In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most merciful. O my Lord! Relieve my mind. And ease my task for me; and loose a knot from my tongue. That they may understand what I say (Al-Qur’an 20: 25-28).

Islam is a perfect religion and it provides a complete code of guidance in all human activities. Not only does it prescribe beliefs and rules governing man’s relationship with his creator, the Almighty God, but also it lays down detailed guidelines regarding conduct of man in his relationship with his fellow beings. Islam does not believe in the life of this world as an end in itself, rather it teaches belief in the Hereafter i.e. in the life after death or life in the next world. Islam’s motto, as enunciated by its revealed book, is: “Our Lord! Give unto us in the world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and guard us from the doom of Fire – (Al-Qur’an 2: 201)

Human actions are divided generally into good and evil, the good are recommended and hence to be done while the evil are prohibited and, therefore, to be shunned. Since Islam is based on Divine revelations sent to men through prophets, last and the greatest of whom was the prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islamic morality begins with the renunciation of all worships except that of Allah, the Only and Almighty God of the Universe, and renunciation of all that has been prohibited by Allah. The Divine Commandments which prescribe dos and don’ts for believers are contained in the Qur’an, the revealed book of Islam, and the Sunnah of Muhammad (PBUH), the Prophet of Islam.

The present book elaborately brings into black and white the social and the moral code of Islam. It brings in focus the fundamental social and moral conceptions on which Islam basis the life of its followers in this world and also prepares them for the life in the next world. Besides, the book highlights the obligations which one owes to others and rules of conduct and manners of behaviour which one has to follow in dealing with the people around him. The book also discusses the bad qualities of human character or evils or vices from which one must abstain and the good qualities of character or virtues which one must adopt. The verses of the Holy Qur’an and Ahadith (sayings and traditions) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) have been extensively quoted to explain Islamic view-point on the subjects dealt within the book. The renowned translation of the Qur’an by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall has been used for quotations from the Qur’an and translation of Mishkat-ul-Masabih by Maulana Fazl-ul-Karim has been mostly used for reproduction Ahadith.

I express a deep sense of gratitude to my renowned publishers especially to Sh. Shahzad Riaz, Managing Director, whose keen interest made it possible to publish this book in a presentable manner.

Before concluding I deem it my bounden duty to pray for the noble souls of the above mentioned two great scholars from whose works I have special benefited. I must also acknowledge my debt of gratitude to my wife and to my daughters who have always been helpful in my study and research.

I should conclude the foreword with my usual prayers to the Almighty Allah: “O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Al-Qur’an 20: 114).

 

Muhammad Sharif Chaudhry

July 04, 2002

169-A/I Township, Lahore, Pakistan.

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