Traditional Islamic Inventory of Virtues

The TIIV or Traditional Islamic Inventory of Virtues is an inventory created by revising the 14th century classification of Islamic virtues found in the al-akhlāq al-ʿaḍudiyyah. The TIIV provides an aggregation of many of the subvirtues of al-Ījī due to the degree of overlap between them, makes minor linguistic revisions and adds a few new subvirtues. The definitions of each of the TIIV subvirtues are constructed by drawing upon numerous sources in the Islamic tradition while still relying mostly on al-Ījī’s. The process of aggregation and revision has produced five major TIIV virtues with 31 subvirtues.

Discernment’ (Jawdah al-Fahm wa al-Taṣawwur) - the ability to use reason, process information logically, and demonstrate critical thinking

Knowledge acquisition (ihtimām bi al-taʿllum) - the continuous engagement in activities of learning and pursuit of knowledge acquisition

Love of learning (ḥubb al-taʿllum) - the adoration for learning and value for the acquisition of knowledge

Open mindedness (tafattuḥ al-dhihn) - the absence of intellectual stubbornness and possessing an openness to truth.

Agreeableness (muwāfaqa) -being amenable to others preferences in social contexts and a willingness to give up their wishes for others in trivial or worldly things

Seeking & Drawing affection (al-tawaddud) - seeking and giving affection to others.

Compassion (riqqa) - having a soft heart, a feeling of sympathy for the painful experiences of others leading them to displays of forgiveness, tolerance and benevolence

Forbearance (ḥilm) - the ability to restrain one’s anger and overlook the faults of others. Also, to refrain from the execution of retribution and to respond to evil with goodness

Courage (najda) - display of appropriate assertiveness in order to protect individual rights and responding with bravery to circumstances that demand a firm response

Humility (tawāẓu) - having a modest or moderate view of one's self-importance and having no traces of arrogance in their social dealings

Protectiveness (ḥamiyya) - described as the possession of an adaptive feeling of anger and accompanying assertive response to threats to that which is sacred

Perseverance (ʿuluw al-himmah) - ability to generate the will power and endurance to bear difficult tasks over a long period of time

Good opinion of others (ḥusn al-dhan) - the ability to look at the positive qualities of individuals, to depersonalize any offenses committed against them and maintain an overall positive interpretation of others behavior.

Patience (ṣabr) - the ability to endure the challenges associated with undertaking a difficult task and waiting calmly for the outcomes to come to fruition

Modesty (ḥayaʾ) - a feeling of being too ashamed to partake in actions that are deemed sinful or unethical

Gratitude’ (Shukr) - being thankful and showing appreciation for the blessings that one possesses

Self-regulation (habs al-nafs) - “the exercise of willpower to restrain one’s appetitive drives and sensual desires”.

Orderliness (Intiẓām) – the prioritization of matters and to rank order them according to their potential for good outcomes (maṣaliḥ)

Generosity (sakhāʾ) - as giving freely to others without expecting anything in return’

Contentment (Qanāʿah) - the process of being satisfied with the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon them without yearning for more

Civility (muruʾah) - abstaining from uncivilized or lowly behavior in consideration of one’s social context and norms

Familial and Social Connection (Silat al-rahm) - maintaining the bonds of kinship and close friendship

Loyalty (wafāʾ) - a commitment to fulfilling the needs of others and upholding one’s oaths and contracts

Truthfulness (Ṣidq) - being able to remain honest and trustworthy in one’s social dealings’

Rectification (Islāḥ) - fulfilling one’s civic duty to uphold the good and prohibit evil in society (ʾamr bi al-mʿarūf wa nahy ʿan al-munkar) and reconciling social conflicts between people

Upholding justice - undergoing personal risks and sacrifices in order to uphold social justice and to struggle against the oppression and wrongdoings of others

Contemplation (Tafakkur) - the reflection upon the creation of the heavens and the earth leading to seeing the greater purpose of life that motivates an individual to live in a more meaningful way.

Worship (ʿIbadah) - is defined as ‘a demonstration of servitude and submission to Allah through religious rituals and good deeds’

Reliance on Allah (Tawakkul) - is described as ‘having complete trust in Allah. And to exert all the means available to them in hopes of achieving a positive outcome while realizing that the ultimate outcome comes from Allah alone

‘Contentment (Riḍā) - Allah’s decree’ is defined as ‘a complete satisfaction with the decree of Allah believing that whatever He has willed for His slave is best for him’

Religious Vigilance (waraʿ) - a continuous consciousness of the presence of Allah, believing that none of their behaviors nor inner thoughts can be concealed from Him