40 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF LIFE
We have summarized the
commandments of God in the Holy Quran into 40 principles, arranging them
in an order of priority designed by God Himself, so that muslims and
believers can easily order their lives in that pattern and attain success.
The numbers in brackets refer to some of the holy verses stating
each principle.
1.
Believe in
God, live righteously and put your whole trust in Him. (2:62, 112;
3:31; 11:123)
2.
Worship God
alone and do not associate Him with anyone or anything else. (17:22-23)
3.
Respect and
honour your parents. (17:23-24)
4.
Enjoin good
and forbid evil. (3:104)
5.
Love God above
everything else and fight in His cause, i.e. the cause of justice and
truth, with your wealth and your lives, and do not fear mankind, but fear
God. (9:24; 4:74-75; 9:111; 98:5; 22:67; 5:44; 33:37, 39)
6.
Perform
prayers and other rites of worship, without quarrelling over methodology,
pay the poor-rate, and remember God always. (98:5; 22:67; 29:45)
7.
Act justly, do
not commit evil and rule according to God’s laws, i.e. justice, truth
and mercy. (4:58, 135; 5:8; 7:28-29; 5:44)
8.
Obey just
leaders, respect, honour and support them, but do not idolize them. In
turn, leaders must care for and encourage their followers. (4:59;
33:56; 9:30-31; 9:103)
9.
Be an active,
dynamic, creative and courageous person. (2:30-34; 4:75-77; 15:28-30)
10.
Practise
humility and do not be egoistic or proud. (2:54; 25:43; 17:37)
11.
Greet all,
treat everyone with civility and do not use bad language. (4:86; 2:83;
4:184)
12.
Hold firmly to
principles, but be flexible in methods. (2:67-71, 142; 3:103; 5:54;
22:67)
13.
Put moral
considerations uppermost, but do not disregard your due material
interests. (28:77)
14.
Save lives and
do not kill except in the cause of justice. (17:33)
15.
Do not kill
for fear of poverty. (17:31)
16.
Do not
practise usury, but practise charity. (2:275-80)
17.
Be honest and
fair in financial and economic dealings. (6:152)
18.
Practise
consultations to solve problems. (3:159; 42:38)
19.
Do not accept
unverified information. (17:36)
20.
Listen to all
views and follow the best. (39:18)
21.
Read in order
to know, but read critically. (96:1-5)
22.
Unite and do
not divide. (3:103; 6:159; 61:4)
23.
Fulfil
promises. (17:34)
24.
24: Do not
practise bribery and corruption. (2:188)
25.
Do not devour
the properties of orphans. (17:34)
26.
Do not be
extravagant and wasteful, or stingy. (17:26-29)
27.
Give charities
to relatives, the poor and destitute and towards public welfare. (9:60;
17:26)
28.
Do not aggress
and defend yourself against aggression. (7:33; 42:39)
29.
Believers are
brothers and make peace between believers. Avoid suspicion, spying and
backbiting among believers. (49:9-10, 12)
30.
Persevere in
any good effort and do not fear to face difficulties and hardships.
Success comes only after hardships. ( 2:45, 177; 94: 5-8)
31.
Use
intelligence, reason and historical precedents to understand and carry out
God’s commands. (7:179; 8:22; 10:100; 12:111; 3:137)
32.
Speak the
truth. Do not lie, although stratagem is allowed against adversaries. (8:7-8;
25:72; 33:70;12:70-81)
33.
Enter into
marriage with believers, do not marry disbelievers, and do not commit
adultry. (5:5; 30:21; 17:32)
34.
3Cooperate and
help each other in good works; do not cooperate in evil works. (5:2)
35.
Eat and drink
moderately (7:31)
36.
Avoid
intoxicants and gambling. ( 2:219)
37.
Dress
decently. (24:30-31)
38.
Be kind and
forgiving. (42:40, 43)
39.
Do not
ridicule or mock one another. (49:11)
40.
Do not ask
about small and inconsequential details. (2:67-71; 5:101-02; 22:67)
First compiled on 31 January,
1995.
Revised on 21 February,
1998.