Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) said, "I was appointed as Prophet to perfect moral virtues." Without having moral virtues the people in a society cannot reach the noble goals of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) be that may. What helps the individual and society achieve transcendence are moral virtues. The term "moral virtues" does not only mean that we should behave properly towards other people. It means that we should improve moral qualities in our hearts and souls, and we should show them in practice.
People who are jealous of one another, who are greedy, bear ill will towards one another, try to deceive one another and bear grudges against one another, cannot achieve happiness even if the law is strictly enforced in the society in which these people live. This is not an acceptable human society even if it makes scientific progress and even if the civilization in such a society reaches its highest peak. There is no happiness in a society in which people do not feel safe and in which an individual feels that other people are jealous of him, are suspicious of him, are greedy towards him and his wealth, bear grudges against him and hatch plots against him.
But if in a society people have moral virtues, treat one another kindly, forgive one another, exercise great patience, and if they are not greedy for worldly profits, are not stingy about the things that they have, are not jealous of one another, do not create obstacles in the way of people who want to make progress, then these people can have a happy and peaceful life, even if they do not make much material progress. These are moral virtues. We need these virtues. We should improve moral virtues in our hearts and souls on a daily basis. Individual and social rules of Islam are means for helping humanity achieve happiness. There is no doubt in this regard, but in order to implement these rules properly, we need moral virtues.
In order to strengthen morality in society, we need to do two things. First, we should engage in self-education; and second, we should provide all the people - at all levels - with moral education. This duty should be carried out by our schools and other centers that are responsible for education. These organizations are responsible for carrying out this duty. This is one of the necessary tasks in "The Year of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.)." That is to say, we should be faithful, and we should be true Muslims and followers of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) by observing moral virtues. We should make a list of negative and evil qualities, and we should try to eliminate these qualities from our hearts and souls if we have any of them.
We should also make a list of moral virtues and try to develop them in our hearts and souls. Of course, what makes us progress on this path is love, love for God Almighty, love for the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), love for this path, love for the teachers of morality - that is to say, the Prophets and infallible Imams (a.s.). This is love which helps us move forward on this path. We should strengthen this love within ourselves everyday. The Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) says, "Oh God, make me love You and love those who love You, and make me love doing things which bring me closer to You." We should nurture in our hearts and souls love for God and love for His saints. God Almighty approves. This is one of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), one that we should pay attention to in "The Year of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.)."
Imam Khamenei, Mar 26, 2006
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