Differentiation between Right and Wrong

             

Islam gives many criterions to differentiate between right and wrong. The basic criterions to differentiate between right and wrong are the Quran and Sunnah.  After these criterions come ‘Ijma’ and various forms of ‘Ijtehad’.  But the problem is that a common Muslim mindset is marred with many intellectual and knowledge limitations along with so many prejudices, biases, likings and dislikings developed through years of typical education and social upbringing.  All these limitations become hurdle in a common Muslim’s way to differentiate between right and wrong on the basis of above mentioned criteria. The ideal solution to the problem lies in establishment of such an environment in which such limitations may be minimized; but it is a long term solution. As a short term solution, Allah has graciously blessed Muslims with such simple tools which can be used by even the most naïve and common Muslims to differentiate between right and wrong; one such tool is to see whether Muslim ‘Millat’ would be benefited or damaged. Right would be a thing which would benefit Muslim ‘Millat’; wrong would be a thing which would damage Muslim ‘Millat’. But it may be noted this tool to differentiate between right and wrong must not be contradictory to fundamental criteria i.e. Quran and Sunnah (though this tool may not be apparently based on Quran and Sunnah).  It may be appreciated it would be easier to reach at a decision as to right or wrong through this tool than without this tool.  

The whole body of revelation has come down for mankind’s betterment in this world and in the life hereafter. It implies nothing harmful to Muslim ‘Millat’- who embrace revelation- can be right; and nothing beneficial to Muslim Millat- who embrace revelation- can be wrong. But every right and wrong has more than one dimensions; out of these right and wrong dimensions only such dimensions are to be adopted which are not contradictory to basic criteria i.e. Quran and Sunnah (though such dimension may not be apparently based on the Quran and Sunnah).

  We may infer from the foregoing that all  such activities which benefit Muslim 'Millat'-who embrace faith- and which are not contradictory to Quran and Sunnah (though are not apparently based on Quran and Sunnah) are right/'haque'. Similarly all such activities which damage Muslim Millat-who embrace faith- and which make Millat weaker as compared to non-Muslims, and which are not based on Quran and Sunnah (though such activities may apparently not contradictory to Quran and sunnah) are wrong/ ‘batil'.