The Constitution of Morals in the Noble Quran

The Constitution of Morality in the Holy Quran Mohammad Abdullah Darazi This book has a full, large title: "The Constitution of Morality in the Quran... A Comparative Study of Theoretical Morality in the Quran," and a smaller title: "Supplemented by a classification of selected verses that constitute the complete constitution of practical morality." The book came with an introduction and five chapters. The author addressed the topic of the chapter in a general framework before examining it within the Quranic perspective. The introduction included an overall view of the ethical theory as can be derived from the Holy Quran in general, along with a comparative study with some Western philosophical theories. The first chapter, "Obligation," discussed the sources of moral obligation in Islamic law, referring to the Holy Quran, the noble Sunnah, consensus, and analogy, as well as the characteristics of moral duty in Islam. The second chapter, "Responsibility," included an analysis of the general idea of responsibility, the conditions of 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 Quran. The third chapter, "Recompense," addressed the theory of reward in the ethical perspective, linking it with the issue of virtues' goodness and vices' ugliness, before discussing the theory of reward within the legal framework, between positive laws and the Quranic context, which reflects the divine logic of recompense between this world and the hereafter. The fourth chapter, "Intentions and Motives," discussed the intention and the nature of ethical work within the theoretical intellectual framework, and how to achieve the purity of intention. It also covered the concept of bad intentions, whether to harm, evade duty, obtain unlawful gain, or to please people or show off. As usual, these concepts were examined from the perspective of general ethical practice before comparing how the Quran addressed, organized, and dealt with them. The fifth and final chapter, "Effort," addressed the issue of exerting effort, its human value, and its types, including effort in striving, creativity, helping others, as well as patience and giving. It also discussed effort in worship, such as prayer and fasting. In the general conclusion, a comprehensive picture of practical morality as it appears in the verses of the Quran was presented.