The Systematic Structure of Ethical Concepts in the Holy Quran

The purpose of this study is the systematic and analytic investigation of ethical propositions stated in the Surahs of the Quran. To this end, using content analysis method, the role and the significance of these propositions in guiding the people and the society towards perfection and felicity will be explained, which would in turn form the basis for a model of an ethical system to emerge.By extracting the ethical propositions in the holy Quran and analyzing and categorizing them thematically, this research paper seeks ultimately to come up with a model of the way in which the people and the Muslim society could be guided. In this article, the ethical propositions stated in the Quran regarding both individual and social dimensions, will be addressed equally and, in order to construct a model and a structured system with regard to ethics, four basic pillars of a system, i.e. theoretical principles, requirements, premises, and impediments will also be explicated.In the present paper Surah Al-Israa will be studied as a sample using the content analysis method. The results indicated that the individualized propositions regarding the two issues of virtues and vices comprised 47%, and the social propositions stated regarding four issues of culture, society, politics and economy comprised 53% of the total propositions of this Surah. The model that will be presented in the end will illustrate all aspects and dimensions of an ethical system in both individual and social levels.