Discipline a virtue for self-development: Gayoom

MALE, Nov 10 (HNS) - Discipline and good moral conduct are virtues that everyone need in order to achieve fulfillment and well-being in personal matters, family life and social relations, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said. The President said so while addressing Thursday the first meeting held this year at the Islamic Centre under the program to revive and renew the spirit of Ramadan. Speaking about the fifteen fundamental aspects of Islam as categorized by Muslim theologians and philosophers and, continuing the series of lectures that he had begun earlier on this subject, the President's address covered the 13th aspect, which was discipline and moral conduct. Gayoom stressed the importance of discipline and rectitude for well-ordered social relations, and noted the vital role played in one's personal life by the qualities of good moral character and integrity. He said that a person who spurned such virtues would not find fulfillment in his personal matters, and would not be a person who enjoyed the respect and the esteem of his peers and others. Moreover, such a person would not be able to contribute to the well-being of his own family or society, he said. The President explained that the Holy Koran taught in detail what constituted good moral conduct, and said that one of the qualities that were highlighted was honesty. He said that an honest person would be true in both word and deed, and added that those who were honest would achieve success and respect in their lives and would receive the blessings of the Almighty Allah in the Hereafter. He also noted the importance of honesty and truthfulness for well-ordered social relations and harmony. President Gayoom said that trustworthiness was a virtue that was related to honesty, and recalled that the holy book commands the people to become trustworthy. He highlighted the importance of being faithful to matters that were entrusted to a person, especially with regard to property and wealth, and stressed that such trusts should be carefully rendered to their rightful owners. Gayoom counseled everyone to strengthen their personality and conscience with such virtues. He emphasized the importance of everyone contributing to reform in matters that were related to each one, or their area of social interaction and, while stressing the necessity of striving for reform, the President noted that such efforts had reaped success. Two other virtues that the President highlighted in his address were humility and modesty. The President said that no person had any justification to be haughty and arrogant, and that all mortals should realize their frailty and weakness. He added that everyone should aspire to the qualities of humility and modesty. Further, he noted the importance of the qualities of forgiveness and restraining anger, and counseled everyone to make it a habit, if angered, to control their temper and to speak with composure. The President also noted that forgiving others was a means of receiving the mercy and forgiveness of the Almighty Allah.