Morality in Society

Humans are a part of the society they live in. Therefore, he cannot act in society as he pleases. As a requirement of coexistence, it should observe certain values and moral principles that will ensure social harmony and cooperation.

The Qur'an and Sunnah, which present examples of morality, emphasize the basic issues necessary for the formation of a peaceful and moral society. According to Islam, all believers are brothers. (Hujurat, 49/10) They should keep to this principle for interactions and always be sincere. As the Prophet Muhammad (saw) points out in the following hadith, feelings of unity, solidarity and brotherhood must be established for a peaceful society: “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” (Bukhari, Adab, 27) Accordingly, wanting for his brother what one wants for himself and not doing to others what one does not want done to him is a requirement of both living together in an environment of peace and brotherhood and morality. The task of “recommending goodness and preventing evil”, which is one of the basic responsibilities of Islam, is also very important in terms of achieving peace in society.

Being just with people, standing strong against difficulties, working for the benefit of society, and giving a sense of trust to society as stated in the hadith “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe” (Nasa'i, Iman, 8) are the primary features of a society where Islamic moral values are established.

After saying, “You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another.” (Muslim, Iman, 93), the Prophet Muhammad (saw) stated that Muslims can establish a bond of love between themselves only by greeting and He mentioned this issue in the following hadith: “If two Muslims meet, shake hands, praise Allah, and ask Him for forgiveness, they will be forgiven.” (Abu Dawud, Adab, 153). Love, brotherhood and friendship, kindness and hospitality, reconciling the offended, greeting and shaking hands will enable people to live in peace and serenity with each other.

It is essential that the feelings of solidarity and sharing are established in a society shaped by the moral values of Islam. “O you who have believed… cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (Maidah, 5/2) This verse indicates that this solidarity should be in righteous and good deeds.  In addition to worships such as zakat and charity that provide social unity and solidarity, many guidances that will reinforce interpersonal solidarity are included in the verses and hadiths. While these directions ensure that people have moral values such as compassion, sharing and thinking about others, they also enable people to get rid of negative features such as stinginess, indifference, and thinking only about themselves. Living selfishly without caring about a needy person next to you is not a behavior in line with Islamic moral values. The following hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) expresses this moral attitude: “He is not a believer who eats his fill while his neighbors remains hungry by his side.” (Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf, Iman and Ru'ya, 6) A person who has Islamic moral values is one who is aware of the fact that sharing is goodness and abundance, and that it is also a duty to form a peaceful society. It is both a moral and a social duty to reach out to the orphans, the poor and the needy in the society.

Individuals with moral values form a peaceful society, while individuals with negative moral characteristics create a society that is difficult to live in. Conflicting with the society for the sake of some personal interests and acting contrary to social values is a form of action that disrupts the peace of the society. Everyone, whether living in a Muslim country or a non-Muslim society, will be considered a moral person if they act in accordance with moral principles. Accordingly, for example, a Muslim living in a foreign country should not have the following thoughts: This society is not Muslim anyway, so it is okay to deceive these people, it is right to take interest from them to harm this non-Muslim society". These immoral thoughts are wrong approaches that should be avoided at all times and places. No matter where a Muslim lives, he should not give up his moral values for the sake of material values, wealth, prosperity and fame. In a society where negative events such as extortion, theft, cheating and fraud are common, the sense of trust, which is indispensable for a peaceful society, will disappear. It will not be possible for people to feel safe in a society where they do not trust each other.

An individual who escapes from the scene where the traffic accident happened instead of helping the person he hit; someone who simply walks by, rather than helping an injured person he encounters, or a person who cheats people regardless of religion or nationality, has not fulfilled even the simplest humanitarian duties. Wishing harm on other people, investigating their private lives, coveting what people have, and negative behaviors such as envy, gheebah and gossip are moral flaws that drive people away from each other and break the ties between them. Against these negative traits, a Muslim should strive to be of good moral character, taking into account the following warnings of Almighty Allah (swt): "O you who have believed,avoid much [negative] assumption (dhan). Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it.  And fear Allah, indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful" (Hujurat, 49/12)

A Muslim cannot act with the understanding of "I live as I want, I do whatever I want". Because he knows that a human is not without a purpose. For this reason, in line with the principle expressed as "being with Allah (the Creator) among the people", he should always strive to live in a way that pleases Allah (swt).