Moral Principles as the Basis of Islamic Culture — Page 8
judication and one of them may, through plausible arguments, -succeed in persuading me that he is in the right and I may, decide in his favour, while in fact and in truth the right may lie with the other. I wish to make it quite clear that in such a case the mere fact that I have given judgment in favour of the first, will not place him in any better pasition with regard to his rights, for in spite of my judgment he will be in the wrong in the sight of God. Sucli a person should therefore take warn- ing and should, notwithstanding my judgment in his favour, make full restitution to the other party. " Secondly, a prophet is subject to the law in the same manner as other people. The Quran states with reference to the Holy Prophet: "GoJ has commanded me to keep the /au1 in eve,. y respec-1 and that 1 should conform to it wholeheartedly. " ( 01. X, v. 104, 105) Thirdly, a prophet is bound to discharge his domestic obligations and responsibilities as fully and completely as he is bound to obey the law and to conduct himself as a good citizen·. The Quran lays down: "If either iof thy ['llfmls °' both should approach old age say not to them 'Oh', 1"epro11ingly, nor rebuke them and always speak kinJ/7 10 them. " (Qi. XVIi, t. 23) It is well known that the Holy Prophet's own parents died before he had emerged from infancy. Nevertheless, he has been directly addressed in this verse which is an indication that a prophet is as much bound by domestic obligations and responsibilities as any other member of the community and that he is not exempt from any of them on account of his spiritual eminence. In fact he must set up in his own person an ideal in all these respects for others to follow. There are several other verses in the Quran which emphasize this. Fourthly, a prophet is bound by all moral obli~ations and is ex- pa:ted to set up and illustrate in his O\\'n life the highest moral stand- ards. In this respect the Quran says: "Hadst thou bu11 harsh and hard- hearted thou couldst not have attracted thy follou·e,-1 into obedience," (Qi. III, v. 159) and again, "Thou Josi conform 10 the highest morlll standards. " (Ch. LXVIU, v. 4) In a gCAeral. statement regarcling all ·•·