The Quran - personal ethics

[Wakas]

http//www.islam-and-muslims.com/Quran-personal-ethics.html
Note may contain some typos.

Excerpt from 'Moral World of The Quran' by M.A Draz

Personal Ethics

1 Commands
General instruction

you can ask those who have knowledge if you do not know. 1643

Moral instruction

Yet it is not right for all the believers to go out (in search of knowledge) together
out of each community, a group should go out to study the religion, so that they
can teach their people when they return . . . 9122

Moral effort

Yet (man) has not attempted the steep path . . . The steep path is to free a slave,
to feed at a time of hunger an orphaned relative . . . 9011-17

But We shall be sure to guide to Our ways those who strive hard for Our cause 29 69

Allah has increased the guidance of those who follow the right path, and given
them their awareness . 4717

The ways you take differ greatly. There is the one who gives, who is mindful of
Allah, who testifies to (the) goodness (of Our Revelation) - We shall smooth his
way towards ease. There is the one who is miserly, who is self-satisfied, who
denies (the) goodness (of the Truth) - We shall smooth his way towards
hardship. 924-10

Allah loves those who seek to purify themselves (both morally and physically). 9108

Purity of the soul

By the soul and how He formed it . . . The one who purifies his soul succeeds and
the one who corrupts it fails. 917-10

Tell them the story of Abraham, when he asked . . . My Lord . . . do not disgrace
me on the Day when all people are resurrected the Day when neither wealth nor
children can help, when the only one who will be saved is the one who comes
before Allah with a heart devoted to Him. 2669-89

But (on the Last Day) Paradise will be brought close to the righteous and will no
longer be distant. (He will say to them) This is what you were promised - this is
for everyone who turned often to Allah and kept Him in mind, who held the Most
Gracious in awe, though He is unseen, who comes before Him with a heart turned
to Him in devotion. 5031-3

Uprightness

your God is One. Take the straight path to Him . . . 416

So keep to the right course as you have been commanded, together with those
who have turned to Allah with you . . . 11112

Chastity, decency and aversion of the gaze

, tell believing men to lower their gaze and master their senses that is
purer for them. Allah is well aware of everything they do. And tell believing
women that they should lower their gaze, master their senses, and not flaunt
their charms beyond what Lit is acceptable] to reveal; they should let their
headscarves fall to cover their necklines and not reveal their charms except to
their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands'
sons, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their womenfolk, their slaves, such
men as attend them who have no sexual desire, or children who are not yet aware
of physical relations; they should not stamp their feet so as to draw attention to
any hidden charms . . . 2430-1

Those who are unable to many should keep chaste until Allah gives to them out
of His bounty . . . 2433

No blame will be attached to elderly women who no longer hope to many, if they
take off their outer garments without flaunting their charms, but it is preferable
for them not to do this . . . 2460

The believers will succeed those who pray humbly, who shun idle talk, who pay
the prescribed alms, who guard their chastity except with their spouses or their
slaves - with these they are not to blame, but anyone who seeks more than this is
exceeding the limits. 23 I 7

Wives of the Prophet do not flaunt your attractions as they used to in the pagan past ...
Allah wishes to keep uncleanness away from you, people of the house, and make you completely pure. 3 332

Restraint of the desires

For he who controls his faculties and restrains his desires, Paradise will be his
home. 7940-1

Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from Allah's path . . . 3826

You who believe . . . Refrain from following your own desire, so that you can act
justly - if you distort or neglect justice, Allah is fully aware of what you do. 4135

Periodical abstention from food and sex

You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those
before you, in order to safeguard your souls (or in order that you may have
piety). Fast for a specific number of days . . . It was in the month of Ramadan
that the Qur'an was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving
guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any one of you who
is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should
make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later . . . fast (from dawn)
until nightfall. Do not lie with your wives during the nights of your devotional
retreat in the mosques these are the bounds set by Allah, so do not go near
them . . . 2183-5, 187

They ask you about menstruation. Say Menstruation is an impure
state, so keep away from women during it. Do not approach them until they are
cleansed . . . 2222

Restraint of anger

(Paradise has been) prepared for the righteous, who give, both in prosperity and
adversity, who restrain their anger and pardon people - Allah loves those who do
good. 3133

Sincerity

You who believe, be mindful ofAllah stand with those who are true. 9119

Believers, be mindful of Allah, speak in a direct fashion and to good purpose. 3370

The one who brings the truth and the one who accepts it as true, they are the
virtuous. 3933

Modesty and gentleness

Go at a moderate pace and lower your voice, for the ugliest of all voices is the
braying of asses. 3119

The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth . . . 2563

Circumspection of judgement

Believers, do not indulge many of your suspicions - some suspicions are sinful. 4912

Believers, if a troublemaker brings you news, verify it first, in case you wrong
others unwittingly and later regret what you have done. 496

So, you who believe, be careful when you go to fight in Allah's way, and do not
say to someone who offers you a greeting of peace You are not a believer - out of
desire for the chance gains of this life . . . be careful Allah is fully aware of what
you do. 494

Forbearance when in doubt

Do not follow blindly what you do not know to be true ears, eyes, and heart, you
will be questioned about all these. 1736

Constancy and endurance

Be constant, enduring, devoted to Allah. 747

So be constant your constancy comes only from Allah.. 16127

You who believe, be constant, more constant than others ... 3200

Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without first having suffered like
those before you? 2214

We tested those who went before them Allah will certainly mark out which ones
are truthful and which are lying. 293

There are some people who say we believe in Allah. But, when they suffer for
His cause, they think that human persecution is as severe as Allah's
punishment . . . 2910

You are sure to be tested through your possessions and persons; you are sure to
hear much that is hurtful from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah. If you are steadfast and mindful
of Allah, that is the best coarse. 3186

We shall certainly test you with fear and hunger, and loss of property, lives, and
crops. But , give good news to those who are steadfast. 2155

Conformity with good examples

Be steadfast , like those messengers of firm resolve. 4635

The Messenger of Allah is an excellent model for those of you who put your hope
in Allah and believe in the Last Day. .. 3321

You who believe, be Allah's helpers. As Jesus, son of Mary, said to the disciples
Who will come with me to help Allah? The disciples said We shall be Allah's
helpers . . . 6114

Keeping to the middle way

, do not be too loud in your prayer, or too quiet, but seek a middle
way. 17110

The servants of the Merciful are those who are neither wasteful nor niggardly
when they spend, but keep to a just balance. 2567

do not be tight-fisted, nor open-handed . . . 1729

He has set the balance. Do not exceed the measure - weigh with justice - and do
not fall short in the balance. 557

Beautiful deeds

It is He who created the heavens and the earth . . . so as to test which of you does
the most beautiful deeds. 117

We have adorned the earth with attractive things so that We may test people to
find out which of them do best. 187

Exalted is He . . . who created death; who created life to test you and
reveal which of you performs best . . . 671-2

Competition to do good

Each community has its own direction to which it turns race to do good
deeds . . . 2148

We have assigned a law and a path to each of you. If Allah had so willed, He
would have made you one community, but He wanted to test you through that
which He has given you, so race to do good (or better) you will all return to Allah
and He will make clear to you the matters you differed about. 548

The ability to listen and choose the best advice

give good news to My servants who listen to what is said and follow
what is best . . . 3917-18

Purity of intention

Whatever charity you give benefits your own soul, provided you do it for the sake
of Allah . . . 2272

There is no good in most of their secret talk, only in commanding charity, or
good, or reconciliation between people. To anyone who does these things, seeking
to please Allah, We shall give a rich reward. 4114

2 Prohibitions
Suicide, self-mutilation and disfiguring one's own body

Do not contribute to your destruction with your own hands.. . 2195

Do not kill each other... 429

there is no altering Allah's creation .. . 3030

`I will mislead them (said Satan) . . . I will command them to slit the ears of
cattle; I will command them to tamper with Allah's creation.' Whoever chooses
Satan as a patron instead of Allah is utterly ruined. 4119

Lying

shun false utterances. 2230

Falsehood is fabricated only by those who do not believe in Allah's revelation
they are the liars. 16105

Hypocrisy

There is man whose views on the life of this world may please you
, he even calls on Allah to witness what is in his heart, yet he is the
bitterest of opponents . . . Hell is enough for him a dreadful resting place. 2204-6

Actions that contradict words

How can you tell people to do what is right and forget to do it yourselves, even
though you recite the Scripture? Have you no sense? 244

You who believe, why do you say things and then do not do them? It is most
hateful to Allah that you say things and then do not do them. 612-3

Greed

those who are saved from their own souls' greed are truly successful. 599

Satan threatens you with the prospect of poverty (so as to dissuade you from
generosity) and commands you to do foul (avaricious) deeds; Allah promises you
His forgiveness and His abundance Allah is limitless and all knowing. 2268

Allah does not like . . those who are avaricious and order other people to be the
same 436-7

Prodigality

do not be prodigal those who squander are the brothers of Satan . . . 1726-7

Ostentation

(Allah does not like those) who spend their wealth to show off . . . 438

So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer; those who show
off 1074-6

Haughty behaviour

and do not walk about the place arrogantly, for Allah does not love arrogant or
boastful people. 3118

Do not strut arrogantly about the earth you cannot break it open, nor match the
mountains in height. 1737

Pride, vanity and arrogance

(Allah) does not love the arrogant. 1623

Have you considered those who claim purity for themselves? No! Allah
purifies whoever He will.. . 449

(Allah) knows you better than anyone. (He has known you from the time of your
origin), from the time He produced you from the earth and from your hiding
places in your mothers' wombs, so do not justify yourselves . . . 5332
Pride in personal power or knowledge

Tell them the parable of two men for one of them We made two gardens of grape
vines, surrounded them with date palms, and put corn fields in between; both
gardens yielded fruit and did not fail in any way; We made a stream flow through
them, and so he had abundant fruit. One day, while talking to his friend, he said
I have more wealth and a larger following than you. He went into his garden and
wronged himself by saying I do not think this will ever perish, or that the last
hour will ever come...His companion retorted Have you no faith in Him who
created you . . . If only, when you entered your garden, you had said This is
Allah's will. There is no power not by Allah. Although you see I have less
wealth and offspring than you, my Lord may well give me something better than
your garden, and send thunderbolts on your garden from the sky, so that it
becomes a heap of barren dust; . . . And so it was his fruit was completely
destroyed, and there he was, wringing his hands over what he had invested in it
. . . and saying I wish I had not set up any partner to my Lord. 1832-42

But (Qarun) answered This wealth was given to me on account of the knowledge
I possess. Did he not know that Allah had destroyed many generations before
him, who had greater power than him and built up greater wealth? . . . 2878

When messengers came to (the powerful ones of antiquity) with clear signs, they
revelled in the knowledge they had, and so they were engulfed by the very
punishment they mocked. 4083

Attachment to this world

Be steadfast along with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening,
seeking His approval, and do not let your eyes turn away from them out of desire
for the attractions of this worldly life . . . 1828

And do not gaze longingly at what We have given some of them to enjoy, the
flowers with which We have adorned the path of this present life We test
them through this, but the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.
20131

Jealousy and covetousness

Why do they envy people for the bounty Allah has granted them? . . . 454

Do not covet what Allah has given to some of you more than others - men have
the portion they have earned and women their portion - you should rather ask
Allah for some of His bounty...432

Pointless regret or excessive rejoicing

you may not grieve for what you missed or for what happened to you. 3153

So you need not grieve for what you miss or rejoice in what you gain. 5723

Debauchery

And do not go anywhere near adultery it is an outrage, and an evil path. 1732

Strike the adulteress and the adulterer one hundred times (with the lash). 242

The use of wine and other impure practices

You who believe, intoxicants and gambling, idolatrous practices, and arrows are repugnant acts - Satan's doing shun them so that you may
prosper. With intoxicants and gambling, Satan seeks only to incite enmity and
hatred among you, and to stop you remembering Allah and prayer. Will you not
give them up? 590-1

(My mercy is ordained for those) who follow the Messenger - the unlettered
Prophet they find described in the Torah that is with them, and in the Gospel -
who commands them to do right and forbids them to do wrong, who makes good
things lawful to them and bad things unlawful . . . 7157

He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, pig's meat, and animals over which any
name other than Allah's has been invoked (during its slaughter) ... 2173

Any moral or physical pollution

Allah loves those who seek to purify themselves. 9108

cleanse yourself; keep away from all filth. 744-5

The use of ill-gotten gains

You who believe, do not wrongfully consume each other's wealth but trade by
mutual consent. 429

Do not consume your property wrongfully, nor use it to bribe judges, intending
sinfully and knowingly to consume parts of other people's property. 2188

But those who take usury will rise up on the Day of Resurrection like someone
tormented by Satan's touch. That is because they say Trade and usury are the
same. But Allah has allowed trade and forbidden usury. Whoever, on receiving
Allah's warning, stops taking usury may keep his past gains - Allah will be his
judge - but whoever goes back to usury will be an inhabitant of the Fire, there
to remain. Allah blights usury, but blesses charitable deeds with multiple
increase . . . 2275-6

if the guardian is well off he should abstain from the orphan's property, and if he
is poor he should use only what is fair . . . 46

Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly are actually swallowing fire
into their own bellies they will burn in the blazing Flame. 410

As for those who conceal the Scripture that Allah sent down and sell it for a
small price, they only fill their bellies with Fire. Allah will not speak to them on
the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them an agonizing torment awaits
them. 2174

do not force your slave-girls into prostitution . . . in your quest for the short-term
gains of this world . . . 2433

Bad management

Do not entrust to the simple-minded any of their property for which Allah has
made you responsible, but provide for them and clothe them out of it . . . 45

3 Authorisations
Moderate use of good things

You who believe, do not forbid the good things Allah has made lawful to you - do
not exceed the limits Allah does not love those who exceed the limits - but eat the
lawful and good things that Allah provides for you. Be mindful of Allah, in whom
you believe. 587-8

You who believe, eat the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to
Allah . . . 2172

Children of Adam, We have given you garments to cover your nakedness - and as
adornment for you; the garment of virtue is the best of all garments . . . 726

Children of Adam, dress well whenever you are at worship, and eat and drink but do not be wasteful Allah does not like wasteful people.
Say Who has forbidden the adornment and the nourishment Allah has
provided for His servants? Say They are given for the benefit of those who
believe during the life of this world they will be theirs alone on the Day of
Resurrection. 731

4 Derogation in times of necessity

Allah has already fully explained what he has forbidden you, except when forced
by hunger . . . 6119

But if anyone is forced to eat such things by hunger, rather than desire or excess, he commits no sin . . . 2173

[diamantinehoneybunch]

And tell believing
women that they should lower their gaze, master their senses, and not flaunt
their charms beyond what Lit is acceptable] to reveal; they should let their headscarves fall to cover their necklines put covers onto their bosoms and not reveal their charms except to
their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands'
sons, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their womenfolk, their slaves, such
men as attend them who have no sexual desire, or children who are not yet aware
of physical relations; they should not stamp their feet so as to draw attention to
any hidden charms

Sick of corrupted translations.

[Existential1]

Salaam,

Thank you Wakas. I'll use this as a reference, but as sister diamantinehoneybunch has noticed, problems with the translation. I'll use it for subject references then go to the source for how to actually interpret the ayat.

peace

[Mazhar]

Sick of corrupted translations.

And you the Messenger pronounce for the Believing Women that they should reduce their focused attention upon men and that they should preserve their genitalia .
And that they should not make eminently noticeable their attraction-bosoms; exception is for that which has naturally swelled out above the surface.
However, they should strike barrier obscuring their surfaced bosoms by putting their unsown sheets upon their chests.
And they should not expose-make noticeable their attraction-bosoms by removing extra veil/sheet except before their husbands;
Or before their fathers, or fathers of their husbands; or their sons or sons from other wives of their husbands;
Or their brothers, or sons of their brothers, or sons of their sisters;
Or their own-family women ; or maid servants under their control and obligation;
Or male attendants who are "the other than of holders of genitalia desiring for marriage-castrated" considered in state of amongst the Men;
Or the children, those who have not yet become aware-explicitly cognizant regarding the "private sexual parts/aspects" of the women.
And they-women should not strike with their feet whereby that might become known which they conceal of their attraction-bosoms.
And you people are directed to turn repenting towards Allah the Exalted collectively, O you the true Believers.
The objective being that you people might attain and reap the fruit of perpetual success.

[JavaLatte]

And you the Messenger pronounce for the Believing Women that they should reduce their focused attention upon men and that they should preserve their genitalia .

Bold confused

Perhaps the above understanding is more suitable for many of men?

The men should reduce their focused attention upon women and that they should preserve their genitalia .

Peace.

[Mazhar]

Bold confused

Perhaps the above understanding is more suitable for many of men?

The men should reduce their focused attention upon women and that they should preserve their genitalia .

Peace.

Men are given the same advice earlier in 2430. However, "Killing eye" is usually related to women gaze.