commit adultery, dealing with riba, drinking alcohol etc.
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The Sharia Law System The Sharia Law System
Category Arabi c
Do it Not do it
Obligatory (Prescribed)
Fard
Wajeb Reward Punishment
Recommend ed
(Desirable)
Mustaha bMandu
b
Reward No
Punishment Permitted
(Allowed)
Mubah
Halal No Reward No
Punishment Discouraged
(Disliked)
Makruh
Manboth No
Punishment
Reward Forbidden
(Prohibited)
Haraam
Mahd’ur Punishment No Reward
Islam asks its believers to observe certain norms and moral codes in;
dealings with relatives
with neighbours and friends;
in their business transactions;
in the market;
in their social affairs,
in all spheres of private and public life.
Islamic Law and Islamic Law and
Rules Rules
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The Holy Book Quran
(Hadith), words or actions of the
prophet Sunnah
(Ijma) of the Clerics Consensu s
(Ijtihad) personal
study Wisdom
Maslow Maslow Way Way
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Forbidde n
Discoura ged
Permitted Recommended
Obligatory
Choice of Doing
Urging of not Doing
Enforcing of not Doing
Enforcing of Doing Urging of Doing
Blood and organ donation. (giving and receiving).
Circumcision of male infants (7th day). Controversy of female circumcision.
Breast feeding (two years).
Human skin bank: lawful for medical grafting and unlawful for cosmetics and misleading others.
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Recommended
Recommended
Autopsy: if for medically or by law indicated.
Reconstructive Surgery (post mastectomy).
Do Not Resuscitate order: when the treatment becomes futile.
Withdrawal or withheld therapy is permitted in brain death.
Genetic Engineering: to alter or cure diseased genes.
Abortion: pregnancy that risk the mother’s health, physically or mentally.
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Permitted
Permitted
Forced feeding the sick.
Smoking
Divorce
Elective abortion before age 120 days (some sects before 40 days).
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Discourage
Discourage
Surgical contraception: (Sterilization: Vasectomy &
tubal ligation). Permitted for mentally sick or when another pregnancy risks mother’s life.
Sperm or ova donation.
Fetal Sex Determination.
Elective abortion in a healthy mother 120 days after fertilization.
Human milk bank.
Human cloning (permitted for tissues and organs).
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Forbidden
Forbidden
Surrogacy Uterus: Surrogacy involving a third
person is not permissible. (even if the woman involved is another wife of the husband)..
Cosmetic surgery: Changing the creation of Allah.
Food: not H alal meat, of pork or dead animal/bird.
Drink: alcohol.
Others: interest, theft, gambling and drugs.
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Forbidden
Forbidden
Principles of Medical Principles of Medical
Ethics Ethics
Necessity overrides prohibition (insulin from pork, medications with alcohol).
Remove harm at every cost if possible (quit smoking, risk factors, disease therapy).
Accept the lesser of two harms if both cannot be avoided (abortion in risk to the pregnant woman).
Public interest overrides individual interest (blood and organ donation).
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Female Female
Modesty Modesty
Dress: Provide a long-sleeved gown or allow to wear her own cloths.
Examination: exposure of the patient’s body parts should be limited to the minimum necessary.
Sex: sensitivity when asking a single, widow or a divorced about sexual habits.
Respect privacy and do not touch while talking.
Should not be placed in mixed rooms.
Avoid eye contact and shaking hands to prevent unnecessary embarrassment.
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Death definition: when spirit leave’s the body.
Death is Inevitable: “ Every soul shall have a taste of death: In the end to Us shall you be brought back." Qur’an 29:57
The dying person: should sit up or lie with their face towards M ecca. Ideally one should die with the
Declaration of F aith on the lips (Shahada).
When death occur: eyes should be closed; all
connected tubes removed; all limbs flexed and the body straightened.
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Death
Death
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After Death After Death
Washing and burying the body as soon as possible (same day). On the right side, facing M ecca.
Respect for the body and prayers over the dead.
Recitation of the whole Quran if possible.
Mourning should not be excessive, as this would disturb the dead as well as show lack of
acceptance of God’s will and purpose regarding death.
