1. Don’t Lie or Speak Falsehood
فَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلرِّجْسَ مِنَ ٱلْأَوْثَـٰنِ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ قَوْلَ ٱلزُّورِ
“So avoid the filth of idols and avoid false speech.”
[Qur’an 22:30]
Truthfulness is foundational to faith. Allah pairs false speech with idolatry to show how destructive lying is to the soul and society.
2. Don’t Spy on Others
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌۭ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟
“O you who believe, avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicion is sin. And do not spy.”
[Qur’an 49:12]
Islam protects privacy and dignity. Spying poisons hearts and fractures trust.
3. Don’t Exult Arrogantly
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍۢ فَخُورٍۢ
“And do not turn your nose up to people, nor walk pridefully upon the earth. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful.”
[Qur’an 31:18]
This refers to pride born from wealth or status. Gratitude is praised, arrogance is condemned.
4. Don’t Insult or Mock Others
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌۭ مِّن قَوْمٍۭ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ
“O you who believe, let not a people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them.”
[Qur’an 49:11]
Mockery contradicts humility. Allah alone knows who is better.
5. Don’t Waste
وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا
“And do not waste extravagantly.”
[Qur’an 17:26]
Wastefulness reflects ingratitude and lack of responsibility.
6. Feed the Poor
فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ
“So eat from them and feed the content and the needy.”
[Qur’an 22:36]
Feeding the poor purifies wealth and nurtures mercy.
7. Don’t Backbite
وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًۭا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ
“And do not backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would despise that!”
[Qur’an 49:12]
Backbiting is portrayed with severe imagery to show its moral ugliness.
8. Keep Your Oaths
وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ
“And keep your oaths.”
[Qur’an 5:89]
Faith is reflected in honoring one’s word.
9. Honour Treaties
فَأَتِمُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَىٰ مُدَّتِهِمْ
“So complete for them their treaty until its term.”
[Qur’an 9:4]
Islam commands loyalty and integrity in agreements.
10. Restrain Anger
وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ
“Those who restrain anger and pardon people.”
[Qur’an 3:134]
True strength is self-control.
11. Don’t Spread Gossip
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُۥ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُۥ هَيِّنًۭا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمٌۭ
“When you passed it from one tongue to the other, and said with your mouths what you had no knowledge of, taking it lightly while it is ˹extremely˺ serious in the sight of Allah.”
[Qur’an 24:15]
Careless speech can carry immense sin.
12. Think Good of Others
لَوْلَآ إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًۭا
“Why did the believing men and women not think good of one another?”
[Qur’an 24:12]
Good opinion preserves unity and mercy.
13. Be Good to Guests
فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍۢ سَمِينٍۢ
“Then he went to his family and brought a fat calf.”
[Qur’an 51:26]
Hospitality reflects generosity and faith.
14. Don’t Harm Believers
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلُوا۟ بُهْتَـٰنًۭا وَإِثْمًۭا مُّبِينًۭا
“As for those who abuse believing men and women1 unjustifiably, they will definitely bear the guilt of slander and blatant sin.”
[Qur’an 33:58]
Harming believers is a grave injustice.
15. Don’t Be Rude to Parents
فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ
“Do not even say ‘uff’ to them.”
[Qur’an 17:23]
Respect begins with speech.
16. Turn Away From Ill Speech
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
“And those who turn away from ill speech.”
[Qur’an 23:3]
Believers guard their tongues.
17. Respond to Evil With Good
ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ
“Repel evil with what is better.”
[Qur’an 41:34]
Moral strength transforms hostility.
18. Lower Your Voice and Speak Moderately
وَٱغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ
“And lower your voice.”
[Qur’an 31:19]
Gentleness in speech reflects wisdom.
19. Don’t Say What You Don’t Do
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ
“O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do?”
[Qur’an 61:2]
Allah condemns contradiction between words and actions. Integrity is a core Islamic value.
20. Keep Your Trusts and Promises
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ
“And those who are faithful to their trusts and their promises.”
[Qur’an 23:8]
A believer is defined by reliability. Betrayal contradicts faith.
21. Don’t Insult Others’ False Gods
وَلَا تَسُبُّوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ
“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah.”
[Qur’an 6:108]
Islam forbids disrespect even in disagreement to prevent injustice and hostility.
22. Don’t Deceive People in Trade
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ
“And do not approach the orphan’s property except in the best manner, and give full measure and weight in justice.”
[Qur’an 6:152]
Honesty in transactions is a moral and spiritual obligation.
23. Don’t Ask Unnecessary Questions
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَسْـَٔلُوا۟ عَنْ أَشْيَآءَ إِن تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ
“O you who believe, do not ask about things which, if made clear to you, would distress you.”
[Qur’an 5:101]
Islam discourages questions that complicate faith or cause hardship.
24. Don’t Be Miserly Nor Extravagant
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا۟ وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا۟ وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًۭا
“And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly, but hold a balance between the two.”
[Qur’an 25:67]
Balance is a defining Islamic ethic.
25. Don’t Ask for Repayment for Favours
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءًۭ وَلَا شُكُورًا
“We feed you only for the sake of Allah; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks.”
[Qur’an 76:9]
True sincerity seeks Allah alone.
26. Return Greetings in a Better Manner
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍۢ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ
“When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better than it or return it.”
[Qur’an 4:86]
Courtesy strengthens bonds and earns reward.
27. Make Peace Between Fighting Groups
فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا
“So make peace between them.”
[Qur’an 49:9]
Reconciliation is a moral duty.
28. Don’t Let Hatred Cause Injustice
وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟
“And let not the hatred of a people prevent you from being just.”
[Qur’an 5:8]
Justice is obligatory, even with enemies.
29. Don’t Ask Too Many Favours From People
لَا يَسْـَٔلُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ إِلْحَافًۭا
“They do not ask people persistently.”
[Qur’an 2:273]
Dignity includes restraint and reliance upon Allah.
