THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

understood and become binding without being spoken. A person must fulfill all these agreements. Failure to do so means failing to meet the standard of human integrity and proving oneself guilty before God. A person’s body, heart, and mind are all trusts from God. It is essential for a person to use these faculties only within the limits God has set. Their hands and feet should act in ways that promote justice, not oppression. Their mind should be used for thinking well of others, not wishing harm. Similarly, any trusts—whether written or not—that are placed in a person’s care must be fulfilled. They should never treat someone else’s possessions as their own. Every individual is bound by two types of agreements: one related to God and the other to His creation. The first is a natural agreement with God, in which every human being is inherently included. The second is a faith-related agreement, which binds those who believe in God. Additionally, there are agreements related to fellow human beings. Some of these are written contracts, while others arise naturally due to one’s membership in a family, society, or nation. Fulfilling all these agreements and responsibilities is both a natural duty and a religious obligation. PURITY AND CLEANLINESS Cleanliness and purity are highly valued in Islam. The Quran states: “God loves those who turn to Him in penitence, and He loves those who keep themselves clean.” (2:222)