Ilm al-Akhlaq al-Islamiyya
- Author died
- 1442 AH
- Editions
- Dār ‘Ālam al-Kutub lil-Ṭibā‘ah wal-Nashr
Ilm al-Akhlaq al-Islamiyya (The Science of Islamic Ethics) is a treatise on Islamic ethical philosophy and education by the Turkish scholar and university professor Miqdad Yaljan (1356–1442 AH / 1937–2020 CE), examining the theoretical foundations, moral responsibilities, and practical criteria of ethics in Islam .
Background and Motivation
Yaljan devoted eight continuous years of research to the study of ethics before entering marital and occupational life . He was driven to compose the work after observing societal corruption and administrative infractions—including bribery, favoritism, fraud, embezzlement, and moral deviations in government departments and educational institutions—which he diagnosed as stemming fundamentally from moral deficiencies . He sought to address Islamic ethics directly through Islamic textual sources rather than through purely speculative philosophical schools, noting that the topic had not received sufficient academic and educational treatment compared to other Islamic disciplines .
Methodology and Objectives
The work combines a descriptive-analytical approach with Islamic textual deduction (manhaj al-istinbat al-Islami) . It is arranged thematically rather than alphabetically to serve instructional purposes and educational curricula, concluding with an alphabetical subject index to aid reference .
The primary objectives articulated in the study include elucidating the nature of Islamic moral values, highlighting their comprehensive reach across individual and social conduct, articulating objective criteria for evaluating human behavior, demonstrating the enduring stability of Islamic ethical norms over against shifting social customs, and cementing the foundational link between Islamic creed (aqida) and moral values .
Structure and Content
The book opens with an introduction on its methodology, followed by three main parts (abwab) and a conclusion :
- Part One: The Science of Islamic Ethics: Its Purpose, Domains, and Necessity (Ilm al-Akhlaq al-Islamiyya: Ghayatuhu, Majalatuhu, Mada Daruratih): Spanning four chapters, this section defines the concepts of science, general ethics, and Islamic ethics; reviews spiritual, rational, and material theories regarding the purpose of ethics before articulating the Islamic position; outlines the domains of ethics; and assesses the necessity of ethical science for human life .
- Part Two: The Foundations of Ethics in Islam (Usus al-Akhlaq fi Nazar al-Islam): Spanning seven chapters, this part examines the metaphysical and creedal foundations of morality; the realistic and scientific bases that balance idealism and natural laws; the relationship between human nature and ethics; moral freedom of will; moral obligation (al-ilzam) and commitment (al-iltizam); dimensions of moral responsibility; and the types of moral recompense (al-jaza'), categorized as divine, conscientious (wijdani), natural, and social .
- Part Three: Moral Values and Their Criteria in Islam (al-Qiyam al-Akhlaqiyya wa Ma'ayiruha fi al-Islam): Divided into three chapters, this part addresses general philosophical trends in moral standards, distinguishing between objective and subjective Islamic criteria; investigates the definition and practical necessity of moral values; and analyzes ethical values in relation to the individual, society, and specialized vocational spheres .
The book closes with an overview of principal findings and recommendations, accompanied by indices of hadith narrations, biographical names, and subjects .
Publication
The work was published in Riyadh by Dar 'Alam al-Kutub, reaching a second edition in 1424 AH (c. 2003 CE) .
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