Living in moral rectitude
| Khatib : | Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: | 65 |
| Khutbah Date: | 06/27/03 |
"Each self is born with the innate capacity to distinguish wrong from right,
Successful indeed is the one who keeps the self pure, and debased is the
one who corrupts the self."
[Quran 91:7-10]
At a time when the abnormal is considered as the standard, where the immoral is not only becoming socially acceptable but is actually legislated; character, responsibility, accountability and rectitude are essential for maintaining what is left of human civility.
Civilization emanates from orderliness => orderliness depends upon structure and fulfillment of functions => fulfillment of functions is duty => carrying out duty is responsibility. Individual responsibility / mas'uliyyah implies ...
- Acknowledgement of personal accountability => personal accountability arises from a sense of self-respect => self-respect includes a sense of one's own values and a conviction to live by one's principles.
- Responsibility includes awareness of the fact that every right carries a corresponding responsibility => The root of being responsible is moral awareness of our personal accountability.
There exists in human nature a distinct higher noble faculty, a faculty that proclaims itself in our moral judgments. When we design our lives in keeping with this higher noble faculty; of inner purity and adherence to truth and moral values, it is then that we manifest rectitude.
Rectitude ...
- is the quality of being virtuous
- is the state of being morally sound and upright
- requires moral integrity, righteousness with correctness of judgment and correctness of procedure
- is the quality of being virtuous, is the state of being morally sound and upright.
Rectitude necessitates ...- Rightful Understanding
the ability to clearly distinguish wrong from right - Rightful Behavior
avoiding those activities that arise out of insincerity and impropriety.
Character evolves from conscience; is sustained by conscience and is developed piece by piece, with every thought, with every choice, and nurtured with great determination.
- Rightful Understanding