Moral Principles as the Basis of Islamic Culture — Page 21
says: "lf' I ""'1e •i11e11 Old spite from tbe bet1rli of j}J, /J,/i1iJ#1. " -(Ch. xv. "· 47). In the same manner the natural ~tinct of love inay be converted into a moral quality. · For this purpose we are reqwred. to obsetve proper p. dation in out· alfections in accor~ with moral principlCs and to have greater regard to gratitude for. benefits received in the past ~to the hope of receiving benefits in the future (for, the form- er is an obliption and the later mere self-. interest) and to subordinate our ~te inclinations to remoter good. The Quran says: "If jollf /JMenls 111111 yo11r 'hi/Jren and yo11r brothers and yo11r sist. ers 1111J yo11r wi1111 and yo11r h11sbands and yo11r leinsfolll and the proper11 Whi'h JOll h1111e the. regulation and control of all natural instincts thus emphasizing the principle that it is their proper regulati01l "'Jld control that' converts them into _moril qualities; to permit them to work unrestrained and uncontrolled would be imriloral. The Quran also:1mphasizes the different stages or gradations of good and evil. It says: ''G~il enjoim equitable dellling, ben!firente 11114