• It ensures justice and harmony between individuals

• It promotes sharing and caring in society.

By setting Divine pleasure as the objective of man’s   life, Islam has set the highest possible standard of morality providing   boundless possibilities for the moral evolution of humanity. “Good and evil   are not equal – Repel (evil) with what is better…” (61:34) The Qur’an exhorts   believers to foil hatred with love. This is the moral standard set by the   Qur’an. The love and fear of Allah become the real motives, which impel man   to obey the moral law without external pressures. Through belief in Allah and   the Day of Judgment, we are motivated to behave morally with earnestness and   sincerity.

Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam has said: “My Cherisher   has ordered me to do nine things: To fear Him in public and in private; to   speak justly both when happy and when angry; to be moderate in expenditure in   times of affluence and poverty; to foster ties with those who severe them; to   give to one who withholds from me; to forgive one who oppresses me; and that   my silence should be a means of contemplation; my speech (should the)   remembrance of Allah and that I should command people with doing good.”   (Mishkaat)

The nine principles mentioned in this hadith serve as the   basis and benchmark for morality in Islam. They are:

1. To   fear Allah in public and in private: To   avoid false pretence in public and indecent behaviour in private.

2.   To speak justly in times of happiness and anger: Emotion should not sway you to unfair rant in times of anger   or to dishonest flattery in times of happiness.

3. To   be moderate in expenditure in times of prosperity and poverty: Prosperity should not drive you to extravagance nor should   poverty make you miserly.

4. To   foster ties with those who severe them:   Do not be a reactionary being that simply treats people as they treat him.

5. To   give to those who hold back: Give not   because they deserve but because you need to receive the Mercy of Allah.

6. To   forgive those that wrong you: To forgive   is the highest and most beautiful form of giving… not of your possessions but   of yourself.

7. Spend   moments of silence in reflection:   Reflection is the tongue of the heart and the soul of the spirit.

8. Speak   with the remembrance of Allah: Nothing   can soften the hardness of the heart like the remembrance of Allah.

9.   Command people to do good: Motivation   creates confidence and confidence inspires change.

We can only infuse these nine teachings into our lives if   we have sincerity of purpose. Our relationship with people should not be   based on their relationship with us but on our relationship with Allah. The   power of intention helps us to rise above a secular relationship…a   tit-for-tat relationship where you do good only if others do the same.

Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “Do not be a people   without a will of your own saying: If others treat us well we will also treat   them well and if they do wrong we will (also) do wrong; but accustom   yourselves to do good when people are good to you and do not do wrong if they   do harm (to you).” (Tirmidhi)

Sayyiduan Ibn Umar (R.A) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallâhu alaihi   wasallam) said: ‘Teach your sons swimming and archery and teach your   daughters sewing’. Bayhaqi

• ‘A’isha radhiyallahu anha said, “A woman came to me who had two of her   daughters with her. She asked me for something, but I could not find anything   except for a single date which I gave her. She divided it between her   daughters and then got up and left. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam   came in and I told him what had happened. He said, “Whoever looks after these   girls in any way and is good to them will have them as a veil from the Fire.”

• Umm Sa‘id bint Murra al-Fihri radhiyallahu anhu related from her father   that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “I and the guardian of an   orphan will be in Jannahlike these two.” (His two fingers)

• Al-Hasan radhiyallahu anhu reported that an orphan used to eat with Ibn   ‘Umar radhiyallahu anhu. One day he called for food and looked for this   orphan but could not find him. He arrived after Ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu anhu   had finished. Ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu anhu called for more food to be brought   to him but they did not have any. So he was brought sawiq (barley) and honey.   He said, “Here, have this! By Allah, you have not been cheated!” Al-Hasan   said, “By Allah, Ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu anhu was not cheated!”

• Sahl ibn Sa‘d radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi   wasallam said, “I and the guardian of the orphan will be in Jannah0 like   that,” indicating his forefinger and middle finger.

• Abu Bakr ibn Hafs radhiyallahu anhu reported that ‘Abdullah radhiyallahu   anhu would not eat unless an orphan was at his table.

• Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi   wasallam said, “The best house among the Muslims is the house in which   orphans are well treated. The worst house among the Muslims is the house in   which orphans are ill treated. I and the guardian of the orphan will be in   Jannah like that,” indicating his two fingers.

• Dawud alayhis salaam said, “Be like a merciful father towards the orphan.   Know that you will reap as you sow. How ugly poverty is after wealth! More   than that: how ugly is misguidance after guidance! When you make a promise to   your friend, fulfil your promise. If you do not, it will bring about enmity   between you and him. Seek refuge in Allah from a companion who, when you   mention something to him, does not help you and who does not remind you when   you forget.”

• Al-Hasan radhiyallahu anhu said, “I remember a time among the Muslims when   their men would shout (to remind their families), “O family! O family! (Look   after) your orphan! Your orphan! O family! O family! (Look after) your   orphan! Your poor person! Your poor person! O family! O family! (Look after)   your neighbour! Your neighbour!” Time has been swift in taking the best of   you while every day you become baser.”

• Asma’ bint ‘Ubayd said, “I said to Ibn Sirin, “I have an orphan in my   care.” He said, “Treat him as you would treat your own child. Beat him as you   would beat your own child.”

• ‘Awf ibn Malik radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi   wasallam said, “I and a woman who is widowed and is patient with her child   will be like these two fingers in Jannah.”

• Shumaysa al-‘Atakiyya radhiyallahu anha said, “The disciplining of orphans   was mentioned in the presence of ‘A’isha radhiyallahu anha and she said, “I   would reprimand an orphan until he submits.”

(The above mentioned narrations are quoted from Adabul Mufrad – Bukhari)