Islam: The Religion of Moral Values

✒ Mujeebur Rahman Swalahi

7 October 2026, 26 Rabi' al-Thani 1448 AH

Islam calls upon us to transform relationships from burdens into beautiful and meaningful experiences. Mere outwardly attractive philosophies are not enough for this; values rooted in firm, enduring, life-oriented, and flawless faith are essential. Mere sets of laws cannot empower a person to become cultured and civilized. One of the most important things that distinguishes Islam from other philosophies is that it clothes every aspect of life in the armour of morality. No sphere, whether personal, social, political, or economic, is exempt from it.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “I have been sent only to perfect noble qualities of character.” (Bayhaqi)

Religion is not merely a collection of rituals. Worship itself becomes meaningful and alive only when it influences one’s character. Worship that creates no impact on one’s life becomes nothing more than a ritual, and prayer becomes merely a sound emerging from between the teeth. Regarding Salah, one of the most important acts of worship in Islam, Allah says: “Indeed, mankind was created anxious. When evil touches him, he is impatient, and when good touches him, he is withholding, except those who pray.” (Qur’an 70:19-22)

The above verses clearly highlight how broad the circle of transformation brought about by Salah can be in the life of a person who observes it consistently and properly. They also make it clear that Salah influences a believer even in the economic sphere. A distinctive feature of Islamic law is that it is centred on humanity. Islam considers violating human values and rights to be an extremely serious offence. Islam grants everyone dignity simply on the basis of being human, regardless of language, land, or colour. “Indeed, We have honoured the children of Adam, carried them on the land and sea, provided them with good things, and favoured them greatly over many of those We created.” (Qur’an 17:70)

The signs of this honour are extensive: the ability to distinguish right from wrong, knowledge, the sending of messengers, the revelation of scriptures, and much more.

It is precisely the moral dimension of Islam that became a means for its widespread acceptance. Islam spread throughout the world not through the sword, but through morality and exemplary living, overcoming the sword through the strength of character. It is an objective fact that swords had no role in the spread of Islam, including in Kerala. We have fought against many foreign powers. History does not say that we fought against the Arabs. This is because they won the hearts of people not through the sharpness of weapons, but through the strength of morality and exemplary living.

When moral values disappear, a person becomes one with a heart devoid of compassion. A person who has lost moral consciousness will have no hesitation in building a palace over the skull of a poor person or enslaving fellow human beings.

Such a person will continue down the path of deviation until reaching the lowest point of degradation. An example of how far those who assign no importance to moral values can descend is found in the following words written by a person from Kerala’s literary field, who once criticised those who opposed a beauty contest held in Kochi:

“Birds and animals go about displaying their natural beauty without clothes. No one objects to it. Intellectually, they are far superior to human beings. Yet if a girl happens to walk around showing her ankles, she is labelled immoral. This contradiction can be seen only among human beings...”

He had also once openly written, “I like liquor and honey.” What else could be the primary factor that drives such people to regard human beings endowed with the ability to reason and animals devoid of such ability as equals, other than an extraordinary contempt for morality and good conduct?

The degradation that takes place in the absence of morality cannot be measured by any material instrument. Scientific discoveries can become a source of harm. Knowledge acquires its true value only when, alongside learning the scientific properties of water, one also learns the moral lesson that it should be given to a thirsty person.

Rules are essential for making life comfortable and peaceful. Islam gives due consideration to all of humanity’s legitimate rights. It places great emphasis on protecting life, property, and honour. We find that the Prophet ﷺ emphasised this to the believers in his famous Farewell Sermon.

Unjustly taking a human life is included among the major sins. When a Companion asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the major sins, he mentioned “unlawfully killing a person.” (Bukhari) Taking one’s own life is also a grave sin. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever throws himself from a mountain and commits suicide will continue falling into the Fire of Hell forever. Whoever kills himself by drinking poison will continue drinking it in the Fire of Hell. And whoever kills himself with a weapon will continue stabbing himself in the abdomen with that weapon in the Fire of Hell.” (Bukhari)

Life is a gift from our Lord. No one has the right to endanger or destroy it. Intimidating people, harming their dignity, and physically hurting them have all been strongly prohibited. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah will punish those who torment people in this world.” (Muslim) By using the general expression “people,” the Prophet taught that no human being should be harmed.