Ethics & Etiquette

One must develop the habit of reflecting on the transient nature of life.


A cursory glance at the news media reveals pain and sorrow all over the world. No society is free of violence today. Why do negative and destructive emotions surround us?


Negative and destructive emotions refer to an emotion that leads us to do something that harms ourselves or someone else. Almost any emotion can become destructive. Even too much happiness, like manic excitement can lead us to do destructive things. But we are mainly talking about anger, paralysing fear and depression.


Humans are motivated to take action by basic drives that are almost instinctual in essence. These drives are all related to the basic need of survival. The basic drives are hunger, thirst, sex, self-protection and security.


Drives are from inside, but emotions are from outside. There is a close relation between the two. Drives lead to and control emotions. Satisfaction of drives is associated with pleasant emotions. Dissatisfaction of drives is associated with unpleasant emotions. Many unpleasant emotions may result from conflict between drives.


Unpleasant emotions can also occur when the drive is unatta-inable or it is in conflict with results of logical intellectual analysis. A drive could be satisfied in more than one way. For example the sex drive could be satisfied through legal marriage or through illegal sexual intercourse. The purpose of religion is to direct humans to right control of their drives. It is wrong to deny that drives exist or to try to suppress them. Suppression will be successful for only a short time. It is better to direct and channel the drives in a positive direction.


Actions are based on intentions. There are many ambivalent situations when two contradictory drives are present at the same time. Humans are rewarded according to how well they control these drives. Rewards are given for suppressing negative drives or redirecting them such that they become positive and useful. Punishment is given when positive drives are not nurtured or are expressed in the wrong context. In His mercy to humans, Allah rewards them for good intentions and does not punish them for bad intentions. There is punishment only if a negative intention is actually trans-lated into a negative action.


Human behaviour in the default state of fitrah will be perfect. The human being has both good and bad drives. In the natural state, the good will dominate over the bad. However humans do not always live in a natural state. Their upbringing and environment affects the balance between the bad and the good.


The only remedy to overcome negative and destructive emotions is spiritual fulfillment. Allah says in the Quran: “I created the jinn and humankind solely to worship Me.” (Az-Zariyat: 56). So no matter how accomplished and successful we are in life, we will never gain fulfillment unless we conform strictly to the above stated purpose, for it alone will determine our ultimate success or failure.


The first step towards spiritual fulfillment is to sincerely repent for all sins.


Second step is to purify our heart and mind of all destructive emotions, beliefs and concepts. This is not possible unless we guard our faculties of tongue, stomach, hands, ears, eyes, feet and mind from all sins, both outward and inward, and thus rid ourselves of all diseases such as pride, jealousy, malice and ill-feeling towards others, backbiting, lying, clinging to this world, anger, self-righteousness, pretension, vanity, obsessive love of the world, power and wealth.


One must develop the habit of reflecting and contemplating, and think of the transient nature of life.

Some general guidelines govern the Islamic code of ethics with relation to both one’s daily life and business conduct. Muslims are required to behave Islamically in their business dealings because Allah Himself is witness to their transactions:


In whatever business you may be, and whatever portion you may be reciting from the Quran and whatever deed you (mankind) may be doing - We are Witnesses thereof when you are deeply engrossed therein. (Quran-10:61).


Here are some key business principles that Muslims should follow.

• Be Honest and Truthful. Honesty and truthfulness are qualities which a Muslim businessman should develop and practise himself. Truth, for example, has a self-reinforcing effect. In a hadith reported in Sahih al Bukhari:


The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to tell the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to al fujur (i.e., wickedness, evil-doing), and al fujur (wickedness) leads to the Hell Fire, and a man may continue to tell lies till he is written before Allah, a liar.


Honesty is especially important for Muslim business persons. The need to make a profit and the temptations to enhance the attributes of their product or service during a sales pitch may distract them to exaggerate. This is why the Prophet said:


The merchants will be raised on the Day of Resurrection as evil-doers, except those who fear Allah, are honest and speak the truth.


• Keep Your Word. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet is reported to have said:


The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If you guarantee me six things on your part, I shall guarantee you Paradise. Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something, fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your eyes, and restrain your hands from injustice.


• Love Allah More Than Your Trade. We must love Allah even if we have to sacrifice everything else. Allah warns in the Qur’an,


Say, “If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that you have gained; the commerce in which you fear a decline; or the dwellings in which you delight - are dearer to you than Allah, or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause - then wait until Allah brings about His Decision: and Allah .guides not the rebellious. ( Quran-9:24).


• Be Humble in how You Conduct Your Life. Muslims must not lead a life of extravagance, and must exhibit good-will in any transactions among themselves.


O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will: nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily Allah has been to you Most Merciful. ( Quran-4:29).


• Use Mutual Consultation in Your Affairs. In describing the characteristics of those who will receive higher and more permanent gifts from Him, Allah stresses the importance of consultation.


Those who hearken to their Lord: and establish regular prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, who spend out of what we bestow on them for sustenance. (Quran-42:38).


• Do Not Deal in Fraud. Businessmen should avoid duplicity. They should treat others in the same righteous and fair manner that they themselves would like to be treated.


Woe to those that deal in fraud those who when they have to receive by measure from men exact full measure. But when they have to give by measure or weight to men give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account? (Quran-83: 1-4).


• Do Not Bribe. Businessmen may sometimes be tempted to offer bribes or baqshish in order to persuade another party to give them special favours or to allow them to get away with dishonest practices. The practice of bribery is forbidden in Islam.


The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribes.


• Deal Justly. The general principle that applies across all transactions including those pertaining to businesses is that of justice or adl. Allah emphasizes this point in the Qur’an:


Deal not unjustly, and you shall not be dealt with unjustly. (Quran:2:279).

(Source: Islamic Business Ethics by Dr. Rafik Issa Beekun)