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Introduction
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Prophet Muhammad
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Concept of God
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The Holy Scripture
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Fundamental Articles of Faith
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Islamic Law
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Socio-Economic and Political
Order
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Daily life of a Muslim
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Holidays & Festivals
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Fiqh and Sects
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Islam
is the religion of those who follow Prophet Muhammad (571 – 632
A.D) (may Allah’s peace be upon him). The name ‘Islam’ or Al-Islam
is an Arabic word which means ‘submission’ or ‘surrender, ‘peace’
or ‘commitment’. Its adherents or followers are called Muslims
which mean the ‘submitters’ or ‘surrenderers’. Thus Islam
describes proper relationship between man and God, and the Muslim
are those who submit or surrender to the will of God. The Muslims
believe that submission before Allah (God) brings peace and
fulfillment. They do not like to be called ‘Muhammadans’ and their
religion to be called ‘Muhammadanism’ because these expressions
imply that they worship Muhammad while they worship only Allah and
consider Muhammad as Allah’s messenger and servant and a mortal
human being.
Islam
is one of the three great monotheistic religions and is the
youngest one, the other two Judaism and Christianity being its
predecessors. On the basis of numerical strength of its followers,
Islam is the second big religion. Today there are 56 Muslim
countries in the world and there are over 1200 million Muslims,
almost one-fifth of the total world-population. Although Muslims
are found in every country of the world but majority of them live
in Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, China, Malaysia, Middle
East, Central Asian Republics of formers Soviet Union, North
Africa, Eastern Europe.
According to the Qur’an, the last revealed book of God, Islam is
the only religion acceptable to God. It is not the religion only
of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers, rather it has been
religion of all the Prophets and their people which preceded
Muhammad – right from Adam to Jesus. All of the Prophets, whether
mentioned in the Qur’an or not, came with sole and common mission
to guide mankind to worship Allah, the One God of universe, and
therefore, they had the same religion. This fact the Holy Qur’an
confirms when it says to Prophet Muhammad: “He (God) hath ordained
for you that religion which He commended unto Noah and that which
we inspire in thee (Muhammad), and that which we commended unto
Abraham and Moses and Jesus……” (42:13). Since the teachings of
Islam received through prophets by the previous nations were
corrupted with the passage of time and even the names of the
religion were attributed to the names of the founders or the
prophets, the need arose for the renewal of Islam through raising
of new prophets. Thus Islam was purified of various modifications
and corruptions which had entered into it and was strengthened
with additional truths till it reached perfection with Allah’s
final messenger Muhammad (PBUH) and with God’s last message, the
Qur’an, which God has undertaken to preserve it in original form
till Doomsday. Encyclopedia Americana beautifully discusses this
belief as follows:
“The
Koran presents Mohammad as the seal of the Prophets. According to
developed Islamic theological thought, God in His mercy bestowed
prophecy upon the first man, Adam, so that he and his descendants
might have guidance for the proper way to live. Sadly, this
guidance was first ignored and then corrupted and lost by
successive generations, so God found it necessary to send other
prophets to renew it. Among the prophets whom the Koran mentions
are some known from the Bible, such as Abraham, David, and Jesus,
and others unknown, such as Salih and Hud. The revelations to
Mohammad were a renewal of the message of the prophets before him
and, like theirs, came in the form of a divine book. Mohammad was
the last of this prophetic tradition but also its confirmation,
climax, and proof.”
Another great fact about Islam has been brought home by writers of
the book, “Great Religions By Which Men Live”, as under:
“Most
modern world religions became organized religions by an accident
of history. In many cases, their roots are buried so deep in time
that we cannot know the incidents that helped them to develop.
But-Islam was distinguished by two facts from the start. First, it
became a religion as the result of deliberate planning and
well-considered efforts. Second, its whole development took place
after world history had begun to be carefully recorded.”
“In a
short span of years, Mohammed had lifted himself to a unique
position of leadership among his people. He had the time and the
opportunity to plan thoroughly to meet all the social and
spiritual needs of his fellow men. Mohammad, convinced that he
spoke for Allah, had given rules for beliefs, for religious
duties, and for proper conduct. As a result, Moslems found
themselves with a guide to almost every activity or situation
undertaken by human beings.”
That
is why, the followers of Islam hold their religion as perfect
which provides a complete code of life to them.
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Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Prophet of Islam, is the last of
the messenger of God sent to mankind for guidance. According to
the Qur’an, which is the revealed book of Islam, God sent
messengers to every nation and to every township of the old and,
therefore, their number must be in thousands if not in millions.
The Qur’an, however, mentions by name only a few messengers, not
more than two dozens, the most famous among them being Adam (the
father of mankind), Noah, Hud, Saleh, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac,
Jacob, Shuaib, Moses, David, Jesus Christ and Muhammad (may
Allah’s peace be upon them all). The chain of the Prophets starts
from Adam who was the first human being as well as first prophet
and it ends with Muhammad (PBUH) who is the final Prophet of
Allah, the God of universe and of all mankind. Some of these
messengers were given books such as Moses who was given the Torah,
Jesus who was given the Bible, David who was given the Psalms, and
Muhammad who was given the Qur’an. It is hinted in the Qur’an that
Abrahm was also given some book but the name of the book is not
reported. The Qur’an is thus the last revealed book of God as
Muhammad (PBUH) is the final prophet. Character and conduct of
Muhammad (PBUH) was declared by the Qur’an as model for the
believers. Unlike the previous Prophets who were sent to their own
tribes or nations having a limited mission, Muhammad (PBUH) was
sent to the whole of mankind with universal mission.
Muhammad (PBUH) the Prophet of Islam was born at Makkah in Arabia
(today called Saudi Arabia), in the Hashemite branch of the tribe
of Quraish who were descendants of Prophet Abraham through his
eldest son Ishmael. He was born on Monday, the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal
53 years before Hijrah corresponding to 23 rd April, 571 A.D.
Muhammad lost his father Abdullah before his birth, his mother
Aminah at the age of six and his loving grandfather Abdul Muttalib
at the age of eight and was thus left to the care of his uncle Abu
Talib who brought him up with great love and affection like his
own sons. Since Abu Talib was not a man of substantial means,
Muhammad had to engage himself in trade at very early age to earn
livelihood. His excellent conduct and dealings with the people
earned him the names of al-Sadiq (the truthful) and al-Amin (the
trustworthy) at young age. At the age of 25, Muhammad married a
rich widow of his tribe Quraish who was 15 years senior to him.
All of Muhammad’s children (who were reportedly seven or eight)
except one son Ibrahim were born of Khadija.
For
the next fifteen years of his life, Muhammad (PBUH) lived very
quietly, mostly attending to the business of his wife and
appearing only occasionally in public life. From early youth he
was devoted to meditation and it was his practice to retire for
month of Ramadan every year to a cave in Mount Hira, not far from
Makkah. It was there one night that Muhammad (PBUH) experienced
his prophetic call. While he lay in the cave wrapped in his
mantle, he had a vision of an angel commanding him to recite the
word of God. He was forty at that time and the year was 610 A.D.
and the month was Ramadan when Muhammad (PBUH) received the light
of first revelation. The call caused Muhammad (PBUH) great
distress and he returned home with great fear and depression. When
he related to his wife Khadijah what had happened to him at the
cave, she not only consoled him but also took him to her relative
Waraqa bin Nowfal who was a Hanif (a member of a group of
enlightened men among Quraish who devoted to one God) and a
reputed man of religious insight. Waraqa told Muhammad (PBUH) that
he need not be depressed as he had been chosen by God as His
messenger and the angel who had come to him was Namus (Gabriel),
the same angel, who used to come to Moses.
Thus
started Muhammad’s (PBUH) prophetic career and he was instructed
to arise and preach to his people that God is One, that He has no
partner and that He should be worshipped alone. For the first
three years of his mission, the Prophet preached only to his
family and close associates. The first to accept his mission and
to abandon idolatry were his wife Khadija, his cousin Ali, his
friend Abu Bakr and his freed slave Zaid. At the end of third year
Muhammad (PBUH) received the command to preach in public. It was
then, when he began to speak against their gods (idols), that
Quraish became actively hostile, ill treating him and his
followers, some of whom were tortured to death. Since the first
converts to Islam were mostly humble and poor who could not defend
themselves against oppression, the prophet allowed some of them to
migrate to a distant Christian country, Abyssinia. But in spite of
the severest persecution and emigration, the followers of Muhammad
(PBUH) were growing in number upon which the pagan Quraish were
seriously alarmed. At first they tried to bring the Prophet to a
compromise by offering him every temptation but when their efforts
at negotiation failed, they redoubled their persecution and
finally decided to ostracise the Prophet’s whole clan as well as
Muslims who followed him. Then for three years, the Prophet had to
live with his kinsfolk in a place later to be called Shab-e-Abi
Talib in complete isolation. When the document of boycott was
destroyed miraculously by white ants and the kindlier among the
Quraish agreed to remove the ban, the Prophet was again free to go
about the city. But meanwhile the opposition to his preaching had
grown rigid. His attempt to preach in the neighbouring city of
Taif also failed. It was at this time that help of God came and
the Prophet met during the season of pilgrimage, a little group of
men from city of Yathrib who listened to him gladly and accepted
his mission. Next year the Yathribites sent a deputation to invite
Muhammad (PBUH) to their city.
Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Yathrib and reached the city on
Friday, 2nd July 622 A.D. at the age of fifty-three.
This is called the Hijrah from which dates the Islamic Calendar.
The people of yathrib welcomed the Prophet and his Makkan
followers, who had abandoned their homes, with great enthusiasm.
Henceforth the old name of the city was changed and it was to be
called Madinat un Nabi, the city of the Prophet or shortly,
Madinah, the name it bears ever since. A mosque was built for the
purpose of worship of the God and for establishing prayers. The
Prophet immediately applied himself to the task of organizing a
sort of common wealth on proper basis at Madinah. He concluded a
tripartite agreement between the Emigrants (mahajreen who had come
with the Prophet from Makkah), the Helpers (the Muslims Residents
of Madinah who had invited Muhammad) and the Jews (Yahud) of
Madinah. This agreement is known in the history of Islam as
Charter of Madinah. It is a historic document by which all
blood-feud was abolished and lawlessness repressed. It secured
equal rights to all the parties who had signed it and gave
religious freedom to the Jews. This document is in fact the first
written constitution of the world which established first Islamic
state at Madinah with the Prophet as its head.
The
pagans of Makkah were, however, not happy that the Prophet and his
followers should live in peace at Madinah and their religion
should spread. So the pagans (the Quraish of Makkah) decided to
crush the Muslims and advanced toward Madinah with one thousand
strong army. Thus the first battle between the Muslims and the
Quraish took place at Badr on Friday, 17th Ramadan 2
A.H. (13th March, 624 A.D.). The Muslims won and the
forces of disbelief perished. To avenge the defeat, the Quraish of
Makkah again came to invade Madinah in the next year and the
battle called the Battle of Uhud was fought on 6 Shawal, 3 A.H.
i.e. on 21st March, 625 A.D. Although the battle
remained indecisive, the Muslim losses this time were greater than
those of their enemy. In the fifth year of the Hijrah in the month
of Shawal (February – March of 627 A.D.) the Quraish, aided by the
great desert tribe of Ghatafan, again invaded Madinah with a large
army of 10,000 men. The war is known as War of the Clans or War of
the Trench. The Prophet, under the advice of Salman the Persian,
caused a deep trench to be dug before the city and defended
Madinah with only 3000 men. The army of the clans was stopped by
the trench, a novelty in Arab warfare. The siege of the city
continued for a month or so. While the Muslims were awaiting the
assault, the news came that Banu Qureyzah, a Jewish tribe of
Madinah had gone over to the enemy. The situation looked grim, but
one who was secretly a Muslim managed to sow distrust between the
Quraish and their Jewish allies, so none could attack. Meanwhile
came a bitter wind from the sea accompanied with rain which blew
for three days and nights so terribly that not a tent could be
kept standing, not a fire lighted, not a pot boiled. Therefore Abu
Sufiyan the leader of the Quraish gave the order to lift the siege
and thus retired the enemies without achieving their nefarious
designs.
In
the year 6 A.H. the Prophet had a vision in which he found himself
entering the Holy Kaaba at Makkah for a Umrah. Attired as
pilgrims, and taking with them the sacrificial animals the Prophet
and a 1400 followers of him started their journey to Makkah. As
they approached near the city they were told by a friend that the
Quraish were preparing for war and that they would not let the
Muslims enter the city. The Prophet then encamped at a place
called Al-Hudeybiyah from where he started negotiations with
Quraish trying to explain them that he had come only as a pilgrim.
Negotiations resulted in a truce which is called Truce or Treaty
of Hudeybiyah. According to the treaty, the Prophet was to return
to Al-Madinah without visiting Kaaba that year; in the next year
he might pay a visit to Kaaba with his companions for a period of
3 days during which Quraish would evacuate the city; deserters
from Quraish to the Muslims were to be returned to Quraish whereas
the deserters from the Muslims to the Quraish were not to be
returned to the Muslims; and any tribe who wished to join in the
treaty as ally of the Quraish or as ally of the Muslim could do
so.
In
the seventh year of the Hijrah, the Prophet led a campaign against
Khaiybar, the stronghold of the Jewish tribes, which had become a
center of intrigues against Islam. Khaiybar was conquered and the
Jews were subdued who thenceforth became tenants of the Muslims
till their expulsion from Arabia in the caliphate of Umar the
great. In the year 8 A.H, the Quraish broke the truce and,
therefore, the Prophet marched to Makkah with a strong army of
10,000 men and conquered the city. The Makkans were expecting
vengeance for their past misdeeds. However, the Prophet who has
rightly been called by the Qur’an a mercy for the worlds, showed
clemency unparalleled in the history of man. He proclaimed a
general amnesty and not only forgave his arch enemies like Abu
Sufiyan but also declared Abu Sufiyan’s house a place of safety.
In the same year the Battle of Huneyn was fought against the pagan
tribes who had gathered to regain the Kaabah. A lot of booty fell
into the hands of the Muslims for many of the hostile tribe had
brought with them all that they possessed. Subsequently Taif was
also conquered as the tribe of Thagif had joined the other tribes
in the Battle of Huneyn. Then the Prophet returned to Madinah.
In
the year 8 A.H., the Prophet had sent an expedition against the
Syrians who had reportedly gathered at Mutah for the destruction
of Islam. Though the campaign was unsuccessful as the three
leaders appointed by the Prophet fell and the survivors under
Khalid bin Walid managed their escape to Madinah, yet the campaign
impressed the Syrians with the valour of the Muslims who beings
only three thousands had not hesitated to join battle against a
hundred thousand. In the next year it was reported that the
Syrians were again mustering an army to attack Islamic state, so
the Prophet issued call to all the Muslims to support him with
men, arms and funds. At the head of 30,000 men the Prophet marched
to Tabuk, on the confines of Syria, only to learn that the enemy
had not yet gathered. Thus the expedition ended peacefully and the
Prophet returned to Madinah.
By
the year 9 A.H. Al-Islam had become dominant in all Arabia, so
Declaration of Immunity was revealed. It was read by Ali to the
Multitudes at Makkah in the Hajj season when Abu Bakr had already
been there as head of Muslim pilgrims. The Declaration (contained
in first few verses of chapter IX of the Holy Qur’an) forbade the
idolaters to performs Hajj (pilgrimage to Kaabah) even to enter
the precincts of the Holy House from the next year. Thus the
proclamation marks the end of idol-worship in Arabia. The ninth
year of Hijrah is also known “the Year of Deputations” because
deputations from all parts of Arabia came to Madinah to swear
allegiance to Prophet and embrace Islam. The Prophet had become,
in fact, head or king of the whole of Arabia, but his way of life
was as simple as before.
In
the year 10 A.H. on the 25th of Zul-Qaad (23rd February, 632) the
Prophet left Madinah with a multitude of Muslims to make a
farewell pilgrimage to Makkah. It was during this last pilgrimage
that the Prophet delivered the famous sermon on the mount of
Arafat known in the annals of history as the Sermon of the
Farewell Pilgrimage which is gist of Islamic teachings. Life,
honour and property of each Muslim was declared sacred and
inviolable; all believers were declared brothers being children of
Adam who was created of dust; Arabs and non-Arabs were declared
equal; discriminations on racial and linguistic basic were
abolished, and above all usury, which has been main instrument of
economic exploitation of the poor by the rich, was abolished. The
Prophet also abolished blood-feuds among the warring and
revengeful tribes of Arabia and established Islamic fraternity and
unity. He enjoined on the believers the rights of the woman, of
the slaves and of the minorities. The believers were also reminded
their religious duties, to be fair to each other and to avoid
committing injustice. This sermon of the Prophet has rightly been
hailed as a universal charter of human rights.
Soon
after his return to Madinah, the Prophet fell ill. He breathed his
last on Monday, 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal 11 A.H. (8th
of June, 632 A.D). The Prophet had eleven wives and seven
children. Although the Prophet was survived by many of his wives,
none of his children except one daughter Fatima survived him. All
the three sons of the Prophet had died in their infancy or early
childhood.
Marmaduke Pichthall, a great translator and commentator of the
Holy Qur’an, has beautifully summed up the achievements of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) particularly of his last ten years of life in his
brief remarks as under:
“The
number of the campaigns which he led in person during the last
years of his life is twenty-seven, in nine of which there was hard
fighting. The number of the expeditions which he planned and sent
out under other leaders is thirty-eight. He personally controlled
every detail of organization, judged every case and was accessible
to every suppliant. In those ten years he destroyed idolatry in
Arabia; raised woman from the status of a chattel to complete
legal equality with man; effectually stopped the drunkenness and
immorality which had till then disgraced the Arabs; made men to
live with faith, sincerity and honest dealing; transformed tribes
who had been for centuries content with ignorance into a people
with the greatest thirst for knowledge; and for the first time in
history made universal human brotherhood a fact and principle of
common law. And his support and guide in all that work was the
Qur’an”.
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The
proper or personal name of God, according to Islam is “Allah”
while He has many other Attributive names (of which only 99 have
been mentioned in the Qur’an). The word “Allah” is an Arabic word
which comprises “Al” and “Ilah”. “Al” is the definite article
which means “the”, while “Ilah” means “The being who is
worshipped”. When these two words were joined, the letter “i” at
the beginning of the second word was dropped for easier
pronunciation and thus the word “Allah” resulted. Thus “Allah”
means “The God”, i.e. “the supreme being who is worshipped by all
creatures and to whom all turn and pray for fulfillment of their
“need”.
2.
God, according to the Qur’an which is the Holy scripture of Islam,
is the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent, Omnipresent,
Omniscient, All-Knowing and All-Seeing God of the whole of the
Universe. He is the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Forgiving. There
is no God save Him. He is One and He alone is to be worshipped. He
has no partner, no parents, no offspring. He is the Alive, the
Eternal, the Helper, the Protector. He is the Sovereign – Lord of
the heavens and the earth and shares His Sovereignty with none. He
is the creator of everything in the Universe. Whatever is in the
heavens and the earth belongs to Him. He produces everything, then
reproduces it. He gives life and death and is the Master of the
Day of Judgment. He would resurrect every human after his/her
death and would reward the righteous for good deeds with Paradise
and would punish the wicked for evil deeds with Hell. He sent
messengers and revealed books for the guidance of mankind.
3.
Islam does not give any philosophical or scientific arguments for
the existence of God. Its revealed book, the Qur’an, does not try
to prove God by theological reasoning. It provides creations of
God, His signs, portents scattered in the Universe, in the nature
around us and in ourselves, as the proof of existence of God. “Lo!
In the creations of the heavens and the earth, and the difference
of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea with that
which is of use to men, and the water which Allah sendeth down
from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and
dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and (in) the ordinance of
the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth; are
signs (of Allah’s existence and sovereignty) for people who have
sense”-says the Holy Qur’an (2:164). “And of His signs is this: He
created you of dust, and behold you as human beings, ranging
widely! And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmates
from yourselves (women) that ye might find rest in them, and He
ordained between you love and mercy. Lo! herein indeed are
portents for folk who reflect” (al-Qur’an 30:21-21).
4.
God is infinite. We mortal human beings having only finite and
limited knowledge cannot define Him nor describe Him. All we know
about Him is through His signs which are scattered in the nature
around us and through Prophets and revealed books. The Qur’an, the
last such revealed book which is the word of God, tells us: “Allah
is the light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His
light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The
glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a
blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose
oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it.
Light upon light, Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And
Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is knower of
all things” – (24:35). “Allah! There is no God save Him, the
Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto
him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in
the earth……” (Al-Qur’an 2: 255).
5.
God is Omnipresent according to Islam. He is everywhere. There is
no fixed place where we can say that He resides. To God belong the
East and the West, whithersoever you turn, there is the Presence
of Him. God is with you wheresoever you go. “And when My servants
question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the
prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear
My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led
aright”, tells God to Prophet Muhammad (al-Qur’an 2: 186). “We
verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him,
and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein”, says God in the
Qur’an (50:16). “There is no secret conference of three but He is
their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less than
that or more but He is with them, wheresoever they may be; and
afterwards, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of
what they did. Lo! Allah is knower of all things.” (Al-Qur’an
58:7).
6.
Islam is strictly a monotheistic religion. It believes God is one
and there is no God except Him. Unity of Godhead is the
fundamental teaching of Islam. The belief in the Oneness of God is
the first and the foremost among the five pillars or articles of
Islamic faith which every follower of Islam is under obligation to
profess and adhere to. None can enter into Islamic brotherhood nor
one can remain a Muslim until and unless he declares by tongue and
also truly believes in his heart that there is no God but Allah.
“Your God is One God; there is no God save Him, the Beneficent,
the Merciful,” says the Holy Qur’an (2:163). It is Allah alone
whom the Muslims worships; “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the
worlds, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Owner of the Day of
Judgment, Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help” –
is the prayer of the Muslims in every worship. Addressing the
Christians, the Qur’an says: “O people of the Scripture! Do not
exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save
the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of
Allah, and His word which he conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from
Him. So believe in Allah and His messenger, and say not “Three” –
cease! (it is) better for you! Allah is only One God. Far is it
removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son.
His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth…”
(4: 171).
7.
God, the Almighty Lord of the cosmos, has neither parents, nor any
spouse, nor any son, nor any daughter. The Qur’an says: “Praise be
to God, who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and who hath no
partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend
through dependence” (17:111). God is alone and one. He neither
begets nor was begotten. “Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the
eternally besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And
there is none comparable unto Him”, commands the Holy Qur’an
(112:1-4). God has no partners and associates in His sovereignty
and dominion nor in His attributes. Polytheism is condemned,
holding partners unto God is the biggest and unpardonable sin.
“Lo! Allah pardoneth not that partners should be ascribed unto
Him, He pardoneth all save that to whom He will. Whosoever
ascribeth partners unto Allah hath wandered far astray” – Thus
warns the Holy Qur’an (4:116).
8. No
mortal human being – neither an ordinary one nor even the blessed
one like a prophet – can see God. Human eye cannot see God as eye
– sight is limited. Prophet Moses expressed his desire to see God
but, as the Qur’an tells us, lightening seized him and he fell
down unconscious. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ascended the heaven but
when he was asked had he seen God, he replied: God is light, how
can I see Him? The Qur’an says: “Vision comprehendeth Him not, but
He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is the Subtile, the Aware” –
(6:103). “And it was not (vouchsafed) to any mortal that Allah
should speak to him unless (it be) by revelation or from behind a
veil, or (that) He sendeth a messenger to reveal what He will by
His leave. Lo! He is Exalted, Wise”. (42:51)
9.
God has knowledge of everything whatsoever is in heavens and in
the earth. He knows your secrets and what you hide in your
breasts. He is knower of the visible and the invisible, seen and
the unseen, indeed of everything of past, present or future. “Lo!
nothing in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah” says
the Qur’an (3:5). “And with Him are the keys of the invisible.
None but he knoweth them. And He knoweth what is in the land and
the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He knoweth it, not a grain amid
the darkness of the earth, not of wet or dry but (it is noted) in
a clear record” – (al–Qur’an 6:59). The Qur’an further tells us:
“Lo! Allah! With Him is the knowledge of the Hour (Doomsday). He
sendeth down the rain, and knoweth that which is in the wombs. No
soul knoweth what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knoweth in
what land it will die. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware”. (31:34).
10.
God is the best and the greatest creator. He is the only one Who
is the originator and the creator of the universe, the heavens and
the earth, and of everything which is visible or invisible to
human eye and which is known or unknown to man. Heavens and
earth, sun and stars, moon and planets, night and day, light and
darkness, air and wind, storms and clouds, rain and water, oceans
and rivers, mountains and hills, flowing streams and gushing
springs, glaciers and icebergs, life and death, plants and
gardens, fruits and vegetables, corn and crops, forests and trees,
animals and beasts, birds and fish, milk and honey, fire and water
are all His creations. He created man of potter’s clay, angels of
light and Jinn of fire. The Qur’an tells us that God created
everything in pairs and created life of water. When God intends to
do a thing, He simply says unto it: Be! And it is.
11.
God is the sovereign Lord of the whole cosmos. Sovereignty over
heavens and the earth and over everything belongs to God. He has
no partner in sovereignty. Command over all belongs to Him. He
rules over everything. He is the Regulator and the Perfector. He
is the Supreme Law-Giver and Supreme – Judge. He is Almighty and
All-Powerful. He is the source and fountain of power. None can
benefit or harm except God. If God intends to give you benefit,
none can withhold it; if He intends you harm, none can protect
you. He bestows daughters upon whom He will and bestows sons upon
whom He will or makes barren whom He will.
12.
God created man of the best stature and made him the best of many
of His creatures. He created Adam of potter’s clay and asked the
Angels to prostrate before him. All did except the Satan who was
declared outcast. However, God accepted Satan’s challenge and gave
him reprieve till the Day of Resurrection. So Satan misleads the
man from right path. He, first of all, misguided Adam and made him
to eat from the forbidden tree and thus got him expelled from
heaven. Since the Devil misleads Adam’s children to the path of
evil and of Hell, God sent messengers and revealed books for the
guidance of man. It is against this background that great Prophets
like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them)
were sent and books like Torah, Gospel and the Qur’an were
revealed. Those who follow the Prophets, worship God, do good
deeds and lead their lives in accordance with guidance revealed by
God through His messenger would be rewarded on the Day of Judgment
with Paradise wherein they would lead peaceful eternal life. But
those who reject the Prophets, do not believe in God, do evil
deeds and follow the Satan would be thrown in Hell wherein they
would burn and boil and have a worst possible life.
13.
God has appointed man Khalifa (viceroy or deputy) in the earth.
God has bestowed many favours on man. The Qur’an tells us that
many things have been created for service to and benefit of man.
The Qur’an says: “Allah is He Who created the heavens and the
earth and causeth water to descend from the sky, thereby producing
fruit as food for you, and maketh the ships to be of service unto
you that they may run upon the sea at His command, and hath made
of service unto you the rivers. And maketh the sun and the moon,
constant in their courses, to be of service unto you, and hath
made of service unto you the night and the day.” (14:32-33). “See
ye not how Allah hath made serviceable unto you whatsoever is in
the skies and whatsoever is in the earth and hath loaded you with
His favours both without and within? Yet of mankind is he who
disputeth concerning Allah, without knowledge or guidance or a
Scripture giving light.” (31: 20)
God
is great benefactor of man. His favours and bounties on man are
innumerable. Some of His favours have been counted by the Qur’an
in its above verses, whereas there are countless favours of God
which are not even known to man. God’s favours within the man are
man’s eyes with which he sees, ears with which he hears, hearts
with which he reflects, hands with which he works and feet with
which he walks. Indeed man is a great handiwork of God and his
every limb is of immense use to him.
14.
God is the greatest and the best Sustainer, Provider, Preserver,
Protector and Nourisher of all created-beings. He provides
subsistence, food and other means of living to all living beings.
The Qur’an says: “He placed therein (in the earth) firm hills
rising above it, and blessed it and measured therein its
sustenance in four days, alike for all who ask.” (41:10). The
Qur’an reminds the man of Allah’s favour in providing food: “Who
hath appointed the earth a resting place for you and the sky a
canopy; and causeth water to pour down from the sky, thereby
producing fruits as food for you”, (2:22). Allah provides
sustenance to everyone. “And there is not a beast in the earth but
the sustenance thereof dependeth on Allah…” (Al-Qur’an 11:6). It
is God who increases and decreases subsistence. “Allah enlargeth
livelihood for whom He will, and straiteneth it for whom He will
(al-Qur’an 13:26). Allah preserves the heavens and the earth.” ……
His throne includeth the heavens and the earth and He is never
weary of preserving them…” (al-Qur’an 2:255). “……Have they not
seen the birds obedient in mid air? None holdeth them save Allah…”
(Al-Qur’an 16:79).
15.
All creatures and all things worship and glorify God in their own
way.” Have they not observed all things that Allah hath created,
how their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making
prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly? And unto Allah maketh
prostration whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the
earth of living creatures, and the Angels (also), and they are not
proud. They fear their Lord above them, and do what they are
bidden” – says the revealed book of Islam (16: 48-50). ”The seven
heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and
there is not a thing but hymneth His Praise; but ye understand not
their praise …… (Al-Qur’an 17:44). “Haste thou not seen that unto
Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever
is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the
hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind……” (Al-Qur’an
22:18).
16.
Man is God’s best creation and God has made man viceroy in the
earth, has set many of His creatures to serve man and has bestowed
on man many favours, which we have mentioned above. So man owes
more gratefulness and more thanksgiving to God than other
creatures. Therefore, there are many obligations of man towards
his creator. He should believe in Him and should worship Him
alone. He should glorify God and hymn His praise. He should love
God and remember Him always, sitting, walking, lying. He should
fear God and be kind and merciful to others. He should pray to God
alone and seek help only from Him. He should trust in God and seek
His refuge from Satan the outcast. He should follow the Prophets
and lead his life in accordance with their teachings. It is only
then that man would succeed and would justify his creation. He can
then hope for reward when God resurrects the dead on the Day of
Judgment.
17.
About Islam’s concept of God, Encyclopedia Encarta writes as
follows:
“Islam arose as powerful reaction against the ancient pagan cults
of Arabia, and as a consequence it is the most starkly
monotheistic of the three biblically rooted religions. The name
Allah means simply “the God,” He is personal, transcendent, and
unique, and Muslims are forbidden to depict him in any creaturely
form. The primary creed is that “There is no god but Allah, and
Muhammad is the apostle of Allah.” Allah has seven basic
attributes: life, knowledge, power, will, hearing, seeing and
speech. The last three are not to be understood in an
anthropomorphic sense. His will is absolute, and all that happens
depends on it, even to the extent that believers and unbelievers
are predestined to faith or unbelief.”
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
Al-Qur’an
is the name of the last revealed book of Allah which forms the
Holy or religious scripture of Islam. It was revealed to Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), the last messenger of Allah to mankind, in parts
in a span of twenty two and half years between 610 A.D. to 632
A.D. i.e. from his appointment as apostle at the age of forty till
his death at the age of sixty three. The first revelation was made
on 27th of Ramadan and the last on 9th of
Zil Hijah of 10th A.H. The period comprises 12.5 years
of Prophet’s life at Makkah during which 90 or 91 Surahs
(chapters) were revealed and last 10 years of Prophet’s life at
Madinah during which 23 or 24 Surahs are reported to have been
revealed.
2.
The Qur’an comprises 114 Surahs (chapters) divided into 6238
(according to some research scholars, 6247) ‘Ayahs’ (Verses). Each
Surah bears a name taken from something mentioned in it, e.g. the
second Surah is called “Baqarah” (the ‘cow’) because of the
mention of a cow which the children of Israel were required by the
Lord to sacrifice. In every case (except Surah nine) all the
Surahs are introduced by “Bismillah”, “In the name of Allah, the
Beneficent, the Merciful.” Of these Surahs, 29 are such which
begin with the letters or alphabets that are mysterious and have
always been the object of explanations and comments among scholars
of the Qur’an. For the convenience of the reader or reciter, the
Qur’an is also divided into 30 paras (or parts) and 7 manazal (or
portions). The arrangement of Ayahs and Surahs is not in order in
which they were revealed, but in accordance with a plan sanctioned
by the Prophet himself under guidance of Allah. Most of the verses
which embody rules of law were revealed to settle questions that
actually arose for decision. That may be one of the reasons why
the book was revealed in stages. To this fact reference is also
found in the Qur’an itself in its verses 32 and 33 of chapter 25 (Surah
Al-Furqan). Mainly the law of Islam is found in chapters 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 8, 9, 17, 24, 33, 49, 65, of the Qur’an.
3.
The Qur’an calls itself by various names, most famous of which
are: al-Qur’an, al-Furq’an, al-Kitab, al-Dhikr, al-Hakim, etc. The
term Qur’an is used in two ways: as participle it means to read;
as an object, it means a thing which is read. The Holy Qur’an was
brought by the Archangel Gabriel to the Prophet of Islam in Arabic
language.
4.
All the surahs of the Qur’an had been recorded in writing before
the Prophet’s death, and many Muslims had committed the whole
Qur’an to memory. But the written surahs were dispersed among the
people; and when, in a battle which took place during the
Caliphate of Abu Bakr – that is to say, within two years of the
Prophet’s death – a large number of those who knew the whole
Qur’an by heart were killed, a collection of the whole Qur’an was
made and put in writing. In the Caliphate of Uthman, all existing
copies of surahs were called in, and an authoritative version,
based on Abu Bakr’s collection and the testimony of those who had
the whole Qur’an by heart, was compiled exactly in the present
form and order, which is regarded as traditional and as the
arrangement of the Prophet himself, the Caliph Uthman and his
helpers being Comrades of the Prophet and the most devout students
of the revelation. The Qur’an has thus been very carefully
preserved.1
The
Qur’an has preserved its text and language in pure form since the
very beginning. Unlike the previous revealed scriptures, no
tampering has been made in the Qur’an. Not even a single word or
letter has been altered, deleted or added or has been changed or
modified. Allah is its Protector and Guardian Who had taken
responsibility upon Himself to save it from any corruption till
the Day of Judgment.
5. It
is the fundamental belief of the Muslims that their religious
book, Al-Qur’an is complete code of human life. Al-Qur’an provides
guidance to human beings in all spheres of human activity starting
from individual to socio-political, from family life to national
and international relations, and from religious to mundane
affairs. Encyclopedia Americana writes:
“Muslims consider the Qur’an to be the very words of God Himself.
The messages given to Muhammad by the angel were taken from
Heavenly Book, uncreated and eternally coexistent with God, that
is called the Mother of the Book or the Well-Preserved Tablet.
This eternal book represents the eternal Speech of God, the
expression of His truth and His will for the universe. Books of
previous prophets, such as the Gospel of Jesus or the Torah of
Moses, were also taken from this source. The Koran is but another
yet the highest and final instance, of God’s offering guidance to
straying men through Scripture brought by His chosen messengers.
Followers of previous prophets, like the Christians and Jews had
corrupted their messages, thereby necessitating the sending down
of the Qur’an to restore the purity of divine guidance.”
“As
the very words of God, the Qur’an is the foremost authority for
Muslims in all matters of faith and practice. They pay it enormous
reverence and have been at pains to preserve its contents exactly
as they were received from the Prophet.
There
is probably no other book in history, including the Bible, that
has been so much studied or commented upon. Studies that deal with
its various aspects fill entire libraries and have been composed
in all the important languages of the Islamic world.”
6.
Besides seeking guidance from the Qur’an on every important issue,
every Muslim holds the Qur’an in high reverence. The book is kept
at the cleanest place in the house and is never laid on the
ground. Not even a word or leaf of it is thrown into dust or waste
paper basket. No believer touches it except after performing
ablution or purifying bath. The verses of the book are recited at
every religious or social ceremony and daily prayers also include
its recitations. In the month of Ramadan the whole of Qur’an is
recited in special prayers. All over the Muslim world there exist
schools (called madaris) specifically reserved to teach and
memorize the Qur’an to children. One who learns the Qur’an by
heart is called ‘hafiz’ (memorizer) and he is held in high esteem.
The memorizing of the Qur’an is regarded an act of great religious
merit and spiritual excellence. In every Muslim country there are
hundred of thousands of persons who have committed the Qur’an to
memory.
Since
the Muslims consider the words of the Qur’an to be the words of
God, historically they have lavished their highest art on the
calligraphic presentation of the Qur’anic text. Verses from the
Qur’an in elegant calligraphy decorate the facades and walls of
mosques, religious seminaries, tombs of saints and other public
buildings.2
7. In
addition to the Qur’an, there is another source of guidance for a
Muslim in his individual and social life, and that is the Sunnah
(traditions) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As we have seen,
Prophet Muhammad lived a very practical and eventful life. He was
Prophet, a reformer, a revolutionary, a statesman, a commander, an
administrator and head of state in his public life. In his
individual life he was a son, a husband, and a father. His deeds,
behaviour, character and conduct is a precedent and role model for
his followers. The Qur’an says: Verily in the messenger of Allah
ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last
day” – (33: 21), The Prophet is reported to have said, during his
sermons at Farewell Pilgrimage: And I have left among you a thing
which if you adhere to, you will never be misguided after this –
the Book of Allah and what you get from me by questions
(traditions, sayings and precedents).
The
Prophet of Islam who had initially prohibited the writing of
Hadith (traditions) for the fear that it may not be mixed up with
the book of Allah, later on allowed his companions to do so. His
companions had wonderful memory who memorized each and every word
uttered by the Prophet and also recorded each and every act of the
Prophet with complete commitment and religious zeal. Some of them
had even reduced into writing the Ahadith (sayings and traditions)
of the Prophet in the form of compilations known as Sahifas – such
as Sahifa Ali, Sahifa Sadiqa, Collection of Rafi, Collection of
Jarir bin Abdullah, Sahifa Samura bin Jundab and compilations of
famous transmitter like Abu Huraira, Abdullah bin Abbas and
Abdullah bin Masud. Thus the preservation of Hadith was started
during the lifetime of Muhammad (PBUH) and was continued
immediately after him as the believers knew its importance.
But
despite the initial work of companions to keep record of Hadith in
writing, the work of compiling of Ahadith in the form of proper
and systematic books was completed in the second century A.H. The
most famous and authentic of these books are Sahih Bukhari, Sahih
Muslim, Sunan Abu Daud, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah, Nisai, Muwatta of Imam
Malik, Masnud of Imam Ahmad-bin-Hunbal. The first six of these
compilations are regarded as the most reliable and are known as
Sihah-e-Sittah or the Six Correct.
The
above mentioned compilations of traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
along with the Qur’an (which is the Holy Scripture of Islam) may
be called sacred writings of Islam.
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
The edifice of Islam is built, as enjoined upon the Muslims by
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on five pillars called five fundamental
articles of Islamic faith. These are: Profession of Belief (Iman);
establishment of Prayers or worship (salat); payment of compulsory
charity (Zakat); fasting (Saum) during the month of Ramadan, and
the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah. These articles, (which in a way
are basic religious duties or obligations of man toward God) are
elaborated as under:
1. Belief (Iman):
It is the first and foremost pillar of the Islamic faith. The
Qur’an has prescribed for the followers of Islam to believe in
Allah (the one God of cosmos), His messengers, His Angles, His
scriptures and the Hereafter. It says: “O ye who believe! Believe
in Allah and His messenger and the Scripture which He hath
revealed unto His messenger, and the Scripture which He revealed
aforetime. Whoso disbelieveth in Allah and His angles and His
scriptures and His messengers and the last day, he verily had
wandered for astray.” (4:136) Profession of belief in short, is to
proclaim the following statement or formula, (Kalima) with the
tongue and affirm its truth with the heart: “There is no god but
Allah, and Muhammad is the apostle of Allah.”
Said publicly, this profession of faith is sufficient to gain
recognition as a member of the community of Muslims. The above
short statement may further be reinforced by a little longer
statement of attestation, which is:
“I bear witness that there is no God but Allah who is one and has
no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the servant and
Apostle of Allah.”
Allah, the Eternal, is the source of all creation. Therefore, the
central confession of all believers is belief in Allah Who is the
Almighty and only one God of the universe. He is the creator and
sustainer of each and everything in the cosmos. He is Eternal and
Ever-Living Who never takes rest. He has no partner, no children,
no parents, no spouses as He neither begets nor He was begotten.
He is all-powerful, Unique in Essence and Attributes, All-perfect,
Sovereign Lord, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, All-Knowing,
All-seeing, Just, the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Forgiving. The
heavens and earth are full of His signs and blessings. He gives
life and death and would revive the dead on the Day of
Resurrection. He sent Prophets and revealed scriptures for the
guidance of man. He is only to be worshipped; He is only to be
asked for help.
Belief in God’s messengers is another belief which the Muslims are
obliged to hold. For guidance of man Allah sent many messengers
who not only conveyed God’s message to mankind but also acted upon
the message to set pattern of conduct for their followers. Muslims
believe in all messengers of God from Adam to Muhammad – who
include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
David, Jesus and Muhammad – without rejecting anyone and without
making any distinction between them.
Muslims also believe in all scriptures which were revealed to
Prophets for guidance of man, such as: Torah which was given to
Moses; the Psalms given to David; the Gospel given to Jesus, and
the Qur’an given to Muhammad. The followers of Islam are required
to believe in Angels who were created from light, are not visible
to human eye, have no sex and are appointed to glorify God and
carry out His commands. Most famous among them are: Gabriel, ‘the
Angel of Revelation’, charged to convey God’s messages to His
prophets; Israfil who will blow the Trumpet on the Day of
Resurrection; Mickail or Mickal appointed for arranging rainfall;
Izraeel, the ‘Angel of Death’, charged to take souls.
Followers of Muhammad are also required to believe in Hereafter or
afterworld. The world would end on the Last Day called the
Doomsday when every living creature would die. The Hereafter would
start after death. God would then resurrect or revive the dead on
the Day of Resurrection also called the Day of Judgment. And then
He would judge between mankind. He would reward those who believed
in Him and followed His teachings and guidance; and would punish
those who rejected His messengers, rebelled against Him and
followed the Devil. The former would be given Paradise – heavenly
dwelling with flowing waters, refreshing beverages, fruits and
fowl, and youths and maidens serving the needs of the inhabitants;
the latter would enter into Hell – a bad place to live in with
fire, scorching heat, boiling water and big torments.
Although the followers of Islam believe in God and besides Him in
His Apostles, Books, Angels and the day of Judgment and the reward
and punishment in the Hereafter, but no body should be led to
misconceive that Muslims hold the Apostles or the books or the
Angels as deities or as associates of God. Islam is strictly a
monotheistic religion and Muslims believe in and worship only one
God who is Allah, the Almighty Lord of universe, all the other
objects are His creatures. In fact, belief in God’s Prophets, His
books, His angels and the Day of Judgment in compliance with God’s
command is re-affirmation of one’s central belief in God.
2.
Prayer (Salat):
It is
the second pillar of Islam and in importance it is next to belief.
An adult Muslim, male or female, is duty-bound to pray five times
every day, i.e., at dawn, just after midday, in mid-afternoon,
just after sunset and at nightfall. Children of 7 years and above
are encouraged to offer prayer. Men are obliged to establish
prayer in the mosque while women are encouraged to offer it in
their home. Prayer is offered facing toward Kaaba which is at
Makkah. The prayer in the mosque is said in the congregation which
is lead by an Imam (prayer-leader). Summons to prayer are given by
a caller (Muaizzin) who proclaims call (Azan) from the minarets of
the mosque or from some other raised platform in the mosque.
Before saying prayer, a believer is required to purify or cleanse
himself by performing ablution (wadhu) or ritual bath. In the
prayer, verses of the Holy Qur’an, short statements of praise of
God and some other supplications are recited. The prayer comprises
a series of standings, bowings, prostrations and sittings. It
signifies one’s complete submission before the Almighty and at a
higher spiritual level it is a recognition of the fact of God’s
constant presence. Fridays are special days for public prayer in
the mosque. Male Muslims, sometimes women also, go to mosque of
their area or locality in large numbers to participate in Friday’s
congregation prayer. The Friday prayer is preceded by a sermon and
readings from the Holy Qur’an which the leader or the preacher
(Imam or Khatib) gives. This prayer substitutes on Friday the
daily prayer of midday (Zuhr). Mosque are simple buildings which
are designed in such a way that the believers face Kaaba when
praying.
While
five daily prayers are obligatory, piety encourages Muslims to
offer additional prayers whenever they can in order to earn
pleasure of Allah. When some Muslim dies, funeral prayers is
offered in congregation which is led by an Imam. Twice in a lunar
year, the Muslims offer special thanks – giving prayers to their
Lord on two religious festivals – Eid-ul-Fitar and Eid-ul-Azha –
which are widely celebrated in the Islamic world. The Muslims pray
when they are happy; they pray when they are sad. Indeed the true
followers of Islam are obliged to remember God and pray to him in
every situation in order to seek his blessings and support.
3.
Compulsory Charity (Zakat):
It is
the third pillar which in importance is only next to prayer.
Besides having religious importance, Zakat plays very important
role in the socio-economic life of the Muslim community and it
forms corner – stone of the financial structure of the Islamic
state. Since it is collected from the rich and is spent on the
poor, the Zakat ensures fair distribution of wealth in the Islamic
state to finance its welfare activities. Every rich and well-to-do
Muslim who possesses wealth at a certain prescribed minimum level
(U.S. $ 50 or so) or above is bound to pay annually a certain
percentage (normally 2.5%) of his wealth for the cause of the
needy and poor people. This rate and minimum level is applied in
case of cash, gold and silver, bank deposits, shares and stocks,
merchandise, etc. In case of cattle wealth, agricultural produce,
treasure trove and mineral wealth, different rates and taxable
limits have been prescribed. In the days of the prophet and early
Muslim caliphs Zakat was compulsorily collected by the state as a
tax and was spent strictly on the welfare of the poor and
destitute as prescribed by the Qur’an. However the later Muslim
rulers did not pay their proper attention to its collection on
behalf of state and so it became a private charity, each believer
paying it at his will to the poor in his locality. Recently the
forces of Islamic revival have made several Muslim states to
create institutions for collection of Zakat on behalf of
government and for spending of it for the cause of the welfare of
the poor. Although people are not generally forced to pay Zakat,
but still most of them pay it as a religious duty in order to earn
pleasure of Allah.
4.
Fasting (Saum):
Another pillar of Islam and a religious obligation of an adult
Muslim is fast during Ramadan which is ninth month of Islamic
Lunar calendar and may consist of 29 or 30 days depending on the
position of moon. Ramadan is considered a sacred month as the Holy
Qur’an was revealed in it. Fasting starts from the dawn and
terminates at sunset of every day of Ramadan. The Qur’an commands
the believers to refrain from all food and drink during the fast
and also to abstain from sexual intercourse. Very old persons,
small children, sick persons, wayfarers, pregnant or menstruating
woman are excused from fast. However, the sick and the wayfarers
are required to fast the same number of other days when they
recover health or their journey ends. Special prayers in the
mosque at nightfall are offered during the nights of Ramadan
wherein the whole of the Qur’an is recited. Those who cannot hear
the Qur’an in these prayers due to some valid excuse, try to read
it in their homes. The last nine or ten days of the month are
spent in special worship called secluded devotion (Itikaf) when
the men sit in the mosque and women in secluded place at homes and
read the Qur’an and pray. The day following the end of the month
is called Eid day or day of celebrations and is a holyday. On that
day, the Muslims felicitate each other, give charity, exchange
gifts, visit each other, purchase new clothes especially for
children and enjoy good food. Fasting, according to Islam,
promotes piety. It teaches self-discipline, control of passions
and elevates the faster to spiritual heights.
5.
Pilgrimage (Hajj): The fifth article or pillar of faith is
pilgrimage (Hajj or visit) to Makkah. It is compulsory for an able
– bodied and a well-to-do Muslim to perform pilgrimage at least
once in his or her lifetime. The pilgrimage comprises performance
of certain acts and rituals such as wearing of special dress,
walking seven times around the Kaaba, kissing the Black Stone in
the corner of Kaaba, running between the hillocks of Safa and
Marwa, drinking of water of Zamzam, visit to stay at Mina and
Arafat, throwing stones at the Satan and to sacrifice an animal at
Mina on 10th of Zilhaj. These acts are performed at the
Kaaba and in the valley of Mina and Arafat near Makkah. Pilgrimage
is performed during the month of Zilhaj which is the last month of
Islamic calendar. Majority of the believers also go to Madinah to
visit the tomb of the Prophet and to offer prayers at the Mosque
of the Prophet. During the days of the Hajj, the pilgrims devote
almost all of their time in reading the Qur’an, in offering the
prayers, in visiting holy places in addition to performance of
ceremonies connected with the Hajj.
Both
the Qur’an and the Sunnah stress the religious merit of pilgrimage
and highlight its excellence in terms of reward. Millions of
Muslims perform pilgrimage every year. It is an international
congress of the Muslims which gathers brothers-in-faith from all
over the world who in pilgrims’ garments simultaneously perform
ceremonies of the Hajj in alike manner and converse with each
other on equal footing without any discriminations. Thus the
pilgrimage has become a universal manifestation of Islamic
brotherhood and equality. It is indeed an important unifying agent
for Islam, serving the cause of unity and strengthening the bonds
of fellowship among the Muslims.
No
priesthood:
There
is no organized church or priesthood in Islam, neither is any
religious hierarchy even in the ordinary sense. To lead the prayer
service or to recite and interpret the Qur’an is not monopoly of
any individual or group. Any practicing layman with basic
necessary knowledge of Islam can lead the prayers and can approach
the Qur’an and Hadith (traditions of the Prophet) for guidance.
Like Jews and unlike Christians, the Muslims do not believe in
asceticism. Hence there are no monks and nuns.
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Islam has laid down an elaborate system of law which comprises
family laws, civil laws and criminal laws. Rules of evidence and
judicial procedure have also been laid down in minute details.
2. Islam’s personal and family law includes law of marriage, of
dower, of divorce, of maintenance, of inheritance, of bequest or
will, of gift, etc. Islam treats family as cradle of civilization
and marriage as the foundation of family. Prophet Muhammad is
reported to have remarked: “Nikah (marriage) is my Sunnah
(tradition) and whosoever rejects my Sunnah is not from me.” The
Holy Qur’an says: “Marry those among you who are single” (24:32).
Life of monasticism and celibacy is discouraged and, unlike some
other religions, marriage of widows and divorced women is not only
permitted but it is a virtue if a man marries such a women in
order to give her protection. Rights of women are specially
safeguarded in a marriage as marriage, according to Islam, is a
civil contract and a woman can settle her terms in the contract
regarding amount of dower gift, right of divorce and maintenance
and protection in case of husband’s second marriage. No marriage
can be solemnized without consent of a woman and if a minor girl
is given in marriage by her father she can exercise her right to
repudiate the marriage on attaining puberty. Dower gift, according
to husband’s financial status, is an essential condition of
marriage and husband is bound to give this gift to his wife even
if it is somehow not settled at the time of marriage. The divorce
is considered as the most hated thing in Islam and Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said: “The most detestable of
lawful things near God is divorce.” However, Islam allows divorce
in extreme situations when it is not possible for the husband and
wife to pull on together. The rights of the woman can be secured
in the marriage contract by reserving right of divorce in her
hand. The Qur’an also gives right to wife to seek divorce which is
called Khula by returning a part or whole of marriage gift (mahr)
to the husband. Otherwise ordinarily Islam gives full right to
husband to divorce his wife at his discretion. Husband is bound
under Islamic law to adequately provide for maintenance of his
wife and children and in case wife is rich and she spends for the
family she can claim refund when husband is in easy circumstances.
Father is the natural guardian of children but in case of divorce
the wife can get guardianship of minors if she likes and the
husband is bound to pay for the maintenance of children to her.
Islam’s law of inheritance elaborately lays down the shares of the
spouses, children and parents in the estate left by the deceased.
Law of will allows a Muslim to bequest one-third of his property
in the favour of a charity or to any person other than his or her
legal heirs. So far as gift is concerned, one is permitted by law
to gift any thing belonging to him to any person.
3. The criminal law of Islam (called Hudood law) has been laid
down by the Qur’an and the Sunnah in detail. It relates to
offences such as murder, adultery, theft drinking, gambling,
slander, rebellion, apostasy, etc and it prescribes punishment for
each offence. Islam honours human life and the extent to which it
holds the human life sacrosanct and sacred can be judged by the
verdict of the Qur’an which says: …… “whosoever killeth a human
being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it
shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saveth the
life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all
mankind……” (5:32). Killing of human being is not allowed by Islam
except in case of retaliation for the offence of murder (although
the legal heirs of the slain are encouraged to pardon or accept
blood-wit or compensation), adultery, and apostasy (as it is
treated as rebellion against God and Islam). Illicit sexual
relations outside marriage bond are another great offence. In case
of fornication the punishment is one hundred lashes while in case
of adultery the punishment is lapidation or stoning to death.
Amputation of hand is the punishment for theft, while for drinking
wine (or taking any other intoxicant) and gambling the punishment
is lashing or beating. For robbery, rebellion and apostasy,
capital punishment can be awarded. Punishments prescribed by Islam
for various crimes have been criticized as harsh. But these cannot
be considered harsh if we keep in mind the fact that Islam creates
a society wherein very healthy and helpful environments are
created to avoid crime.
4. Detailed rules and regulations have been provided regarding
evidence, judicial proceedings, qualifications of witnesses,
qualifications and conduct of Judges (Qadies) by Islam.
Dispensation of Justice in fair and equitable manner is the first
and foremost duty of an Islamic state. God sent prophets and
revealed books, says the Qur’an, to establish justice among
mankind. Hence Islam’s scholars have regarded administration of
justice as an act of devotion and one of the most important duties
of man after belief in God.
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No aspect of life of the Muslims has been ignored by Islam. As a
practical natural and perfect religion, Islam provides proper
guidelines for private as well as public life of its followers. In
the domain of economics, politics, law, government, human rights,
rights of women, rights of minorities, education, defence, daily
life of an individual, conduct, morality, manners, social life,
etc. Islam gives enough instructions. For lack of space we may not
be able to discuss Islamic teachings in every domain of human
activity. However, we would try to give a brief sketch of
instructions of Islam in very important fields of human life in
the following paras.
Economics:
Main objectives of the economic teachings of Islam are: provision
of basic human needs for everyone; fair and equitable distribution
of wealth; prevention of concentration of wealth in few hands;
establishment of social justice; achievement of welfare of
individual in this life as well as in the next; achievement of
moral and material development of individual and society; and
elimination of exploitation of man by man. To achieve these ends,
very effective and far-reaching measures have been adopted.
Interest or usury has been declared unlawful. According to the
Qur’an, to indulge in usury tantamount to declaring war against
God and His Prophet. In other words, usury amounts to rebellion
against Islam and Islamic state and taking of usury is a
punishable offence. A comprehensive system of Zakat (compulsory
charity) and voluntary alms – giving has been established in
Islamic society which promotes social justice as well as fair
distribution. A believer is expected to spend all his wealth which
becomes surplus, after meeting his lawful needs, in the way of God
and on the welfare of the poor and the needy. Certain means of
earning livelihood and wealth have been declared unlawful such as
bribery, gambling and other games of chance, speculative
transactions, short weighing and short measuring, other business
malpractices, exploitation, fraud, blackmail, black marketing,
hoarding, embezzlement of public funds, usurpation of the wealth
of orphans, of women and other weaker segments of society, trade
in wine and narcotics, prostitution and other immoral businesses,
begging, etc. Even spending of lawfully earned wealth on
prohibited and immoral things and practices is forbidden such as
on wine, narcotics, prostitution, debauchery, pornographic
literature and movies, lotteries, gambling, etc. Principle of
moderation is recommended to a believer. He is required to be
moderate in spending, neither becoming miser nor extravagant.
Similarly in earning of wealth, a Muslim is required neither to
adopt a policy of a greedy materialist nor to sit idle like a
monastic.
Politics:
According to Islam, sovereignty in the heavens and the earth and
over everything belongs to God Who is the supreme Lord of the
Whole cosmos. Man is only viceroy or deputy (Khalifa) in the earth
and he is obliged to obey God. This, by implication, means that
God’s law (as contained in the Holy Qur’an) would be supreme in
Islamic state. No emperor, king, head of state, president, prime
minister or parliament is sovereign in Islamic state in the
Western sense as he or she is subordinate to Divine Law. Since God
has made every human being viceroy and equal and since He has also
issued direction in the Qur’an (42:38, 3:159) that public affairs
should be decided by the believers in mutual consultation, the
logical conclusion is democratic from of government. People would
elect their rulers who would conduct governmental affairs in
consultation with the people. This is the ideal form of government
which Islam preaches. Qualifications for rulers and Judges have
been laid down and so are their duties and functions. Islam
neither stands for theocracy, nor for secularism, nor for
dictatorship nor for totalitarian system. Dictators, despots,
emperors like pharaohs of Egypt have been severely condemned by
the Qur’an. According to a tradition of the Prophet, the name
emperor is the most detestable name near God. Concept of Muslim
Ummah or Muslim nation is based on common partnership in Islamic
ideology and on Muslim brotherhood and not on narrow concepts of
blood, race, colour, language, nationality, or geographical
boundaries.
Defence (Jihad):
Islam permits war in the path of God in self defence only. It does
not permit war with aggressive designs in order to establish
colonial empires, to subjugate other people, to promote trade or
other material interests or to satisfy the ego of the rulers. When
the enemy invades Islam and the Islamic state, it is then the
bounden duty of every adult and able-bodied Muslim to pick up arms
and stand up to defend the cause of Islam and his motherland. The
Qur’an says: “fight in the way of God against those who fight
against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not the
aggressors.” (2:190). At another place the Qur’an says:
“Permission to fight has been granted to those against whom war
has been waged because they have been treated unjustly, and God is
certainly able to help them. These are the people who have been
expelled from their homes only for the reason that they said, “our
Lord is Allah……” (22:39-40).
Islam means ‘peace’ and Islam is a religion of humanity and of
peace and security. It sanctions war as a last resort and only in
defence. Unnecessary bloodshed and aggression is alien to the
Islamic vision of peace and security. War is allowed only when it
is inevitable in order to defend faith and motherland or to get
freedom from oppression and persecution.
Social Order:
Moral and spiritual basis of Islamic society are laid on piety,
God – consciousness, self – purification, concept of right and
wrong, good and evil, reward of Paradise for good and punishment
of Hell for evil. The cementing force which keeps unity and
solidarity in the society is the common bond of Islamic ideology.
Islam promotes brotherhood and fraternity among its followers. The
Qur’an tells the believers that they are naught else than brothers
(49:10) and advises them to hold fast to the cable of Allah and do
not separate (3:110). The Prophet says: “Muslim is brother to a
Muslim, he does neither wrong to him, nor puts him to disgrace,
nor he hates him. Every Muslim’s blood, property and honour are
sacred to another Muslim.” According to another saying of the
Prophet, “believers are just like one body. When a limb complains,
the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.” He is
again reported to have remarked: “Believers are to one another
like a building whose parts support one another.”
Another feature of Islamic society is its notion of equality. All
Muslims are equal and nothing else but piety can make one superior
to another. Islam does not believe in caste system, neither there
is any discrimination in Islamic system based on blood, colour,
race, language, place of birth. The Qur’an says: “O mankind! We
created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made
you into nations and tribes, that ye know each other (not that ye
may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the
sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you……”
(49:13). The Prophet of Islam said: “You are all the children of
Adam and Adam was created from the dust. No Arab has any
superiority over a non-Arab and no non-Arab has any superiority
over an Arab, and no white has any superiority over a black one,
and no black one has any superiority over a white one, except on
the basis of piety.” Thus Islam does not make distinction between
man and man on any narrow basis. There is none high or low
according to Islam, and all are equal on human footing. This
notion of equality preached by Islam has perhaps been the most
important factor in the spread of Islam. The day an untouchable or
a degraded black one embraces Islam he becomes member of Islamic
fraternity and equal to a high caste Brahman or his white master
who has previously or who simultaneously enters into Islam. Yet
another salient feature of Islamic society is its clear concept of
rights and duties of each individual. One is obliged to be
obedient to his parents and elders; to be affectionate to his
children, his brothers and sisters, and his juniors; to be kind to
his wife; to be helpful to his friends and neighbours; and to be
generous to the orphans, to the poor, to his relatives, to the
sick and disabled.
Morals and Conduct:
Wine, intoxicating beverages, narcotics and gambling are forbidden
to a Muslim. Sexual relations out of marriage bonds are prohibited
with a heavy penalty. Good moral character is expected of a
believer in Islam, because one whose conduct is bad shall not
enter Paradise. According to the Prophet, the heaviest thing which
will be placed in the balance of a believer on the Day of Judgment
will be good conduct and dearest to God among the believers is he
who is best of all in conduct. A Muslim is, therefore, obliged to
adopt good virtues such as humility, kindness, mercy, modesty,
patience, keeping of promise, hospitality, generosity,
forgiveness, steadfastness, toleration, austerity, contentment,
control of passions control of tongue, and above all truthfulness.
These virtues make good character. He is instructed to refrain
from evils such as drinking, gambling and adultery and restrain
from vices such as backbiting, anger, cursing, deceiving, envy,
extravagance, miserliness, greed, hypocrisy, tyranny, pride,
suspecting others and above all telling lie. These are the evils
and vices which make a bad character. Pattern or model of good
character for the believers, according to the Qur’an, is the
conduct of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and of Prophet Abraham (PBUH);
whereas believing women should additionally follow the example of
Mary (the mother of Jesus) in keeping their chastity and the
example of the wife of Pharaoh (who brought up Moses) in being
steadfast in belief. The Qur’an calls the character of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) sublime; while Prophet’s wife Aeysha replying a
questioner about the conduct of Muhammad (PBUH) said that his
conduct was Qur’an. The Qur’an and the Sunnah have laid down a
detailed code of manners for the believers regarding entering
houses, sitting in assemblies, eating, drinking, dress, greeting
each other, even regarding sleeping and walking.
Fundamental Rights:
Islam has been the pioneer in the history of mankind in granting
basic human rights and civil liberties not only to its followers
but to all people living within its territories. Protection of
life, honour and property of each citizen is guaranteed. Each
citizen enjoys freedom of person and status of equality before
law. Freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, freedom of
expression is allowed to every individual. Islamic state is a
welfare state based on the concept of social justice and is deeply
concerned with the betterment of its citizens. It, therefore,
provides basic human needs like food, clothing and shelter to all
its citizens. Every citizen is allowed to engage in a business or
profession or vacation of his choice provided such business,
profession or vacation is not contrary to the injunctions of Islam
such as prostitution.
Rights of Non-Muslims:
Non-Muslims are given special care in matter of rights. They are
called protected people (Dhimis) as Islamic state guarantees
protection of their lives, property and honour. They are allowed
freedom of religion, freedom to maintain their places of worship
and freedom to maintain their culture, language, dress, script,
etc. They enjoy social autonomy in applying to themselves their
own religious laws and live according to their own customs.
Rights of Women:
Islam elevated the status of women from the mere piece of property
to the level of a human being. Man and women proceed from the same
stock, they are the members of the same species and they are born
of the same parents. The Qur’an says: “O mankind! Reverence your
Guardian – Lord, who created you from a single soul, created of
like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds)
countless men and women ……” (4:1). The Qur’an invariably calls men
and women as spouses of each other or helpmates and companions. As
human beings, man and women are equal having the same human rights
and obligations. The Qur’an highlights this fact when it says: “……
And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them
in equity ……” (2: 228). Before Islam, specially in Arabia, birth
of a daughter was considered as bad omen and taking her birth as a
matter of shame, the infant was disposed of by burying alive. This
inhuman practice was abolished by the Qur’an. The Prophet of Islam
said: “One who brings up two daughters (or even one) treats them
equal to his sons, gives them education, and teaches them good
manners, would go to Paradise.” In the status of mother, a woman
enjoys very high position of honour in a Muslim home. Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) enjoined his followers to obey and serve their
mothers as Paradise lies under the feet of a mother. He also
enjoined good and kind treatment to wives and said: “Best among
you is he who is good to his wife.”
Islam
gives very high status to a woman in her role as a mother, as a
wife, as a daughter and as a sister. Islamic Law ensures her
rights regarding marriage, dower, divorce and maintenance. It also
gives her right of inheritance and ownership of property. Polygamy
has been restricted and man’s right to contract plural marriages
has been subjected to severe conditions like equal treatment of
all wives. Woman is allowed to engage in trade, business,
profession or employment to earn livelihood. To acquire education
is as much obligatory on her as it is on man. She is allowed to
participate in socio-political activities. She has right of vote
and can contest for public offices.
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Birth and Early Life:
When a child is born in a Muslim family, the Azan (ritual call to
prayer) is pronounced in the right ear of the child and the Iqamah
(ritual call to initiate congregational prayer) in the left ear.
Thus the first thing a Muslim child, after coming into this world,
hears is the attestation of the belief and call to the worship of
the creator. Then the name to the child is given. The name to the
male child is generally given after the attributes of God, after
the names of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), after the names of other
Prophets of God, or after the names of the companions of the
Prophet and other heroes of Islamic history; while a female child
is named after the names of the mother and wives and daughters of
the Prophet of Islam, after the names of the pious Muslim women of
the days of the Prophet, or after the names of the famous Muslim
women of the history of Islam.
When the hairs of the child are cut for the first time some
charity is given to the poor generally equal to the weight of the
hairs in silver or in its equivalent in local currency. If the
family can afford, a goat or a sheep is also slaughtered to
entertain the poor, the kin and the friends. The male child is
circumcised at an early age.
When a child attains the age of 4 or 5, his studies commence. As a
first lesson the child is made to repeat after the tutor first
five verses of chapter 96 of the Holy Qur’an which consist of
first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A feast is arranged
to celebrate the occasion. When the child starts going to school,
he is also supposed to start learning the Qur’an.
Normally at the age of seven, the child is taught how to pray and
from the age of ten parents are supposed to apply sanctions so
that the child gets accustomed to prayer. Fast is obligatory, even
as prayer, from the age of puberty. However, the parents make the
child familiar with fast gradually, starting with one or two in
first year and increasing the number in each year till by the age
of maturity the child gets accustomed to bear the strain of fast.
Adult Life:
As adult a Muslim is obliged to pay Zakat himself out of his
wealth provided it reaches the level which attracts this levy. He
is also obliged to perform Hajj once in his life but if earlier
the better.
Marriage is the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet and it is
obligatory to get married unless there is some valid excuse. So
when a child reaches puberty (in case of girls the age is 15 while
in case of boys the age is 16 or 18), the parents should arrange
for his or her marriage.
As an adult person, a Muslim man and a woman, is expected, rather
is duty – bound to fulfill all his or her obligations towards God
and towards fellow humans and lead life strictly in accordance
with the teachings of Islam.
Death:
At the time of death a Muslim is required to pronounce at least
the first Kalima (formula of belief): “There is no God but Allah
and Muhammad is messenger of God”. If he fails to remember it, the
Muslims sitting around the patient are required to help the
patient by repeating it to him. The eyes of the deceased are
closed, body is placed straight with face toward heaven and hands
on the chest crossed on each other or on sides as if in the
service of prayer.
The body of the dead person is washed and cleaned before burial,
and if not possible then dry ablution (tayammun) is sufficient.
After enshrouding the dead body in three simple sheets of white
cloths, a funeral service is convened. The grave is dug parallel
to Makkah, if possible, and after lowering the body in the grave,
the head of the dead is turned slightly to the right side so that
it faces the Kaabah. After burial, certain verses of the Holy
Qur’an or certain prayers recommended for the occasion are
recited. The graves should be simple as lavish spending on graves
is forbidden.
Life – routine:
Besides daily prayers, annual fasting and other compulsory
religious duties, one must make it his life routine to devote some
time daily to learn the Holy Qur’an and recite it. He should also
study Hadith and other Islamic literature to understand Islam and
at least its basic teachings. If he does not know Arabic, he
should try to learn it. If not possible, then he should try to
understand the Qur’an with the help of a good translation and
commentary.
Every act or activity in daily life should be commenced by
reciting Bismillah (with the name of God) and should be ended with
Alhamdulillah (Thank God). The conduct and manners of the Prophet
should be followed in eating, drinking, dressing, sleeping,
walking, sitting and other daily routines.
Dress:
Islam does not prescribe any particular or specific code of dress.
It has left the matter to be decided by the individuals and
society according to weather conditions, customs, needs and
environments. However, certain fundamental rules have been laid
down for all times for the guidance of the Muslim. The dress
should not be too short or too thin but it should be proper in
order to cover private parts from nakedness. Let not the Satan
seduce the believers as he seduced Adam and Eve and tore off from
them their robe to make them see their shame. The dress should be
decent and should not display nudity, obscenity or vulgarity. The
dress should be modest and simple. It should not be very expensive
so as to give impression of extravagance and pride. The men are
discouraged to wear silk or cloths of red colour. Lengthening of
trousers beyond ankles was forbidden as it was a custom of the
Arabs of the age of Ignorance to give an air of vanity. The dress
should be very clean. The Prophet preferred clothes of white
colour or of green colour. Perfume was liked by the Prophet and he
recommended its use to the believers, men and women. Shoes must be
used and if possible socks should also be used. The dress should
be such that it should protect one from cold and heat. You should
be decently and beautifully dressed when you go to mosques or on
religious and other public festivals.
All religions prescribe that fornication and adultery are crimes
but Islam goes a little further and takes measures to diminish the
temptations. Therefore, women are required to fulfill certain
additional responsibilities in matters of dress and adornment
(make-up), particularly when they come in the presence of men or
when they come out of their homes. The Qur’an says:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest,
and not to display their adornment except that which appears of
itself, and to draw their veils over their bosoms …. And let them
not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their
adornment……” (24:31). The Qur’an further says: “O Prophet! Tell
thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw
their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be
better, that so they may be recognized and not annoyed (or
molested)……” (33: 59). According to a tradition, when Asma’a
(Prophet’s sister in law) came with thin clothes on her, the
Prophet said to her: “O Asma’a! when a girl attains puberty, it is
not proper that any thing on her should remain exposed except her
face and hands.” Thus these are the instructions which have been
issued by the Qur’an and the Prophet to Muslim women regarding
their dress and make-up when they come in the public. Briefly
speaking, the women should cover their bodies including their
heads, bosoms, necks completely except their face and hands
(according to orthodox opinion, faces and hands should also be
covered) when they come out of their homes or when they come in
the presence of men other than their close relatives. They should
lower their gaze, be modest, and cover their adornment except that
which is not possible to cover. These measures would help them to
be recognized as chaste and noble women so that men of doubtful
character do not cherish any false hope and do not tease them.
Complete seclusion of women (rather their confinement in private
quarters) and tent type veil entered Muslim society after the days
of the Prophet when the Muslims came in contact with the conquered
people of Persia and Rome and adopted some of their customs.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) discouraged his followers to imitate other
people in matter of dress. He also forbad the men to put on dress
of women and the women to put on the dress of men. The Prophet
grew a beard and recommended the men to have it. To keep
moustaches is, however, discouraged as it was a custom of the
pagans of pre-Islamic Arabia.
Food:
According to Islam, it is the exclusive prerogative of God to
declare an eatable thing or food items as lawful (Halal or
permitted) or as unlawful (Haram or forbidden). All pure and
wholesome food lawfully earned such as sea food, fruits,
vegetables, pulses, corn, meat of permitted (halal) animals
slaughtered in the name of God, is permitted (Halal) to a Muslim
except the following which have been specially declared as
forbidden (Haram) by the Qur’an and the Sunnah:
1. All
animals and birds which die of themselves without being
slaughtered in the name of Allah. These include animals strangled
to death, or beaten to death or killed by a fall or attacked by
horns and killed, or torn to death by beasts.
2. Blood
3. Swine
– flesh.
4. Food
on which Allah’s name is not taken or meat of even lawful animal
which is not slaughtered in the name of Allah, or which is
slaughtered in the name of other than Allah.
5. Everything
which is offered to idols.
6. All
beasts and birds of prey i.e. all quadrupeds that seize prey with
teeth such as lions, tigers, leopards, jackals, etc, and all birds
such as hawks, kites, crows, raven, etc. which attack with claws.
7. All
unclean things repugnant to health and morality. These include
dogs, cats, mules, horses, asses, lizards.
8. Wine
and all other intoxicants.
9. All
the food items though lawful but acquired by unlawful means.
Principle of necessity however makes temporarily an unlawful thing
lawful. However this principle can be applied only where there is
real necessity and not merely an excuse. For example if someone is
dying of hunger and he has nothing to save his life except a dead
animal or swine-flesh to eat, then he can take it. Similarly a
sick person can take alcohol or wine provided a doctor certifies
that he would die if he is not instantly given that.
Language:
The Qur’an is the word of God and it was revealed in Arabic as
language of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was Arabic. Thus Arabic is the
language of the Qur’an, Prophet of Islam and the wives of the
Prophet, whom the Qur’an calls mothers of the believers.
So Arabic is in a way mother tongue of the believers. The
followers of Islam love Arabic as it is the language of their
beloved Prophet and also of their spiritual mothers. They,
therefore, recite the Holy Qur’an in Arabic and hold their prayer
– services in Arabic. Those whose mother tongue is not Arabic,
they learn it at least at elementary level to be able to read the
Holy Qur’an and to offer their daily prayers.
Conversion to Islam:
Conversion to Islam is very easy as Islam is a universal religion
and is not reserved for a particular race or country. Islam,
however, does not recognize forced conversion. The conversion
should be voluntary, of absolutely free will, in full
consciousness of the act. A non-Muslim who intends to embrace
Islam is asked to take first a bath in order to purify the body
symbolically of the dirt of ignorance and disbelief. Then he is
directed to declare, ordinarily in the presence of two witnesses,
the following principle of faith, “I testify that there is no God
but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”.
If the name of the new convert has any un-Islamic trait, then it
is changed to some Islamic name in Arabic. In the case of
conversion of a married man to Islam, his marriage with a Jew or
Christian woman continues undisturbed even if she does not accept
Islam; but if it is with a woman belonging to some other faith,
then the marriage would dissolve if the wife does not embrace
Islam after giving her reasonable time to do so. In the case of
conversion of a married woman, her marriage with non-Muslim
belonging to any faith would dissolve if the husband does not
embrace Islam despite reasonable time given to him for doing so.
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Eid-ul-Fitr:
It is celebrated throughout the Muslim world on the first of
Shawal after the end of Ramadan which is the month of fasting. It
is a festival of thanksgiving to Almighty God Who made the Muslims
to successfully complete fasting. A special prayer known as Prayer
of Eid-ul-Fitr is offered two hours or so after the sunrise in a
large mosque or in a public place meant for this purpose known as
Eidgah. The prayer is a large congregation of the Muslims which is
attended not only by almost all male Muslims living in the
locality but also by some female Muslims. Before offering this
prayer, every well-to-do Muslim pays a compulsory charity to the
poor (known as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr) in order to enable the poor to
participate in the celebrations. All the Muslims particularly the
children wear new clothes. People visit each other, exchange
gifts, prepare good dishes to eat and enjoy. The occasion is a
public holiday for the Muslims.
Eid-ul-Azha:
It is celebrated on 10th of Zil-Hijjah which is the
last month of Muslim Lunar calendar. It is connected with annual
pilgrimage but it is celebrated by the Muslims the world over
wherever they live although the pilgrimage is performed only at
Makkah. All the Muslims put on their best clothes and offer
special prayer known as prayer of Eid-ul-Azha in large
congregations in big mosques or at places called Eidgah. After the
prayer, they return home and offer animal sacrifice (of a sheep,
goat, cow, camel) which is obligatory on every Muslim who can
financially afford. Then meat is cooked and eaten while a portion
of it is distributed among the poor and those friends and
relatives who have not offered sacrifice. The occasion is a public
holiday for the Muslims.
Eid-I-Milad-un-Nabi:
12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month of Muslim calendar, is
celebrated as birthday of the Prophet of Islam. Although the
Prophet himself or his successors never celebrated this day and
there is no religious sanction behind this celebration, somehow
the custom has taken roots. Special meetings are held in which
life – events of the Prophet and his achievements are remembered.
Children specially celebrate. Places of worship and public
buildings are illuminated.
Shab-I-Miraj:
27th night of Rajab, seventh month of Islamic calendar,
is the night of Prophet Muhammad’s ascension to heaven. On this
night, the Muslims celebrate with good food and offer prayers.
Shab-I-Barat:
14th night of Sha’ban, the month preceding Ramadan, is
known as the night when destiny of the mankind is written. The
Muslims offer prayer and seek forgiveness of God especially in
this night hoping for good fortune. Children play fireworks.
Yaum-I-Ashurah:
10th Day of Muharram, first month of Islamic Calendar,
is the day of martyrdom of Hussain, son of Ali and grandson of the
Prophet of Islam in 680 A.D. at Karbela, Iraq, by the forces of
Ommyid caliph Yazid. Muslims offer prayers as well as hold
meetings wherein the martyrdom of Hussain and his deeds are
remembered. The Shiite Muslims specially hold processions and show
their grief by weeping and beating their breasts.
Muslim Calendar:
Islam follows lunar calendar specially for religious purposes like
fasting, Hajj and Zakah with the result that the months relating
to these rotate from season to season because solar year comprises
365 or 366 days whereas Lunar year is generally of 354 days. The
wisdom of the adoption of the Lunar calendar lies in the fact that
it provides the believers opportunity to have experience of all
seasons to fast or to perform pilgrimage – moderate season as well
as extreme winter and summer. Had the fasting and pilgrimage been
fixed in the given months of the Solar calendar – say month of may
for fasting and month of July for pilgrimage the people living in
the Northern hemisphere had suffered long days of heat and those
living in the Southern hemisphere would have short days of winter.
This discrimination among the faithful has been avoided, by the
religion destined for the whole world, by following Lunar calendar
which ensures that everyone will taste all seasons turn by turn.
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Fiqh is the Science of Law or Islamic Jurisprudence which the
early Muslims developed (in second and third century of Hijrah) in
order to discover what the Shariah prescribes in detail. According
to the Jurists, there are four roots or sources from which Islamic
law is derived and those are: the Qur’an; the Sunnah or tradition
of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); the Ijma or the consensus of the
community; and Qiyas or analogical reasoning. First two sources
are primary and the other two are secondary. If neither of the
primary sources helps, then resort may be had to Ijma and if this
too does not help, then the last one i.e. Qiyas can be exercised.
The process of finding a rule of law by examining the roots is
called Ijtihad which means personal intellectual exertion by a
qualified legal expert called mujtahid. Principles known as
Istehsan or Juristic Equity, Istislah or doctrine of public good,
and Istidlal or reasoning guide in interpretation of law or in
deducing rules by resorting to Qiyas.
Sunni Sects:
There emerged four schools of thought or school of Jurisprudence,
namely: The Hanafi School founded by Abu Hanifa (699 – 767 A.D) an
inhabitant of Kufa, known as the greatest Imam, and promoted by
his illustrious disciples Abu Yusuf and Muhammad Ash-Shaybani; the
Maliki School, founded by Malik-ibn-Anas (713 – 795 A.D.) who was
an inhabitant of Madinah and who wrote a book on traditions of the
Prophet known as kitab-al-Mawatta; The Shafii School, found by
Muhammad bin Idris ash-Shafi (767 – 820 A.D); and the Hanbali
School, founded by Ahmad bin Hanbal (780 – 855 A.D.) resident of
Baghdad who wrote a book on traditions called Musnad-e-Ahmad. The
principles of these four schools of law are substantially the same
and they differ slightly from each other merely in matters
relating to minor details. Followers of Abu Hanifa in India,
Pakistan, Turkey and central Asia form the largest group; Maliki
law is followed in North and West Africa; Sahfi is followed in
Indonesia, Egypt, East Africa and Syria, while Hanbali School is
followed only in Arabia.
Shia Sects:
The above mentioned four schools of law collectively form the
Sunni sect of the Muslims which represent 70 to 80 percent of the
total Muslim population in the world. The remaining 20 to 30% of
the Muslims form another sect or Division known as the Shia.
According to the Shias, Imamate descended in the Prophet’s line by
Divine will. They consider that the first three caliphs – Abu Bakr,
Umar and Usman – were usurpers and Ali was the rightful Imam as
also the caliph. The central religious belief of the Shia is that
God has chosen a series of Imams for the leadership of the
community. The Imams are endowed with special knowledge or light
and they are innocent. Imam cannot be elected by the people but is
directly appointed by God and he nominates his successor.
According to their belief, Islam cannot be practiced without the
guidance of the Imam chosen by God. The major differences between
the Sunni and the Shia are relating to the institution of Imam and
caliph. However, there are some other differences also which
relate to some details of law and theology where the Shias have a
more rational tendency. There are some sub-sects or some
sub-divisions among the Shia and mainly these are three: First is
the group of Twelvers who form the largest group and follow twelve
Imams, the last of whom disappeared. The second group is that of
the Seveners who disagreed with others on the question of
successor to the sixth Imam. As they followed Ismail, son of Imam
Jaafar Sadiq, they are also called Ismailies. Prince Karim Aga
Khan is their present Imam who is the 49th Imam of
Ismailis. Another group is called Zaidis who are followers of Zaid,
son of 4th Imam Zain-ul-Abidin. They are nearer to the
Sunnis in the interpretations of law. The Shia Muslims are fairly
widespread in the Muslim world. Mainly they live in Iran, Iraq,
South Arabia and countries of Indian sub-continent.
Mysticism:
I
think this section would remain incomplete if we do not record our
brief comments about Mysticism or Sufism. Sufism is neither a sect
nor is it a school of Islamic Jurisprudence. A mystic or sufi may
follow any school of fiqh or sect, but as a sufi he enjoys a
different status.
The word “Sufi” is derived from ‘suf’, the Arabic word for wool,
because the earliest Sufis wore rough garments of wool. The wool
robes were a form of ascetic self-mortification (Zuhd) for the
Sufis and a visible sign of their protest against the worldliness
of Islamic society after the end of the pious caliphate. Hasan
Basri (d. 728) and Rabia (d. 801) are known among the early Sufis.
The Sufi theorists of the early movement produced an elaborate
psychology describing the stations (maqamat) and states (ahwal) of
the mystical process toward union with God. The stations are those
levels which a Sufi can achieve through his own disciplined
efforts, while the states are graces bestowed by God when the Sufi
has reached the end of his own spiritual ability. These culminated
in the experience of extinction in the reality of God, (fana) and,
beyond that in the still more valuable experience of subsisting in
the divine though living in the phenomenal world (baqa)!
From the twelfth century a new factor was added to Sufism with the
formation of organized brother-hood or orders of Sufis. A sufi
order is known as a tariqa or way to attain union with God. Each
order was headed by a sheikh or pir who was the inheritor of
spiritual knowledge handed down through a series (silsila) of
saints (awliya) before him. The follower of the Sheikh was his
disciple (murid), a seeker for initiation into the way of mystic
knowledge. Many sufi orders maintained central headquarter, like a
monastery, where members lived their regime of discipline and
meditation. These places served important social functions for the
common people where food, medical care and even financial
assistance were often available.
In its later phases, Sufism developed a cult of saints, and this
aspect of the movement appeals to ordinary Muslims. Great
reverence is paid to Sufi masters who are believed to possess
spiritual power (barakah) and the ability to do miracles (karamat).
When a saint dies, his tomb becomes a place of pilgrimage for
seekers and suppliants, often bringing gifts. For great saints
there is an annual festival (Urs), such as that for Data Ganj
Baksh in Lahore and many thousands of people visit the saints tomb
to pay their respects and offer prayers.
Sufi orders are generally grouped into four, namely: Chishtiyah,
Naqshbandiyah, Suhrwardiyah and Qaderiyah. Saints like Ali Hajveri
(known as Data Gunj Baksh) of Lahore, Mueen-ud-Din Chishti of
Ajmer, Qutb-ud-Din Bakhtiar Kaki of Delhi, Nizam-ud-Din Awliya of
Delhi, Farid Shakar Gunj of Pakpattan and Bhah-ud-Din Zikria of
Multan played a great role in conversion of millions of people to
Islam in the 10th to 13th century in the
Indian sub-continent.
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Appendix
Extracts From the Qur’an and Hadith
1. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
-
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
-
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
-
Owner of the Day of Judgment,
-
Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
-
Show us the straight path,
-
The path of those whom Thou hast favoured;
-
Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go
astray. ––1: Al-Fatihah: 1–7
2. You God is One God; there is no
God save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
-
Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the
difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea
with that which is of use to men, and the water which Allah
sendeth down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its
death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and (in) the
ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and
earth: are signs (of Allah’s sovereignty) for people who have
sense.
––2: Al-Baqarah: 163–164
3. O ye who believe!
Eat
of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render
thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship.
-
He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine flesh,
and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than
Allah. But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor
transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful. ––2: Al-Baqarah:
172–173
4.
Fight in the way of Allah against
those who fight against you, but
begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.
-
And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the
places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than
slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of
Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you
(there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.
-
But if they desist, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
-
And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for
Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except
against wrongdoers.
––2: Al-Baqarah: 190–193
5.
Allah! There is no
God
save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither
slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is
in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that
intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is
in front of them and that which is behind them, while they
encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne
includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of
preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous. ––2: Al-Baqarah:
255
6.
Allah hath
blighted
usury and made almsgiving fruitful. Allah loveth not the impious and guilty.
-
Lo! Those who believe and do good works and establish worship and
pay the poor-due, their reward is with their Lord and there shall
no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
-
O
ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah, and give up what
remaineth (due to you) from usury, if ye are (in truth) believers.
-
And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against you) from Allah
and His messenger. And if ye repent, then ye have your principal
(without interest). Wrong not, and ye shall not be wronged.
––2: Al-Baqarah: 276–279
7.
O
mankind! Be careful
of
your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from
it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a
multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah
in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the
wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a Watcher over you.
-
Give unto orphans their wealth. Exchange not the good for the bad
(in your management thereof) nor absorb their wealth into your own
wealth. Lo! That would be a great sin.
-
And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry
of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if
ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or
the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more
likely that ye will not do injustice.
-
And give unto the women, (whom ye marry) free gift of their
marriage portions; but if they of their own accords remit unto you
a part thereof, then ye are welcome to absorb it (in your wealth).
––4: An-Nisa: 1–4
8.
And serve Allah. Ascribe no thing as partner unto Him. (Show)
kindness unto parents, and
unto near kindred, and orphans, and the
needy, and unto the neighbour who is of kin (unto you) and the
neighbour who is not of kin, and the fellow-traveller and the
wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. Lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud and boastful, ––4: An-Nisa:
36
9.
O
ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and
divining arrows are
only an infamy of Satan’s handiwork. Leave it aside in order that
ye may succeed.
-
Satan seeketh only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of
strong drink and games of chance, and to turn you from remembrance
of Allah and from (His) worship. Will ye then have done?
-
Obey Allah and obey the messenger and beware! But if ye turn away,
then know that the duty of Our messenger is only plain conveyance
(of the message). ––5: Al-Maidah: 90–92
10.
Set not up with Allah any other
god
(O man) lest thou sit down reproved, forsaken.
-
Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye
show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them to
attain old age with thee, say not “Fie” unto them nor repulse
them, but speak unto them a gracious word.
-
And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say:
My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I
was little.
-
Your Lord is best aware of what is in your minds. If ye are
righteous, then lo! He was ever Forgiving unto those who turn
(unto Him).
-
Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and
squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness.
-
Lo! The squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the
devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord.
-
But if thou turn away from them, seeking mercy from thy Lord, for
which thou hopest, then speak unto them a reasonable word.
-
And let not thy hand be chained to thy neck nor open it with a
complete opening, lest thou sit down rebuked, denuded.
-
Lo! Thy Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will, and
straiteneth (it for whom He will), Lo, He was ever Knower, Seer of
His Slaves.
-
Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall
provide for them and for you. Lo! The slaying of them is great
sin.
-
And come not near unto adultery. Lo! It is an abomination and an
evil way.
-
And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right.
Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but
let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! He will be helped.
-
Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is
better till he come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the
covenant it will asked.
-
Fill the measure when ye measure, and weigh with a right balance;
that is meet, and better in the end.
-
(O man), follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge. Lo! The
hearing and the sight and the heart – of each of these it will be
asked.
-
And walk not in the earth exultant. Lo! Thou canst not rend the
earth, nor canst thou stretch to the height of the hills.
-
The evil of all that is hateful in the sight of thy Lord. ––17:
Bani-Israel: 22–38
11.
Successful indeed are the
believers
-
Who are humble in their prayers,
-
And who shun vain conversation,
-
And who are payers of the poor-due;
-
And who guard their modesty––
-
Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands
possess, for then they are not blameworthy,
-
But whoso craveth beyond that, such are transgressors––
-
And who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant,
-
And who pay heed to their prayers.
-
These are the heirs.
-
Who will inherit Paradise. There they will abide.
––23: Al-Muminun: 1–11
12.
Verily We created man from a
product
of wet earth;
-
Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging;
-
Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a
little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed
the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So
blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!
-
Then lo! after that ye surely die.
-
Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection ye are raised (again). ––23:
Al-Muminun: 12–16
13.
Allah is the light
of
the heavens and the earth. The similitude of
His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass.
The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled
from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West,
whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire
touched it. Light upon light, Allah guideth unto His light whom He
will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is
Knower of all things. ––24: Al-Noor: 35
14.
So glory be to
Allah
when ye enter the night and when ye enter the morning.
-
Unto Him be praise in the heavens and the earth! – and at the
sun’s decline and in the noonday.
-
He bringeth forth the living from the dead, and He bringeth forth
the dead from the living, and He reviveth the earth after her
death. And even so will ye be brought forth.
-
And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold you
human beings, ranging widely!
-
And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmeets from
yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained
between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are portents for
folk who reflect.
-
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and
the difference of your languages and colours. Lo! Herein indeed
are portents for men of knowledge.
-
And of His signs is your slumber by night and by day, and your
seeking of His bounty. Lo! Herein indeed are portents for folk who
heed.
-
And of His signs is this: He showeth you the lightning for a fear
and for a hope, and sendeth down water from the sky, and thereby
quickeneth the earth after her death. Lo! Herein indeed are
portents for folk who understand.
-
And of His signs is this: The heavens and the earth stand fast by
His command, and afterward, when He calleth you, lo! From the
earth ye will emerge.
-
Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and in the earth.
All are obedient unto Him.
-
He it is who produceth creation, then reproduceth it, and it is
easier for Him. His is the Sublime Similitude in the heavens and
in the earth. He is the Mighty, the Wise. ––30: Ar-Rum:
17–22
15.
The believers are naught else
than
brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe
your duty to Allah that haply ye may obtain mercy.
-
O
ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better
than they (are), nor let women (deride) women who may be better
than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another
by nicknames. Bad is the name of lewdness after faith. And whoso
turneth not in repentance, such are evil-doers.
-
O
ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a
crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you
love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor
the other)! And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting,
Merciful.
-
O
mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made
you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the
noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo!
Allah is Knower, Aware. ––49: Al-Hujurat: 10–13
16. Islam’s conception of life is beautifully reflected from the
following saying of the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH): Ali asked the
Prophet one day about the principles governing his general
behaviour, and he replied: knowledge is my capital, reason is the
basis of my religion, love is my foundation, desire is my mount
for riding, remembrance of God is my comrade, confidence is my
treasure, anxiety is my companion, science is my arm, patience is
my mantle, contentment is my booty, modesty is my pride,
renunciation of pleasure is my profession, certitude is my food,
truth is my intercessor, obedience is my sufficiency, struggle is
my habitude and the delight of my heart is in the service of
worship.
––quoted by Dr. Hamidullah in “Introduction to Islam”
17. During his farewell pilgrimage Prophet
Muhammad
(peace be
upon him) delivered his famous address on 9th of
Zilhajj 10 A.H. to a multitude of believers, exceeding one lac
according to some estimates. This address is known as Farewell
Address and is regarded not only by the Muslims but also by
non-Muslim impartial scholars and historians as gist of Islamic
teachings. This address is fairly comprehensive and contains in
itself, apart from Islamic teachings on devotional acts, a charter
of human rights which can be favourably compared with Universal
Declaration of Human Rights issued by United Nations in 1948 A.D.,
some fourteen centuries later. It would be most appropriate if we
conclude this paper with some of the extracts from the said
historical address of the Prophet of Islam.
“Ye people! Listen to my words: I will deliver a message to you,
for I know not whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst
you here again. O people! Verily your blood, your property and
your honour are sacred and inviolable until you appear before your
Lord, as this day and this month is sacred for all. Verily you
will meet your Lord and you will be held answerable for your
actions. Have I not conveyed the message? O Allah! Be my
witnesses.”
“He who has any trust with him he should restore it to the person
who deposited it with him.”
“Beware, no one committing a crime is responsible for it but he
himself. Neither the son is responsible for the crime of his
father nor the father is responsible for the crime of his son.”
“O people! Listen to my words and understand them. You must know
that a Muslim is the brother of a Muslim and they form one
brotherhood. Nothing of his brother is lawful for a Muslim except
what he himself allows willingly. So you should not oppress one
another. O Allah! Have I not conveyed the message?”
“Behold! All practices of paganism and ignorance are now under my
feet. The blood-revenges of the days of Ignorance are remitted.
The first claim on blood I abolish is that of Ibn Rabi’ah Ibn
Harith who was nursed in the tribe of Sa’d and whom the Hudhayl
killed.”
“Usury is forbidden, but you will be entitled to recover your
principal. Wrong not and you would not be wronged. Allah has
decreed that there should be no usury and I make a beginning by
remitting the amount of interest which ‘Abbas b. Abd al-Muttalib
has to receive. Verily it is remitted entirely.”
“O people! Fear Allah concerning women. Verily you have taken them
on the security of Allah and have made their persons lawful unto
you by word of Allah! Verily you have got certain rights over your
women and your women have certain rights over you. It is incumbent
upon them to honour your conjugal rights and not to commit acts of
impropriety which, if they do, you have authority to chastise
them, yet not severely. If your wives refrain from impropriety and
are faithful to you, clothe and feed them suitably. Behold! Lay
injunctions upon women but kindly.”
“O people! Listen and obey though a mangled Abyssinian slave is
your amir if he executes (the ordinances of) the Book of Allah
among you.”
“O people! Verily Allah has ordained to every man the share of his
inheritance. The child belongs to the marriage-bed and the
violator of wedlock shall be stoned. He who attributes his
ancestry to other than his father or claims his clientship to
other than his master, the curse of Allah, that of the Angels, and
of the people, be upon him. Allah will accept from him neither
repentance nor righteousness.”
“And your slaves! See that you feed them with such food as you eat
yourselves; and clothe them with the clothes that you yourselves
wear. And if they commit a fault which you are not inclined to
forgive, then part with them for they are the servants of Allah
and are not to be chastised.”
“O people! Verily your Lord is one and your father is one. All of
you belong to one ancestry of Adam and Adam was created out of
clay. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for
a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for white over the black nor for the
black over the white except in piety. ‘Verily the noblest among
you is he who is the most pious.’ (Al-Qur’an 49:13)”
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1- Marmaduke Pickthall
2- Encyclopedia Americana
3- Major source of material under section 8 “Daily Life of
a Muslim” is Dr. Hameedullah’s book “Introduction of Islam”.
4- Major source of material relating to Mysticism under
section 10 is Encyclopedia Americana.
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