In session two of the Prophetic Ethics course, Dr. Walead Mosaad discusses the historic overlap between theology and philosophy, and the centrality of understanding ontology (the nature of being), epistemology (the ways and sources of knowing) and ethics (how to live and what the right thing to do is) in order to move forward and understand who we are, the world around us and how to live.

Continuing with the introduction of the book (see title below), the relationship between outer and inner comportment is emphasized, noting that we live in an age of crumbling adab or ethical comportment.

The Prophet’s noble etiquettes and ethical comportment bear witness to his being the noblest of the creation of God Most High, the most elevated in rank and the most magnificent in stature. The goal of studying his ethics and etiquettes (the list of which is read in this class) is therefore to learn how to embody and imbibe that inner reality, and to emulate the Prophetic states of being. Since if we are not able to affect change meaningfully within ourselves, we cannot affect change with anyone else.

Reading from:
Book 20 of the Ihyā’ ‘ulūm ad-dīn by Imam Abu Hāmid Al-Ghazali on Prophetic Ethics.
English translation: The Prophet Ethics and the Courtesies of Living by Dr. Adi Setia.