The word “ethics” originates from the Greek word “ethos”, which means “character, spirit and attitude of a group of people or culture”. Islam’s social and legal behaviour code, known as Shariah, is consistent with ethics. Simply expressed, morally good things are those that advance both individual and societal well-being under this Islamic framework, whereas morally terrible things are those that do damage to others. Several terminologies pertain to Islamic ethics. The Arabic word, akhlaq, which refers to the practice of virtue, morality, and manners in Islamic philosophy, is most closely associated with ethics in the Quran.

Ethics is what motivates us to speak the truth, honour our word, or provide a helping hand to those in need. Everyday decisions are guided by an ethical framework that helps us avoid unfair consequences and make decisions that benefit our lives. Ethics-related scandals crop up considerably from politics to finance, government to education. In recent times, everything we see around us is bound with corruption, whether it be competitive exams, using loopholes to reach a superior position in a job, or climbing the ladder of success using someone else’s hard work. Each of these is an example of how one can ignore ethics and use these ways instead for quicker reward and success. One may say this is what is to be done to win the race of life. But what about the long term? How are you going to face the Almighty? How are you going to suppress your guilt? Is this something that will let you live in peace.? Not.

The ethical path is a lengthy process and requires a lot of patience, dedication and hard work. Still, it will give you inner peace and a guilt-free life, which, in turn, eases your accountability towards the almighty. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, was asked where the ethical compass comes from, and he replied that the moral compass comes from parents and friends, who you surround yourself with and who influence you the most.

This shows how important it is to check who you associate yourself with, whom you follow, and who you spend most of your time with. The feeling of guilt and regret is one of the worst feelings that can kill oneself from within, which can also lead to mental and physical health issues. Still, looking at it from a different perspective, it is also a blessing that makes us realise that what we did was Capitalise a in Almighty, which is evidence that we have a sense of realisation and Iman left. Guilt alerts us that our moral standards have been somehow violated. By adopting a quick path of success, one ruins his entire life, which is not only the person but also his loved ones; not only that, but he is also putting his afterlife at stake.

According to the article titled “Guilt: when it is useful – and what to do if it takes over your life ”people differ in how easily they feel guilt, based on their personality and life experiences. Those with high levels of empathy or who care much about social relationships may be more likely to feel guilty. In contrast, people who have high levels of “dark personality traits”, such as psychopathy or narcissism, may be less inclined to do so.

Therefore, those who make decisions based on honesty, empathy, and integrity will surely feel inner contentment and tranquillity. Making moral decisions fosters mutual respect and trust in both personal and professional relationships and positively impacts society. Ultimately, making ethical decisions allows people to live authentically and confidently, knowing that they have kept their moral principles intact and contributed to the well-being of society as a whole.