Social values are considered one of the most important pillars for building societies and establishing civilization, as they represent ethical principles governing righteous behaviour and are recognized by advanced nations. It is agreed that they are the fundamental criteria for defining educational goals for individuals and communities, making them the foundation for shaping societies, a unifying moral bond, and an essential educational component that determines the level of awareness reached by a particular society.
Guardian of Society
Educators in their societies, regardless of their differences in time, place, or culture, see the necessity of adhering to a system of values and ethical principles to preserve the identity of the community, confront storms that seek to erase it, and strengthen its immunity against emerging challenges that threaten its moral fabric. This achieves the security dimension of the nation as a whole. This necessitates the activation of these values as a contractual matter and a teleological philosophy leading to their regulation, supported by deterrent penalties, as a guardian system for society, preserving its overall goals and highest ideals, protecting it from individualistic tendencies, recklessness, and disintegration, and providing it with modes of interaction among its members and with others in a clear and explicit framework that regulates the behaviour of all.
A large developmental project
The system of Islamic values was established on the basis of heartfelt belief and a correct understanding of religion, which is founded on righteous deeds. As the Quran states, “They are the best of (all) beings” (98:7); The first Islamic state, the state of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was built on the replacement of tribalism with religious and human brotherhood and the adoption of the principle of equality before the law. People were considered equal, like the teeth of a comb, with no preference for an Arab over a non-Arab or vice versa except by righteousness. Within the shadow of this state, non-Muslims enjoyed full freedom, the weak were protected from oppression and injustice, the Muhajireen (migrants) and the Ansar (helpers) shared their wealth the Aus and the Khazraj tribes, who were bitter enemies just months before, became brothers, the rich shared with the poor, and the system of masters and slaves, the most oppressive inheritance passed down from generation to generation, was dismantled in record time. This newly established state formed a comprehensive system encompassing dozens of values. It spread the message of goodness in the morally corrupt pre-Islamic society, actively combated vices and evils, promoting virtues, and established a righteous nation. This system laid the foundation for a righteous nation built on the principles of enjoining good, forbidding evil, and taking the initiative to do good deeds with the promise of reward, as stated in the Quran, "So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it." (Quran, 99:7-8).
A monumental developmental project
This reformative and developmental project in the caliphate society is based on the general pillars of Islamic civilization, which include: belief in Allah with all its aspects, knowledge in all its branches, religious and civil, good and precise workmanship, diligence, and excellence to free humanity from fears and delusions, and to secure a safe and dignified life befitting human dignity. Overall, the project aims to: free the Muslim mind from the shackles of stagnation and imitation, prioritize fields of reform, reform fundamentals before peripheral, purify beliefs from superstitions, reshape the Islamic intellect and conscience, and prioritize the nation over the state. The primary task of those responsible for it is to curb the tyrannical wave of materialism and consumer culture, and to confront the Western project that has caused great harm to our Islamic peoples, and to create an alternative based on values and ethics.
Key Values
Several classifications have been made for Islamic values, and social values emerged as a common denominator among these classifications. They serve as a guarantee for a just and virtuous Islamic society. Among them are fundamental or principal values that cannot be compromised when discussing the society of the Islamic state, or what can be termed as the "caliphate society." Some of these values include:
- "Truthfulness": It is the correspondence between what is uttered by the tongue and what is settled in the heart and conscience. It opposes cheating and contradicts lying. The Quran encourages it, as in the verse: "O believers! Be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful." [Quran, 9:119].
- "Altruism": It is an advanced behavioural value where a person gives up what they love for the sake of others, seeking reward in the Hereafter. "They give (the emigrants) preference over themselves even though they may be in need. And whoever is saved from the selfishness of their own souls, it is they who are (truly) successful." [Quran, 59:9].
- "Cooperation in righteousness and piety": It entails cooperation in all forms of goodness for the public interest and the advancement of society. It includes supporting the oppressed, deterring the oppressor, combating corruption, immorality, and vice, fulfilling the needs of the poor, and relieving the distressed, etc. "Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is severe in punishment." [Quran, 5:2].
- "Modesty": It is one of the important values in the caliphate society and a behavioural code in the Islamic environment. It is the chief among ethical virtues, the cornerstone of faith communities, and the leader of society towards goodness and guidance. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: " All of modesty is good." [Muslim].
- "Trustworthiness and loyalty": Both are of great importance in social and human relationships. Therefore, the Quran strongly condemns those who betray them. Trustworthiness implies security, the opposite of treachery, and signifies justice in its finest form. "Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners; and when you judge between people, judge with fairness. What a noble commandment from Allah to you! Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing." [Quran, 4:58]. Loyalty means excellent character, respect for responsibility, and honouring the rights of others.
The duties of the caliph in protecting the values of society
In addition to the roles unanimously agreed upon by the predecessors of the nation in safeguarding religion, establishing boundaries, preserving the sanctities of Allah, protecting the state, and fortifying its borders, it is incumbent upon the chosen caliph of the Muslim nation to act as a guardian of the values of society. He must delegate those responsible for monitoring and promoting these values, or else he would sin and neglect his duty by not acting upon the hadith: "Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The leader is a shepherd and is responsible for his subjects." [Agreed upon]. Preserving these values and nurturing the youth upon them shields the nation from the dangers of dissolution, identity erasure, and societal imbalance caused by the spread of corruption, poverty, and various vices. This does not exempt individuals or institutions within society from adopting these values as a shared responsibility driven by religious conviction and duty. "There is no good in most of their secret talks—except those encouraging charity, kindness, or reconciliation between people. And whoever does this seeking Allah’s pleasure, We will grant them a great reward." [Quran, 4:114].
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