Measuring good conduct

In one of my recent public engagements I was asked if there was any criterion in Islam by which we can distinguish right from wrong, or should one leave such matters to a persons’ personal judgement and privately held values; is there a yardstick for people to refer to?

Making the decision as to what is right or wrong is an integral part of our daily life and a means by which we judge ourselves and others. We either seek peace and reconciliation or we dwell on prejudice and injustice. We make friendship and develop loving bonds or we reject people and their values.

It is, therefore, extremely important for people to seek to measure their judgement if they are to avoid committing grave acts of injustice and thereby, possibly, endanger other’s lives.

This is about measuring personal conduct and not making a decision solely by claiming it to be in the public interest.

In answer to the query, I remembered a hadith, a saying of the Prophet Mohammad, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, in which a companion of his, Nawaas ibn Sam`aan, asked him a question. According to Nawaas, he asked the Prophet: ‘what are righteousness and wrongdoing?’ the prophet replied saying: ‘righteousness is good character, and wrongdoing is what is troublesome to your chest and of which you dislike people becoming aware.

A righteous act is a good deed carried out with a clear mind and fair values. Islam places a heavy emphasis on good character and makes it equivalent to righteous conduct; an act attracting reward in the Sight of God. Indeed, in another saying by the Prophet, he replies to a question he was asked: ‘what will most entitle people to gain entry into Paradise?’ He said: ‘the consciousness of God and a good character’.

The Prophet’s definition of a wrongdoing or a sinful act, characterising it as ‘troublesome in the chest’ and ‘hiding it from public view’ clearly demonstrates the dissatisfaction and a wavering attitude in one’s judgement. Such acts are never friendly to fellow human beings and lay bare the hypocritical nature of one’s’ character.

A good character is not a random trait which can be cleverly managed and skilfully practised, both in public and private. It is the purity of a person’s nature which produces it and translates it through good thoughts into a good character. Ultimately it results in the steady thinking and straightforward character that defines someone as righteous.

What will help to produce that pure nature? Well, in my opinion, it can only be achieved by possessing a clear conscience and unprejudiced mind; one which does not entertain any kind of malice, arrogance, greed or superficial superiority. In addition it clearly requires a caring heart.