Illuminated by Divine Light: The Moral Framework of Islam
By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam
28 April 2025
Introduction
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a niche, and within it a lamp… Light upon Light.”
— Surah An-Nur, 24:35
Deen-e-Islam, or the "Way of Life in Islam," is best understood as the "moral path"—a life lived in alignment with divinely ordained moral principles.
The Quran refers to this path as the Sirat al-Mustaqeem, the Straight Path, a path guided by justice, compassion, accountability, and submission to Allah. These principles may be explicit in the Quranic text or subtly conveyed through context, language, and narrative.
What sets the Quran apart is its unparalleled mastery in teaching this moral way of life at multiple levels:
1. Moral Clarity – Foundational principles are conveyed with lucidity.
2. Psychological Mastery – Concepts are reinforced through the use of vivid imagery, repetition, analogy, and priming that appeal to human psychology.
3. Linguistic Excellence – The literary beauty itself reinforces moral conviction.
4. Theological Framework (the metaphor of the niche in 24:35) – All moral instruction is embedded within a coherent theology of God as Creator, Sustainer, Law-Giver, and Judge.
The Quran explicitly declares the source of this light:
“Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most suitable…”
— Surah Al-Isra, 17:9
This verse from Surah An-Nur (The Light), found in a chapter primarily dealing with laws and social conduct, signifies that divine guidance is not merely legal—it is luminous. The metaphorical language emphasises clarity, universality, and transcendence. While mystics like Imam Ghazali have derived layers of mystical interpretations, its most direct meaning reinforces the idea of divine moral guidance as a source of inner and outer illumination—light upon light.
Foundational Commandments for the Moral Way of Life
1. Tawhid – Worship Only God
(17:22) Take not with Allah another object of worship; or thou (O man!) wilt sit in disgrace and destitution.
The moral life begins with absolute monotheism (Tawhid). Worship of one God establishes the cornerstone of accountability. Allah is not just a deity to be worshipped in ritual; He is the source of moral legislation, the Judge of all deeds, and the ultimate arbiter of justice.
2. Complete Submission and Trust in God
(31:22) Whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good has grasped indeed the most trustworthy hand-hold: and with Allah rests the End and Decision of all affairs.
Submission (Islam) is not passive resignation but active moral engagement under divine guidance. It requires the surrender of ego to align with divine principles.
3. Accountability to an All-Knowing God
(11:5) Even when they cover themselves with garments, He knows what they conceal and what they reveal: for He knows well the secrets of the hearts.
The fear and love of an all-aware God encourage inner moral discipline that no surveillance system can match.
Moral Pillars: Salat and Charity
The Quran consistently links righteousness with two foundational practices:
• Regular Prayer (Salat)
(7:170) Those who hold fast to the Book and establish regular prayer—never shall We suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.
(35:19) You can only admonish those who fear their Lord unseen and establish prayer.
• Charity (Zakat and Sadaqah)
(3:92) You will not attain righteousness until you give of that which you love. And whatever you give, Allah knows it well.
These practices develop God-consciousness (Taqwa) and a sense of social responsibility—two inseparable components of Islamic morality.
Key Moral Directives in the Quran
1. Be Kind, Honourable, and Humble with Parents
This directive appears repeatedly and unequivocally. Parents, regardless of their beliefs or shortcomings, are to be treated with compassion and respect. The Quran even softens the tone with which one may respond to aged parents.
2. Care for Orphans
(17:34) Come not near the orphan’s property except to improve it.
(4:2) To orphans restore their property when they reach their age. Do not substitute worthless things for good ones...
The Quran is meticulous in protecting the rights of orphans, recognising their vulnerability.
3. Repel Evil with Good and Forgive
(41:34) Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel evil with what is better...
(3:134) Those who spend in prosperity and adversity, restrain anger, and pardon others—Allah loves the doers of good.
Forgiveness is not only encouraged but made a condition for divine forgiveness. It also acts as a social lubricant, diffusing tension.
4. Sanctity of Life
(5:32) Whoever kills a person unjustly... it is as though he has killed all mankind.
(17:33) Do not kill except for just cause...
Life is sacred. Its violation is not only a crime but a cosmic offense.
5. Avoid Both Misery and Wastefulness
The Quran warns against extremes:
• Misery is equated with denying oneself what Allah has provided.
• Wastefulness is condemned as akin to the actions of Satan (17:26–29).
6. Tenderness in Marital Relations
Even in the most intimate and private aspects of life, the Quran emphasises mutual respect, kindness, and consent.
(9:71) “The believers, men and women, are protectors of one another. They enjoin what is just and forbid what is shameful; they establish prayer and give zakah.”
7. Freeing Slaves
(9:60) Zakat may be used for freeing slaves.
(2:177) It is righteousness... to spend of your substance... for the freeing of slaves.
Islam worked towards a gradual but inevitable abolition of slavery. It encouraged manumission as a virtue and a means of expiation for sins.
8. Do Not Commit Adultery
(17:32) Do not even approach adultery—it is shameful and an evil way.
Sexual morality is central. The Quran does not merely prohibit acts but also warns against pathways leading to them.
9. Keep Promises
(17:34) Fulfil your promises. Indeed, every promise will be asked about.
Integrity and trustworthiness are cornerstones of an Islamic character.
10. Be Honest in Trade
(17:35) Give full measure and weight in justice.
11. Rendering perfect secular justice
(4:135) “Stand firm in justice, even if it is against yourselves or your parents and relatives.”
12. Practice Humility
(17:37) Do not walk arrogantly upon the earth.
Arrogance blinds man to his limits. The Quran grounds us in humility by reminding us of our smallness in the vast cosmos.
The Moral Spirit of Triumph: Surah An-Nasr
(110:1-3) When the Help of Allah and Victory come, and you see people entering the religion of Allah in crowds, then glorify your Lord with praise and seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is Oft-Returning.
At the height of success, when Mecca fell and Islam triumphed, the believers were told not to boast but to glorify and seek forgiveness. This is the apex of moral restraint—gratitude and humility in victory.
Conclusion: Moral Autonomy Grounded in Theism
The Quranic moral framework is not just a list of do's and don'ts. It is a comprehensive, coherent, and psychologically nuanced system rooted in:
• The sovereignty of a just and merciful God.
• An unshakeable belief in the Hereafter.
• Personal accountability.
• Social justice.
• Empathy and compassion.
The Quran does not impose external morality; it cultivates internal moral autonomy—a soul that resists evil, forgives freely, gives generously, restrains anger, and treats others with dignity because it sees the face of God in every act.
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided…”
— Surah Al-Imran, 3:103
Light upon Light is not just an image—it is the lived reality of a life guided by the light of divine moral clarity, embodied in the exemplars of Islamic virtues—the Shuhuda—who, in turn, illuminate the path for others to follow: light upon light. This is the Deen of Islam: not merely a religion, but a luminous path of moral excellence.
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A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/illuminated-divine-light-moral-framework/d/135336
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