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The Islamic Shariah (Laws of Islam)
The Lawful and the Unlawful in Islam
Traditions Interfering with Islam
Islam means to submit freely to The Commandments and Will of The One and Only God (Allah). This submission should come from within, from sound belief in and conviction to Allah, with no doubt. It should also come from love, trust, and affection.
Allah is not a special god for Muslims, but Allah is The Creator of all creatures, including mankind.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace on him) is the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace on him) received The Word of Allah (revelation), through the archangel Gabriel (The Holy Spirit). This revelation comprises the Religion of Islam.
The Qur'an is the authentic collection of this revelation recorded in book form. It is the exact, unchanged Word of Allah to all mankind.
A Muslim is any male or female person who believes in Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace on him) as His Messenger who then testifies to that belief to witnesses announcing his/her acceptance of Islam as his/her religion. "Muslim' should not be confused with "Arab"; A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam and s/he can be of any race while Arab refers to a race of people. An Arab can choose to be of any religion or belief system be it Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, atheism, or any faith. Arabs make up less than 18% of the Muslim population of the world today, which is estimated to be over one-fifth of the world's population, or more than a billion people.
Islam is a simple and practical religion. It has established, clear, and easily understandable beliefs and laws that any follower or student of the religion can easily understand. Islam affirms belief in a decent, civilized society. Islam also does not demand impossible goodness of its followers, but it recognizes that all human beings make mistakes and sin. No one is exempt. Islam preaches peace, mercy, justice, tolerance, equality, love, truth, forgiveness, patience, morality, sincerity and righteousness. Islam is the religion that preaches the Oneness of God, the Oneness of mankind and the Oneness of the Message.
Islam is the religion that preaches the Oneness of God, the Oneness of mankind and the Oneness of the Message.
Oneness of God: "Tawheed"
Muslims believe that there is ONLY One
supreme God (Allah). In Islam to
believe in Allah is not only to believe
in Allah's existence but also to believe
in all Allah's attributions, to worship
Allah alone, and to obey all Allah's
commands. Tawheed includes the
oneness of the Lordship, oneness of
Worship and oneness of Names and
Attributes:
A) Oneness of Lordship: To believe that Allah is The ONLY Creator, Provider, and The Commander.
B) Oneness of Worship: To believe that Allah is the ONLY God who should be worshipped, and obeyed as Allah prescribed.
C) Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes: To believe that Allah Is Perfect and His Names and Attributes are Perfect according to what Allah tells us about Himself in the Quran, believing that those Names and Attributes, in their perfection, belong only to Allah.
◊ Muslims believe that NO one shares Allah's divinity that is neither angel nor human. Allah says: "And Allah makes none to share in His decision and His rule." (Holy Quran 18:26)
◊ Muslims do not believe that Allah sleeps, gets tired, or dies. Those attributes are only for Allah's creatures. Allah has neither Weakness nor Weariness.
◊ Muslims do not believe that human beings are created in the image of Allah.
◊ Muslims believe that there is no intermediary who will take any one nearer to Allah or plead on anyone's behalf. They believe that any individual can directly supplicate to Allah and ask for anything he/she wants.
◊ People are created equal in the sight of Allah. There is no superiority of one over another for any reason except piety and righteousness. Muslims are required to respect the dignity of mankind, regardless of religion, race, nationality, or place of birth, all of mankind are honored.
◊ People are not to be judged on factors that they had no choice over, such as gender, color, size, race, health, etc. Islam teaches that human diversity is a sign of the richness of Allah's mercy and the beauty of His creation. Prophet Muhammad said: "Surely Allah does not look at your faces or your bodies, but looks at your hearts and your deeds".
◊ In Islam there are no priests, priesthood or holy men, and no one has special access to sacraments, there are however, scholars who are knowledgeable of Islam, and their duty is to truthfully explain Islam to others. THEY ARE JUST ADVISORS.
◊ Islam teaches people to be moderate in their life. Muslims should not give up totally this life for the hearafter, nor give up the work for the hearafter totally for this life only.
Muslims believe that Allah Sent Messengers to each nation hroughout the history of humankind. Messengers came with the same message: to worship the One Supreme God and to obey His Commands.
Innocence of mankind at Birth. Muslims believe that people are born free of any sin and bear no responsibility for other's faults and sins. It is only after they reach the age of puberty, and they knowingly commit sins that they will be held responsible for their actions in this life and the hearafter.
There is no original sin in Islam. Muslims believe that both Adam and Eve were equally tempted, both sinned, and were both responsible for disobedying Allah. Both were remorseful and repented, and Allah forgave both of them.
Muslims believe that no soul is responsible for the sins and faults of others, even if they are their parents, children, wives or husbands.
Muslims believe that forgiveness is always available through repentance. Muslims pray for repentance directly to Allah, without any intermediary.
Salvation in Islam is only through belief and practice. both go together, side-by-side, to be granted salvation.
There are five pillars of Islam:
1. Shahada (Testify)
2. Salah (Prayer)
3. Seyam (Fasting)
4. Zakat (Charity)
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Shahada (Creed)
The verbal commitment and pledge
that there is no deity but Allah, and
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Salah (Mandatory Worship
[Prayer])
It is the duty of every Muslim, male
and female, after reaching the age of
puberty, to perform five Salats
(Prayers) at specific times during the
day and night. These five specific
times are: - Dawn, Noon, Afternoon,
Sunset, and Night. A ritual called
Wudu (Cleaning several parts of die
body with water) is a prerequisite to
Salat.
The above picture is one "rak'a", i.e, one set of standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting. Each Salah consists of several Rak'a. Muslims are strongly encouraged to pray in the masjid, but if that is beyond their ability, they can pray anywhere that is clean; Muslims do not make Salah in a bathroom.
Siyam (Fasting)
Fasting during the month of
Ramadan (the ninth month of the
lunar calendar) is from sun up to sun
down only and is an obligation on
every adult healthy Muslim, male or
female. Fasting is total abstinence
from eating, drinking, smoking, gum
chewing, intimate relations, and
taking anything into the body. If a
person is ill and needs to take
medication, s/he cannot fast. Fasting
is also a time to discipline one's self
from bad behaviors, such as, arguing,
arguing, and saying mean things.
Those who are ill or unable to fast for
health or reasons of age are exempt
from fasting. However, they should
feel the poor one meal for every day
they miss of fasting. Women who are
pregnant, menstruating, or nursing, or
any who are traveling, are also
exempt from fasting. However, when
their situation changes, they make up
the days of fasting or feed the poor
one meal for each day of fasting they
missed.
Zakah (Charity)
Zakat is an annual obligatory
charity on every Muslim, male or
female, who possesses over the last
year money or property that exceeds
their minimum needs. The
requirement is 2.5% of one's excess
wealth. It is also called a tax because
it supports the government workers
who are not free to make money
elsewhere.
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The performance of the pilgrimage
to Makkah, Saudi Arabia is required
once in a lifetime of every Muslim, if
financially able, as well as physically
able. Hajj begins every year during
the month of Dul Hejja; Dul Hejja is
the 12th month of the Islamic (lunar)
calendar year. The Hajj is a spiritual
journey where a Muslim forgets all
worldly things and devotes his\her
attention and time to Allah alone.
In Islam, there are six pillars of faith: Belief in Allah, His angels, His books to mankind, His Prophets and Messengers, the Day of Judgment, and Destiny.
1. Belief in God (Allah)
Islam teaches that there is one Unique
God (Allah) who should be
worshipped and obeyed.
2. Belief in Mala-eka
(Angels)
Muslims believe that Allah created
unseen creatures such as Angels.
Muslims believe in their existence,
their names, their tasks, and
descriptions as explained in the
Quran and in the Sunnah (Teachings
of the Prophet).
3. Belief in the Books of
Allah
Muslims believe that Allah from time
to time revealed books to mankind
through his Prophets. These books
originated from the same divine
source; they are all divine revelations.
Muslims believe in the original text of
these books when they were revealed.
The five prominent divine books are:
1) Abraham's Scrolls; 2) Zabur
(Psalms) revealed to Prophet David; 3)
Tawrah (Torah) revealed to Prophet
Moses; 4) Injil (Gospel) revealed to
Prophet Jesus; 5) Quran revealed to
Prophet Muhammad.
4. Belief in the Prophets of
Allah
Muslims believe that Allah sent
Prophets to all mankind as messengers
for their guidance. Muslims believe in
their existence, their names, and their
messages, as Allah and His Prophet
informed about them. Prophets are
void of divinity because divinity is
exclusive only to Allah (God) the
Almighty. They are all righteous,
truthful, and pious men chosen by
Allah to be models to all mankind,
both their words and deeds being in
accordance with the divine
commandments.
5. Belief in Yawm al-Qiyama
(Day of Judgement)
Muslims believe that the life of this
world and all that is in it will come to
an end on one appointed day, when
everything will be annihilated. This
day will resurrect all the dead; Allah
will judge with perfect justice each
person individually according to his
good or bad actions that he did during
his life, and every victim will have his/
her rights. Allah will reward those who
lead a righteous life and did good
deeds by sending them to Paradise
(Jannah). Allah forgives whom He
pleases of those who disobeyed His
Command, or punish them in the
Hellfire (Jahannam).
6. Qada wal-Qada (Destiny,
Divine Decree)
Muslims believe that since the whole
universe is entirely under the direction
and control of Allah, then everything
that is or that happens in this universe,
from the smallest to the greatest event
is governed by Allah. Muslims put
their trust in Allah only they are
required, however, to make a sincere
effort to strive and do their best, and
not simply sit back and let things take
their course in blind resignation. Such
belief gives a person a tremendous
degree of inner certainty, confidence
and peace of heart, especially in the
face of afflictions. Moreover, he lives
with the assurance that whatever is to
come to any individual, including
death, cannot fail to come at its
appointed time.
• The Islamic Shariah (Laws of Islam)
Shariah is the divine code of practice which guides a Muslim I all affairs of his/her life, it is divided into two categories: Ebadat (system of worship), and Muamalat (system of dealing). The main source that governs all the laws of Islam is Allah through two channels; the first is the Quran, the book of Allah, and the second is the Sunnah, which is the authentic recording of the sayings, traditions of the Prophet and whatever his companion said or did to which he showed no objection.
• The Lawful and the Unlawful in Islam
The basic rule governing the issue of the lawful and the unlawful is that things are lawful unless one of the sources of the Islamic laws specifies that they are unlawful. In Islam it is prohibited to drink alcohol, use drugs, use interest, and all immoral conducts. It is also prohibited to eat the meat of pork, predators (animals and birds) and all dead animals.
• War
War is not an objective of Islam nor is it the normal course of Muslims; it is only the last resort and is used under the most extraordinary circumstances, when all other attempts at just and peaceful solutions to the dispute fail. In Islam, every being is entitled to enjoy a free and peaceful life, regardless of religious, geographical or racial considerations. If non-Muslims are living peacefully or even indifferently with the Muslims, there can be no grounds or justification to declare war on them or to begin hostilities, embark on any act of aggression, or violate their rights.
• Jihad
In Islam Jihad does not mean "Holy war". And is not a declaration of war against other religions and certainly not against Christians and Jews, as some people want it to be perceived. Jihad literally means "striving, struggling or exerting more effort than usual for the betterment of one's elf and the community at large." It has an internal, societal and combative dimension.
- The internal dimension of Jihad encompasses the struggle against the evil inclinations of the self; it involves every Muslim's earnest, moral efforts to resist all internal or external inclination towards sin of all kinds. This includes the struggle to overcome problems, difficulties, tasks, and temptations.
- The social dimension includes struggling against social injustice and creating a communal identity based on charity, respect and equality. Also it takes the form of calling people with the community to enjoin good and forbid evil.
- Finally, the combative aspect of jihad is in the form of a just war to be used against aggression or to fight forces of tyranny and evil oppression, and, even then, to observe the strict limits of conduct prescribed by Islam that preserves the life of innocents and the sanctity of the environment.
- Islam rejects all forms of terrorism, extremism, fanatism and fundamentalism. The religion of Islam guarantees the sanctity of life (the life of a non-Muslim is considered as sacred as that of a Muslim), honor, property, and freedom to embrace and practice any religion they freely choose, and all other conducts as long as those conducts do not hurt others. To terrorize people or spread fear in any society or hurt others; all are considered major sins in Islam; Allah prescribed severe punishments for those who are involved in such actions.
• Women in Islam
Islam looks at the woman as an equal, mature and capable partner of a man, without whom a family cannot exist and teaches that men and women are all the creation of Allah, existing on a level of equal worth and value.
In some societies women are treated according to ancestral customs and tribal tradition, but in Islam they are treated with full respect and honor. Islam preserves women's honor and dignity, and requires that she must be treated with respect and honor. Her femininity should not be exploited in any way, rather she is to be regarded and treated as human individual whose sexuality does not enter into her relationship with any person other than her husband.
In Islam marriage cannot take place unless the female freely agrees to it and a dowry is given to her. Islam puts priorities for the husbands and wives. The responsibility for providing for the family is on the husband, while the responsibility to care for the house and raising the children is on the wife. These are the main priorities, but cooperation between the husband and the wife is required and highly recommended.
• Dress
For both males and females, Islam requires that they wear proper, decent, modest, and clean clothes.
Muslim women also are instructed by Allah in the Quran to wear as a minimum Hijab (head covering). At home, with her immediate family like her husband children, brothers, uncles, grandfathers and other males (family members who are forbidden to them to marry her), and with other women, a Muslim woman may take her outer garments off, and be free to beautify herself as she wants. Unlawful clothing and adornment:
-Tight clothing, transparent clothing, clothes that expose those parts of the body which are sexually attractive, extravagant clothes, swim suits, makeup or perfume in public, wigs and hairpieces, gold and silk prohibited to Men only, but lawful for Women.
Generally in Islam, women's beauty and sexual attributes are not for public display.
• Traditions Interfering with Islam
The adherence to Islam (as with other religions) varies with the strength of the beliefs of the people. Sometimes culture and traditions interfere with religion, or even overshadow the religion. Some people claim that something in their culture or tradition is part of the religion, when it is not. Or do things that have no justification in Islam and are prohibited; yet that gets portrayed by others as the tenets of the religion of Islam.
Also the beliefs and practices of Muslims should not be judged according to the beliefs and the laws of other religions since some lawful practices of one religion can be portrayed by other religion as unlawful or even wrong.
Sometimes a conduct of certain people can be offensive to others and vice versa in spite of the fact that this conduct is not meant to offend others. For example Islam commands Muslims to lower their eyes when they are talking to people out of respect and honor for the others. This can be offending to other cultures where eye contact is very important when communication.
To live in peace and harmony in this world, one should realize that people were created differently and vary in the colors of their skin, their languages, and in their religions, cultures, and traditions. Some people may be different, but it does not mean that they are bad or evil.
The Islamic Bulletin
P.O. Box 410186, San Francisco, CA 94141-0186
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