Mapping Islamic Ethical Sources : A Critical Review

This volume, which explores a curated selection of classical sources in Islamic ethics, requires an analytical introduction that first addresses the general sources of Islamic ethics. This preliminary discussion is crucial before diving into the detailed analysis of the selected sources within the volume. By situating these sources within a broader scholarly context, we recognise their significance, especially given the evolving boundaries and sources of this nascent field. In this chapter, we address three main issues. First, we emphasise the imperative of discussing and exploring the sources of ethics. Second, we examine how the notion of ethics shapes both the perception of this field and its foundational sources within the contemporary scholarly milieu. Third, we explore the methods contemporary scholars use to monitor, chronicle, and categorise the sources of Islamic ethics. Additionally, a fourth issue warrants further investigation: the categorisation of Islamic ethical heritage. Should it fall within a philosophical or non-philosophical framework? This involves considering different fields of knowledge, philosophical analytical concepts, source text formats, author methodologies, and other criteria. A comprehensive exploration of this fourth issue will be the topic of a future separate study, God willing.

Other Information

Published in: Key Classical Works on Islamic Ethics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
See chapter on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004459472_002