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eauty. (2) Man i s a responsible, dignified, and honorable<br />

agent of his Creator. (3) God has put everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the heav-<br />

ens and the earth <strong>in</strong> the service of mank<strong>in</strong>d. (4) By His Mer-<br />

cy and Wisdom, God does not expect the impossible from<br />

man or hold him accountable for anyth<strong>in</strong>g beyond his power.<br />

Nor does God forbid man to enjoy the good th<strong>in</strong>gs of life.<br />

(5) Moderation, practicality, and balance are the guarantees<br />

of high <strong>in</strong>tegrity and sound morality. (6) AU th<strong>in</strong>gs are per-<br />

missible <strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple except what is s<strong>in</strong>gled out as obligato-<br />

ry, which must be observed, and what is s<strong>in</strong>gled out as for-<br />

bidden, which must be avoided. (7) Man's ultimate<br />

responsibility is to God and his highest goal is the Pleasure<br />

of his Creator.<br />

The dimensions of morality <strong>in</strong> <strong>Islam</strong> are numerous, far-<br />

reach<strong>in</strong>g, and comprehensive, The <strong>Islam</strong>ic morals deat with<br />

the relationship between man and God, man and his fellow<br />

men, man and the other elements and creatures of the uni-<br />

verse, man and his <strong>in</strong>nermost self. The Muslim has to guard<br />

his external behavior and his manifest deeds, his words and<br />

his thoughts, his feel<strong>in</strong>gs and <strong>in</strong>tentions. In a general sense,<br />

his role i s to champion what is right and fight what is wrong,<br />

seek what is true and avoid what is <strong>in</strong>decent. Truth and vir-<br />

tue a^e his goal. Humbleness and simplicity, courtesy and<br />

compassion, are his second nature. To him, arrogance and<br />

vanity, harshness and <strong>in</strong>difference, are distasteful, offensive,<br />

and displeas<strong>in</strong>g to God.<br />

*>::*>:;*>:»:

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