|
|
Cleanliness
Islam places great emphasis on cleanliness, in both its
physical and spiritual aspects. On the physical side, Islam
requires the Muslim to clean his body, his clothes, his
house, and the whole community, and he is rewarded by God
for doing so. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, for example:
"Removing any harm from the road is charity
(that will be rewarded by Allah)." [Bukhari]
While people generally consider cleanliness a desirable
attribute, Islam insists on it , making it an indispensible
fundamental of the faith. A muslim is required to to be pure
morally and spiritually as well as physically. Through the
Qur'an and Sunnah Islam requires the sincere believer to
sanitize and purify his entire way of life. In the Qur'an
Allah commends those who are accustomed to cleanliness:
"Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly
and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean."
[2: 22]
In Islam the Arabic term for purity is Taharah. Books of
Islamic jurisprudence often contain an entire chapter with
Taharah as a heading. Allah orders the believer to be tidy
in appearance:
"Keep your clothes clean." [74:4]
The Qur'an insists that the believer maintain a constant
state of purity:
"Believers! When you prepare for prayer wash
your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; rub
your heads (with water) and (wash) your feet up to the
ankles. If you are ritually impure bathe your whole
body." [5: 6]
Ritual impurity refers to that resulting from sexual
release, menstruation and the first forty days after
childbirth. Muslims also use water, not paper or anything
else to after eliminating body wastes. Prophet Muhammad
)pbuh) advised the Muslims to appear neat and tidy in
private and in public. Once when returning home from battle
he advised his army:
"You are soon going to meet your brothers, so
tidy your saddles and clothes. Be distinguished in the
eyes of the people." [Abu Dawud]
On another occasion he said:
"Don't ever come with your hair and beard
disheveled like a devil." [Al-Tirmidhi]
And on another:
"Had I not been afraid of overburdening my
community, I would have ordered them to brush their teeth
for every prayer." [Bukhari]
Moral hygeine was not ignored, either, for the Prophet
(pbuh) encouraged the muslims to make a special prayer upon
seeing themselves in the mirror:
"Allah, You have endowed me with a good form;
likewise bless me with an immaculate character and forbid
my face from touching the Hellfire." [Ahmad]
And modesty in dress, for men as well as for women,
assists one in maintaining purity of thought. Being
charitable is a way of purifying one's wealth. A Muslim who
does not give charity (Sadaqah) and pay the required annual
Zakaah, the 2.5% alms-tax, has in effect contaminated his
wealth by hoarding that which rightfully belongs to
others:
"Of their wealth take alms so that you may
purify and sanctify them." [9: 103]
All the laws and injunctions given by Allah and His
Prophet (pbuh) are pure; on the other hand, man-made laws
suffer from the impurities of human bias and other
imperfections. Thus any formal law can only be truly just
when it is purified by divine guidance - as elucidated by
the Qur'an and the Sunnah - or if it is divinely ordained to
begin with - the Shari'ah.
Muslims Contribution To Science
Astronomy
Muslims have always had a special interest in astronomy.
The moon and the sun are of vital importance in the daily
life of every Muslim. By the moon, Muslims determine the
beginning and the end of the months in their lunar calendar.
By the sun the Muslims calculate the times for prayer and
fasting. It is also by means of astronomy that Muslims can
determine the precise direction of the Qiblah, to face the
Ka'bah in Makkah, during prayer. The most precise solar
calendar, superior to the Julian, is the Jilali, devised
under the supervision of Umar Khayyam.
The Qur'an contains many references to astronomy. For
example:
"The heavens and the earth were ordered rightly,
and were made subservient to man, including the sun, the
moon, the stars, and day and night. Every heavenly body
moves in an orbit assigned to it by God and never
digresses, making the universe an orderly cosmos whose
life and existence, diminution and expansion, are totally
determined by the Creator." [Qur'an 30:22]
These references, and the injunctions to learn, inspired
the early Muslim scholars to study the heavens. They
integrated the earlier works of the Indians, Persians and
Greeks into a new synthesis. Ptolemy's Almagest (the title
as we know it is Arabic) was translated, studied and
criticized. Many new stars were discovered, as we see in
their Arabic names - Algol, Deneb, Betelgeuse, Rigel,
Aldebaran. Astronomical tables were compiled, among them the
Toledan tables, which were used by Copernicus, Tycho Brahe
and Kepler. Also compiled were almanacs - another Arabic
term. Other terms from Arabic are zenith, nadir, albedo,
azimuth.
Muslim astronomers were the first to establish
observatories, like the one built at Mugharah by Hulagu, the
son of Genghis Khan, in Persia, and they invented
instruments such as the quadrant and astrolabe, which led to
advances not only in astronomy but in oceanic navigation,
contributing to the European age of exploration.
Geography
Muslim scholars paid great attention to geography. In
fact, the Muslims' great concern for geography originated
with their religion. The Qur'an encourages people to travel
throughout the earth to see God's signs and patterns
everywhere. Islam also requires each Muslim to have at least
enough knowledge of geography to know the direction of the
Qiblah (the position of the Ka'bah in Makkah) in order to
pray five times a day. Muslims were also used to taking long
journeys to conduct trade as well as to make the Hajj and
spread their religion. The far-flung Islamic empire enabled
scholar-explorers to compile large amounts of geographical
and climatic information from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
Among the most famous names in the field of geography,
even in the West, are Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Batuta, renowned
for their written accounts of their extensive
explorations.
In 1166, Al-Idrisi, the well-known Muslim scholar who
served the Sicilian court, produced very accurate maps,
including a world map with all the continents and their
mountains, rivers and famous cities. Al-Muqdishi was the
first geographer to produce accurate maps in color.
It was, moreover, with the help of Muslim navigators and
their inventions that Magellan was able to traverse the Cape
of Good Hope, and Da Gama and Columbus had Muslim navigators
on board their ships.
Humanity
Seeking knowledge is obligatory in Islam for every
Muslim, man and woman. The main sources of Islam, the Qur'an
and the Sunnah (Prophet Muhammad's traditions), encourage
Muslims to seek knowledge and be scholars, since this is the
best way for people to know Allah (God), to appreciate His
wondrous creations and be thankful for them. Muslims were
therefore eager to seek knowledge, both religious and
secular, and within a few years of Muhammad's mission, a
great civilization sprang up and flourished. The outcome is
shown in the spread of Islamic universities; Al-Zaytunah in
Tunis, and Al-Azhar in Cairo go back more than 1,000 years
and are the oldest existing universities in the world.
Indeed, they were the models for the first European
universities, such as Bologna, Heidelberg, and the Sorbonne.
Even the familiar academic cap and gown originated at
Al-Azhar University.
Muslims made great advances in many different fields,
such as geography, physics, chemistry, mathematics,
medicine, pharmacology, architecture, linguistics and
astronomy. Algebra and the Arabic numerals were introduced
to the world by Muslim scholars. The astrolabe, the
quadrant, and other navigational devices and maps were
developed by Muslim scholars and played an important role in
world progress, most notably in Europe's age of
exploration.
Muslim scholars studied the ancient civilations from
Greece and Rome to China and India. The works of Aristotle,
Ptolemy, Euclid and others were translated into Arabic.
Muslim scholars and scientists then added their own creative
ideas, discoveries and inventions, and finally transmitted
this new knowledge to Europe, leading directly to the
Rennaissance. Many scientific and medical treatises, having
been translated into Latin, were standard text and reference
books as late as the 17th and 18th centuries.
Mathematics
It is interesting to note that Islam so strongly urges
mankind to study and explore the universe. For example, the
Holy Qur'an states:
"We (Allah) will show you (mankind) Our
signs/patterns in the horizons/universe and in yourselves
until you are convinced that the revelation is the
truth." [Qur'an, 14:53]
This invitation to explore and search made Muslims
interested in astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, and the
other sciences, and they had a very clear and firm
understanding of the correspondences among geometry,
mathematics, and astronomy.
The Muslims invented the symbol for zero (The word
"cipher" comes from Arabic sifr), and they organized the
numbers into the decimal system - base 10. Additionally,
they invented the symbol to express an unkown quantity, i.e.
variables like x.
The first great Muslim mathematician, Al-Khawarizmi,
invented the subject of algebra (al-Jabr), which was further
developed by others, most notably Umar Khayyam.
Al-Khawarizmi's work, in Latin translation, brought the
Arabic numerals along with the mathematics to Europe,
through Spain. The word "algorithm" is derived from his
name.
Muslim mathematicians excelled also in geometry, as can
be seen in their graphic arts, and it was the great
Al-Biruni (who excelled also in the fields of natural
history, even geology and mineralogy) who established
trigonometry as a distinct branch of mathematics. Other
Muslim mathematicians made significant progress in number
theory.
Medicine
In Islam, the human body is a source of appreciation, as
it is created by Almighty Allah (God). How it functions, how
to keep it clean and safe, how to prevent diseases from
attacking it or cure those diseases, have been important
issues for Muslims. Prophet Muhammad himself urged people to
"take medicines for your diseases", as people at that time
were reluctant to do so. He also said: "God created no
illness, but established for it a cure, except for old age.
When the antidote is applied, the patient will recover with
the permission of God."
This was strong motivation to encourage Muslim scientists
to explore, develop, and apply empirical laws. Much
attention was given to medicine and public health care. The
first hospital was built in Baghdad in 706 AC. The Muslims
also used camel caravans as mobile hospitals, which moved
from place to place.
Since the religion did not forbid it, Muslim scholars
used human cadavers to study anatomy and physiology and to
help their students understand how the body functions. This
empirical study enabled surgery to develop very quickly.
Al-Razi, known in the West as Rhazes, the famous
physician and scientist, (d. 932) was one of the greatest
physicians in the world in the Middle Ages. He stressed
empirical observation and clinical medicine and was
inrivalled as a diagnostician. He also wrote a treatise on
hygeine in hospitals. Khalaf Abul-Qasim Al-Zahrawi was a
very famous surgeon in the eleventh century, known in Europe
for his work, Concessio (Kitab al-Tasrif).
Ibn Sina (d. 1037), better known to the West as Avicenna,
was perhaps the greatest physician until the modern era. His
famous book, Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb, remained a standard
textbook even in Europe, for over 700 years. Ibn Sina's work
is still studied and built upon in the East.
Other significant contributions were made in
pharmacology, such as Ibn Sina's Kitab al-Shifa' (Book of
Healing), and in public health. Every major city in the
Islamic world had a number of excellent hospitals, some of
them teaching hospitals, and many of them were specialized
for particular diseases, including mental and emotional. The
Ottomans were particularly noted for their building of
hospitals and for the high level of hygeine practiced in
them.
Human Rights
Islam has been from its inception very concerned with
issues of human rights. Privacy, freedom, dignity and
equality are guaranteed in Islam. The holy Qur'an states
clearly:
"There is no compulsion in religion."
And there are no reliable reports to confirm the old
accusations that when the Muslim armies were expanding into
Asia, Africa and Europe the people were put to the sword if
they failed to convert to Islam. The best proof is that not
only did the Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and Hindus in
those areas not perish or otherwise disappear, they actually
flourished as protected minority communities, and many
individuals rose to prominent positions in the arts,
sciences, even in government.
The lives,property and privacy of all citizens in an
Islamic state are considered sacred, whether or not the
person is Muslim. Non-Muslims have freedom of worship and
the practice of their religions, including their own family
law and religious courts. They are obliged to pay a
different tax (Jizyah) instead of the Zakah, and the state
is obligated to provide both protection and government
services. Before the modern era it was extremely rare to
find a state or government anywhere in the world that was as
solicitous of its minorities and their civil rights as the
Islamic states.
In no other religion did women receive such a degree of
legal and moral equality and personal respect. Moreover,
racism and tribalism are incompatible with Islam, for the
Qur'an speaks of human equality in the following terms:
"Mankind! We created you from a single soul,
male and female, and made you into nations and tribes,
that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most
honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in
piety."
Jesus
Islam honors all the prophets who were sent to mankind.
Muslims respect all prophets in general, but Jesus in
particular, because he was one of the prophets who foretold
the coming of Muhammad. Muslims, too, await the second
coming of Jesus. They consider him one of the greatest of
Allah's prophets to mankind. A Muslim does not refer to him
simply as "Jesus," but normally adds the phrase "peace be
upon him" as a sign of respect.
No other religion in the world respects and dignifies
Jesus as Islam does. The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a
chapter of the Qur'an is entitled "Mary"), and Mary is
considered to have been one of the purest women in all
creation. The Qur'an describes Jesus' birth as follows:
"Behold!' the Angel said, God has chosen you,
and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all
nations. Mary, God gives you good news of a word from
Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary,
honored in this world and in the Hereafter, and one of
those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people
from his cradle and in maturity, and he shall be of the
righteous. She said: "My Lord! How shall I have a son
when no man has touched me?' He said: "Even so; God
creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to
it, 'Be!' and it is." [3:42-47]
Muslims believe that Jesus was born immaculately, and
through the same power which had brought Eve to life and
Adam into being without a father or a mother.
"Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the
likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said
to him, 'Be!' and he was." [3:59]
During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many
miracles. The Qur'an tells us that he said:
"I have come to you with a sign from your Lord:
I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a
bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's
leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise
the dead by God's leave." [3:49]
Muhammad and Jesus, as well as the other prophets, were
sent to confirm the belief in one God. This is referred to
in the Qur'an where Jesus is reported as saying that he
came:
"To attest the law which was before me, and to
make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have
come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and
obey me." [3:50]
Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of Jesus by
saying:
"Whoever believes there is no god but Allah,
alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger,
that Jesus is a servant and messenger of God, His word
breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and
that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God
into Heaven. [Bukhari]
Knowledge
Islam urges people to read and learn on every occasion.
The verses of the Qur'an command, advise, warn, and
encourage people to observe the phenomena of nature, the
succession of day and night, the movements of stars, the
sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies. Muslims are urged to
look into everything in the universe, to travel,
investigate, explore and understand them, the better to
appreciate and be thankful for all the wonders and beauty of
God's creations. The first revelation to Muhammad showed how
much Islam cares about knowledge.
"Read, in the name of your Lord, Who created..."
[96:1]
Learning is obligatory for both men and women. Moreover,
education is not restricted to religious issues; it includes
all fields of knowledge, including biology, physics, and
technology. Scholars have the highest status in Islam,
second only to that accorded to prophets.
Almost from the very beginnings of the Islamic state
Muslims began to study and to master a number of fields of
so-called secular learning, beginning with linguistics and
architecture, but very quickly extending to mathematics,
physics, astronomy, geography, medicine, chemistry and
philosophy. They translated and synthesized the known works
of the ancient world, from Greece, Persia, India, even
China. Before long they were criticizing, improving and
expanding on that knowledge. Centuries before the European
Rennaissance there were Muslim ³Rennaissance² men,
men who were simultaneously explorers, scientists,
philosophers, physicians and poets, like Ibn Sina
(Avicenna), Umar Khayyam, and others.
Muhammad
Muhammad (pbuh) was an illiterate but wise and
well-respected man who was born in Makkah in the year 570
C.E., at a time when Christianity was not yet fully
established in Europe. His first years were marked by the
deaths of his parents. Since his father died before his
birth, his uncle, Abu Talib, from the respected tribe of
Quraysh, raised him. As Muhammad (pbuh) grew up, he became
known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so
that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in
disputes. His reputation and personal qualities also led to
his marriage, at the age of twenty-five, to Khadijah, a
widow whom he had assisted in business. Thenceforth, he
became an important and trusted citizen of Makkah.
Historians describe him as calm and meditative.
Muhammad (pbuh) never felt fully content to be part of a
society whose values he considered to be devoid of true
religious significance. It became his habit to retreat from
time to time to the cave of Hira', to meditate near the
summit of Jabal al-Nur, the "Mountain of Light", near
Makkah.
At the age of 40, while engaged in one such meditative
retreat, Muhammad (pbuh) received his first revelation from
God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which
continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an,
the faithful recording of the entire revelation of God. The
first revelation read:
"Recite: In the name of your Lord Who created
man from a clot (of blood). Recite: Your Lord is Most
Noble, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not
know." [96:1-5]
It was this reality that he gradually and steadily came
to learn and believe, until he fully realized that it is the
truth. His first convert was Khadijah, whose support and
companionship provided necessary reassurance and strength.
He also won the support of some of his relatives and
friends. Three basic themes of the early message were the
majesty of the one, unique God, the futility of idol
worship, the threat of judgment, and the necessity of faith,
compassion and morality in human affairs. All these themes
represented an attack on the crass materialism and idolatry
prevalent in Makkah at the time. So when he began to
proclaim the message to others the Makkans rejected him. He
and his small group of followers suffered bitter
persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 C.E.,
God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the
Hijrah (migration), in which they left Makkah for the city
of Madinah, some 260 miles to the north, marked the
beginning of a new era and thus the beginning of the Muslim
calendar. During his suffering, Muhammad (pbuh) drew comfort
from the knowledge revealed to him about other prophets,
such as Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, each of whom had also
been persecuted and tested.
After several years and some significant battles, the
Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah,
where they forgave their enemies and established Islam
definitively. By the time the Prophet died, at the age of
63, the greater part of Arabia had accepted Islam, and
within a century of his death, Islam had spread as far west
as Spain and as far east as China. It was clear that the
message was not limited to Arabs; it was for the whole of
humanity.
The Prophet's sayings (Hadith), are also believed to be
revelation. The number of sayings collected by his followers
and scholars is about 10,000. Some typical examples of his
sayings are as follows:
"To pursue knowledge is obligatory on every
believing (man and woman)." [Ibn Majah]
"Removing a harmful thing from the road is charity."
[Bukhari, Muslim]
"Those who do not show tenderness and love cannot
expect to have tenderness shown to them."
[Bukhari]
"Adore Allah (God) as though you see Him; even if you
do not see Him, He nonetheless sees you." {Bukhari,
Muslim]
Although Muhammad is deeply loved, revered and emulated
by Muslims as God's final messenger, he is not an object of
worship.
Other Religions
Islam is the religion of all prophets. Muslims believe
that all the prophets were sent to their respective peoples
from God (Allah). They all had the same mission and message
- guiding people to the right path.
The three revealed, monotheistic religions, Islam,
Christianity, and Judaism, go back to Abraham. The prophets
of these religions were directly descended from him - Moses,
Jesus and others from Isaac, but Muhammad from IsmaŒil.
It was Prophet Abraham who had established the settlement
which today is the city of Makkah, and with his son
IsmaŒil built the KaŒbah, which Muslims all over
the world face when they pray.
Christians and Jews hold a special place in Islam. They
are called the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab), since the
original Torah and Gospel were also divinely revealed and
they shared in the prophetic tradition. Islamic states have
nearly always shown their religious minorities tolerance and
respect and those communities flourished under Islamic rule.
God says:
"...[T]hose who believe (in the message
of Islam), and the Jews, the Sabaeans, and the Christians
- all those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and
act righteously - no fear shall come upon them..."
[5:69]
Setting up the Islamic state in Madinah, Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) further warned:
"Whoever oppresses any Dhimmi (non-Muslim
citizen of the Islamic state), I shall be his prosecutor
on the Day of Judgment."
In setting up the Islamic state, Prophet Muhammad made it
inclusive of the Arabian Jews and Christians. Their persons,
properties, churches and synagogues were protected, freedom
of worship was guaranteed, and they controlled their own
community affairs with their own civil and religious laws
and courts. For most of the first century of the Islamic
state, in fact, the majority of the citizens were
Christians, enjoying peace and liberty such as they had not
had even under Christian Rome or Byzantium.
The Jews, from the very beginning in Madinah, and later
everywhere else, were lifted from the burden of being
clients of individual Arab tribes to being citizens of the
state, thus freeing them to focus on their Jewishness. When
the Islamic state expanded outside Arabia the Jews of other
lands were treated for the first time as liberated citizens.
Judaism flourished as never before, with Jews even serving
in Muslim armies and administrations while their culture
bloomed in the arts, sciences, medicine and philosophy. This
knowledge they transmitted to their brethren in the hostile
climate of Christian Europe. Even Jewish mysticism
originated under the influence of sufism and spread to
northern Europe.
When Islam reached Persia the concept of People of the
Book was extended to the Zoroastrians as well. Later, when
the Muslims conquered parts of India and encountered
Buddhists and Hindus, who appeared to worship idols, the
question was referred to the ulema (council of scholars),
who judged that even they could have the same protected
status as the Jews and Christians, so long as they did not
fight Islam and they paid the Jizyah tax.
Peace
"Peace" is the most common word on a Muslim's tongue.
Whenever two people meet, they exchange greetings, wishing
each other peace: "Peace be upon you." But peace cannot
prevail except through justice. Since the concept of justice
may differ from one man to another, or from one society to
another, Muslims believe that real justice is that which is
specified by Allah (God).
Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of the
religion, or by those who have been expelled forcibly from
their homes. At the same time, Islam requires one to treat
one's enemy mercifully. It lays down strict rules of combat
which include prohibitions against harming civilians and
against destroying crops, trees, and livestock. Islam also
requires that if an enemy declares his desire to end
hostilities and seek peace, the Muslims must do the
same.
The concept of Jihad (struggling in the cause of Allah)
is stated in the Qur'an. Allah said: "Fight in the cause of
God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God
does not love transgressors." [2:19] Jihad is never
to be waged to force anybody to choose a particular
religion. On the contrary, it is to waged to protect his
right to choose freely. Therefore, if there is a force in
the world that tries to prevent a person from practicing
this right, Jihad may lead to fighting the force that is
trying to prevent him from exercising free will.
Relevance
Since Islam is the last religion revealed by Allah, it
possesses some elements that make it unique. One of these is
its relevance for human beings regardless of place and
time.
This means that Islam - submission to God - is a
comprehensive institution which includes all the guidelines
necessary for all aspects of life. Therefore, the best way
to understand Islam is to look at it as more than a religion
- as a complete way of life. In other words, it is a system
which regulates every aspect of life, dealing with all
issues - social, economic, educational, judicial, health,
and even military. Thus, it is suitable for all human beings
and for all times, since it is the final religion. Islamic
law aims to achieve five goals for human beings in life:
protecting the religion, protecting one's self, protecting
one's possessions, protecting one's mind, and protecting
one's offspring.
Therefore, God (Allah) decided on two main domains of
law:
- If the domain always requires change and progress,
Allah legislated comprehensive yet flexible rules and
gave people the chance to create and develop the
necessary laws to satisfy the specific needs of a certain
period of time. For example, in the rule of consultation
(Shura), Allah decided that it should be the general rule
for any government; however, its form and style are left
open for people to choose and decide according to their
needs.
- If the domain does not require or lend itself to
change or progress, Allah legislated fixed and detailed
laws that govern all issues related to a specific area.
Thus, there is no way for man to change or develop those
laws, which were made for the welfare of all mankind. For
example, the area of worshipping God contains fixed
details which cannot be changed at all. These regard
prayer, fasting, making pilgrimage, etc. Another example
is in family matters, such as the laws of marriage,
divorce, and inheritance.
To show how Islam cares for the environment, one can cite
the many laws that protect the environment. About fourteen
hundred years ago. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"The world is green and beautiful, and Allah has
appointed you as His stewards over it. He sees how you
acquit yourselves."
Muhammad showed how important plants and trees are by
saying:
"Whoever plants a tree and looks after it with
care until it matures and becomes productive will be
rewarded in the Hereafter."
Even in the territory of an enemy, Islam's care for
plants, animals, and trees is profound. Abu Bakr, the first
Caliph, or successor, to Muhammad (pbuh), instructed his
troops that he was sending into battle not to cut down any
trees or kill any animals except for food.
These are but a few examples of how Islam remains
relevant in the modern world.
Sources: Quran and Sunnah
The ultimate manifestation of God's grace for man, the
ultimate wisdom, and the ultimate beauty of expression: in
short, the word of God. This is how the German scholar,
Muhammad Asad, once described the Qur'an. If one were to ask
any Muslim to depict it, most likely they would offer
similar words. The Qur'an, to the Muslim, is the
irrefutable, inimitable Word of God. It was revealed by God
Almighty, through the instrument of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The Prophet (pbuh) himself had no role in authoring the
Qur'an, he was merely a human secretary, repeating the
dictates of the Divine Creator:
"He (Muhammad) does not speak of his own desire.
It is no less than an Inspiration sent down to him."
[53:3-4]
The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic, to Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh), over a period of twenty-three years. It is composed
in a style so unique, that it cannot be deemed either poetry
or prose, but somehow a mixture of both. The Qur'an is
imimitable; it cannot be simulated or copied, and God
Almighty challenges mankind to pursue such an endeavor if he
thinks he can:
"Or do they say he forged it? Say: Bring then a
chapter like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you
can, beside God, if it be you speak the truth."
[10:38].
The Qur'an's language is indeed sublime, its recitation
moving, as one non-Muslim scholar noted, it was like
³the cadence of my heartbeat². Due to its unique
style of language, the Qur'an is not only highly readable,
but also relatively easy to remember. This latter aspect has
played an important role not only in the Qur'an's
preservation, but in the spiritual life of Muslims as well.
God Himself declares:
"And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to
understand and remember; then is there anyone that will
receive admonition?" [54:17]
One of the most important characteristics of the Qur'an
is that it remains today, the only holy book which has never
changed; it has remained free from any and all
adulterations. Sir William Muir noted, "There is probably in
the world no other book which has remained (fourteen)
centuries with so pure a text." The Qur'an was written down
during the lifetime and under the supervision of the
Prophet, who himself was illiterate, and it was canonized
shortly after his death by a rigorous method which
scrutinized both written and oral traditions. Thus its
authenticity is unblemished, and is its preservation is seen
as the fulfillment of God's promise:
"We have, without doubt, sent down the Message,
and We will assuredly guard it from corruption."
[15:9]
The Qur'an is a book which provides the human being the
spiritual and intellectual nourishment he/she craves. Its
major themes include the oneness of God, the purpose of
human existence, faith and God-consciousness, the Hereafter
and its significance. The Qur'an also lays a heavy emphasis
upon reason and understanding. In these spheres of human
understanding, the Qur'an goes beyond just satisfying the
human intellect; it causes one to reflect on implications.
There are Qur'anic challenges and prophecies. One of the
most exciting fields in recent years has been the discovery
that, of the significant amount of scientific information in
the Qur'an, including the event of the Big Bang,
embryological data, and other information concerning
astronomy biology, etc., there is not a single statement
that has not been borne out by modern discoveries In short,
the Qur'an fulfills the heart, the soul, and the mind.
Perhaps the best description of the Qur'an was given by
Ali, the cousin of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when he expounded
upon it as:
"The Book of God. In it is the record of what
was before you, the judgment of what is among you, and
the prophecies of what will come after you. It is
decisive, not a case for levity. Whoever is a tryant and
ignores the Qur'an will be destroyed by God. Whoever
seeks guidance from other than it will be misguided. The
Qur'an is the unbreakable bond of connection with God; it
is the remembrance full of wisdom and the straight path.
The Qur'an does not become distorted by tongues. nor can
it be deviated by caprices; it never dulls from repeated
study; scholars will always want more of it. The wonders
of the Qur'an are never ending. Whoever speaks from it
will speak the truth, whoever rules with it will be just,
and whoever holds fast to it will be guided to the
straight path." [Al-Tirmidhi]
Sunnah
The term Sunnah comes from the root word sanna, which
means to pave the way or make a path easily passable, such
that it becomes a commonly followed way by everyone
afterwards. Thus sunnah can be used to describe a street or
road or path on which people, animals, and cars travel.
Additionally, it can apply to a prophetic way, i.e. the law
that they brought and taught as an explanation or further
clarification of a divinely revealed book. Normally, the
prophetic way includes references to his sayings, actions,
physical features and character traits.
From the Islamic standpoint, Sunnah refers to anything
narrated or related about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),
authentically traced to him regarding his speech, actions,
traits, and silent approvals, before and after the
revelation.
Each narration is composed of two parts: the isnad and
the matn. The isnad refers to a chain of people who narrated
a paricular narration. The matn is the actual text of the
narration. The isnad must comprise upright and sincere
individuals whose integrity is unquestionable.
The Speech of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
The speech of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) refers to his
sayings. For example, he said:
"Actions are judged by their intentions;
everyone will be rewarded according to his/her intention.
So whoever migrates for the sake of Allah and His Prophet
then his migration will be noted as a migration for the
sake of Allah and His Prophet. Conversely, one who
migrates only to obtain something worldly or to marry a
woman, then his migration will be worth what he had
inteded.² [Bukhari]. The Prophet (pbuh) also
said: ³Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day,
should say something good or keep quiet.
The above two accounts clearly show that the Prophet
(pbuh) spoke these words. Consequently, these are known as
his speech.
The Actions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
His actions pertain to anything he did, as authentically
reported by the Sahabah (Companions). For instance,
Hudhayfah reported that whenever the Prophet (pbuh) got up
at night, he would clean his teeth with a tooth-stick. Also
A'ishah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) loved to do
everything starting with the right side - putting on shoes,
walking, cleaning himself, and in all his affairs
generally.
The Silent Approvals of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
His silent approvals on different issues meant his not
opposing or minding what he saw, heard or knew of the
actions or sayings of his Companions. On one occasion, for
example, the Prophet (pbuh) learned of actions of some of
his Companions from other Companions. Soon after the battle
of Khandaq, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave the order to the
Companions to move quickly to surround the enemies attacking
the city of Madinah, encouraging them to hurry so that
perhaps they would pray 'Asr (the late afternoon prayer)
there. Some of the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh)
responded immediately and left without praying 'Asr. They
arrived after sunset, pitched camp and prayed 'Asr- after
sunset. At the same time another group of Companions
formulated their judgment differently. They thought that the
Prophet (pbuh) was merely encouraging them to hasten to
their destination, rather than to delay 'Asr until after
sunset. Consequently, they decided to stay in Madinah until
they had prayed 'Asr. Immediately thereafter, they hastened
towards the enemies. When the Prophet (pbuh) was told of how
each group responded differently to his announcement, he
(pbuh) affirmed both judgments.
Physical and Moral Traits of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh)
Everything authentically narrated concerning the
Prophet's complexion and the rest of his physical features
is also included in the definition of sunnah. Umm Ma'bad
described what she saw of the great Prophet (pbuh). She
said:
"I saw a man, his face radiant with a bright
glow, not too thin or too fat, elegant and handsome. His
eyes had a deep black hue with long eyelashes. His voice
was pleasant and his neck long. He had a thick beard. His
long black eyebrows were beautifully arched and connected
to each other. In silence, he remained dignified,
commanding utmost awe and respect. When he spoke, his
speech was brilliant. Of all people he was the most
handsome and the most pleasant, even when approaching
from a distance. In person, he was unique and most
admirable. Graced with eloquent logic, his speech was
moderate. His logical arguments were well organized as
though they were a string of gems. He was not too tall or
too short, but exactly in between. Among three, he
appeared the most radiant and most vibrant. He had
companions who affectionately honored him. When he spoke,
they listened to him attentively. When he gave orders,
they were quick to execute them. They rallied around him
guarding him. He never frowned or spoke frivolously."
[Hakim]
Along with his physical features, his Companions also
described his habits and behavior with people. Once Anas
reported:
"I served the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) for ten
years. Never once did he so much as express any bit of
displeasure nor did he ever ask 'Why did you do it?' for
something I did or 'Why didn't you do it?' for something
I didn't do."
From the above we can clearly see that when the term
sunnah appears in a general context refering to Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) it comprises anything narrated about the
Prophet (pbuh) and authentically traced to him. Once a
Muslim learns of the authenticity of any narration, he/she
is obliged to follow and obey it accordingly. Such obedience
is mandated by Allah as He declares:
"...and obey Allah and His Prophet and do not
turn away when you hear (him speak)." [8:20]
At times, some Muslims are perplexed when people say that
sunnah is something only recommeded and is not mandatory.
Thus they conclude that we are only required to follow the
Qur'an and not the Sunnah. Such an argument results from a
gross misunderstanding. Scholars of Islamic jurisprudence
use the term sunnah to denote what is authentically
established of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in deeds which were
not subsequentlly made mandatory by Allah.
They further hold that this includes any saying of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) where he encourages Muslims to do a
particular task and compliments those who imbibe such
attributes. Thus to them, the term sunnah denotes what is
authentically established of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in
deeds which he did voluntarily and which were not
subsequently made mandatory by Allah. They further hold that
this includes any saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) where he
encourages Muslims to do a particular task and compliments
those who imbibe such attributes. Thus to them, the term
sunnah refers to what is "recommended" and is not mandatory
(fard or wajib).
From the above, we can clearly see that the term sunnah
takes on different meanings when used by different Islamic
disciplines.
Tolerance
Freedom of belief is guaranteed in Islam. It should be
very clear that Islam tolerates not only other faiths but
even its enemies. This is stated clearly in the Qur'an:
"God forbids you not with regard to those who
fight you not for (your) faith, nor drive you out of your
homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them, for God
loves those who are just." [60:8]
It is one function of Islamic law to protect the
privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim
places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic
world. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set
up their own courts to implement family laws drawn up by the
minorities themselves and to govern their own affairs.
History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance
towards other faiths. When the great leader and second
Caliph, Umar, entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam
guaranteed freedom of worship to all religious communities
in the city. In fact, so careful was Umar in setting an
example for his people that he not only went to a church to
pray, he prayed outside in the courtyard, lest his followers
after his death be tempted to convert the church into a
mosque.
Islam teaches that the closest to Allah and the most
beloved of Allah are those who are the best in piety. Thus
all people, male and female, and regardless of race, color,
nationality or ethnicity, are considered and treated as
equal before Allah and before the law. This concept of
tolerance did not reach the West even in theory until the
18th century, and in practice not until the 20th
century.
Universality
In the Qur'an, Allah says:
"We have sent you (Muhammad) as a mercy for all
nations." [21:107]
Thus Islam is not restricted to any particular race or
nation, as many other religions are, but is universal,
meaning that its message applies to all humanity, at all
times, in all places.
Since Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the last prophet and
messenger, his message applies to all future generations.
All previous prophets, from Adam, Noah and Abraham to Moses
and Jesus, were also Muslims:
"Not a single messenger did We send before you
without this inspiration sent by Us to him - that there
is no god but I, therefore worship and serve Me."
[21:25]
Since the Qur'an is the final testament, with every word
and every letter unadulterated and unchanged, and protected
by Allah from any change or tampering, it is the final
revelation, and no other law will ever supersede it.
It applies, moreover, to every aspect of one's daily
life, including personal, social, legal, economic,
political, even military. Furthermore, Islam affects every
part of the individual - physical, mental, emotional, and
spiritual.
Women
At a time when the rest of the world, from Greece and
Rome to India and China, considered women as no better than
children or even slaves, with no rights whatsoever, Islam
acknowledged women's equality with men in a great many
respects. The Qur'an states:
"And among His signs is this: that He created
mates for you form yourselves that you may find rest,
peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love
and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are signs for people who
reflect." [30:21]
Prophet Muhammad said:
"The most perfect in faith amongst believers is
he who is best in manners and kindest to his wife."
[Abu Dawud]
Muslims believe that Adam and Eve were created from the
same soul. Both were equally guilty of their sin and fall
from grace, and both were forgiven by Allah. Many women in
Islam have had high status; consider the fact that the first
person to convert to Islam was Khadijah,the wife of
Muhammad, whom he both loved and respected. His favorite
wife after Khadijah's death, AŒisha, became renowned as
a scholar and one of the greatest sources of Hadith
literature. Many of the female Companions accomplished great
deeds and achieved fame, and throughout Islamic history
there have been famous and influential scholars, jurists and
mystics.
With regard to education, both women and men have the
same rights and obligations. This is clear in Prophet
Muhammad's saying:
"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every
believer, men and women." [Ibn Majah]
A woman is to be treated as God has endowed her, with
rights, such as to be treated as an individual, with the
right to own and dispose of her own property and earnings,
enter into contracts, even after marriage. She has the right
to be educated and to work outside the home if she so
chooses. She has the right to inherit from her father,
mother, and husband. A very interesting point to note is
that in Islam, unlike any other religion, a woman can be an
imam, a leader of communal prayer, for a group of women.
A Muslim woman also has obligations. All the laws and
regulations pertaining to prayer, fasting, charity,
pilgrimage, doing good deeds, etc., apply to women, albeit
with minor differences having mainly to do with female
physiology.
Before marriage, a woman has the right to choose her
husband. Islamic law is very strict regarding the necessity
of having the woman's consent for marriage. A marriage dowry
is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use.
She keeps her own family name, rather than taking her
husband's. As a wife, a woman has the right to be supported
by her husband even if she is already rich. She also has the
right to seek divorce and custody of young children. She
does not return the dowry, except in a few unusual
situations.
Despite the fact that in many places and times Muslim
communities have not always adhered to all or even many of
the foregoing in practice, the ideal has been there for1,400
years, while virtually all other major civilzations did not
begin to address these issues or change their negative
attitudes until the19th and 20th centuries, and there are
still many contemporary civilzations which have yet to do
so.
|
