Life Supreme — Page 6
LIFE SUPREME 9. A moral virtue is the proper control and regulation of thought and conduct in conformity with the teachings of Islam. Love, for instance, becomes a moral virtue when demonstrated correctly and on the appropriate occasion, otherwise, if it is merely instinctive or channelled in the wrong direction then it is not a display of virtue. The love and care which animals show for their young is instinctive and therefore not an act of virtue. Again love is regarded as a virtue only when expressed within proper and lawful bounds. The mother who showers an excess of love upon her child and allows it to do and have whatever it wants is not exemplifying the moral virtue of love; nor does the man who runs away with someone else's wife on account of his affectionate feelings for her. Exercising correct conduct on appropriate occasions formulates a moral virtue. . STAGES OF MORAL ADVANCEMENT. The Promised Messiah has drawn our attention to three stages of moral advancement regarding our dealings towards other people. . The first stage requires that we should at least treat others in the same way that they treat us. We should return good for good. The second stage requires us to return better treatment and greater good for that which we have received while the third stage calls upon us to render service and do good to others without any thought of receiving anything in return. We should never even hint to the person that he is under an obligation to us of any kind. This state of mind should be cultivated to the extent that it functions as second nature as does the love of a mother towards her child. . MORAL VIRTUES. Moral virtues embrace numerous personal qualities. Among them are: self-respect and respect for others, kindness, sympathy, honesty, forgiveness, simplicity, cleanliness, gentleness, courage, goodness, nobility, patience, steadfastness, perseverence, charity, generosity, politeness, hospitality, mercy, justice, self-control, contentment, cheerfulness, helpfulness, gratitude, chastity, tolerance, love, unselfishness, and many more which could be added to the list. . No exemplar of virtue excelled the Holy Prophet (peace be on him). . The following verses taken from a poem written by the Promised. Messiah extol the high morals of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him):