A Behavioral Application: The Objectives of the Qur'an in Building the Conduct of the Individual

By Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Abouseif, President of the American Imams Academy.

We now move from grounding to living application, and we begin with the field nearest to the human being: his individual conduct and character. The Qur'an was not revealed merely to be recited, nor only to be memorized, but to build a balanced, truthful, trustworthy personality. Objective-based tafsīr in this chapter reveals that the verses of ethics are not general sermons, but intended programs of action for shaping human conduct. Let us read examples of them with their objectives to see how they are transformed into a daily way of life.

The Objective of Truthfulness: Building a Trusted Personality

"O you who have believed, be mindful of God and be with the truthful." [al-Tawba: 119]

The objective of the verse is not merely the prohibition of a passing lie, but the building of a personality whose constant trait is truthfulness in word, deed, and intention. Reflect that it did not say merely "be truthful," but "and be with the truthful"; so it made truthfulness an identity, a companionship, and an environment in which the believer lives, not a passing stance he performs then forgets. Whoever reads the verse in an objective-based way resolves to be truthful even in his jest and his small promise, and to keep company with the truthful and shun environments of lying; for he has grasped that the objective is building a human being whose word people trust.

An application to our reality today: each of us has become a "publisher" on social media at the press of a button. The objective of truthfulness requires verification before publishing, in compliance with His saying: "O you who have believed, if a corrupt person comes to you with news, verify it." [al-Ḥujurāt: 6]. Re-publishing news you have not verified is a kind of lying, even if you did not fabricate it; the objective-based reader makes verification a digital habit, so he passes on no rumor and conveys no statement before weighing it on the scale of truthfulness.

The Objective of Trustworthiness: Preserving Rights and Trust

"Indeed, God commands you to render trusts to their owners." [al-Nisāʾ: 58]

Trustworthiness in the verse is broader than returning a financial deposit; the word "trusts" came as an indefinite plural to include everything with which the human being is entrusted: his work that he performs, his word that he speaks, the secret he keeps, the responsibility he carries — indeed, his very limbs and faculties with which he was entrusted. Whoever keeps present this broad objective masters his work even when no observer is present, keeps his companion's secret, and renders what is due in the most complete manner; for he knows that trustworthiness is an objective that builds the trust upon which the whole of society rests, and that betraying it — however small — is a breach in this edifice.

The Objective of Self-Restraint: Pardon and Restraining Rage

"And those who restrain anger and who pardon people — and God loves the doers of good." [Āl ʿImrān: 134]

The objective of the verse is nurturing the soul in forbearance and restraining one's reactions in anger. Reflect on its educational precision: it did not ask for the removal of anger — a human nature for which the person is not blamed — but asked, first, for restraining it and checking its effect; then, secondly, for ascending to pardoning the one who wronged; then, thirdly, to being good to him. It is an educational ladder of three rungs that elevates the Muslim from mere self-restraint to the highest of noble traits. Whoever understands this objective treats his anger in stages and does not despair if he does not reach the summit at once.

The Objective of Mastery and Excellence in Work

"[He] who perfected everything which He created." [al-Sajda: 7]

The Qur'an links God's excellence in His creation with the call to the human being to excellence in his work, for excellence (iḥsān) is a general Qur'anic objective: "And do good; indeed, God loves the doers of good." [al-Baqara: 195]. Its objective is for the Muslim to perfect everything that proceeds from him: so he excels in his worship, masters his craft, and does his work well. Mastery in one's job is an act of worship when this objective is kept present in it, not merely a means of earning a livelihood.

From the Text to the Daily Method

When we read these verses with their objectives, they are transformed from information and exhortation into a disciplined program of action: truthfulness as a fixed policy in every word, trustworthiness in every responsibility small or great, self-restraint at every provocation, and mastery in every work. Thus the Qur'an becomes a present, daily educator that shapes the Muslim's conduct in his home, his work, and his path — not a book that is memorized and set aside from the arena of action.

This is followed by the ninth article: "A Social Application: The Objectives of the Qur'an in Reforming Relationships and Society."

| A takeaway for life: Choose this month a single trait — truthfulness, trustworthiness, or restraining rage — and make it your project: read its verses with their objective in the morning, and watch yourself in it in the evening with a single question: did I realize the objective of the verse today? By this gradual focus, character is built trait after trait, not all at once. | |---|