But whether he uses them for utility or for sheer enjoyment, he must avoid waste and excess. As a responsible agent of God and a conscientious trustee, he must always be mindful of others who share the world with him and who will succeed him in the future.

The moral principles of Islam are sometimes stated as positive commitments which must be fulfilled and sometimes as negative prescriptions which must be avoided.

Whether they are stated positively or negatively, they are designed to build in the human being a sound mind, a peaceful soul, a strong personality, and a healthy body.

There is no doubt that these are necessary requirements of the general welfare and prosperity of mankind. And to help man to satisfy these requirements Islam has, among other things, laid down the following regulations:

1. To bear witness to the Oneness of God and the Messengership of Muhammad in a meaningful commital way; 2. To observe the daily prayers regularly;

3. To pay the religious tax which is known as alms or the poor-due (zakah);

4. To keep the fast of the Holy Month of Ramadan;

5. To make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca at least once in his lifetime.

The moral and social implications of these regulations will be discussed later in detail.

Besides these positive measures, there are others which may be called preventive and precautionary ones. To protect man from insanity and degeneration, from weakness and indulgence, from indecency and temptation, Islam has prohibited certain things pertaining to food, drinking, recreation and sex. Among these are the following:

1. All kinds of intoxicating wines, liquors, and spirits (Qur’an, 2:219; 4:43; 5:93-94);