Ethics

Ghaflah means indifference and lack of attention; its opposite is attention and resoluteness. If what is neglected is our ultimate felicity and well-being, it is a vice. However, neglect and indifference to baseness and wickedness is a virtue. That i...

Ghaflah means indifference and lack of attention; ...

This is an evil state, and its opposite is repentance (tawbah). Repeating sins makes them seem ordinary, insignificant, everyday affairs. Therefore, before this happens to one, it is necessary for him to contemplate the vicious outcome of committing ...

This is an evil state, and its opposite is repenta...

Rebelliousness (Isyan) Rebelliousness here means disobeying God's commands. This vice belongs to the Power of Anger and Passion; its opposite is obedience and God-fearing (taqwa). Shamelessness Belonging to the Powers of Anger and Passion, this vice ...

Rebelliousness (Isyan) Rebelliousness here means d...

This vice is caused by the Power of Intellect and Passion, and is rooted in ignorance and the love of the world. It harms man by keeping him occupied with worldly matters and by retarding his spiritual development. In order to cure oneself of this di...

This vice is caused by the Power of Intellect and ...

Pride consists of conceit based on selfish desires and fancies, and it may be in regard to the affairs of this world or that of the next. One may become proud of one's worship, or one's sons, wealth, position and power, or something else. All of thes...

Pride consists of conceit based on selfish desires...

Hypocrisy, that is feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not, in religion or in social relations, is one of the most destructive vices. Throughout the Holy Quran, hypocrites are condemned in the strongest of terms. Also, there ar...

Hypocrisy, that is feigning to be what one is not ...

Simulation means doing a good deed for the sake of ostentation rather than for the sake of God. It is a great sin, and causes spiritual deterioration and death. And the Quran says: So woe to those that pray and are heedless of their prayers, to those...

Simulation means doing a good deed for the sake of...

Backbiting consists of saying something about an individual that he would not like. Backbiting is one of the major sins, about which much has been written, and which has been condemned in a large number of traditions and Quranic verses. A detailed di...

Backbiting consists of saying something about an i...

Taunting and Dispute (Ta'n wa Mujadalah) Taunting (tan) means saying something sarcastic with a derogatory aim, and disputatiousness mujadalah refers to engaging in futile disputes without really wanting to discover the truth. These two traits are co...

Taunting and Dispute (Ta'n wa Mujadalah) Taunting ...

This vice consists of attributing the misfortunes befalling someone to his unsavoury acts, delighting in his misfortunes, and blaming him for his misfortune. This vice is usually caused by jealousy or the Power of Passion. Shamatah has been severely ...

This vice consists of attributing the misfortunes ...

Disclosing other people's secrets leads to social discord and at times to animosity. Therefore, it is considered a vice and has been condemned in a large number of traditions. This vice may take various forms, one of which is to recount to someone th...

Disclosing other people's secrets leads to social ...

This vice is caused either by jealousy or hostility, and leads to the spread of corruption, animosity, and destruction of good relations between the people. The opposite of this vice is the virtue of covering up the defects and sins of others. This v...

This vice is caused either by jealousy or hostilit...

This is the worst form that the vice of breaking off ties with one's family can take, and according to severely worded traditions, it is the cause of severe chastisement both in this world and the next. As opposed to this, kind and loving behaviour t...

This is the worst form that the vice of breaking o...

This vice is caused either by hostility, vengefulness, jealousy, or miserliness, and, therefore, it belongs either to the Power of Passion, or the Power of Anger. It has been condemned in numerous traditions. The opposite of this vice is the virtue o...

This vice is caused either by hostility, vengefuln...

Failure to carry out the duty of al- amr bil-maruf wal-nahy an il munkar is an unforgivable sin caused either by moral weakness or lack of attention to one's religious duties, and results in the spread of immorality, corruption, injustice, and other ...

Failure to carry out the duty of al- amr bil-maruf...

Being indifferent to the affairs of Muslims is a moral vice caused by lethargy, spiritual weakness, or miserliness. This vice is condemned in numerous traditions, an example of which is the following wellknown statement of the Prophet (S): He who wak...

Being indifferent to the affairs of Muslims is a m...

This kind of behaviour is a branch of the above-mentioned vice, and is caused by either anger, ill-temperedness, or avarice. Its opposite is making others happy and removing their cause of sorrow or anxiety. There are numerous traditions in praise of...

This kind of behaviour is a branch of the above-me...

This kind of behaviour is usually caused by jealousy and enmity, although it may also be rooted in greed (hasad), avarice (tama'), pride (takabbur), etc. Thus, its source is either the Power of Anger or the Power of Passion, or both. In any case, har...

This kind of behaviour is usually caused by jealou...

Hasad consists of a desire to see someone's advantage or blessing taken away from him. If one simply aspires to have the same advantage as someone else, this would be ghibtah (envy), and if one has the desire to see someone continue enjoying an advan...

Hasad consists of a desire to see someone's advant...

This vice consists of discussing unlawful and haram actions, relishing such talk, and exchanging obscene jokes and stories not befitting human dignity and station. Since the haram and obscene is of many kinds, delving in them can also be classified v...

This vice consists of discussing unlawful and hara...

These include such vicious practices as adultery, fornication, sodomy, intoxication, and all other forms of extravagance-all of which arise out of the Power of Passion, and drag man down into a beastly mode of life. There are numerous Quranic verses,...

These include such vicious practices as adultery, ...