The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 64
58 displays cheerfulness as a substitute for courtesy and good talk. That shows that the root of courtesy is cheerfulness which is a natural faculty and is converted into the moral quality of courtesy by being used on its proper occasion. The Divine teaching in this context is: 71 وَقُولُو الِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا 70 لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمُ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَنْ يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءِ مِنْ نِسَاءٍ عَسَى أَنْ يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِنْهُنَّ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمَ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَ لَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ إِنَّ اللهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ 72 وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَيْكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا 73 That is, say to people that which is good. Let not one people deride another people, haply they may be better than themselves; nor let one group of women 70. And speak to men kindly (The Holy Quran, al-Baqarah 2:84) 71. Let not one people deride another people, who may be better than they, nor let women deride other women, who may be better than they. And defame not your own people, nor call one another by nicknames. (The Holy Quran, al- Hujurat 49:12) 72. Avoid most of suspicions; for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not, nor back-bite one another. . . . . . And fear Allah, surely, Allah is Oft- Returning with compassion and is Merciful. (The Holy Quran, al-Hujurat 49:13) 73. And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the ear and the eye and the heart all these shall be called to account. (The Holy Quran, Bani Isra'il 17:37)