Topic 3 of 3Pearson EdExcel

Islamic Ethics & Society

Moral principles, rights and responsibilities in Islam

Sources of Islamic ethics: Quran (primary), Sunnah/Hadith (secondary), Ijma (scholarly consensus), Qiyas (analogical reasoning).

Key moral principles:

Tawakkul (trust in Allah) — doing your best then relying on Allah's plan

Adl (justice) — fair treatment, rights of all

Ihsan (excellence/doing good beautifully) — doing more than the minimum

Rahma (mercy) — compassion, especially to the weak

Rights and responsibilities:

Rights of parents: Obedience, care in old age, honouring them — major emphasis in Quran and Sunnah

Rights of neighbours: 40 houses in every direction (Hadith). Don't harm, help in need.

Rights of animals: Not to overburden, provide food/water, no cruelty. Prophet ﷺ spoke of a woman entering Hell for imprisoning a cat.

Social responsibility: Zakat (2.5% of savings for poor), Sadaqah (voluntary charity)

Business ethics: No riba (interest), no deception, fair weights, fulfilment of contracts, no exploitation.

Environmental stewardship (Khilafah): Humans are trustees (khalifah) of the Earth. Forbidden to cause fasad (corruption/destruction). Sustainability is an Islamic obligation.

Key Points to Remember

1Quran + Sunnah + Ijma + Qiyas = sources of Islamic ethics
2Adl (justice), Ihsan (excellence), Rahma (mercy) are core principles
3Rights: parents, neighbours, animals — all detailed in Quran and Sunnah
4Khilafah: humans as trustees of the Earth — environmental responsibility

Pakistan Example

Islamic Finance in Pakistan — No Riba in Action

Pakistan's Islamic banking sector holds over Rs. 7 trillion in assets (2024), with banks like Meezan Bank operating fully on Shariah-compliant principles — no riba (interest). Instead of charging interest on loans, they use murabaha (cost-plus-profit) and diminishing musharakah (shared ownership). This is Islamic business ethics from EdExcel Islamic Studies operating at national banking scale. The Zakat deduction system is also government-administered in Pakistan.

Quick Revision Infographic

Islamic Studies — Quick Revision