Abstract
The ethical system in Islam is presented in light of Shariah – the Islamic social/legal system. According to Islam, whatever leads to welfare of the individual or society is morally good and whatever is injurious is morally bad. The ethical system prescribed in Islam is eternally divine and forms the foundation of an Islamic society. Islamic ethics prescribe its followers to zealously guard their behavior, words, thoughts, and intentions and observe certain norms and moral codes in their family affairs; in dealings with relatives, neighbors, and friends; in their business transactions; in their social affairs; and in private and public life. The unique feature of the Islamic ethical system is that it permeates all spheres and fields of human life. Islam also has its own distinctive value-based ethical system for business dealings. It prescribes certain specific guidelines governing business ethics, which are dictated primarily by the notion of halal (lawful or permitted) and haram (unlawful or prohibited) as per Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). This chapter explores the ethical system in Islam, which is essentially a reflection of the divine commandments and guideline for the right and wrong and enumerates the general ethical rules of business conduct.
Notes
- 1.
Abbreviations: PBUH peace be upon him, TME the most exalted.
References
Qur’an (610–632 A.D.–Revealed during this period) English translation of the meanings and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Revised and Edited by: The Presidency of Islamic Researches, IFTA, Call and Guidance, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an, Sura Al Israa-17:35
Nash L (1989) Ethics without the Sermon. In: Andrews K, Kay D (eds) Ethics in practice: managing the moral corporation. Harvard Business School Press, Boston, pp 243–257
Al Hadith (n.d.). CD-ROM (electronic copy), Cairo: Global Islamic Software, Sahih Bukhari, 1.56
Qur’an, Sura Al-i-Imran-3:110
Commentary in the Qur’an - interpreting the above verse, p 173
Beauchamp TL, Bowie NE (eds) (1997) Ethical theory and business. Upper Saddle River, Prentice Hall
Cadbury AS (1991) Ethical managers make their own rules. In: Ethics at work, Harvard business review. Boston: Harvard University, pp 3–9
De George RT (1986) Theological ethics and business ethics. J Bus Ethics 5:421–432
Goodpaster K (1991) Business ethics and stakeholder analysis. Bus Ethics Quart 1:53–73
Kung H (1998) A global ethic for global politics and economics. Oxford University Press, New York
Qur’an, Sura Al Qalam-68:4
Asad M (1980) Message of the Qur’an. Redwood, Melksham
Qur’an, Sura Al-i-Imran-3:104
Qur’an, Sura An Nisaa-4:29–30
Commentary in the Qur’an, p 217
Majid F (1991) Ethical theories in Islam. E.J. Brill, Leiden
Jabir al ‘Alwani T (1995) The Islamization of knowledge: yesterday and today (translation into English: Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo). International Institute of Islamic Thought, Hendon, Virginia
Badawi J (2000) Islamic teachings. Package II, series F, Halifax
Qur’an, Sura Al Baqarah-2:275
Al Kaysi MI (1989) Morals and manners in Islam. The Islamic Foundation, Leicester
Al Qaradawi Y (2002) The lawful and the prohibited in Islam. American Trust, Indianapolis
Institute of Medicine (1996) Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS): diagnosis, epidemiology, prevention, and treatment. National Academy Press, Washington, DC
Kesmodel U (2002) Moderate alcohol intake during pregnancy and the risk of stillbirth and death in the first year of life. Am J Epidemiol 155(4):305–312
Qur’an, Sura Al A’raf-7:33
Commentary in the Qur’an, p 405
Qur’an, Sura Yunus-10:59
Qur’an, Sura Al Maidah-5:87
Kung H (1993) Global responsibility: in search of a new world ethic. Continuum, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Mohammed, J.A. (2013). The Ethical System in Islam – Implications for Business Practices. In: Luetge, C. (eds) Handbook of the Philosophical Foundations of Business Ethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1494-6_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1494-6_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-1493-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-1494-6
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law