Moral Principles as the Basis of Islamic Culture — Page 17
serves divine chastisement. If a person has had no access to right pidance and his attention has not been drawn to it, the mere fact of his being in error woyld not impose penal responsibility upon him, though, of course, being in error, he would deprive himself of. the benefits of right guidance. He would become liable to divine displeas- ure and chastisement only when his error leads him into wickedness and active wrong-doing, or when he persists in his error in spite of guid- ance having been made manifest to him. The Quran says: "O people of the Book, our Messengl!r has come lo you 1t 1 ith guidance which he makes manifest. to you after a long period of time had elapsed since the last Prophet who clt11le lo 1011 wiih guidance, lest yo. u should urge tha1 nobody hud come 10 you u•ith g11idance and u•arning from God. Lo. ' nou) guidante and warning have come to you and God pos;eues pou,itr and competence in respect of a/I things. " (Ch. V, v. 19). An important aspect of social relations is that which concerns a person's domestic relationships. The general principle laid down in • this respect by the Quran is: "Act benevolently Jou·ards your parents anJ ne1tr of kin, the orpham and the needy and the next Joor neighbour anti the distant neighbour anJ your partners in business and co-u 1 urlurs anti u•ayf arers and travellers 11nd thos~ 1 over whom you ex ere he author- ity. " (Ch. IV, v. 36) At another place the Quran says: ''And render to those re/ativd /or r1·hou u. 1elf '"" you are responsible, their fightf 111 J11e out of that which belongs lo you 11nd lo the poor 11nd the n11JY. but bestow·not U. 'ith a view lo receive 11 retmn nor SfllllnMr 7011r s11b- stance. " (Ot. XVII, v. 26) Islam regards the married state as normal and as most conducive towards the full evolution of human character, (Ch. XX. XIII, v. 50) but those who are unable to 6nd suitable mates are enjoined to safe- suard their chastity in all respects. (Ch. XXIV, v. 33) Extra marital relations are prohibited altogether (Ot. XVII, v. 32) and celibacy and monasticism are strongly disapproved as hannful ~evices which have no divine sanction. (Ch LVll, v. 27). In the matter. of the choice of a mate Islam empha1izes that greater weight should be attached to disposition and true piety than to the- extemal circumstances of looks, wealth or rank. The Holy Prophet has Slli~, "Some people marry for the sake of beauty, others for ranlc. 17.