Guiding principles of life

GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF LIFE

Summarized here are the commandments of God in the Holy Quran into 40 principles.... The numbers in brackets refer to some of the holy verses stating each principle.

1. Believe in God, live righteously and put your whole trust in Him. (2:62, 112; 3:31; 11:123)

2. Worship God alone and do not associate Him with anyone or anything else. (17:22-23)

3. Respect and honour your parents. (17:23-24)

4. Enjoin good and forbid evil. (3:104)

5. Love God above everything else and fight in His cause, i.e. the cause of justice and truth, with your wealth and your lives, and do not fear mankind, but fear God. (9:24; 4:74-75; 9:111; 98:5; 22:67; 5:44; 33:37,39)

6. Perform prayers and other rites of worship, without quarrelling over methodology, pay the poor-rate, and remember God always. (98:5; 22:67; 29:45)

7. Act justly, do not commit evil and rule according to God's laws, i.e. justice, truth and mercy. (4:58, 135; 5:8; 7:28-29; 5:44)

8. Obey just leaders, respect, honour and support them, but do not idolize them. In turn, leaders must care for and encourage their followers. (4:59; 33:56; 9:30-31; 9:103)

9. Be an active, dynamic, creative and courageous person. (2:30-34; 4:75-77; 15:28-30)

10. Practise humility and do not be egoistic or proud. (2:54; 25:43; 17:37)

11. Greet all, treat everyone with civility and do not use bad language. (4:86; 2:83; 4:184)

12. Hold firmly to principles, but be flexible in methods. (2:67-71, 142; 3:103; 5:54; 22:67)

13. Put moral considerations uppermost, but do not disregard your due material interests. (28:77)

14. Save lives and do not kill except in the cause of justice. (17:33)

15. Do not kill for fear of poverty. (17:31)

16. Do not practice usury, but practice charity. (2:275-80)

17. Be honest and fair in financial and economic dealings. (6:152)

18. Practise consultations to solve problems. (3:159; 42:38)

19. Do not accept unverified information. (17:36)

20. Listen to all views and follow the best. (39:18)

21. Read in order to know, but read critically. (96:1-5)

22. Unite and do not divide. (3:103; 6:159; 61:4)

23. Fulfill promises. (17:34)

24. Do not practice bribery and corruption. (2:188)

25. Do not devour the properties of orphans. (17:34)

26. Do not be extravagant and wasteful, or stingy. (17:26-29)

27. Give charities to relatives, the poor and destitute and towards public welfare. (9:60; 17:26)

28. Do not aggress and defend yourself against aggression. (7:33; 42:39)

29. Believers are brothers and make peace between believers. Avoid suspicion, spying and backbiting among believers. (49:9-10, 12)

30. Persevere in any good effort and do not fear to face difficulties and hardships. Success comes only after hardships. ( 2:45, 177; 94: 5-8)

31. Use intelligence, reason and historical precedents to understand and carry out God's commands. (7:179; 8:22; 10:100; 12:111; 3:137)

32. Speak the truth. Do not lie, although stratagem is allowed against adversaries. (8:7-8; 25:72; 33:70;12:70-81)

33. Enter into marriage with believers, do not marry disbelievers, and do not commit adultery. (5:5; 30:21; 17:32)

34. Cooperate and help each other in good works; do not cooperate in evil works. (5:2)

35. Eat and drink moderately (7:31)

36. Avoid intoxicants and gambling. ( 2:219)

37. Dress decently. (24:30-31)

38. Be kind and forgiving. (42:40, 43)

39. Do not ridicule or mock one another. (49:11)

40. Do not ask about small and inconsequential details. (2:67-71; 5:101-02; 22:67)

Back

Updated Sunday, August 05, 2001