Islamic ethics

As Islamic ethics, different concepts can designate that have been represented in the past and present by Islamic religious teachers, lawyers and philosophers and some can be more or less directly identifiable as content of the Koran, Hadith and other traditions.

Sources of legal and ethical standards in the classical sense

The Quran is the first and undisputed source of Islamic commandments. In addition, in almost all branches of Islam traditions of the words and actions of Muhammad ( Hadith ) are recognized as a source of divine commandments, because this applies when the Messenger of God ( Rasul Allah). Where these sources are not sufficient to analogy ( qiyas ) is resorted and traditional consensus ( ijma '). About the ijma ' was a variety at the time of Muhammad common customs of the Islamic norms. In this case, probably the assumption plays a role that customs that Mohammed implied approved as Messenger of Allah, correspond to the divine commandments. Religious and moral standards are in classical Islam part of the Sharia, ie of Islamic law. In its interpretation by the Islamic jurisprudence fiqh but interpretation is often given. Especially in the adab - literature correct behavior have been passed down through the Sharia beyond rules.

Basically, the norms of action to their validity and their substantive content are based in the classical sense by directly to the commandments of Allah. Human reason can therefore not set their own standards of action, but just try to recognize and apply the disclosed standards. Peter Antes leads this traditional understanding is as follows: " Good and evil are ( therefore ) no characteristics which " in se " behaviors are inherent, deriving solely Categories positive setting, for God " does what he wills "( Qur'an 11.107. ) Therefore, human reason by itself is not capable of " good - bad" qualification to recognize accurately and to make its own ... well therefore is always what God commands, and bad / evil what he forbids. " So understood, the classical Islamic ethics appears to be a variant of so-called Divine Command theories.

Many Muslim theologians see the Golden Rule, " What do you want done to yourself, do it to others! " implicated in some suras of the Quran and the Hadith. The Muslims have the Golden Rule as " irrevocable, unconditional norm for all areas of life " in the " Declaration of the World Parliament of Religions - The Global Ethic Declaration " agreed in 1993.

Ethical perceptions in the Islamic philosophy

Sometimes the Arabic word Akhlaq is translated by " Islamic ethics ", but rather describes the study of the characteristics of the people.