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Abstract: This article is an attempt to compare the teachings of Confucius and Islam, specifically The Four Books, which are authoritative works on Confucius, and the original sources of Islam, Qur'an and Sunnah. The Four Books are the most quoted sources of Confucius' thought, namely The Great Learning (Da Xue ...), The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhong Yong ...), The Confucian Analects (Lun Yu ...) and The Works of Mencius (Mengzi ...). The focus shall be on the concept of family and filial piety as found in Confucianism and Qur'an and Sunnah. Both the teachings of Confucius and Islam emphasise the importance of virtues, ties and order in the family system, for example, the husband is the head of the family and responsible for the family's existence and security. Islam and Confucianism are both patriarchal, and the husband and men are protectors of the family and deserve much respect. Young members of the family must respect and obey the elders and vice versa. To Confucius, these virtues are the heavenly way and must be cultivated and developed accordingly as li (...) or good manners from an early age. The young and old must be treated according to their age. Similar values are also upheld in Islam. However, there are also differences between the two approaches which shall be highlighted as well.
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Introduction
Confucius was born in Shandong (...), China, in 551 BCE, but his teachings, ethics, and influence have widely spread not only in China, but also Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and other regions in both East and West, and attracted nearly one-fifth of the world's population. The Prophet Muhammad was born in 572 from the Hashemite tribe in Mecca and brought Islam to the people as a 'comprehensive way of life'. Islam has since the time of Muhammad spread from Mecca to the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, then to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world. Nearly one-fifth of the world population is Muslim. Due to the widespread practices of the two beliefs within the cultures of mankind, the present research was initiated to compare the concepts, similarities, and contrasts of the ubiquitous family institutions of mankind within Confucianism...