THE HOLY QURAN A GUIDING SOURCE OF MORALITY AND ETHICS

Abstract

Morality and moral values are phenomena that are universally applicable to all humans. Basic moral values are accepted by all humans universally, regardless of their religion, race, or the region that they live in. It is morality which makes human beings distinct from other living beings. Morality guarantees harmony in society and the absence of morality brings society to the verge of chaos and disharmony. Immoral societies are the most vulnerable ones to disintegration and division. This is the very reason why all religions have stressed the importance of morality and there have been many religious leaders and great philosophers who have urged on adopting moral values. One would believe that the Quran, being the holy book of Muslims, is supposed to contain teachings about Islamic rituals or jurisprudential problems, but that is not the case. The Quran is a book that addresses human beings in general, and not just Muslims. The abundance of moral teachings mentioned in it are proof that it addresses all of mankind and is a universal book, rather than a book solely for Muslims. The moral values mentioned in the Quran are pertaining to almost all aspects of life, ranging from modesty in walking to honesty in business, from being kind & dutiful to parents to taking care of animals and plants, and from being good to neighbors to treating wives well. This brief paper focuses on moral values of the Quran which are guidelines for the whole of humanity irrespective of religion or ethnicity.