The Moral Code in the Quran

A Comparative Study of Theoretical Ethics in the Quran

Author: Mohammed Abdullah Draz

This book bears a complete and extensive title: "The Moral Code in the Quran… A Comparative Study of Theoretical Ethics in the Quran," and a shorter title: "An Appendix Including a Classification of Selected Verses that Form the Complete Code of Practical Ethics." The book is a translation, completed in 1950, of the dissertation for which the late Islamic thinker, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Draz, earned his Doctorat d'État from the Sorbonne in France in 1950. It was translated, annotated, and its texts verified by Dr. Abd al-Sabour Shaheen, and reviewed by Dr. Sayed Mohammed Badawi. This Arabic translation was published by "Mu'assasat al-Risala" and "Dar al-Buhuth al-Ilmiyah," comprising 816 pages. The book is structured into an introduction and five chapters. In each chapter, the author addressed the topic within a general framework before examining it through the lens of Quranic perspective. The author's introduction provided a general overview of ethical theory as it can be extracted from the Holy Quran in general, along with a comparative study with some Western philosophical theories. The first chapter of the book, "Obligation," discussed the sources of moral obligation in Islamic law, including the Holy Quran, the noble Sunnah of the Prophet, consensus (Ijma'), and analogical reasoning (Qiyas), as well as the characteristics of moral accountability in Islam. The second chapter, "Responsibility," included an analysis of the general concept of responsibility, the conditions for moral and religious responsibility, the personal nature of responsibility, the legal basis, freedom, and the social aspect of responsibility, before applying these concepts to the Holy Quran. The third chapter, "Recompense," discussed the theory of recompense from a moral perspective, linking it with the issue of the merits of virtue and the ugliness of vice. It then addressed the theory of recompense within a legal framework, comparing positive laws with the Quranic context that reflects the logic of divine recompense between this world and the afterlife. The fourth chapter, "Intention and Motives," explored intention and the nature of moral action within a theoretical intellectual framework, and how to achieve sincerity of intention. It also discussed the concept of bad intentions, whether for harm, evasion of duty, illicit gain, or seeking people's approval or hypocrisy. The fourth chapter, "Intention and Motives," discussed intention and the nature of moral action within a theoretical intellectual framework, and how to achieve sincerity of intention. It also discussed the concept of bad intentions, whether for harm, evasion of duty, illicit gain, or seeking people's approval or hypocrisy. As is customary, these concepts were discussed from the perspective of general moral practice, before being compared with how the Holy Quran addressed and regulated them. The fifth and final chapter, "Effort," tackled the issue of exerting effort, its human value, and its types, including effort in interaction, creative effort, helping others, as well as effort in patience and giving. It also discussed effort within the context of worship, such as prayer and fasting. In the general conclusion, a comprehensive picture of practical ethics as presented in the verses of the Holy Quran was provided.