Ethical Principles of the Islamic Faith – Insights for the Modern World

The Islamic faith is viewed by many across the world with limited understanding and the image of Muslims has been tarnished by radical members of that religion whose actions do not reflect the religion’s core beliefs.  Because Muslims represent the world’s second largest religious group with more than 1.6 billion adherents, understanding the ethical principles of the Islamic faith is in the interest of others throughout the world who live, do business, and/or associate with Muslims.  In this paper we examine principles of the Islamic faith, as set forth in the Qu’ran and the Sunnah, and compare them with twelve other well-recognized ethical perspectives, comparing differences and similarities.  We suggest that understanding the tenets of the Islamic faith will enable others to interact more effectively with Muslims as colleagues, business associates, and community members.