islamic moral
Jul 11, 2008
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METHOD OF PIETY AND EVIL
Question:
What are morals?
Answer:
Morals are of two kinds:
1-Morals relating to the heart.
2-Morals relating to organs of the body.
Question:
Give an example for each kind of morals.
Answer:
Morals relating to heart like tenderness of heart and jealousy, and orals relating to body organs like truthfulness and lying.
Question:
Morals, as a whole, may be divided into how many kinds?
Answer:
Morals, on the whole may be divided into two kinds:
Good moral traits which are called “virtues” and whose existence in man is desirable and pleasing.
Bad moral traits which are called “vices” and whose existence in man is bad and ugly.
Question:
What is man’s responsibility as regards morals?
Answer:
Man is charged with adorning himself with “virtues” and to seek to distance himself from “vices”, for virtues are perfection and viced are defect and deficient. Man, on the basis of his nature, desires and seeks perfection, and always wants to distance himself from defects and deficiencies.
Question:
Does the possibility exist for man to adorn himself with virtues and seek distance from vices?
Answer:
Yes, this is possible for man, for man’s soul is like a white and clean sheet which is receptable to any colour. The only thing is that it is very difficult to tame the soul, and particularly in virtues it requires continuous vigilance. Ample repetition should not be spared until the exalted quality becomes inherent in him or reaches such a fixed and constant state whereby as a result, automatically and without any hardship, it becomes the creator of goodness.
For soul in the acceptance of morals is similar to the instruction of industry and knowledge. Just as in industry man needs teaching, perseverance and employment of techniques till he becomes an artisan who automatically and without difficulty can perform the work, similarly in the acceptance of morals also he needs practice, perseverance and constancy.
Question:
Give an example of this matter.
Answer:
For example: if someone wants to be “Truthful” he should tirelessly make an effort to definitely speak nothing but the truth, and should repeat this difficult task many times till at the end truthfulness becomes his want and, similarly in other qualities. Of course good qualities are harder and more tiresome for the soul of man.
Written by: Ayatollah al-Odhmaa Shirazi
Translated by: J. Feridoonie
