Table 2.
Some of the general principles of Islam for rendering opinions on the moral status of actions and the five ruling values of actions with their consequences in the here and now and in the hereafter
| Rules for opinions on moral status of actions |
| God alone defines the standard of right and wrong |
| Good deeds are good only because God commands them, and evil is evil because God forbids it |
| God’s commands are purposeful and, as such, His will extends to all areas of life and every field of action |
| Need and necessity are equivalent |
| Necessity allows prohibited matters |
| Injurious harm should be removed |
| Prevention of evil has priority over obtaining benefit |
| The greater benefit prevails over the lesser benefit |
| Five ruling values of actions: consequences in the here and now and the hereafter |
| Obligatory or required (Wajib/Fardh): God rewards for performance and punishes for neglect |
| Recommended (Mustahaab/Mandoob): God rewards for performance but does not punish for neglect |
| Permitted (Mubah): God neither rewards for performance nor punishes for neglect |
| Discouraged or abominable (Makrooh): God punishes for performance and rewards for avoidance |
| Forbidden or prohibited (Haram): God punishes for performance and rewards for avoidance |