B.ED.

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING (GUIDE)

EDC 2355: Moral Philosophy From Islamic Perspective


REPORT PRESENTION
Topic:
INTRODUCTION TO MORAL PHILOSOPHY FROM ISLAMIC
PERSPECTIVE

BY:
NOR AISHAH BT YACOB 1115502
NURNASIHAH BT AZIZAN 1111350


LECTURER:
DR. AFAREEZ BIN ABD RAZAK AL-HAFIZ

INTRODUCTION
Morals are the standards or values set by society for an ethical human behavior. It can
also be called the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. Morality is the obedience
to the moral values there in the society, especially the following of good moral
behavior. Besides, we are performing Allahs command with our ability but we need to follow
the guidelines give by Him as according to our capacity. Morals in the general society might
have change considerably over the centuries but their main purpose remains the same; for
example, to practice good behavior. The Holy Quran calls good as maruf- a well known things
and evil as munkar- an unknown thing. It means that it is desirable to do good deeds and
undesirable to treat in evil ways. The Quran says: By the Soul! And the proportion and
order given to it, and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right- truly he succeeds
that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it. (91:7-10). The moral values in Islam deal with
the connection of a man with his God, man with others being and the mans relationship with his
soul. Apart from that, Rasullah (pbuh) once said: The best of you are those who have the
most excellent morals. The moral values in Islam highlight on piety, patience, forgiveness,
justice, kindness brotherhood, equality, truthfulness, lawful earning and acquisition of
knowledge.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF MORAL VALUES IN ISLAM
Moral values in Islam aim to decide human action in a Muslim society, also to promote
and control their activities or doings to the benefit of the whole society and its individuals, and to
bring for all individuals a good end in the other life (akhirah). It aims to combine human
attributes, manners, doings that aims to prepare followers of the Lord, whom Islam described
them and clarified the path of goodness for them. Moral values in Islam then, whether they are
individual such as genuineness, tolerance, or love are meant to bring individual and society
benefit, and protect human benefit. From this point we determine that the moral value in Islam
means to achieve the following objectives:
a. Oneness and worshipping: to construct a system of morality that is directly
deduced from the Quran. It is most common foundations of Muslim life is that human
should seek to achieve the Oneness of the Lord, which is an essential to all what humans
are thinking about the life and living, life before and after, and that is what all humans
should use to seek true worshipping to the Lord. This is the system revealed from the
Holy Book and Prophetic Sunnah. That is where we make some differentiate between
obligation, responsibility, effort, and intention.
b. to prepare the faithful individual( for system of value in Islam seek to prepare
the individual with a strong building, who seek to achieve the Say of Allah, Praise the
Lord, (Say, `My Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for ALLAH,
the Lord of the worlds) (Al-Anaam: 162). This is a portray that differs from the portray of
good citizen in other contemporary systems. The good person in human systems could
kill, be unfair, and could seek to built his self society on the account on other societies,
but the good human in Islam is like Abu Bakr and Omer, May Allah be in Consent with
them, who urge to avoid torture, burning or killing children, and to avoid killing trees or
demolition of churches. So, moral values in Islam give us way to solve the contemporary
moral problem.

c. Systemize the teaching of Quran and morality. It is balancing as Islamic value
system is built on balance as the principle of everything. Allah Says that and he has
created everything, and has determined its proper measure. (Al-Furqan: 2), For all this
Islam seeks to integrate all life aspects materialistic or spiritual, and seek to build
individual objective along with the society aims and call for all to integrate words with
deeds, and to balance between human needs in this life and his wishes in the other life as
mention by the Quran which is we as the Muslim use as the guideline. Thus, Quran is the
best reference for the Muslim in every part of the life.
d. Correct Morals: Islam makes the moral side a measure for good deeds, and the
main side in values is the main objectives for the message of Islam. The Noble Prophet
came to complete good morals, and Islam cares for development of moral feeling in
human nature, and makes correctness the guide of human behavior both publicly and
privately, as Islam assures the moral side in all worships.

IMPORTANCE
The Prophet's high standard of manners made him a model for all Muslims to follow. The
Prophet (pbuh) used to emphasize how significant good manners are for Muslims. He (pbuh) has
said: The best of you is the best among you in conduct. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]. He even
clarified that people will be on different levels in Paradise based on their good manners
saying: The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be the one
who is the best in conduct[Ibn An-Najjaar]. It shows that the ultimate aim of our life is the
hereafter. Since the beginning of Islam, Prophet Muhammad pbuh was mainly concerned with
the teaching and disciplining the Muslim to have the best manners and personal characteristics.
DEFINITION OF MORAL, ETHICS AND AKHLAQ

Basically, many of us are still confuse about moral and ethics. How should we
differentiate between moral and ethics, and how should we judge someone is morally or ethically
or not? Before we discuss futher about this issue, we would like to define the term moral, ethics
and akhlaq.
First and foremost, the term moral comes from the Latin word moras which means
custom. Moral meaning teaching of good and evil generally accepted regarding actions, attitudes,
obligationns, manners and morals. According to W. Damon 1988, said that there is no single
definition of morality that is universal and acceptable to everyone. So as general definition,
moral is a social instrument that guides individuals and groups in their daily lives. It requires
individuals and group to follow it. It helps people to behave rationally as members of society. So
in the simple word, moral is about trait, temperament, will, opinion or actions which are worth
saying right, wrong, good or bad. Good and bad teachings on morality rooted in customs. Hence
also, to measure human behavior is good or bad, it can be seen whether the action was in
accordance with generally accepted customs of social unity or environment. If so, then it can be
good or bad an act morally, is local. Meaning that, if we want to judge some action is good or
bad based on the perception of society. For example in Malay culture who are consist of
Muslims, commonly daughters are not allowed to get out until late night. It is because our
society will judge that the girls is an immoral person and the family of the girls will getting
ashamed for the accused of did not know how to educate their children well. Then, morality is an
external element that is imposed on the individual and cultivated until it becomes a habit. So for
in that case, the father will punish her daughter and warning her to not come back home at late
night. He actually teach or illustrate the right behavior which is the daughter ought to do.
Therefore the daughter can take the lesson from her action and do not repeat it in future.
Basically, moral is more stress on relative-practice which we chose what is wrong and right.
Secondly is ethics. The word ethics comes from the Greek ethos, which mean custom,
morals, character, feeling, attitudes, ways of thinking. According to V. Grassia 1981, said that
ethics can also be defined as a philosophical study of morals i.e. good behavior, moral
obligation, moral attitude ,moral responsibility, social justice and good living qualities. Another
definition come out by William Lilie, (1957: 1-2), ethics is a science of the conduct of human
beings living in societies which, also judge this conduct to be right and wrong. So to make this
clear, I provide another definition come out by Ahmad Amin, Ilmu Akhlak (Prof. KH. Farid
Maruf (1975,pg5) defines ethics as the sciences that explain the meaning of good and bad to
explain what should be done by some other human, stating goals that must be addressed by
human in their actions and point the way to do what must be done. So from these definitions, we
can see that ethics and moral are actually quite same. What make both difference is term of the
sources. For the moral the sources of judgement is based on culture and tradition. However for
ethics the source is based on reasoning. Basically, ethics stress on social system in which those
moral are applied. Besides that, ethics is more on theory. For instance we learn and know what is
wrong and right, this called ethics which is related to theory. Here, we will provide an example
to make this thing more comprehend. Someone will be judge an unethical man when he failed to
applied the things that he already know it is wrong. For example, cheating in examination is
wrong action but he do the thing eventhough he already know that it is not allowed to cheat in
examination.

Last but not least is akhlaq. Generally, akhlaq is plural of the word khuluq, mean
behavior, temperament, tabiat (Louis Maruf, Al- Munjid, 1975). According to saifu deen,
(2007) the definition of akhlaq in the Shari'ah terminology: The morals are the
characteristics which Allah (SWT) has ordered the Muslim to abide by when performing his
actions, they are the commands and prohibitions related to the qualities which the Muslim
should demonstrate when performing his actions be it acts of worships, transactions and
others. Therefore Islam has obliged the Muslim to abide by the commands and prohibitions
of Allah (SWT) in his actions, sayings and qualities when acting or talking. In essence, akhlaq
is the power of the soul that drives action easily and spontaneously without thought. Thus,
akhlaq is basically the attitude inherent in a person spontaneously manifested in behavior or
actions. If the spontaneous act according to both reason and religion, then it is called good
morals or akhlaqul karimah. For example, honest, fair, humble, generous, polite, and so on.
Conversely, when poorly known bad character or akhlaqul madzmumah. For example miserly,
tyrannical, envy, jealousy, lies and so on. Good and bad morals based on the source of value,
namely the Quran and Sunnah. According to Imam Ghazali, noble character has four cases are
discreet, keeping away from bad behavior, courage (vanquish lust) and fair. Surely I was sent to
perfect good character pious. (HR: Bukhari). In another hadith explained: The most perfect
believers are the best faith depraved. He guides all over aspects of human life, our relationship
between us and The Almighty, human and human and also human to others creatures. The
unique is the values in akhlak are never being changed in time, place and situation. For example,
Al-Quran commands us not to commit adultery and it prohibited because it may cause harmful to
religion itself, mind, oneself, progeny and property. This is fixed, and no one can change the
rules in whatsoever circumstances you are.

So as conclusion, we would like to bring the recent issue that happen in our society.
Nowdays, we have seen simptoms of moral decline. The factors which are the advancement of
science, technology, and economics. As a result, many inequalities and injustices in society.
Those who uphold the truth will be suppressed and the offender will be defended. If in the past
years ago, the LGBT issue is never rise up but today this issue is being hotly discussed due to
some group who are claim their right. In fact they opposed the sunnatullah. This is the indicator
of the loss of akhlaq, morals, and ethics. Many of people in our society did not know how to
judge some action either it is right or wrong because different people or society have different
ideas about morality that impact each of our lives. For example in the issue of homosexuality,
many believe that it is morally wrong , but some others believe that it is nothing wrong because
they come out with the reason the group have right to chose what they want to be and we cannot
discriminate the group. Here, we can see that the moral judgement can be change to recommend
behavior to certain society.











References
Ahmad Amin, Ilmu Akhlak (Prof. KH. Farid Maruf), (Jakarta: Bulan Bintang, 1975), page 5.
Louis Maruf, Al-Munjid, (Beirut: Daar al-Masyriq, 1975), page. 194
Saifu deen. 2007. Akhlaq. The importance of islamic morals. Retrived from
http://www.turntoislam.com/threads/akhlaq-the-importance-of-islamic-morals.19442
http://www.scribd.com/doc/51683094/00000106