A few years back, I got an excited call. On the other side was my friend sharing the news of a new job as a counsellor in one of the children’s homes in Delhi. I inquired about the job type and what she had to do, to which she replied that her senior explained: “Tameez sikhani hai in bachchon ko (You have to teach these children manners/etiquette).” Although harsh, this statement says a lot about the importance of moral education.

So, what is moral education?

In very simple terms, it teaches good and just things to individuals to lead a better life, including moral norms, ethical values, making well-informed decisions, and taking responsibility for the consequences of their choices. A college degree can land you a better job than an uneducated man. Still, with no moral values, one will not hesitate to take the wrongful means to gain success, whereas, on the other hand, a man with no formal education but high moral values will always try to choose the right path. Academic and professional accomplishments have their place, but character determines the foundation of these achievements. That is well said. A man is known not for his looks and clothes but for his characteristics.

In a time when morality is losing its glow and constantly under attack in the name of freedom, it’s high time to know and understand its importance.

Character building: To become a real human being, one doesn’t just have to earn good money and a degree and possess good virtues. It’s something above knowledge and skill. It includes having strong moral values, making principle decisions and acting ethically in all aspects of life. The path of character building is, of course, not easy. One has to cross through honest introspection, looking at strengths and weaknesses. This allows individuals to work on self-improvement and embedding values like patience, determination and compassion,

Strong social life:

An individual with good character has a strong and confident social life. Trust and respect are the cornerstones of a healthy relationship; these qualities are built on good character. Individuals holding strong values attract people’s love and attention. They also help establish strong connections between individual communities and different groups. Morality aims to teach us that other people respect dignity and well-being. Morality also fosters a sense of duty towards others and the community.

Decision making:

This lies in the heart of morality – to make an ethical decision by selecting the right choices. Morality sets a guide for making any good or bad decisions in various aspects of life. It encourages

compassion, understanding, and kindness toward others are encouraged. It also promotes accountability by holding oneself responsible for actions and consequences.

Emotional intelligence, the path of moral development, leads to better awareness and self-management of one’s emotions. One can better understand and manage not just one’s feelings but those of others. It releases stress, communicates effectively, emphasises overcoming challenges, and resolves conflicts.

Morality is very abstract; one can hardly get its blueprint, but various features can help one learn and practice morality.

Family:

Family plays a vital role in a person’s life. A baby learns manners, empathy and kindness from the home only. Parents and other family members are our initial source of learning various virtues. Family rules and norms shape and influence individual personality.

Religion:

Morality is the brainchild of religion. Morality lies in the heart of religion. There is no morality without religion. Morality and religion are almost similar to each other or inseparable from each other. Morality deals with the day to day affairs of human life, whereas religion is mainly concerned with one relationship with God. However, religion is the driving source of morality. God, or ultimate truth, guides us and his followers through his messengers and books on how to deal with the daily affairs of human life, from the birth of a child to marriage, from domestic affairs to political matters. Religion provides a framework for all of it. The type of religious practices in the home influence individuals regarding morality. Religion encourages people to become more law-abiding and trustworthy, making society safer for future generations.

Friends and peer groups:

Peer group friendship plays an important role in an individual’s moral development. Playgroups can influence our decision-making, often challenging our internal moral compass. Through interaction with friends, kids learn about different perspectives, reflect on their moral teachings, and try to understand various aspects of morality.

The Islamic perspective

One can understand how important morality is in one’s life through various Hadith. Abu Huraira reports: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Verily, those of you in the closest position to me on the Day of Resurrection are those of you with the best character in the world.”

Ibn Mas’ud reported as said by and the Messenger of Allah(pbuh), “O Allah, You have made my creation beautiful, thus make my character beautiful.”

A reader must have encountered a famous Hadith about two women: one very religious but with an evil tongue, and the other not so religious but loved by all due to her beautiful nature. Both are judged based on their public dealings. The lady with the best nature was rewarded a place in Jannah, whereas the other lady was punished as she had hurt people with her tongue.

Now, returning to the story from where I started, I see that these kids in Juvenile Homes are talented, good at sports, and some even in their studies. Unfortunately, they fall behind in their moral development, making them unsafe for society.

In conclusion,

Moral education is vital for any individual and society. It fosters ethical norms and character development, which help individuals navigate the various issues of the modern and complex world. Its importance should not be ignored, and it should become part of the school curriculum to create a stable, just and compassionate world.