Islam: A complete way of Life

1. Islam: A complete way of Life Kings college London discover islam week 15/02/2010 Abdullah hasan

2. Islam in a Nutshell “Islam is a comprehensive system which deals with all spheres of life. It is a country and a homeland or a government and a nation. It is conduct and power or mercy and justice. It is a culture and a law or knowledge and jurisprudence. It is material and wealth or gain and prosperity. It is jihad and a call or army and a cause. And finally, it is true belief and correct worship.”

3. Meaning of the word Islam • Islam: a word that comes from the Arabic root verb SILM • Silm means Peace & Submission • Islam is not based on a name of a tribe, a locality, or a geographical location. • Such as Christianity which was named after Jesus Christ, • Buddhism after Gautama Buddha, • Confucianism after Confucius, • Marxism after Karl Marx, • Judaism after the tribe of Judah • and Hinduism after the Hindus.

4. Meaning of the word Islam (cont) • Everything in this universe submits to God. • Islam: to achieve Peace with God, self and other creation of God through Submission to Him • Submission to God by choice, in trust & love that is affirmed by acceptance & obedience to God. • Islam is not new. • Islam is a monotheistic faith. The belief in One God. • Not just unity - because many parties can be involved in unity. • It’s Absolute Oneness of God“Say, He is Allah: the One, the Only. Allah: the Eternal, the Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like him” Chapter 112

5. Meaning of Din (Religion) Sayyid Naquib Al-Attas. Islam and Secularism, p 51 – 55. ‘’The primary signification of the term din can be reduced to four: indebtedness; submissiveness; judicious power; natural inclination or tendency.

6. Meaning of Din (Religion) - cont The verb dana which derives from din conveys the meaning of being indebted...In the state in which one finds oneself being in debt – that is to say, a da’in – it follows that one subjects oneself, in the sense of yielding and obeying....There is also conveyed in the situation described the fact that one in debt is under obligation, or dayn.....

7. Meaning of Din (Religion) - cont Being in debt and under obligation naturally involves judgement: daynunah, and conviction: idanah. All the above significations including their contraries inherent in dana are practicable possibilities only in organized societies involved in commercial life in towns and cities, denoted by mudun or mada’in. A town or city, a madinah, has a judge, ruler, or governor – a dayyan.

8. Meaning of Din (Religion) - cont It is connected with the verb maddana: to build or to found cities: to civilize, to refine and to humanize; from which is derived another term: tamaddun, meaning civilization and refinement in social culture. The Prophet’s city was named ‘madinatunnabiy’

9. Meaning of Din (Religion) - cont Thus we derive from the primary signification of being in a state of debt other correlated significations, such as: to abase oneself, to serve (a master), to become enslaved; and from another such signification of judge, ruler, and governor is derived meanings which denote the becoming mighty, powerful and strong; a master, one elevated in rank, and glorious; and yet further, the meanings: judgement, requital or reckoning (at some appointed time).

10. Al-Qur’an Al-Quran: Islam’s Holy Book It’s the literal word of God It was revealed to prophet Mohammad via angel Jibrael (Gabriel) over 23 years- Mohammad was illiterate! It’s 114 Chapters, vary in length. (604 pages, 6,236 verses) It’s in Arabic. There are translations in all different languages. - Translation is not a Quran! Al-Quran and the Sunnah (Tradition) of the prophet are the sources of Sharia (Islamic Law).

11. Content of the Qur’an • Qur'an contains: • Moral guidelines • Laws of God (Ahkam) • Rules of Islamic Faith (Aqidah) • Stories and History • 114 chapters • 6207 verses

12. Laws in the Qur’an 600 verses pertain to ahkam (Laws). (over) 400 verses pertain to Ibadat. Remaining to muamalat: 70 verses pertain to family law 80 verses to trade and finance 13 verses to oaths 30 verses to crimes and sentencing 10 to constitutional and administrative matters 25 to international law and prisoners of war

13. Qur’an on creed & worship ‘’And they were not ordered but to worship Allah, making their submission exclusive for him with no deviation, and to establish Salāh and pay Zakāh . That is the way of the straight religion’’. Al Bayyinah: (98:5) {وَمَآ أُمِرُوۤاْ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُواْ ٱلزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ ٱلقَيِّمَةِ}

14. Qur’an on Politics ‘’So, never by your Lord! Never shall they become believers, unless they make you the judge in the disputes that arise between them, then find no discomfort in their hearts against what you have decided, and surrender to it in total submission’’. Al Nisa: (4:65) {فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِيۤ أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً}

15. Qur’an on debt ‘’O you who believe, when you transact a debt payable at a specified time, put it in writing, and let a scribe write it between you with fairness. A scribe should not refuse to write as Allah has educated him. He, therefore, should write. The one who owes something should get it written, but he must fear Allah, his Lord, and he should not omit anything from it’’. Al Baqara: (2:282) يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُوۤاْ إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَٱكْتُبُوهُ وَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَلاَ يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ فَلْيَكْتُبْ وَلْيُمْلِلِ ٱلَّذِي عَلَيْهِ ٱلْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلاَ يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً

16. Qur’an on Jihad Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom fighting is launched, because they have been wronged, and Allah is powerful to give them victory.(They are) the ones who were expelled from their homes without any just reason, except that they say “Our Lord is Allah.” Had Allah not been repelling some people by means of some others, the monasteries, the churches, the synagogues and the mosques where Allah’s name is abundantly recited would have been demolished. Allah will definitely help those who help Him (by defending the religion prescribed by Him.) Surely Allah is Powerful, Mighty. Hajj: (22: 39-40) {أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُواْ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ} { الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيارِهِمْ بغَيْرِ حَقّ }

17. Qur’an on Fighting ‘’When you (O prophet) are in their midst, and arrange for them the Salāh, then, a party from them should stand with you, and should take their arms along. Then, once they performed Sajdah, they should move away from you, and the other party, that has not yet performed Salāh, should come and perform Salāh with you, and should take their precautionary measures and their arms’’. Al Nisa: (4: 102) {وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلاَةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوۤاْ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُواْ فَلْيَكُونُواْ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّواْ فَلْيُصَلُّواْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُواْ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَّيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُمْ مَّرْضَىۤ أَن تَضَعُوۤاْ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ وَخُذُواْ حِذْرَكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَاباً مُّهِيناً}

18. Qur’an on Trade & Commerce Then once the Salāh is over, disperse in the land, and seek the grace of Allah, and remember Allah abundantly, so that you may be successful’’. Jum’ah:(62:10) ‘’O you who believe, do not devour each other’s property by false means, unless it is trade conducted with your mutual consent. Do not kill one another. Indeed, Allah has been Very-Merciful to you’’. Al-Nisa: (4:29) {فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلاَةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِي ٱلأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيراً لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ} {يَٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَأْكُلُوۤاْ أَمْوَٰلَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ إِلاَّ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَٰرَةً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْكُمْ وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوۤاْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيماً}

19. Qur’an on Inheritance For you there is one-half of what your wives leave behind, in case they have no child. But, if they have a child, you get one-fourth of what they leave, after (settling) the will they might have made, or a debt. For them (the wives) there is one-fourth of what you leave behind, in case you have no child. But, if you have a child, they get one eighth of what you leave, after (settling) the will you might have made, or a debt’’. Al Nisa: (4:12) {وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَٰجُكُمْ إِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ وَلَهُنَّ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم مِّن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَٰلَةً أَو ٱمْرَأَةٌ وَلَهُ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ فَإِن كَانُوۤاْ أَكْثَرَ مِن ذٰلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فِي ٱلثُّلُثِ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَآرٍّ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ}

20. Qur’an & criminal law ‘’For this reason, We decreed for the children of Isrā’īl that whoever kills a person not in retaliation for a person killed, nor (as a punishment) for spreading disorder on the earth, is as if he has killed the whole of humankind, and whoever saves the life of a person is as if he has saved the life of the whole of humankind’’. Al Maidah: (5:32) {مِنْ أَجْلِ ذٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِيۤ إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْساً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي ٱلأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلّبَيِّنَٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيراً مِّنْهُمْ بَعْدَ ذٰلِكَ فِي ٱلأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ}

21. Qur’an on food O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided to you and be grateful to Allah, if it is He whom you worship (in real terms). He has only prohibited for you carrion, blood, the flesh of swine and that upon which a name of someone other than ‘Allah’ has been invoked. Then, whoever is compelled by necessity, neither seeking pleasure nor transgressing, there is no sin on him. Verily, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful. Al Baqara: (2:172-173) {يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُواْ للَّهِ إِن كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ} {إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلاَ عَادٍ فَلاۤ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ}

22. Qur’an on dress code • Protection • “O prophet! Tell your wives and your daughter and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies, that will be better that they should be known so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” Quran 33:59 • Modesty • Self-respect & Identity • Obedience • “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), And protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts.) that is purer for them. Verily, Allah All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except that which is apparent (face and hands)…….” Quran 24:30-31

23. Ethics in the Qur’an Always Respond to a Greeting with a better one(4:86) Do not be Arrogant or Proud (31;18) Be Humble and Speak softly (31:19) Invite to God with Wisdom and Kindness (16:125) Be Kind to Your Parents (17:23,24) Suppress Anger and Forgive People (3:133,134) Counter Evil with Good (41:34) & (13:22) Do not say Bad Things (14:26) Do not insult the Idolaters (6:108) Do not make Fun of Others, or call Them Names (49:11) Do not be Suspicious, or Spy on One Another, or Backbite (49:12) Do not be Racist (49:13)

24. Stories in Quran Quran just hints the incidences of the past No details, it is not a history book Has no fiction Stories to wake the sleeping ones Stories to prove that it is a heavenly book All the Prophets had the same mission Roots of all the religions are the same Stories show the fate of those who went against their Prophets Stories boosted the morale of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

25. Islamic Law – Shar’iahLaw • Islamic Law Objectives • Safeguard Faith , Life, the Mind, Honor, and Property • “There is no compulsion in religion. True guidance is distinct from error.” Quran 2:256 • “We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killed a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saved the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.” Quran 5:32 • “Allah enjoins justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbids indecency and wickedness. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.‏” Quran 16:90

26. Overall Maqsad of Shar’iah • Imam Ibn al Qayyim wrote: “Shari'ah is based on wisdom and achieving people's welfare in this life and the afterlife. Shari'ah is all about justice, mercy, wisdom, and good. Thus, any ruling that replaces justice with injustice, mercy with its opposite, common good with mischief, or wisdom with nonsense, is a ruling that does not belong to the Shari'ah, even if it is claimed to be so according to some interpretations.” (Shamsuddin Ibn al-Qayyim, I`lam Al-Muwaqi`in, ed. Taha Abdul Rauf Sad, Beirut: Dar Al-Jeel, 1973) الشريعة مبناها وأساسها على الحكم ومصالح العباد في المعاش والمعاد. وهي عدل كلها، ورحمة كلها، وحكمة كلها، ومصلحة كلها، فكل مسألة خرجت عن العدل إلى الجور، وعن الرحمة إلى ضدها، وعن المصلحة إلى المفسدة، وعن الحكمة إلى العبث، فليست من الشريعة، وإن أدخلت فيها بالتأويل

27. END Questions