Abdolrahim Soleimani's Lecture Series: Ethics in Islamic Thought

The lecture series “Ethics in Islamic Thought” consists of sessions taught by Dr. Abdolrahim Soleimani as part of an undergraduate course unit. .

---

.

Session One – Ethics in Islamic Thought

Abdolrahim Soleimani – 18 October 2016 – Mofid University The necessity of not considering oneself superior to any other person! We only judge people’s actions, not their character. The relationship between the agent’s action and the goodness or badness of the deed is one of generality and specificity in some respects... According to Muslim scholars, knowledge of an action is not equivalent to a good deed...

The spirit governing human rights is entirely consistent with Islam. The preamble of human rights is based on the inherent dignity of the human being. “Seek an excuse for your brother, and if you find no excuse for him, then make an excuse for him”: Interpret your brother’s conduct in the best possible light until you have no way to justify it!

.

---

.

Session Two – Ethics in Islamic Thought

Abdolrahim Soleimani – 25 October 2016 – Mofid University

The place of ethics in Islam. The spirit governing human rights is entirely consistent with Islam. The preamble of human rights is based on the inherent dignity of the human being. “Seek an excuse for your brother, and if you find no excuse for him, then make an excuse for him”: Interpret your brother’s conduct in the best possible light until you have no way to justify it!

.

---

.

Session Three – Ethics in Islamic Thought

Abdolrahim Soleimani – Mofid University

Is ethics essential to religion or accidental to it? If we take ethics away from the religion of Islam, does Islam still remain or not? A question for Dr. Soroush: Do you consider the body of jurisprudence accidental to religion, or do you also consider the spirit of jurisprudence accidental to religion? The specific and general meanings of Sharia? Are social matters also legislated by God?! Jurisprudence is responsible for the body of worship... “I was only sent to perfect noble traits of character...” “Adhere to noble traits of character, for I was sent with them...” The professor: I believe that religion is nothing but ethics, and not merely that the spirit of religion is ethics. By what should being a Muslim be measured? What is meant by truthfulness in speech? If religion is the program for human salvation, then whatever has no relation to my salvation is not religion.

.

---

.

Session Four – Ethics in Islamic Thought

Abdolrahim Soleimani – 8 November 2016 – Mofid University

The ranks of being a Shi‘a: ritualistic, doctrinal, practical, and existential-faithful Even doctrinal beliefs and actions are the path, not the destination! Jurisprudence has two parts: the human relationship with God and the human relationship with other humans. In the part concerning the human relationship with other humans, the goal of jurisprudence is the implementation of justice. In this sense, one who does not act upon this jurisprudence is not morally cultivated either! Although even if one does act upon it, they may or may not be ethical! Follow the best of what has been sent down to you! At every moment of life, numerous commands from God are directed at us. The subtlety of religiosity lies in being able to choose the best at every moment. The Prophet’s outward and inward dimensions jointly construct religion; religion takes shape through the dialogue between these two. Creation is God’s dependents; the nearest of them to God is the most beneficial to His dependents! Islam seeks to build human beings through models and exemplars. Religion can only be advanced through the instrument of ethics! So by mercy from God, you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude and hard-hearted, they would have disbanded from around you! In the Qur’an’s ranking of the religions of the Hijaz, the criterion for their superiority over one another is ethics, not doctrines! You will surely find the most intense of people in animosity toward the believers to be the Jews and those who associate others with God; and you will surely find the nearest of them in affection to the believers to be those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant!! (Al-Ma’idah: 82) Adorn yourselves with the character traits of God! Become divine! The greatest perfections for a human being are to possess divine ethics...

.

---

.

Session Five - Ethics in Islamic Thought

Abdolrahim Soleimani - 22 November 2016 - Mofid University

The Nature of Ethics and the Nature of Moral Philosophy

.

---

.

Session Six - Ethics in Islamic Thought

Abdolrahim Soleimani - 6 December 2016 - Mofid University

Moral Concepts: Their Nature and Origin

.

---

.

Session Seven - Ethics in Islamic Thought

Abdolrahim Soleimani - 13 December 2016 - Mofid University

Ethics and Innate Nature

.

To be continued...

.

---

.