Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
with Dr Umar
Abd-Allah. A
Reader
Contents & Scheduling
[1] One God, Many Names
Theme: How to talk about God, Islam, and Spiritual Matters
Saturday 3rd December
7 - 9pm
[2] Islam & the Cultural Imperative
Theme: Cultural Identity, Authenticity--and What is Needed for True
Cultural Expression
Saturday 10th December
7 - 9pm
[3] Living Islam with Purpose
Theme:
Friday 16th December
7 - 9pm
Additional Reading
For additional reading visit:
http://www.nawawi.org/courses/index_reading_room.html
is suieme oi vlerlei rle ]uueo-Cliisrian ]eloval, Gou o rle BiLle, is
suieme. Iianklin Gialamson o Billy Gialam anu iominenr evan-
gelical vlo leu rle invocarion ar Geoige W. Busl`s iesiuenrial in-
auguiarioninsisrs rlar Cliisrians anu Nuslims voisli uieienr Gous.
In rle same vein, William Boykin, a ro Penragon geneial, Liouglr lim-
sel inreinarional noroiiery Ly ioclaiming lis Gou ro Le a ieal Gou
anu Liggei rlan rle Nuslim Gou, vlom le ueemeu a meie iuol,
inlammaroiy iemaiks oi vlicl rle Busl-Cleney auminisriarion las
ieuseu ro lolu lim accounraLle.
1le acr rlar anu rle BiLlical Gou aie iuenrical is eviuenr iom
BiLlical erymology.
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
viseu convenrion o avoiuing rle voiu Gou unuei
rle misraken assumrion rlar only rle AiaLic voiu
Alll caiiies a linguisric guaianree o rleological
aurlenriciry.
Beauriul names oi Gou aie nor unique ro rle
BiLle oi rle Qui`an noi ro any ieligion oi giou o
luman rongues. Semiric languageslike HeLiev,
Aiamaic, anu AiaLicossess iicl glossaiies o ui-
vine names, Lur rlose vlo invoke rlem lave nevei
ossesseu a monooly on Gou. Ar a mosr unuamen-
ral level, all lumaniry slaies in a legacy o knoving
rle Suieme Being anu Leing aLle ro uesignare lim Ly
aioiiare names, vlicliom an Islamic oinr o
vievielecr lumankinu`s inLoin knovleuge o Gou,
Lolsreieu Ly irs iemore associarion virl rle iimeval
legacy o univeisal iolecy. As oi oui Lnglisl voiu
Gou, ir ielecrs sucl iimoiuial ioors, Lelongs ro
rle rieasuiy o ancienr uivine names, anu is among rle
mosr exiessive uesignarions o rle Suieme Being.
1le conrinueu aveision on rle air o many Lnglisl-
seaking Nuslims ro aumir Gou inro rleii vocaLu-
laiy seives only ro ieinoice rle giounuless claims o
rle ieligious iiglr. Ir is uigenr oi Lnglisl-seaking
Nuslims ro communicare coleienrly, anu emLiacing
rle voiu Gou is an imoiranr sre in rlar uiiec-
rion.
Syhjcsiuh cf Abralahic aitls
1ouay, ir las Lecome air o rle geneially accereu
ecumenical lexicon ro seak o rle ALialamic
airls, since rle exiession accuiarely ielecrs rlar
]uuaism, Cliisrianiry, anu Islam invoke rle Gou o
ALialam anu slaie a losr o monorleisric Lelies
anu values. 1le Qui`an calls Islam rle ieligion o
ALialam (hillat Ibrlh): 1len ve ievealeu unro
you (Nulammau) rlar you ollov rle ieligion o
ALialam, vlo uiu nor Lelong ro rlose associaring
alse gous virl Gou.
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Alll anJ iblical Nahes cf CcJ
1le AiaLic voiu Alll is rle mosr common uivine
name in rle Islamic sciiruies anu las unique sancriry
nor jusr oi Nuslims Lur also oi AiaLic-seaking
]evs anu Cliisrians, vlo lave useu Alll oi
Gou iom rime immemoiial. Ioi Nuslims, Alll is
rle mosr inclusive o Gou`s names, emLiacing all
lis orlei names anu arriiLures. In accoiuance virl
convenrional AiaLic usage, Alll can Le alieu only
ro rle Ciearoi anu cannor Le assigneu ro any orlei
Leing, angelic, luman, animare oi inanimare, ieal oi
imaginaiy.
Lven in iuolarious ie-Islamic AiaLia, Alll vas
ieveieu as rle ciearoi o rle leavens anu rle eairl
anu loiu o rle voilus. In uisrincrion ro rle culrs o
lunuieus o lessei agan gous, ie-Islamic AiaLian
voisli o Alll vas nevei associareu virl an iuol,
incluuing HubalPar RoLeirson`s moon gou o
Necca, vlom le eiioneously associares virl Alll.
Hubal vas rle clie iuol o agan Necca Lur lau
no lisroiical oi rleological connecrion virl Alll
oi, oi rlar marrei, even virl rle moon. Hubal vas
veneiareu as a gou o uivinarion, anu irs culr vas
ielarively nev, laving Leen inriouuceu ro Necca
only a ev geneiarions Leoie Nulammau`s rime,
ioLaLly oiiginaring among rle ancienr NoaLires oi
Nesooramians.
AiaLic is an ancienr anu excerionally iicl oim
o Semiric seecl, closely ielareu ro BiLlical HeLiev,
Aiamaic, anu Syiiac.
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
1eriagiammaron as so saciosancr rlar ir vas glosseu
as Loiu virlour Leing soken alouu oi consigneu a
given ionunciarion.
Bur
rle aurlenrically arresreu names o Gou in Islamic
sciiruie aie many moie rlan ninery-nine. 1iauirional
commenrarois nore rlis acr anu oinr our rlar rle
ioleric 1iauirion o rle ninery-nine names vas nor
inrenueu ro uelimir rle uivine names ro a airiculai
numLei Lur ro inuicare rlar, among Gou`s innumei-
aLle names, rleie aie ninery-nine uisrincrive ones,
vlicl, i leaineu Ly leair anu guaiueu in sancriry,
aie a key ro salvarion. Anorlei Pioleric 1iauirion
ieveals unequivocally rlar Gou`s names aie nor nu-
meiically iesriicreu Lur incluue unuiscloseu names anu
orleis knovn only ro Gou oi ro secial segmenrs o
lis ciearion. Accoiuing ro rlar 1iauirion, rle Pioler
voulu invoke Gou, saying: I ask you Ly eveiy name
rlar is youis, Ly vlicl you lave nameu youisel, senr
uovn in youi Look, rauglr any o youi ciearion, oi
ker irs knovleuge exclusively in youi iesence in rle
knovleuge o rle unseen rlar you make rle Qui`an
rle siingrime o my leair, liglr o my siglr, lealing
o my leair, anu rle iemoval o my anxiery anu sau-
ness.
Noieovei, all eoles on eairl lave ieceiveu uivine
messengeis ar some rime in rle couise o luman
lisroiy oi ie-lisroiy.
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
o all viral knovleuge, moial noims, anu essenrial
social convenrions. Like ie-Islamic AiaL aganism,
micio-ieligions associare ueineu luman Leings, lessei
siiirs, anu inreimeuiaiies virl Gou, alrlougl rley
consisrenrly lack rle ull-Llovn anrleons ryical o
rle olyrleisric ieligions o many ancienr civilizarions.
umeious micio-ieligions commemoiare a iimeval
rime o rle olu ieligion, vlen laimony exisreu Le-
rveen rle Suieme Being anu rleii oieLeais, an age
o iisrine lainess vlicl vas Liouglr ro an enu
rliougl vionguoing, esriangemenr, anu alienarion.
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Loiu (Nebu), rle Diviniry iom ieexisrence (Nun,
Halu), rle Divinely Neiciul (Hete), rle Divine
Desrioyei (Heteh), rle Gou o riurl anu Lalance
(Seha Ma'at), rle Gou o lumankinu (Ithu), anu
rle Loiu o all (NeberJler).
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
menrs rlar one voulu execr ro nnu, i rleie lau Leen
any suLsequenr meuieval euiring. 1le oem ueclaies
Gou`s oneness exlicirly anu exrols lis vise anu mei-
ciul goveinance o rle voilu anu irs eole, ir iejecrs
anu iiuicules aganism as rle voik o rle uevil, anu
rle eic`s leio, Beovula Liave anu miglry Lur riu-
ly lumLle man o Gouengages in consranr comLar
virl rle uiaLolical oices o evil anu uesriucrion.
or jusr in irs many voius oi Gou Lur in geneial,
rle ieligious vocaLulaiy o ecuulf exiesses virl
exacriruue rle ciux o rle siiirual anu rleological vi-
sion vlicl Nuslims nnu so iecisely exiesseu in rle
AiaLic language. ecuulf is a resrimony ro rle Lng-
lisl language`s unique iiclness anu sloulu insiie us,
as Lnglisl-seaking Nuslims, virl a ueeei iesecr
oi oui language anu irs inleienr ovei ro exiess nor
only oui concer o rle uivine Lur rle enriie ieeiroiie
o iimoiuial ioleric reacling.
Ccnclusicn
Ir is naruial oi Lnglisl-seaking Nuslims ro lave
a secial arraclmenr ro rle voiu Alll, virl vlicl
ve lave an inrimare connecrion, invoking ir uaily in
AiaLic iayei oimulas anu iecirarion o rle Qui`an.
Ioi us, Alll las a uiiecr emorional anu siiirual en-
cacy vlicl no orlei voiu oi Gou can ielace. Bur ir
iaiely las rlar same eecr on non-Nuslim, non-AiaL
lisreneis, anu ev o rlem vill uevelo oui sensiriviry
oi rle voiu meiely Ly Leing consranrly LomLaiueu
Ly ir. Ioi some, even uesire lonesr eoirs ro iemain
oen-minueu, Alll conrinues ro evoke a viue
iange o ueely ingiaineu culruial iejuuices anu neg-
arive associarions, conscious oi suLconscious. On rle
orlei lanu, Gou cieares an immeuiare associarive
iesonse in mosr non-Nuslim narive seakeis o Lng-
lisl rlar voulu Le viirually imossiLle oi Alll ro
evoke even arei yeais o osirive exosuie.
]usr as oui arraclmenr ro Alll uoes nor uisriacr
us iom invoking Gou`s orlei Leauriul names in Aia-
Lic, so sloulu oui love o rle voiu anu rle AiaLic
language nor imel us ro uegiaue rle ancienr Lnglisl
voiu Gou virl irs unique anu illusriious lisroiy
among lumaniry`s legacy o uivine names. oi, oi
Peisian oi Uiuu-seakeis, sloulu nueliry ro rle use o
Alll leau rlem ro uisaiage rle ancienr Inuo-Luio-
ean KlcJ (Gou), vlicl, like Gou, las monorle-
isric ioors anu vlicl giear Nuslim sclolais, mysrics,
anu oers lave ounu eiecrly suiraLle oi moie rlan
a rlousanu yeais.
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
,
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
riauirions anu ioviues a simle anu cogenr means Ly
vlicl Nuslims may acr uon rle Qui`anic injunc-
rion ro sriess rle similaiiries Lerveen us. Iailuie ro
use Gou conceals oui common Lelie in rle Gou o
ALialam anu rle conrinuiry o rle ALialamic riaui-
rion, vlicl aie unuamenrals o oui airl. We musr
oveicome oui misgivings aLour Gou Lorl Lecause
o rle voiu`s inriinsic, lisroiical meiir anu Lecause
ir emoveis us ro communicare virl oui ]evisl,
Cliisrian, anu orlei Lnglisl-seaking neiglLois in a
meaningul vay.
Nctes
i. As uiscusseu Lelov, Hubal Loie no rleological oi lisroii-
cal connecrion ro Alll.
z. 1lese anu similai ieeiences aie ieauily accessiLle on rle
Inreiner. I am inueLreu, lovevei, ro an excellenr Neu
Ycrl Tihes euiroiial (]anuaiy z, zoo) Ly ]oln Keai-
ney, viirren on rle occasion o rle Nuslim ilgiimage,
an Islamic iirual inrimarely linkeu virl ALialam. ]oln
Keainey ieLukeu rle ieligious iiglr`s uenial o rle slaieu
ALialamic Lelie in rle BiLlical Gou anu rleii uisaiage-
menr o Nuslim rleology anu insisreu rlar sucl oLscu-
ianrism vas as uangeious as ir vas inexcusaLle.
j. Lrymology is rle sruuy o rle linguisric lisroiy o voius,
riacing rleii uevelomenr in a airiculai language anu
oren using comaiisons virl cognare voius in ielareu
rongues anu uialecrs. 1le Semiric voius Alll (Gou in
rle Qui`an), rle Olu 1esramenr lc lih (Gou), anu rle
Aiamaic/Syiiac ev 1esramenr All (Gou) aie erymo-
logical cognares, as ]oln Keainey`s euiroiial noreu anu as
is uirlei illusriareu Lelov.
. I use salvarion lisroiy ro ieei ro rle ieligious conce-
rion o lov Gou Liings aLour salvarion in rle couise o
luman lisroiy. Ioi ]evs, salvarion lisroiy cenreis on rle
iamincarions o Gou`s secial covenanr virl rle Cliluien
o Isiael. In Cliisrian rleology, salvarion lisroiy culmi-
nares in Cliisr`s ciucinxion. Islamic salvarion lisroiy
is ieuicareu on rle Lelie in rle iimoiuial message o
univeisal iolecy, culminaring in rle iolerloou o
Nulammau, eluciuaring anu vinuicaring all rlar came
Leoie.
j. Qui`an i6: izj.
6. See Qui`an 6:i6i, i6:izj, zz:;, z:ijo, ijz, ijj, j:6;-
6, ,j, :izj.
;. Qui`an z:ij6.
. Qui`an z,:6.
,. Linguisrs classiy AiaLic as ancienr Semiric anu HeLiev,
Aiamaic, Syiiac, anu Lrlioic as miuule Semiric, even
rlougl rle larrei languages veie viirren uovn long Le-
oie AiaLic. 1le ieason oi rlis linguisric classincarion is
rlar AiaLic ieseives viirually all rle uisrincrive earuies
o ioro-Semiriclike inlecrion, sysremaric uual enuings,
anu ull consonanral uisrincrionsvlicl lave geneially
Leen losr oi meigeu in miuule Semiric.
io. Oirlouox ]evs caieully avoiu vocalizing rle 1eriagiam-
maron anu suLsrirure AJcnai (my Loiu) insreau. ]uuaic
riauirion ieeis ro YHVH as tle ame (lsl-Sleh),
since ir vas Lelieveu ro ieiesenr Gou`s mosr loly name,
rle ionunciarion o vlicl vas a saciosancr anu caie-
ully guaiueu secier. Knovleuge o rle ame vas a
uisrincrive legacy ieseiveu oi rle ligl iiesr. On rle Day
o Aronemenr, le voulu invoke rle 1eriagiammaron ar
rle 1emle, anu, ar irs menrion, rle congiegarion o Isiael
voulu all uovn in iosriarion Leoie Gou.
ii. Qui`an zo:.
iz. Qui`an ;:io.
ij. Qui`an j,:zz-z.
i. 1iansmirreu in Buklaii anu Nuslim, Islam`s mosr iigoi-
ously aurlenricareu laJtl collecrions. 1le veiL rians-
lareu leie as iorecrs (rleii sancriry) is laza in rle
oiiginal anu als in orlei naiiarions. Ir means ro kee
rlem in memoiy anu nor neglecr oi oiger rlem Lur also
ro Lelieve in rlem, lave knovleuge anu unueisranuing o
rlem, anu ro live in accoiuance virl rlar avaieness: ro
lave Gou-consciousness, uoing vlar rle seivanr o sucl a
Gou ouglr ro uo anu avoiuing vlar ouglr ro Le slunneu.
1le acrual ninery-nine names aie lisreu in an accer-
aLle (lasan) riansmission Ly 1iimiuli anu orlei souices
virl sliglr vaiiarions.
ij. 1iansmirreu in rle MusnaJ o Imam Almau iLn HanLal.
i6. See Qui`an j,:zz-z anu jo:jo.
i;. See Qui`an jj:z.
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
,
Oa CJ 1.aj N.o
i. Ny ieeiences ro rle micio-ieligions aie raken iimaiily
iom Willelm Sclmiur, Der Ursjrung Jer CcttesiJee, iz
vols., (Nunsrei i. W.: Asclenuoiscle VeilagsLucllanu-
lung, i,,).
i,. Willelm Sclmiur, Der Ursjrung Jer CcttesiJee, :i,j-
i,.
zo. See Auol Limann anu Heimann Giaov, Vcrterbucl
Jer gyjtisclen Sjracle, ij vols., (Beilin: Akauemie
Veilag, i,;i). In all, I vas aLle ro collecr ovei one lun-
uieu anu rvenry Olu Lgyrian names anu arriiLurions oi
Gou, rle Ciearoi, iom rlis uicrionaiy.
zi. 1le olloving aie among rle names o Gou in ecuulf:
Gou, Holy Gou (lalig CcJ), Wise Gou (uitig CcJ),
Niglry Gou (hiltig CcJ), Higl Loiu (Drilten), Higl
Loiu Gou (Drilten CcJ), Lreinal Higl Loiu (ece Drilten)
(Drilten also occuis virl rle aujecrives loly, vise, anu
miglry), Ciearoi (ScyjjenJ), rle Loiu o lie (Iiffrea),
Regularoi o uesriny (MetcJ), Pieexisrenr Regularoi
o uesriny (alJhetcJ), Gloiious Regularoi o uesriny
(scir MetcJ), 1iue Gou, Loiu o uesriny oi 1iue Gou
(scJ MetcJ), Loiuly Nasrei o all (AluealJa), rle One
Loiu anu Nasrei (AnualJa), Poveiul Loiu (VealJenJ),
Poveiul Loiu o Gloiy (uulJres VealJenJ), Loiu o men
(ylJa ValJenJ), Loiu o lumankinu (ValJenJ fira), Loiu
o vicroiies (sigcra ValJenJ), King o majesry (Cyninga
uulJcr anu VulJurcyning), 1iue King (ScJcyning), 1iue
King o vicroiies (sigcra ScJcyning), rle Iarlei anu rle
Iarlei Omniorenr (Jer anu Jer AlualJa), Loiu
o all rlings (rea ealles), rle Piorecroi o mankinu
(hanna CelylJ), Gloiy`s Guaiuian (uulJres HyrJe), rle
Almiglry (se lhiltiga), ]uuge o ueeus (JJa DehenJ),
Heaven`s Guaiu (lecfena Helh), anu rle Wieluei o rle
leavens (rcJera IJenJ). See Ii. KlaeLei, ecuulf anJ
tle iglt at innsburg, (Bosron: D. C. Hearl, i,jo), .
xlviii-li anu i-izo.
zz. KlcJ comes iom rle Olu Iianian (Inuo-Luioean)
Hua-Tau, meaning lireially sel-aLle oi sel-ovei-
ul, rlar is, Rulei anu Loiu. Ir is a name o maj-
esry, inuicaring rlar Gou is sel-suncienrly omniorenr.
Alrlougl rle Lnglisl Gou anu Peisianare KlcJ
aie Lorl Inuo-Luioean anu give rle aeaiance o Leing
cognares, rley aie acrually ueiiveu iom uieienr ioors.
I
oi cenruiies, Islamic civilizarion laimonizeu inuigenous oims o
culruial exiession virl rle univeisal noims o irs sacieu lav. Ir
sriuck a Lalance Lerveen remoial Leaury anu ageless riurl anu
anneu a Liillianr eacock`s rail o uniry in uiveisiry iom rle leair o Clina
ro rle sloies o rle Arlanric. Islamic juiisiuuence leleu acilirare rlis cie-
arive genius. In lisroiy, Islam sloveu irsel ro Le culruially iienuly anu, in
rlar iegaiu, las Leen likeneu ro a ciysral cleai iivei. Irs vareis (Islam) aie
uie, sveer, anu lie-giving Lurlaving no coloi o rleii ovnielecr rle
Leuiock (inuigenous culruie) ovei vlicl rley lov. In Clina, Islam lookeu
Clinese, in Nali, ir lookeu Aiican. Susraineu culruial ielevance ro uisrincr
eoles, uiveise laces, anu uieienr rimes unueilay Islam`s long success as
a gloLal civilizarion. 1le ieligion Lecame nor only uncrional anu amiliai
A iwwi rooibrioi r=ea
s- La. U:a raoo Asb-ALLi
ileroiic
alls ai sloir o Islam`s ancienr culruial visuom, as-
suming ar rimes an unmirigareu culruially ieuaroiy
arriruue. Sucl ileroiic anu rle movemenr iueologies
rlar sranu Lelinu ir lave Leen ueely inluenceu Ly
Wesrein ievolurionaiy uialecric anu a uangeiously
selecrive ieriieval anu ieinreiierarion o Islamic
sciiruie in rlar liglr. Ar rle same rime, lovevei,
rle Islamisr lenomenon is, ro no small uegiee, a Ly-
iouucr o rle giave culruial uislocarion anu uysunc-
rion o rle conremoiaiy Nuslim voilu. CulruieIs-
lamic oi orleiviseioviues rle Lasis o social
sraLiliry Lur, aiauoxically, can irsel only louiisl in
sraLle socieries anu vill ineviraLly Lieak uovn in rle
conusion o social uisiurion anu ruimoil. 1ouay,
rle Nuslim voilu ierains iiceless ielics o irs oimei
culruial slenuoi, Lur, in rle conusion o oui rimes,
rle visuom o rle asr is nor alvays unueisroou anu
many o irs esraLlisleu noims anu oluei culruial ar-
reins no longei aeai ielevanr ro Nuslims oi seem
ro oei solurions. Wleie rle eacock`s rail las nor
long since olueu, ir ierains lirrle o irs oimei uazzle
anu ullness, vleie rle culruial iivei las nor uiieu u
alrogerlei, irs vareis seluom iun cleai.
Human Leings geneiare culruie naruially like si-
ueis sin silk, Lur unlike siueis` veLs rle culruies
eole consriucr aie nor alvays auequare, esecially
vlen geneiareu unconsciously, in conusion, unuei
unavoiaLle conuirions, oi virlour ioei uiiecrion.
Unsuiiisingly, Nuslim immigianrs ro Ameiica ie-
main arracleu ro rle lanus rley ler Lelinu Lur laiuly
i evei Liing virl rlem rle ull arrein o rle once
lealrly culruies o rleii asr, vlicli rley lau
iemaineu inracrvoulu lave ieuuceu rleii incenrive
ro emigiare in rle nisr lace. Conveirsoveivlelm-
ingly Aiican-Ameiicanaie oren alienareu iom
rleii ovn uee inuigenous ioors anu narive culruial
sensiLiliry rliougl rle uesriucrive imacr o culruially
ieuaroiy Islamisr iueologies iom aLioau.
All rle same, Nuslims in Ameiica lave Leen silenr-
ly oiging suL-culruial iuenriries ovei iecenr uecaues
aiounu oui mosques, in Islamic sclools, ar lome, anu
on college camuses.
1le Qui`an enjoineu rle Pioler Nulammau ro
auleie ro eole`s sounu cusroms anu usages anu rake
rlem as a unuamenral ieeience in legislarion: Ac-
cer |iom eole] vlar comes naruially |oi rlem].
Commanu vlar is cusromaiily |goou]. Anu ruin avay
iom rle ignoianr |virlour iesonuing in kinu].
ILn Ariyya, a ienovneu eaily Anualusian juiisr anu
Qui`anic commenraroi, asseireu rlar rle veise nor
only ulelu rle sancriry o inuigenous culruie Lur
gianreu sveeing valiuiry ro eveiyrling rle luman
leair iegaius as sounu anu Lenencial, as long as ir is
nor cleaily ieuuiareu in rle ievealeu lav. Ioi classical
Islamic juiisrs in geneial, rle veise vas oren cireu as
a majoi ioo-rexr oi rle animarion o sounu cul-
ruial usage, anu ir vas noreu rlar vlar eole genei-
ally ueem as ioei renus ro Le comariLle virl rleii
naruie anu enviionmenr, seiving essenrial neeus anu
valiu asiiarions.
1le sroiy o rle sons o Ainuaa amiliai
AiaLian linguisric ieeience ro Lrlioiansioviues
a relling illusriarion o rle lace o culruie (leie, o
couise, Black Aiican culruie) virlin rle Pioleric
1o iejecr sounu cusrom anu usage vas nor only coun-
reiiouucrive, ir Liouglr excessive uinculry anu un-
vaiianreu laim ro eole. Anorlei vell-knovn iin-
cile o Islamic juiisiuuence emlasizeu rlis acr anu
auviseu: Culruial usage is seconu naruie, Ly vlicl
ir imlieu rlar ir is as uinculr oi eole ro go againsr
rleii esraLlisleu cusroms as ir is oi rlem ro uey rleii
insrincrive naruies. Consequenrly, vise alicarion o
rle lav iequiieu Lioau accommouarion o local noims,
vlicl sloulu Le alreieu oi oLsriucreu only vlen aLso-
lurely necessaiy. Being arrenrive ro local noims imlies
meering eole lalvay anu leaus necessaiily ro Lioau
culruial iesemLlance. In rlis iegaiu, Islamic juiisiu-
uence uisringuisleu Lerveen suLseivienr imirarion o
orleis (taslabbul), vlicl ielecrs a ioLlemaric sense
o one`s ovn iuenriry anu vas geneially iegaiueu as
oiLiuuen oi ieielensiLle, anu rle meie acr o our-
vaiu iesemLlance (huslbala), vlicl vas iequiieu,
iecommenuaLle, oi simly neurial as rle case may
Le.
rley lack rle vill ro gain ir. Wlar seems ro Le miss-
ing is an oeiarional iamevoik ro acilirare rle ac-
quisirion o ueeei unueisranuing anu ur ir ro use.
1lis aei ocuses on nve oeiarional iinciles
rlar ioviue sucl a iamevoik. 1ley aie:
1iU1iNc irncN
irvrc1iNc iirN1
1iriNc ccir1n cvicn1icN
r11iNc viicii1ir
rvinciNc nxi
1lese nve oeiarional iinciles aie age-olu
Islamic guiuelines. Lacl o rle iinciles is nimly
Laseu on rle Qui`an anu Sunna anu suoireu Ly
rle geneial consensus o riauirional Islamic sclolai-
sli. ILn Rlavayl, a ienovneu sclolai o Hauirl
j
anu close comanion o Imam Almau iLn HanLal,
uesciiLeu legal maxims rle nrl oeiarional
iincile o rlis aei as osirions aiiiveu ar Ly
ieasoning on rle Lasis o rle geneial sraremenrs o
rle Pioler.
Liiglr uruie, a soliu ounuarion suoirs a sriong
anu lasring sriucruie. 1lese nve iinciles oei rle
Ameiican Nuslim communiry an excellenr lace ro
Legin a iomising uruie. 1ley sloulu consrirure
one o rle essenrial elemenrs o Islamic euucarion ar
all levels. Lven rlougl rleii iesenrarion may seem
somevlar aLsriacr, rley aie nor uinculr ro com-
ielenu, anu euucarois can make rlem easily acces-
siLle ro uieienr eole in aioiiare vays.
Islam iesenrs an aiiay o orenrially conus-
ing sers o nve: nve illais,
;
nve iirual iayeis, nve
acr classincarions,
jecrives anu giearesr socieral oLligarions o Islamic
lav. Noial iesonsiLiliry (tallf) is rle nisr ieieq-
uisire oi oLligaroiy Islamic iacrice anu nevei las
legal valiuiry in rle aLsence o rle aculry o ieason.
Because rley lack rle caaciry ro ieason anu ro
ully comielenu munuane iealiries, rle menrally
incaacirareu, insane, anu cliluien aie nor accounr-
aLle Leoie Gou, noi aie rley oLligeu ro oLey His
commanus. 1le Qui`an ieeareuly ieeis ro rle
excellence o ieason anu ueems ir a iincial souice
o guiuance. 1le olloving veises reacl rlar ieason
leaus ro vellLeing anu ereinal eliciry, vlile ruining
one`s Lack on ieason leaus ro calamiry anu loss:
In tlis hanner, CcJ hales His signs clear fcr
ycu tlat, jerlajs, ycu hay reascn (Qui`an,
:).
CcJ is tle cne ulc giies life anJ Jeatl anJ tc
CcJ belcng tle alteraticn cf tle niglt anJ tle
Jay. Dc luhan beings nct reascn: (Qui`an,
:).
CcJ uill jut a lcatlsche clastisehent ujcn
tlcse ulc Jc nct use tleir reascn (Qui`an
:).
Imam al-Glazl, one o rle mosr acclaimeu
sclolais in Islamic lisroiy, lelu ieason`s lory srarus
in Islam ro Le Leyonu uisure:
Knov rlar rle quesrion o ieason`s ieeminence
is somerling rlar uoes nor iequiie mucl riouLle
ro claiiy, esecially since rle eminence o knovl-
euge irsel only Lecomes cleai Ly viirue o iea-
son. Reason is rle souice o knovleuge, rle lace
vleie ir nisr maniesrs irsel, anu rle ounuarion
uon vlicl ir sranus. Knovleuge lovs iom iea-
son like iuir comes iom a riee, like liglr iom
rle sun, anu siglr iom rle eye. Anu lov coulu
somerling like rlis nor lave ieeminence vlen
ir is also rle means ro eliciry in rlis voilu anu
rle nexr Hov coulu rleie Le any uouLr aLour
rlis
Piag-
maric ieason is cenrial ro rle Islamic legal riauirion.
Lven rle HanLal sclool o lav, vlicl is knovn oi
rexrual lireialism, is liglly iagmaric anu ceues a
signincanr iole ro ieason in Lorl rleology anu lav.
In acr, rle sclool vas uiviueu iom an eaily eiiou
Lerveen rvo vings, one o vlicl ielieu moie leav-
ily on ieason rlan rle orlei. ILn 1aymiyya, one
o rle giearesr HanLal sclolais, anu lis uiscile
ILn al-Qayyim Lelongeu ro rle sclool`s iarionalisr
ving. Anorlei sclool o lav, rle exriemely lireial-
isr Zliis iejecreu rle use o ieason in rleology
anu lav Lur nevei von a signincanr olloving, rley
uieu our eaily, in air, Lecause o rleii iejecrion o
ieason.
Conlicr Lerveen ieligion anu science vas
viirually unknovn in Islamic inrellecrual lisroiy.
1le laimony Lerveen rle rvo is eiromizeu in rle
lie anu voik o rle Liillianr ninrl-cenruiy Nuslim
clemisr ]Lii iLn Hayyn, vlo ieuuiareu alclemy
as a valiu science anu laiu rle emiiical ounuarions
o clemisriy. His ieligious uevorion eaineu lim
living islam with purpose
rle siiirual uesignarion o rle Sun. ILn Hayyn
Legan one o lis ienovneu voiks on clemisriy,
Tle ccl cf Seienty (Kitb al-Sabn), virl rle
voius: Ceirainly rle menrion o Gou is moie
noLle, majesric, anu giear rlan vlar ollovs. He
oeneu rle Look virl a lengrly uiscussion on rle
imeiarive o uiiying rle soul iom osrenrarion
anu orlei siiirual ueecrs as a ieiequisire ro rle
uisuir o scienrinc leaining.
leai rle iecirarion. In rle asr, Nuslims uesigneu
acousrically innovarive aiclirecruial sriucruies oi
rlis uiose, rouay, rley use miciolones.
1le inriinsic iarionaliry o rle Pioleric lav
slovs rlar Gou maue rle lav oi luman Leings
anu rlar luman Leings veie nct maue oi rle lav.
Since mosr Islamic legal iulings lave uisceinaLle
iarionales, rley iequiie ongoing sciuriny anu legal
inreiierarion ro ensuie rlar rleii alicarion
iemains consisrenr virl rleii iarionales.
Lacl
rexr las a conrexr, anu rle ieligious sclolai musr
unueisranu Lorl, rle lav cannor Le alieu
meclanically oi Ly iore. In acknovleugemenr o
rle iarional insiglr anu visuom iequiieu oi rle
ioei alicarion o rle lav in uieienr rimes
anu laces, comerenr legal sclolais aie knovn
as eole o unueisranuing (fuqal). 1le same
skills aie nor iequiieu oi commirring rle Qui`an
anu Hauirl ro memoiy, rlose vlo masrei rlese airs
aie iesecrully calleu memoiizeis (luffz).
Nuslims rake iiue in rle acr rlar Islam is a
ieligion o ieason anu iouuceu a gloLal civiliza-
rion Laseu on rle laimonious culrivarion o rle
ieligious, iarional, anu emiiical sciences. In iac-
rice, lovevei, many Nuslims rouay seem ro lave
losr rle gir o sounu inruirion anu rle connuence ro
riusr in ieason. Oren, rley aie unnecessaiily roin
Lerveen vlar rley insrincrively knov ro Le iiglr
anu Lerveen comering aurloiiraiian claims maue
in Islam`s name rlar uo nor make sense anu may
even conlicr virl Lasic luman values. As Laiiy
Posron slovs in lis sruuy o Wesrein conveirs ro
Islam, mosr conveirs cire Islam`s comariLiliry virl
ieason anu irs consisrence virl common sense as
one o irs majoi arriacrions.
1le iiglr o uissenr anu rle iequiiemenr ro
iesecr ir aie ancloieu in rle mannei in vlicl
Nuslim sclolaisli aioacleu sciiruial inrei-
ierarion. Sclolais agieeu rlar ieligious rexrs lave
uieienr uegiees o conclusiveness anu oren con-
vey mulrile meanings. Islamic sclolaisli uiviueu
ieligious rexrs inro rvo caregoiies: ) rlose vlicl
aie caregoiically aurloiirarive (qat) anu ) rlose
vlicl aie iesumrively aurloiirarive (zann).
1o Le caregoiically aurloiirarive, a ieligious
rexr musr ass rvo resrs. 1le nisr eirains ro
aurlenriciry o riansmission, rle seconu eirains
ro rle numLei o meanings ir conveys. In
Islamic sclolaisli, rle enriiery o rle Qui`an is
caregoiically aurlenric (qat al-tlubt). Hauirl, on
rle orlei lanu, lave uieienr levels o veiinaLle
aurlenriciry. 1lus, rle issue o rexrual aurlenriciry
alies in iealiry only ro Hauirl. 1lose Hauirl
rlar meer rle liglesr sranuaius o veiincarion (al-
alJtl al-salla) aie caregoiically
aurlenric iom rle sranuoinr o
riansmission, alrlougl rley aie nor
necessaiily caregoiically aurloiirarive
iom rle sranuoinr o meaning.
Hauirl virl lessei uegiees o
veiinaLiliry (al-alJtl al-lasana
ua al-Jafa) aie iesumrively
aurlenric as iegaius riansmission
(zann al-tlubt). 1ley may ioviue
legirimare suoiring eviuence Lur
cannor consrirure conclusive ioo in
isolarion no marrei lov cleai rleii
meanings may aeai.
Once rle aurlenriciry o a rexr
las Leen esraLlisleu, rle nexr ques-
rion iegaiuing meaning musr Le an-
sveieu. In many vays, rlis seconu
quesrion is moie imoiranr rlan rle
nisr Lecause mosr uissenr among Nuslims ovei ieli-
gious quesrions is Laseu on uiveigenr inreiierarions
o aurlenricareu rexrs, ir is sucl rexrs rlar consrirure
rle iimaiy aiena o ieligious uissenr among ieli-
gious sclolais.
1exrs rlar aie caregoiically aurloiirarive in
meaning (qat al-Jalla) allov oi only one os-
siLle inreiierarion. Bur rexrs rlar allov oi moie
rlan one ieasonaLle inreiierarion aie saiu ro Le
iesumrively aurloiirarive in meaning (zann al-
Jalla). Sucl rexrs cannor logically Le iesriicreu ro
a single meaning, uesire rle acr rlar one o rleii
meanings may aeai sriongei rlan rle orleis. An
alicaLle legal maxim srares: 1leie can Le no
conclusive ioo as long as rle ossiLiliry o a con-
riaiy aigumenr iemains (l lujja haa al-iltihl),
virl iesumrively aurloiirarive rexrs, rle os-
siLiliry o a legirimare conriaiy aigumenr alvays
iemains.
Belie in Gou`s oneness, rle
Lasr ]uugmenr, anu rle ioliLirion
o muiuei aie Laseu on caregoiically
aurloiirarive rexrs, rley consrirure
iimaiy ounuarions o rle Islamic
ieligion anu aie univeisally Linuing
on Nuslims.
iesumrively aurloiirarive rexrs may Le saiu ro
lave seconuaiy srarus, rley cannor consrirure rle
ounuarional Lelies anu iacrices rlar all Nuslims
aie oLligeu ro accer. eveirleless, rlese seconuaiy
Lelies anu iacrices aie o viral imoirance in Islam
anu aie nor ro Le iegaiueu as renrarive oi unriue.
Alrlougl rley Lelong ro rle iealm o oimal uissenr
anu cannor Le imoseu on orleis, rley consrirure
valiu Lelies anu iacrices oi rlose sclools anu
rle inuiviuuals vlo accer rlem. In essence, eacl
sclool o Islamic lav consrirures a voiking merl-
ouology oi ieacling valiu conclusions aLour ie-
sumrively aurloiirarive quesrions.
1le sclools
agiee on caregoiically aurloiirarive marreis, rleii
uieiences concein iesumrively aurloiirarive
ones. Alrlougl eacl sclool claims ro Le a ieliaLle
guiue in iesumrive marreis, rley acknovleuge
rle iiglrs o orleis ro uissenr anu uo nor claim con-
clusive aurloiiry oi rlemselves in rle aLsence o
caregoiical ioo.
One o rle mosr imoiranr iinciles in
rle uennirion o Islamic oirlouoxy, leiesy, anu
secraiianism ielares ro rlis uisrincrion Lerveen
caregoiically aurloiirarive (iimaiy) anu
iesumrively aurloiirarive (seconuaiy) Lelies anu
iacrices. As inuicareu aLove, rle ounuarional
conrenr o Islam, vlicl all Nuslims aie iequiieu ro
acknovleuge, musr Le iesriicreu ro iimaiy Lelies
anu iacrices Laseu on caregoiically aurloiirarive
ioo. Wlile ir is valiu oi eisons anu sclools
ro auor iesumrively aurloiirarive elemenrs o
airl oi rlemselves, ir is nor eimissiLle ro iegaiu
rlem as oLligaroiy oi rle Nuslim communiry as
a vlole, ro uo so is leierical anu secraiian. Ir is
equally unacceraLle Ly rle sranuaius o oirlouoxy
ro insisr rlar Nuslims ienounce rleii uissenring
seconuaiy Lelies anu iacrices simly Lecause orlei
Nuslims may iegaiu rlem ro Le alse. By uenning
oirlouoxy in rlis mannei, rle uicloromy Lerveen
caregoiically aurloiirarive anu iesumrively
aurloiirarive ioo ioviues a iorecreu sace oi
inria-Nuslim uissenr anu uiscouise. Ir esraLlisles
ieeuom o uissenr as an inriinsic anu necessaiy
ieligious iiglr anu ielegares Nuslims vlo ueny
rlar iiglr ro rle maiginal srarus o leierics anu
secraiians.
Alrlougl rle iorocol o Islamic rlouglr
agiees ro uisagiee on iesumrively aurloiirarive
marreis, ir sloulu Le emlasizeu rlar uissenring
vievs musr Le lelu ro ligl sranuaius anu sounu
merlouologies. 1ley aie nor voirly o iesecr
meiely Lecause rley consrirure uissenr. Resecring
uissenr uoes nor imly lonoiing veak anu aiLiriaiy
aigumenrs oi rlose ounueu on ignoiance o rle
Islamic sciences. Resecring uissenr means iejecring
aurloiiraiianism, ir uoes nor mean iejecring
aurloiiry. on-caregoiical ioos musr Le as
aurloiirarive as ossiLle. 1ley iequiie ieasonaLle
eviuence, sounu merlouology, anu cogenr
ieasoning.
In vlar ollovs, I vill give a ev illusriarions
o iesumrively aurloiirarive rexrs anu legal
inreiierarions. Nany assages in rle Qui`an anu
Sunna aeai ar nisr ro convey only one ossiLle
meaning Lur, uon closei examinarion, ruin our ro
Le oen ro orlei inreiierarions. 1oo oren Nuslims
seak our o ignoiance on marreis o inreiierarion
as i rley alloveu oi only one oinr o viev anu
veie closeu oievei ro uirlei uiscussion.
In rle one iesumrively aurloiirarive rexr,
rle Pioler srareu: Wloevei Liings ueau lanu
ro lie slall ovn ir. Legal sclolais accer rle
Hauirl as an aurlenric riansmission anu agiee rlar
irs voiuing is cleai. Srill, rley classiy rle Hauirl
as iesumrively aurloiirarive. Dissenr ovei rle
Hauirl`s imlicarions is Laseu on consiueiarion
living islam with purpose
o irs oiiginal conrexr, nor quesrions o giammai
anu semanrics. 1le Pioler uncrioneu in uieienr
iivare anu uLlic caaciries, le vas a univeisal
lavgivei, a goveinoi anu leau o srare, rle leau
o a amily, a eisonal iienu, anu so oirl. Nany
Hauirl cannor Le ioeily unueisroou virlour
esraLlisling rle conrexr in vlicl rley veie soken,
anu rlar is rle case virl rlis Hauirl.
Imam ALu Hana iegaiueu rle Hauirl
vloevei Liings ueau lanu ro lie slall ovn ir
as an auminisriarive iovision rlar rle Pioler
maue as goveinoi o Neuina. 1lus, rle Hauirl
ielares ro agiaiian conuirions secinc ro Neuina
ar a airiculai rime. ALu Hana uiu nor ueny rle
valiuiry o acquiiing aLanuoneu lanus Ly Liinging
rlem unuei culrivarion, as menrioneu in rle Hauirl,
Lur, given rle Hauirl`s oiiginal auminisriarive
conrexr in lis viev, irs alicarion iequiies
oncial eimission ro ensuie rlar ir is suiraLle
oi alicarion in a viue vaiiery o conuirions in
uiveise rimes anu laces.
Imam Nlik lelu a similai viev, le iequiieu
goveinmenral eimission oi allov lanus lying
virlin rle gieenLelrs () rlar suiiounueu
riauirional Nuslim rovns anu ciries. Since rlese
aieas veie rle ioeiry o rle eole, Nlik
exemreu any lanu virlin rlem iom acquisirion
rliougl culrivarion uesire rle acr rlar sucl lanus
veie reclnically allov. Nlik uiu nor iequiie
goveinmenral eimission, lovevei, oi lanus lying
Leyonu rle gieenLelrs.
Imam al-Sln`s merlouology is Laseu on
rle iemise rlar eveiy Hauirl vill Le rieareu as a
univeisal sraremenr o lav unless rle conriaiy is
ioven rliougl anorlei exlicir rexrual ieeience.
Al-Sln lelu, rleieoie, rlar rle Pioler maue
rle sraremenr in rle Hauirl in lis caaciry as
a univeisal lavgivei. 1lus, oi al-Sln, no
iesriicrions aly ro rle acquisirion o ieviveu
lanus, anu no goveinmenral aioval is necessaiy.
1le rliee Imams agieeu on rle valiuiry o rle
same Hauirl Lur inreiiereu ir in rliee signincanrly
uieienr vays. Lacl o rleii ieauings las a claim ro
valiuiry, alrlougl some may aiguaLly Le sriongei
rlan orleis.
1le seconu iesumrively aurloiirarive Ha-
uirl iecounrs rlar a ceirain Comanion`s morlei
askeu lim ro iee a Nuslim slave arei lei uearl.
1le manumission o slaves is an acr o voisli anu
aronemenr in rle Pioleric lav. 1le man close ro
emanciare a non-AiaL giil on lis morlei`s Lelal
Lur coulu nor asceirain i sle vas a Nuslim. He
Liouglr lei ro rle Pioler ro veiiy rlar sle Le-
lieveu in Islam. 1le Pioler askeu lei: Wleie is
Gou Sle morioneu virl eirlei lei leau oi lei in-
uex nngei rovaiu rle sky. 1le Pioler rlen askeu
lei: Wlo am I Sle oinreu lei inuex nngei
rovaiu lim anu rlen rovaiu rle sky. 1le Pioler
ueclaieu lei ro Le a Nuslim, anu sle vas ser iee.
Some Nuslims cire rlis Hauirl as caregoiical
ioo rlar Gou las a lysical locarion in leaven.
Nuslim rleological sclools, Lorl Sunn anu Sl,
iegaiu sucl as viev as leierical anu veiging on uis-
Lelie, Lecause ir conriauicrs caregoiical ioo anu
is Laseu on conjecruie. Wlen rlis Hauirl is conrem-
lareu in conjuncrion virl aiallel riansmissions o
rle same naiiarive, irs iesumrively aurloiirarive
naruie anu inconclusiveness as a rleological aigu-
menr Lecome cleai.
Anorlei naiiarion o rle same Hauirl auus
rlar rle giil vas mure anu coulu nor seak ar all,
vlicl exlains lei gesruies anu rle Pioler`s
ieauiness ro accer rlem as a ioo o airl. Ir
voulu also claiiy vly rle Comanion vas unaLle
ro asceirain rlar sle vas a Nuslim. Since rle giil
vas a non-AiaL, sle may nor lave knovn AiaLic
living islam with purpose
vell oi ar all, vlicl voulu give an alreinarive
exlanarion oi rle naruie o rle inreiclange
Lerveen rle Pioler anu lei. Anorlei riansmission
srares rlar rle Pioler uiu nor ask lei: Wleie
is Gou Lur Wlo is Gou Borl voiuings aie
unusual, lovevei, Lecause ir vas rle Pioler`s
cusrom vlen asking eole i rley Lelieveu in Islam
ro say: Do you Leai virness rlar rleie is no gou
Lur Gou Anorlei naiiarion makes no menrion o
rle giil`s inaLiliry ro seak. In ir, rle Pioler askeu
lei rle cusromaiy quesrion: Do you Leai virness
rlar rleie is no gou Lur Gou Anu sle ielieu:
Yes virlour making gesruies rovaiu rle sky.
1le accounr o rle giil is aurlenric Lur con-
jecruial in meaning. 1le meie acr rlar rle sle may
lave Leen mure oi may nor lave knovn AiaLic
makes leis an excerional case, anu excerional
cases cannor esraLlisl rleological oi legal noims.
1le Hauirl las norling ro uo virl uesignaring a lo-
carion oi Gou in leaven, ir is, lovevei, a resrimo-
ny ro rle Pioler`s oenness rovaiu
accering ueclaiarions o airl.
1le nexr rvo examles roucl
on rle legal srarus o insriumenral
music anu iouucing rvo anu rliee-
uimensional images o living rlings.
Ir is commonlace ro leai rlar Is-
lam unconuirionally oiLius Lorl.
Yer rleie aie norevoirly osirions
eimirring rlem unuei ceirain conui-
rions, as rle olloving examles inui-
care. In any case, vlerlei music anu
images aie juugeu ro Le ioliLireu
oi eimissiLle in rle lav, eacl iuling
iegaiuing rlem is ieuicareu uon
ieauings o iesumrively aurloiira-
rive eviuence. Islam`s osirion rovaiu
Lorl quesrions is nor immuraLly nxeu
like iires o voisli, Lorl issues aie Laseu on iario-
nales anu lave rangiLle uioses, vlicl leave rleii
srarus oen oi uiscussion.
1le majoiiry o legal sclolais oiLaue music,
geneially rley uiu so on rle giounu rlar music
vas closely associareu virl uiinking, uancing
giils, anu licenriousness, vlicl vas oren rle
case in Niuule Lasrein anu Sourl Asian culruie.
Bur rleie veie noraLle uissenring vievs on music
vlen eioimeu in orlei conrexrs. 1le amous
Anualusian juuge ALu Baki iLn al-AiaL anu rle
noraLle sclolais ILn Hazm anu ALu al-Glan al-
Llus viore legal oinions in ueense o music.
Al-Karrn, a conremoiaiy Noioccan sclolai, cires
rvenry Nuslim juiisrs vlo viore on vaiious ryes
o musical insriumenrs anu rle airs o auuirion
(sah).
aurloiize rle use o loro iuenrincarion caius anu
eimir rle use o anaromically coiiecr mouels o
rle luman Louy ro reacl anaromy, meuicine, anu
ielareu sciences.
1le rliireenrl-cenruiy Lgyrian sclolai al-
Qai, one o rle mosr Liillianr anu liglly iegaiu-
eu juiisrs in Islamic lisroiy, masreieu many reclni-
cal skills anu sclolaily airs. He vas knovn oi lis
exeirise in Luiluing asrionomical insriumenrs anu
orlei meclanical uevices, ro vlicl le oren ar-
racleu rliee-uimensional moLile nguies. Al-Qai
viires in lis voik Tle riceless rincijles (Nafis
al-Usl), a comenuious voik on legal rleoiy, rlar
le once uesigneu a canulesrick loluei ro rell rle
louis o rle niglr. 1le main canule clangeu col-
ois virl eacl assing loui, rle nxruie conraineu a
nguie slaeu like a lion vlose eyes also clangeu
coloi. Duiing rle nisr loui o rle niglr, rle lion`s
eyes voulu Le jer Llack. Ar rle seconu loui, rley
ruineu Liiglr vlire, rle nexr loui rley Lecame in-
rensely ieu, anu rley conrinueu ro rake on uieienr
colois unril rle Lieak o uavn. Ar uavn, rle ngu-
iine o a lirrle man, rle iayei callei (huaJlJlin),
emeigeu ar rle canuelaLium`s liglesr oinr virl lis
nngei laceu ro lis eai, inuicaring rlar rle rime oi
iayei lau come. Al-Qai iegierreu nevei laving
uiscoveieu lov ro make rle lirrle man acrually call
rle iayei.
1le
Umayyau calil Umai iLn ALu al-Azz, vlo vas
knovn oi lis iiglreousness anu ioLiry, com-
menreu on rlis Hauirl: Ir voulu nor lease me i
rle Comanions o Nulammau lau nor uieieu, i
rley lau nor uieieu, rleie voulu Le no ioom oi
license in rle ieligion. Al-KlarrL, one o rle mosr
iominenr Hauirl sclolais, noreu rlar rle rye o
uissenr ieeiieu ro in rle Hauirl is uissenr iegaiu-
living islam with purpose
ing iesumrively aurloiirarive iulings o lav. 1le
oosing oinions rlar occui on sucl quesrions, al-
KlarrL exlaineu, aie a secial meicy iom Gou
anu a unique lonoi (larha) rlar uisringuisles rle
sclolais vlo nnu ansveis ro rlem.
As iegaius
sclolaily eoir in iesumrively aurloiirarive ques-
rions, ir vas lelu in rle Islamic riauirion rlar Gou
voulu ievaiu sclolais oi rleii uissenring oinions
even i rley veie viong. ]uiisrs oren cireu rle
Hauirl: I a juuge (llih) inreiiers rle lav anu
nnus rle coiiecr ansvei, le ieceives rvo ievaius
iom Gou. I le is lonesrly misraken, le ieceives
one.
Ir vas rle sclolais rlemselves vlo askeu
eacl orlei rle mosr uinculr quesrions. 1ley maue
ciirical inquiiies inro rle aaienr conriauicrions in
rle Qui`an anu Sunna, rley iaiseu quesrions aLour
rle giearesr sancriries o rle airl anu rle mosr
unuamenral iecers o rle lav. 1le Comanions
occasionally askeu sucl quesrions rlemselves uuiing
rle rime o rle Pioler. 1le Comanion ALu Razn
askeu lim: Wleie vas oui Loiu Leoie He cieareu
ciearion 1le Pioler ansveieu: He vas in a
srare o comlere liuuenness (ah), Lenearl vlicl
rleie vas no armosleie anu aLove vlicl rleie
vas no armosleie. 1len He cieareu His rlione
ovei rle varei.
rimare knovleuge o Gou Lur ieLelleu againsr Him
our o aiiogance. In Islam, rleie can Le no Lelie oi
uisLelie virlour essenrial knovleuge, rle uieience
Lerveen Lelie anu uisLelie is essenrially lov one
iesonus ro rlar knovleuge.
1le Qui`an links Lelie virl goou claiacrei
anu rle sense o moial oLligarion, ir emlasizes rle
noLle claiacrei anu moial inregiiry o rle Pioler
anu lis Comanions anu inuicares rlar rleii erlical
qualiries consrirureu rle ounuarion o rleii Lelie
in Gou anu commirmenr ro goou ueeus anu rle
velaie o orleis. 1le Qui`an ieeareuly connecrs
uisLelie virl Lau claiacrei, uisiegaiu oi orleis,
anu callousness rovaiu luman sueiing, esecially
as exemlineu in rle aiiogance anu oiession o
rle Neccan oligaicly.
1le oeiarional iincile o socieral
oLligarions is Lackeu Ly rle consensus o Nuslim
sclolais anu is rieareu ar lengrl in voiks on
Islamic legal rleoiy, ir consrirures one o rle
ounuarional elemenrs o rle Islamic
airl. Sriessing socieral oLligarion is
essenrial oi Luiluing rle Ameiican
Nuslim communiry. Ir ioviues
a oveiul ieligious imerus oi
social commirmenr anu communiry
uevelomenr. Ir iomores civic
consciousness anu iequiies Nuslims
ro iuenriy virl rle Lioauei
communiry, auuiess irs neeus, anu
enlisr rle luman iesouices necessaiy
ro meer rlem.
In Islam, Lasic ieligious uuries
all inro rvo caregoiies: inuiviuual
oLligarions (farJ al-ayn oi ujib al-
ayn) anu socieral oLligarions (farJ al-
lifya oi ujib al-lifya). Inuiviuual
oLligarions aie Linuing on eveiy
Nuslim vlo is moially iesonsiLle (hulallaf).
1ley aie exclusively eisonal anu cannor Le
eioimeu Ly someone else on anorlei`s Lelal. 1le
nve uaily iayeis, asring rle monrl o Ramauan,
anu earing vlar is lavul anu clean aie inuiviuual
oLligarions. Lrlically, Nuslims vlo ail ro eioim
inuiviuual oLligarions aie iniquirous anu iisk uivine
ieriiLurion.
Socieral oLligarions aie manuaroiy oi rle
entire Nuslim oularion raken as a vlole, rley
ieiesenr rle oularion`s giou iesonsiLiliry ro
consrirure an oiganic anu iesonsiLle communiry. Ir
is a socieral oLligarion, oi examle, ro ensuie rlar
eole lave Lasic necessiries like oou anu lealrl
caie. 1le iincile o socieral oLligarion sriulares
rlar suncienr numLeis (al-lifya) o qualineu
men anu vomen Le moially iequiieu ro caiiy our
socieral oLligarions on rle communiry`s Lelal.
By rleii naruie, socieral oLligarions necessirare
cooeiarion anu call oi rle uevelomenr o
communiries rlar aie uncrional, sel-
avaie, anu vell oiganizeu.
Socieral oLligarions geneially
cannor Le eioimeu virlour giou
eoir Lecause rley aie ai moie ue-
manuing rlan rle inuiviuual caaciry
o eisons voiking alone. Ioi rlar
ieason, eacl socieral oLligarion ie-
quiies a suncienr numLei o eole
virl communiry suoir ro see rlar
ir is caiiieu our. Ir is rle communi-
ry`s iesonsiLiliry as a vlole ro en-
lisr sucl numLeis o qualineu eole
anu assisr rlem in rle rask. I rle
Nuslim communiry neglecrs irs soci-
eral oLligarions, eacl Nuslim Leais
rle moial iesonsiLiliry oi rleii ail-
uie as a giou. acl memLei o rle
For the American
Muslim community,
societal
obligations
require the
proactive
development of
needed resources
that address real
issues on the
ground.
living islam with purpose
communiry is iniquirous anu eisonally iisks uivine
ieriiLurion. Once a socieral oLligarion las Leen
auequarely auuiesseu, rle coiiesonuing giou ie-
sonsiLiliry o Nuslims alls iom rleii sloulueis,
anu rle orenrial Luiuen o communal sin is lireu.
1le oeiarional iincile o sriessing socieral
oLligarions slovs rlar Islam is mucl moie rlan a
ieligion o eisonal ieries anu rlar ir cannor Le
naiiovly iesriicreu ro rle acriviries o mosques
oi Islamic cenreis. 1le eioimance o inuiviuual
oLligarions like iayei anu asring nevei iemoves
a Nuslim`s moial uury ro meer socieral ones. 1le
mosr seemingly uiiglr o Nuslims aie liaLle oi
uivine ieriiLurion i rley ignoie socieral oLligarions
anu conrenr rlemselves virl eisonal iery alone.
Ar rle same rime, rleie musr Le no conusion, ei-
sonal ueuicarion ro rle communiry`s neeus uoes nor
iemove a Nuslim`s inuiviuual oLligarion ro eioim
acrs o eisonal iery.
Inuiviuual oLligarions (iayei, asring, anu rle
like) can Le ieauily iuenrineu anu aie eioimeu ar
ser rimes accoiuing ro nxeu oims. Wlen misseu,
inuiviuual oLligarions can Le maue u larei. A Nus-
lim vlo is unaLle ro asr comensares Ly asring ar
anorlei rime oi making aronemenr (laffra). So-
cieral oLligarions, lovevei, aie moie exacring anu
comlex. 1ley aie oren uinculr ro iuenriy anu
even laiuei ro ulnll. Socieral oLligarions aie siru-
arional anu iequiie inrimare knovleuge o rle com-
muniry anu irs immeuiare anu uruie neeus. Socieral
oLligarions uo nor lave ieuereimineu rimes, lac-
es, oi ioceuuies. 1le numLei o eole iequiieu
ro caiiy our a airiculai socieral oLligarion anu rle
naruie o qualincarions rlose eole musr lave aie
alvays uereimineu Ly iealiries on rle giounu anu
aie conrinuously liaLle ro clange. Unlike inuiviuual
oLligarions, socieral ones cannor Le maue u once
rleii rime las asseu, rley musr Le eioimeu ar rle
rime anu in rle mannei eacl siruarion iequiies. I
a eison is uying iom sraivarion, ir is o no use ro
Liing oou arei rlar eison las uieu. I a louse is
Luining, rle eoir ro exringuisl rle nie cannor Le
uelayeu unril romoiiov.
Nuslim legal rleoiisrs exlain rle iimacy
o socieral oLligarions in Islam Ly viirue o rleii
inseaiaLle connecrion ro sociery`s velaie Lecause
rley secuie sociery`s Lenenrs (haslil) anu iorecr
ir iom ueriimenrs (hafsiJ). Ioi rle same ieason,
ceirain socieral inreiesrs rake ieceuence ovei orleis
vlen rle rvo clasl. As a iule, inuiviuual inreiesrs
may nor Le iomoreu ar rle exense o giou inrei-
esrs. Bioauei socieral inreiesrs rake ieceuence ovei
naiiovei giou inreiesrs. Ioi examle, sociery`s
long-reim neeu oi aoiuaLle uiugs rakes iece-
uence ovei rle naiiovei eisonal anu coioiare in-
reiesrs rlar aie mer Ly selling rlem ar unieasonaLle
iices.
Socieral oLligarions allov no Nuslim ro ie-
main a assive secraroi in rle communiry. 1leie
is alvays voik ro Le uone, vlerlei ir eirains ro
uigenr neeus oi moie geneial iequiiemenrs. 1lose
vlo aie nor aLle oi qualineu ro eioim socieral
oLligarions musr give mareiial anu moial suoir
ro rlose vlo aie eioiming rlem. Nuslims vlo
aie qualineu ro ulnll socieral oLligarions musr rake
air in rlem ro rle exrenr rlar rley aie aLle, Lur as
Leoie, rle communal iesonsiLiliry oi ailing ro
meer socieral oLligarions alls uon Lorl rle quali-
neu anu rle unqualineu alike.
Basic socieral oLligarions aie exanueu uon
so rlar rley incluue all ielareu communiry ieson-
siLiliries rliougl rle Islamic iincile: Wlarevei
is necessaiy ro ulnll an oLligarion is an oLligarion
irsel (h l yatihh al-ujib ill bil fa-luua
ujib). Ir is one o rle ulrimare oLligarions o Islam
ro iorecr luman lie (al-nafs), Lur rle iorecrion o
living islam with purpose
lives cannor Le aclieveu virlour oou, slelrei, anu
secuiiry. 1le neeu ro ieseive lie, rleieoie, gives
iise ro rle socieral oLligarions o ioviuing oou,
slelrei, secuiiry, anu similai necessiries. 1lus, soci-
eral oLligarions exrenu iom Lasic necessiries ro in-
cluue eierytling rlar is essenrial ro rle communiry`s
Lesr inreiesr.
In eailiei Islamic socieries, rle uury ro imle-
menr mosr socieral oLligarions ell on rle sloulueis
o rle srare, alrlougl rle moial iesonsiLiliry oi
rleii ulnllmenr srill incluueu rle enriie communiry.
1ouay, seculai narional anu srare goveinmenrs
meer many Lasic socieral oLligarions, alrlougl rley
may nor meer rlem equally vell oi all social anu
economic classes. 1le seivices rley ioviue Lenenr
Nuslims as vell as orleis, rley exemr Nuslims
iom rle airiculai socieral oLligarions rlar aie cov-
eieu Lur nor iom orlei socieral oLligarions rlar rle
srare ails ro covei.
In ie-colonial Nuslim socieries, iivare ei-
sons esraLlisleu viue vaiieries o Lenencial ious
enuovmenrs (auqf, albs), oren virl socieral
oLligarions in minu. 1leii enuovmenrs mer sucl
geneial conceins as caiing oi viuovs anu oilans,
looking arei rle lysical anu menral lealrl o iis-
oneis, anu even ioviuing oi rle velaie o injuieu
anu uecieir animals. In rle Wesr rouay, Nuslims
lave rle communal uury ro iuenriy anu imle-
menr socieral oLligarions necessaiy oi communiry
giovrl, civic engagemenr, anu enviionmenral io-
recrion. Ir musr Le sriesseu rlar socieral oLligarions
aie nct rle sole uomain o acrivisrs anu volunreeis.
1ouay as in rle asr, Nuslim communiries cannor
meer rleii socieral oLligarions virlour aisiglreu
insrirurional uevelomenr, incluuing rle esraLlisl-
menr o ieligious enuovmenrs anu rle emloymenr
o vell-riaineu ioessionals.
Socieral oLligarions aie laigely oigorren in
iesenr-uay Nuslim lanus anu aie iaiely unuei-
sroou in ueveloing Nuslim communiries like ouis.
eglecr o socieral oLligarions, eilas as mucl
as anyrling else, accounrs oi rle geneially lam-
enraLle srare o rle Nuslim voilu rouay. Wlen
Nuslims ocus exclusively on inuiviuual oLliga-
rions anu inreiesrs, rley lose siglr o Islam`s social
mission. 1ley Lecome rle vicrims o an aromisric,
one-uimensional minuser rlar is viirually incaaLle
o ciirical consciousness anu social avaieness. As
sucl, many Nuslims lave lirrle aLiliry ro comie-
lenu anu lave minimal incenrive ro airiciare in
rleii communiry`s ieseivarion anu giovrl, mucl
less rle conceins o rle voilu Leyonu rlem.
Ioi rle Ameiican Nuslim communiry, soci-
eral oLligarions iequiie rle ioacrive uevelomenr
o neeueu iesouices rlar auuiess ieal issues on rle
giounu, among vlicl aie Lerrei social seivices,
ioessional maiiiage counseling, nnancial insriru-
rions, anu rle esraLlislmenr o auvanceu Islamic
seminaiies. Oui socieral oLligarions also iequiie us
ro auuiess uigenr issues rlar lave suiaceu in rle
Ameiican Nuslim communiry ovei iecenr uecaues.
1le oeiarional iincile o socieral oLligarion
naruially iequiies canuoi in iuenriying ioLlems,
orleivise rley cannor Le solveu. I vill auuiess rliee
issues Lelov rlar uemanu arrenrion anu consrirure
socieral oLligarions o rle nisr oiuei: caieei cloices,
maiiiage, anu liquoi ianclises.
Career Clcices
All ioessions anu nelus o leaining rlar seive rle
communiry`s mareiial anu culruial neeus all unuei
socieral oLligarions. 1leie can Le no lace in rle
communiry oi elirism, any lonesr ioession is a
goou ioession. Wlerlei a eison is uiiving a raxi
oi voiking in a losiral emeigency ioom, eacl
liveliloou lels seive a viral socieral uncrion. 1oo
living islam with purpose
oren, lovevei, oui communiry`s arriruues rovaiu
caieei cloices anu ioessions lave eveiyrling ro
uo virl money anu social srarus anu lirrle ro uo
virl oui oveiall socieral neeus as a ueveloing
Nuslim communiry in Ameiica.
Neuicine, engineeiing, anu a numLei o orlei
vell-aying nelus aie vell ieiesenreu, i nor ovei
ieiesenreu in rle Ameiican Nuslim communiry.
1ley lave inuisuraLle value, Lur rle communiry`s
renuency ro socially comairmenralize uesiiaLle
caieeis virlin rlis limireu iange srulrines oui
uruie. Social sciences like syclology, sociology,
anu anrlioology aie oren misrakenly iegaiueu
as less voirly Lecause rley aie nor as luciarive
anu uo nor aoiu elire srarus in oui communiry.
In iealiry, rle social sciences lay a ciirical iole in
mouein sociery anu consrirure key iioiiries oi
Ameiican Nuslims. 1ley seive rle communiry`s
essenrial inreiesrs in aieas sucl as menral lealrl,
social velaie, anu culruial uevelomenr. Oui
aLiliry ro uncrion eecrively as Nuslims in mouein
sociery iequiies a nuanceu unueisranuing o
moueiniry. Sucl an unueisranuing alls squaiely
virlin rle comerence o rle social sciences. Ir is a
iimaiy socieral oLligarion oi Ameiican Nuslims
ro uevelo suncienr cauies o vell-riaineu social
scienrisrs vlose ieseaicl is nor only o use ro rle
Nuslim communiry Lur is valuaLle ro rle giearei
sociery ar laige.
Secializarions in rle lumaniries like lisroiy,
mouein rlouglr, lilosoly, anu lireiaruie aie
viuely consiueieu in oui communiry as maiginal,
Lur rley roo aie necessaiy anu meer essenrial
socieral oLligarions similai ro rlose o rle social
sciences. 1ley imair a viuei viev o rle voilu,
lov irs asr ielares ro irs iesenr anu uruie, anu
rle seminal iueas o oui rimes. 1ley give uiiecr
access ro eecrive cioss-culruial unueisranuing anu
inrellecrual uevelomenr anu enaLle rle communiry
ro rake inreiierarive conriol o irsel anu irs
ieligion in a conremoiaiy conrexr.
Marriage
Among rle mosr seiious ciises rlar ace laige seg-
menrs o rle Ameiican Nuslim communiry rouay
aie rle luiules anu unjusrinaLle uinculries rlar
many Nuslim vomen anu men o maiiiageaLle
ages conionr vlen looking oi suiraLle souses.
1le ioLlem is esecially acure oi vomen. Ir is
amiliai ro vomen iom immigianr amilies Lur
is no less seveie oi Aiican-Ameiican Nuslim
vomen. 1le ciisis is unuouLreuly comlex. One
o irs majoi causes is rle limireu ool iom vlicl
Nuslim souses aie selecreu. Orlei ieasons incluue
ioLlems rlar ielare ro economic class, erlniciry,
anu culruial Lackgiounu. In auuirion, Nuslims uo
nor geneially allov uaring, vlicl oi many eole
in rle Wesr is a ieluue ro maiiiage. Ameiican
Nuslims lave yer ro uevelo eecrive culruial alrei-
narives rlar allov rlem, virlin Islamic noims, ro
negoriare genuei inreiacrion anu acilirare maiiiage
rliougl iacrices sucl as couirsli. 1le ieal anu
orenrial laims likely ro iesulr iom rle maiiiage
ciisis ar rle inuiviuual anu communiry level aie un-
imaginaLle. Iacing rle ioLlem riurlully, as many
Nuslims alieauy uo, anu nnuing solurions oi ir is
an uigenr socieral oLligarion.
Iiqucr ranclises
One o rle mosr seiious social ills aecring rle
Ameiican Nuslim communiry ar iesenr is rle
exisrence o rlousanus o liquoi sroies ovneu Ly
immigianr Nuslims in rle narion`s innei ciries.
1leii iesence rliearens ro unueimine rle gains
rlar Aiican-Ameiican Nuslims maue uuiing rle
rvenrierl cenruiy rliougl social engagemenr in
living islam with purpose
rlese communiries. In Clicago anu orlei Ameiican
ciries, rle uLiquirous iesence o Nuslim-ovneu
liquoi ianclises las Leen a souice o rension anu
conlicr.
Iocusing on Lenenrs anu ueriimenrs is air
o rle univeisal Pioleric legacy anu, rleieoie,
consrirures a caregoiical Islamic oLligarion. Unuei-
sranuing rle imoirance o serring iioiiries is a
necessaiy oeiarional iincile in Islam, Lur, as oL-
vious as rle iincile may seem, many Nuslims aie
oLlivious ro ir in iacrice.
1o lel secuie sociery`s vellLeing, Islamic
lav sers rliee uescenuing levels o iioiiry, vlicl
iank Lenenrs anu laims accoiuing ro rleii magni-
ruue: necessities (Jarriyyt), neeJs (ljiyyt), anu
cchjlehents (talhiliyyt). Lacl o rlem vill Le
uiscusseu in ullei uerail Lelov arei nisr uiscussing
rle nve majoi oLjecrives o rle lav, uon vlicl
rley aie Laseu. 1le rliee levels o iioiiry uiav uis-
rincrions Lerveen rle vaiious asecrs o Pioleric
lav, rley give liglesr iioiiry ro vlar is essenrial
ro sociery`s vellLeing anu lovei iioiiry ro vlar is
nor. By serring iioiiries, Nuslims aie aLle ro voik
rovaiu rleii Lesr inreiesr in goou rimes anu Lau Ly
allocaring rime anu iesouices ro majoi neeus virl-
our Lecoming ieoccuieu virl minoi conceins oi
virl alse iioiiries.
1le AiaLic voius haslil (Lenenrs) anu
hafsiJ (ueriimenrs) lave a sliglrly uieienr em-
lasis rlan rleii Lnglisl counreiairs, Lenenrs
anu ueriimenrs. In Lnglisl, Lenenrs may nisr
Liing ro minu nonessenrial auvanrages anu con-
veniences. Likevise, rle voiu ueriimenrs oren
Liings ro minu uisauvanrages anu inconveniences.
1le AiaLic voiu, haslil lireially ieeis ro vlar
Liings aLour vloleness, lealrliness, anu vellLeing.
Ir immeuiarely Liings essenrial anu useul neeus ro
minu, alrlougl ir incluues nonessenrial auvanrages
anu conveniences as vell. MafsiJ is rle semanric
aii o haslil. Like goou anu evil in Lng-
lisl, menrion o rle one Liings rle orlei ro minu.
Linguisrically, hafsiJ ieeis ro vlar causes coi-
iurion anu uecay. Ir immeuiarely Liings ro minu
unuamenral laims anu uamages, incluuing uisau-
vanrages anu inconveniences.
Benenrs anu ueriimenrs aie neirlei unioim
noi aLsriacr, rley aie inseaiaLly rieu ro conciere
ciicumsrances anu iealiries. Likevise, rle imeia-
rives o Islamic lav aie nor equal iegaiuing rle im-
living islam with purpose
oirance o rleii uioses anu iarionales. Wirlour
serring iioiiries, rle ulrimare uioses o Islam
Lecome oLscuieu anu uisconnecreu iom rleii social
uiose. Dereimining iioiiries iequiies making
uinculr juugmenrs aLour rle magniruues o uiveise
Lenenrs anu ueriimenrs in uieienr conrexrs anu
rle iioiiry in iank o coiiesonuing elemenrs o
rle lav. In Islamic lav, rle legal uisciline rlar
sruuies lov ro make sucl evaluarions is calleu rle
Science o CounreiLalancing (ilh al-huuzana).
Hisroiically, rle ienovneu juiisrs al-SlriL anu ILn
1aymiyya veie oiemosr in rlis nelu.
Islamic lav sers rle rliee iioiiries accoiuing
ro a lieiaicly o legal goals. 1le liglesr o rlem
aie rle nve majoi oLjecrives (al-haqsiJ al-llahsa
al-lubr). 1ley aie rle ieseivarion o: ieligion
(Jn), sel (nafs), ieason (aql), cliluien (nasl/nas-
ab),
j
anu vealrl (hl). Some sclolais auu eisonal
anu amily lonoi (irJ) as a sixrl oLjecrive, Lur all
agiee on rle main nve. 1lese nve majoi oLjecrives
consrirure rle gianu, all-enveloing iarionales o
Islam. 1ley aie rle ivor oinr aiounu vlicl rle
mosr Linuing inuiviuual anu socieral oLligarions
ievolve. 1le iimaiy goal o Islamic juiisiuuence
is ro secuie rlese oLjecrives nisr oi as eecrively as
ossiLle Leoie ruining ro lessei iioiiries. In Islam-
ic legal rleoiy, rle nve majoi oLjecrives aie ciirical
ro rle velaie o all luman socieries, iegaiuless o
ieligion, Lecause rle eiosion o even a single one o
rlem rliearens rle conrinueu exisrence o rle soci-
ery as a vlole.
iioi euucarional aciliries. 1leieoie, ir is a majoi
iioiiry ro cieare excerional Islamic euucarional
insrirurions.
As inuicareu aLove, Islamic lav las rliee lev-
els o iioiiry: necessities, neeJs, anu cchjlehents.
Necessities, rle liglesr iioiiry, aie inseaiaLly
linkeu ro rle nve majoi oLjecrives. 1ley aie uiiecrly
rieu ro rle acquisirion o inuisensaLle Lenenrs anu
rle iemoval o ciirical laims. Necessities aie mar-
reis virlour vlicl inuiviuuals anu socieries cannor
conrinue ro exisr, rle mosr imoiranr o rlese Leing
rle nve ulrimare oLjecrives. Ir is a necessiry in colu
climares, oi examle, ro lave Lasic slelrei virl
lear anu lor varei. As menrioneu, rle aiena o
necessities exanus ro incluue eveiyrling iequiieu
ro meer rle nve majoi oLjecrives. Claiiying vlar a
communiry`s necessities aie makes ir ossiLle ro ue-
reimine rle mosr uigenr socieral oLligarions.
NeeJs consrirure rle nexr level o iioiiries.
1ley eirain ro rle acquisirion o lessei Lenenrs anu
rle ievenrion o lessei ueriimenrs. NeeJs aie close-
ly ielareu ro necessities Lecause rley Lurriess rlem
anu make ir easiei ro meer rlem anu kee rlem
inracr. Unlike necessities, neeJs lave seconuaiy im-
oirance anu aie uisensaLle, a sociery rlar ails ro
meer irs seconuaiy neeus can suivive, Lur rle qual-
iry o lie ir ioviues vill Le less rlan sarisacroiy. Ir
is a necessity ro lave Lasic slelrei virl lear anu lor
varei in colu climares, ir is a neeJ ro ioviue rle
slelrei virl imoiranr nonessenrial aliances like
uislvasleis.
Cchjlehents aie also ieeiieu ro
as Leaurincarions (talsniyyt) anu
oinamenrarions (tazyniyyt). 1ley eirain ro
minoi Lenenrs anu ueriimenrs. Cchjlehents aie
closely ielareu ro neeJs in a mannei similai ro
rle ielarion o neeJs ro necessities, cchjlehents
make ir easiei ro secuie neeJs. Cchjlehents
aecr rle qualiry o lie Ly auoining ir virl
elegance anu solisricarion, rley also involve rle
iemoval o minoi ueriimenrs like imolireness.
Cchjlehents aie rle iennemenrs o a civilizeu
sociery, rley maniesr iivare, amily, anu social
lie in rleii mosr excellenr oims. Basic slelrei
is a necessity, imoiranr nonessenrial aliances
sucl as uislvasleis aie a neeJ, arriacrive inreiioi
uecoiarion anu a leasanr viev consrirure a
cchjlehent.
Because necessities aie aLsolurely essenrial,
rley musr alvays rake ro iioiiry, anu rle Lesr
iesouices anu giearesr eoirs musr Le exenueu ro
secuie rlem. As ve lave seen, necessities aie rle
mainsray o sociery, neeJs suoir necessities, anu
cchjlehents suoir neeJs. 1leieoie, rle arremr
ro meer neeJs musr nor Le alloveu ro sranu in rle
vay o meering necessities, anu cchjlehents musr
nor Le emlasizeu ro rle exclusion o neeJs. Serring
iioiiries in Islamic lav means oiueiing necessities,
neeJs, anu cchjlehents so rlar rle lovei iioiiries
suoir anu uo nor voik againsr rle liglei ones.
In iueal siruarions, necessities, neeJs, anu
cchjlehents exisr siue Ly siue, Lur rle iealiries
o lie anu rle naruie o communiry uevelomenr
oren make ir imossiLle ro secuie all rliee rogerlei.
In sucl cases, lovei iioiiries musr Le riaueu o
oi liglei ones. Ir is alvays imeiarive rlar rle
lieiaicly o iioiiries Le oLseiveu, neeJs anu
cchjlehents musr Le saciinceu oi necessities vlen
ir is imossiLle ro secuie rlem all simulraneously.
Likevise, cchjlehents musr Le saciinceu oi neeJs
vlen iealiries on rle giounu uo nor allov oi
rlem Lorl. Ioi examle, ir is a necessity ro lave
Islamic seminaiies, a neeJ ro ioviue sclolaislis,
anu a cchjlehent ro nnu rle Lesr locarions anu
ioviue aesrlerically leasing aciliries. Yer rle Lasic
seminaiy iojecr comes nisr, ir musr nor Le lelu
living islam with purpose
Lack Lecause o uinculry in secuiing sclolaislis
oi nnuing an arriacrive camus.
Human acriviries iaiely occui virlour rle
orenrial oi Liinging aLour simulraneous Lenenrs
anu laims. Wlen Lenenrs anu laims occui
rogerlei, rle lieiaicly o iioiiries in Islamic lav
ioliLirs an acr i irs orenrial Lenenrs aie less
rlan oi equal ro irs orenrial laims. 1le ielevanr
legal maxim srares: Waiuing o ueriimenrs rakes
iioiiry ovei rle acquisirion o Lenenrs (Jar
al-hafsiJ aul hin jalb al-haslil). Diiving
somevleie quickly may Le Lenencial, Lur ir is
oiLiuuen in Islamic lav i ir involves seeuing anu
iisking a cai acciuenr, rle suoseu Lenenrs o
seeuing uo nor ourveigl rle orenrial laims o
an acciuenr. Bur vlen orenrial Lenenrs aie giearei
rlan ossiLle laims, rle acr is eimissiLle anu, in
some cases, iecommenueu oi oLligaroiy. Wlen an
amLulance seeus ro rle losiral ro save rle lie o
someone in ciirical conuirion, ir iuns rle iisk o an
acciuenr, Lur rle Lenenr o saving rle
arienr`s lie giearly ourveigls rle
ueriimenr o a ossiLle acciuenr.
Somerimes, rleie is no vay
ro avoiu a giearei laim excer Ly
incuiiing a lessei one, anu rleie
may Le no vay ro avoiu a giearei
ioliLirion excer Ly uoing a lessei
one. Wlen rlis is rle case, ir Lecomes
allovaLle anu somerimes oLligaroiy
ro cloose rle couise o acrion rlar
iequiies uoing rle lessei laim oi
rle lessei ioliLirion uesire rle
acr rlar neirlei is alloveu. Laring
caiiion is ueriimenral ro rle lealrl
anu sriicrly oiLiuuen in Islamic lav,
Lur sraivarion is a giearei laim anu
a giearei ioliLirion. 1leieoie, rle
Qui`an uiiecrs rle sraiving eison ro ear caiiion oi
similai unclean suLsrances ro sray alive i rleie is
norling clean anu eimissiLle ro ear.
1le lenomenon o Nuslim coneiences anu
convenrions in rle Unireu Srares anu Canaua oeis
an examle o vaiious Lenenrs anu ueriimenrs anu
lov rley may Le iankeu Ly iioiiry. Oiganizing
sucl garleiings consrirures a iioiiry Lecause rley
seive necessities sucl as leling ro ieseive rle
ieligion anu uevelo rle communiry. 1ley ulnll
many orlei inuiviuual anu communiry neeJs sucl
as ioviuing access ro sclolais anu nev iueas. 1ley
ioviue oi numeious cchjlehents sucl as meering
iienus. Like mosr laige garleiings, lovevei, rle
coneiences also all sloir o execrarions in ceirain
iegaius. 1ley may nor Le vell oiganizeu, rley may
ail ro give aii ieiesenrarion ro all erlnic gious,
anu rleii iogiams may Le sueincial anu ieeri-
rive. As a iule, lovevei, rle Lenenrs o rle conei-
ences ourveigl rleii ueriimenrs, anu rley iemain a
communiry iioiiry anu an imoi-
ranr socieral oLligarion.
Nislaceu iioiiries aie a
common srumLling Llock in rle
Ameiican Nuslim communiry.
Oren, rley giov our o simle
unavaieness rlar iioiiries aie
a air o rle Islamic ieligion. In
some cases, rley iesulr iom rle
rianseial o olu voilu vays ro rle
Wesr virlour evaluaring rleii uriliry
in a nev conrexr. 1le allegarion
rlar seaking iankly aLour rle
communiry`s ioLlems is slameul
oi consrirures an arrack uon Islam
is ueely iooreu in olu voilu norions
o slame anu lonoi. Anorlei
culruial rianseial is rle emlasis
Actions and
activities are not
done for their
sake alone; it is
not enough to
go through the
motions. Works
must have direction
and be carried out
in a manner that is
likely to achieve
the rationales and
objectives behind
them.
living islam with purpose
rlar some communiries lace on riaining cliluien
in rle viiruous acr o memoiizing rle Qui`an yer
virl lirrle oi no concein oi reacling rlem AiaLic
anu Lasic commenraiy so rlar rley can Lenenr
ully iom vlar rley memoiize. Some imams uo
auuiess rle ieviously menrioneu issue o Nuslim-
ovneu liquoi ianclises in rle innei ciries. Orleis
may iail againsr alse iioiiries like rle suoseu
evils o Halloveen anu vomen veaiing nngeinail
olisl Lur avoiu menrioning rle Nuslim-ovneu
liquoi Lusinesses uesire rle acr rlar some o rleii
Liggesr ioiierois may Le sirring Leoie rlem in
rle congiegarion.
Nuslim sclolais give legal maxims Lioau geneial
enuoisemenr, anu, alrlougl rley uo nor agiee on
eacl one o rlem, mosr maxims aie suoireu
eirlei Ly consensus oi geneial agieemenr. PioLaLly,
no orlei signincanr Louy o rleological oi legal
iinciles in Islam enjoys sucl a ligl uegiee o
aurloiiry anu consensus as legal maxims.
1nr rvr ccir nxi
1le nve coie maxims (al-qauiJ al-lulliyya al-
llahs) sranu ar rle veiy cenrei o rle lunuieus o
orlei maxims in Islamic lav.
jj
Nany iominenr
Nuslim juiisrs lolu rlar rlese nve maxims emLouy
rle siiir o Islamic lav in irs enriiery. As inuicareu
in rle inriouucrion, ro gias rle ull uriliry o rle
nve coie maxims, rle ieauei sloulu conrinually Leai
in minu rlar rley consrirure a succincr summarion
o rle oeiarive visuom o Islam. Ir is rle uiose
o rle nve oeiarional iinciles in rlis aei ro
lel Nuslims iealize rleii orenrial as inuiviuuals
anu communiries rliougl ueeei unueisranuing
o rleii airl. 1le nve coie maxims consrirure rle
Leuiock o rlar unueisranuing.
Lacl o rle nve coie maxims is enuoiseu Ly
rle consensus o Lorl Sunn anu Sl sclolais.
1leieoie, rley rianscenu all sclools anu secrs anu
consrirure a ieliaLle Lasis oi Luiluing a luialisric
anu enliglreneu Nuslim communiry. 1le nve coie
maxims aie:
i. Narreis vill Le juugeu Ly rleii uioses (al-
uhr bi-haqsiJil).
z. Ceirainry vill nor Le oveiruineu Ly uouLr
(al-yaqn la yazl bi-al-slall).
j. Haim musr Le iemoveu (al-Jarar yuzl).
. Haiusli musr Le alleviareu (al-usr yajlib
al-taysr).
j. Cusrom las rle veiglr o lav (al-Ja
hulallaha).
Maxih One: Matters uill be juJgeJ by tleir
jurjcses.
1lis maxim emlasizes inrenrion anu uiose.
Acrions anu acriviries aie nor uone oi rleii sake
alone, ir is nor enougl ro go rliougl rle morions.
Woiks musr lave uiiecrion anu Le caiiieu our in a
mannei rlar is likely ro aclieve rle iarionales anu
oLjecrives Lelinu rlem. As menrioneu aLove, rle
maxim`s voiuing is Laseu on rle Hauirl: Acrs
aie juugeu only Ly inrenrions. 1le voiuing o rle
maxim is Lioauei. Narreis (al-uhr) incluues
inrenrion-Laseu eisonal acrions, Lur rle voiu also
rakes in geneial acriviries, insrirurions, olicies,
anu rle like, vlicl aie nor Laseu on inrenrions,
Lur on uioses. 1le AiaLic voiu oi uioses
(haqsiJ) alies ro inrenrions as vell as oLjecrives
anu goals sucl as aie eirinenr ro geneial acriviries,
insrirurions, anu olicies.
1le maxim emlasizes rle imoirance o
inrenrions in rlose luman acrions rlar iequiie
rlem. Ir immeuiarely calls ro minu acrs o
voisli, Lecause rley aie invaliu virlour coiiecr
inrenrions. Cusromaiy acrions, on rle orlei lanu,
aie valiu virlour inrenrions, Lur goou inrenrions
can riansoim rlem inro erlical ueeus anu even
uevorional acrs. HaLirual Lelavioi like earing,
uiinking, anu sleeing is moially neurial Lur may
Lecome erlical oi uevorional i uone virl rle
aioiiare inrenrions. 1o iesr is moially neurial,
raking iesr virl rle inrenr o ienev one`s sriengrl
ro eain a liveliloou ro suoir a amily is an
erlical acr. Running a legirimare Lusiness is moially
neurial, i ir is uone virl rle morive o leling ro
suoir a voirly siiirual enu, ir Lecomes an acr
o voisli. Bau inrenrions lave rle oosire eecr.
Ioi examle, ir is iaisevoirly ro visir Necca anu
Neuina, Lur rle inrenrion ro go rleie in oiuei ro
Leg oi sreal ruins rle ourvaiuly commenuaLle acr
living islam with purpose
inro a ueloiaLle one. Some acrions aie amLiguous
anu can only Le juugeu Ly rle morives Lelinu
rlem. 1le Pioler saiu: Wloevei imirares a
eole Lelongs ro rlem.
conriasrs slaily virl rle luman riageuy common
ro many aimeu conlicrs vlen iesisrance anu
inriansigence Lecome enus in rlemselves anu ievail
againsr ieason, eace, anu rle ieseivarion o
uLlic velaie.
Inirially, rle Aimisrice o HuuayLiyya
aeaieu ro Le a ueear oi rle Nuslims anu an
incomielensiLle serLack oi rleii cause, Lur irs
ourcome soon ievealeu rle Pioler`s uiose
anu sloveu rle rieary ro Le one o lis giearesr
aclievemenrs. Ar rle rime o rle rieary, rle Neccan
iuolareis lau Lecome veak, anu rle Pioler vas
in an uniivalleu osirion o sriengrl, le coulu
lave easily ueeareu rle Neccans miliraiily.
Insreau, le concluueu a ren-yeai acr o eace
virl rlem. 1le Neccans insisreu, lovevei, uon
urring uisiesecrul language anu uemeaning
concessions in rle rieary. Ioi many o rle Pioler`s
Comanions, lis accerance o rle rieary came
as an immense slock. 1ley rook ir ro Le an
insueiaLle insulr ro rle Pioler anu Islam, oi
many o rlem, rle rieary seveiely riieu rleii airl.
Bur rle Qui`an ioclaimeu rle aimisrice a maniesr
vicroiy (Qui`an, :). One o rle Comanions
aioacleu rle Pioler anu askeu: Nessengei
o Gou, is ir riuly a vicroiy He ielieu: Yes. By
Gou, in vlose lanu is my soul, ir is a vicroiy.
1le Aimisrice o HuuayLiyya cieareu an
armosleie o ieconciliarion anu ieleaseu all clans
iom eailiei riiLal alliances. 1le AiaLs veie nov
iee as inuiviuuals ro lisren ro rle Pioler`s message
anu assess rleii eisonal srances rovaiu ir virlour
rle uangei o violaring kinsli loyalries. 1le rieary
also gianreu rle Nuslims access ro Necca, vlicl
gave rleii airl giearei legirimacy in AiaL eyes.
Wirlin monrls, rle consequences o rle aimisrice
ievealeu rle aisiglreuness o rle Pioler`s
uecision. Ir esraLlisleu a jax islahica in AiaLia anu
Legan Islam`s mereoiic iise. Al-Zuli, one o rle
reacleis o Imam Nlik, viore:
o vicroiy in Islam iioi ro HuuayLiyya vas
anyrling like ir. Beoie, eole voulu nglr
vlenevei rley mer. Arei rle aimisrice, vai vas
susenueu. Peole veie no longei aiaiu o eacl
orlei. 1ley voulu meer, seak, anu aigue ar
giear lengrl. o one virl rle ovei ro ieason
vas soken ro aLour Islam Lur rlar le emLiaceu
ir. In rlose rvo yeais Leoie rle Neccans Lioke
rle aimisrice, rle eole vlo enreieu rle airl
veie equal ro rle numLei o all rlose vlo lau
emLiaceu ir uuiing rle ieceuing sixreen yeais.
maxim sers a Lasic iule oi lov ro use rle minu in
making sounu juugmenrs. 1lis maxim lones rle
ovei o ieason anu Lieaks rle lolu o illusions
anu unounueu secularions. Iailuie ro live Ly
rlis maxim uoes a uisseivice ro rle luman minu
anu evenrually laims ir. Ulrimarely, ceirainry is
nor oveiruineu Ly uouLr emLouies rle Islamic
convicrion rlar riurl, as vaiieu as irs arls aie,
is nor a uncrion o aiLiriaiy vill oi suLjecrive
eicerions anu musr Le uisceineu rliougl
oLjecrive ciireiia.
Ceirainry is nor oveiruineu Ly uouLr is
moie aLour Lasic ioo anu rle iesolurion o con-
licring claims rlan ir is aLour caregoiically aurloii-
rarive ceirainry sucl as vas uiscusseu unuei rle
seconu oeiarional iincile on iesecring uissenr.
Ceirainry in rlis maxim incluues Lur is nor ie-
sriicreu ro caregoiical ioo. In rlis maxim, cei-
rainry is Lioauei anu incluues iea-
sonaLle oinions Laseu on iesum-
rive aurloiiry oi sriong conjecruie. In
irs alicarion, rle maxim ceirainry
is nor oveiruineu Ly uouLr iequiies
rlar ieasonaLle anu vell-esraLlisleu
convicrions Le iesecreu anu nor uis-
iegaiueu unless rleie is sriongei evi-
uence ro rle conriaiy.
One o rle maxim`s mosr
imoiranr alicarions is rle
iesumrion o conrinuiry ().
1le iesumrion o conrinuiry lolus
rlar rlings musr Le iesumeu ar
iesenr ro iemain in rleii oimei
srares unril rle conriaiy is ioven.
Heie again, ceirainry uoes nor
jusr aly ro caregoiical knovleuge
Lur rakes in marreis o iesumrive
aurloiiry oi sriong conjecruie. Lven
rlougl a ieasonaLle oinion may nor Le conclusive,
ir musr Le rieareu as i ir veie conclusive unril rle
conriaiy is uemonsriarively ioven.
Like many orlei legal sysrems, Islamic lav
ulolus rle iincile rlar eole aie innocenr
unril ioven guilry. Ioi Nuslims, rle iesumrion
o innocence is a coiollaiy o ceirainry is nor
oveiruineu Ly uouLr. Noie secincally, rle
iesumrion o innocence is a veision o rle
iesumrion o conrinuiry, vlicl alls unuei rle
coie maxim. 1le Islamic ievelarion reacles rlar
luman Leings veie cieareu in a srare o naruial
innocence anu Lasic goouness. 1leii oiiginal
conuirion o innocence makes guilr rle excerion
ro rle iule. 1leieoie, eole musr Le iesumeu
ro iemain ar iesenr in rleii oimei srare o
innocence unril rle conriaiy is ioven. Likevise,
rle ieurarions o eole musr Le ueenueu againsr
iumois unless valiu eviuence ioves
rlem riue.
Anorlei common alicarion
o ceirainry is nor oveiruineu
Ly uouLr is rle iesumrion o
eimissiLiliry. 1le iesumrion
o eimissiLiliry lolus rlar rlings
musr Le iesumeu ro Le eimissiLle
unless rle conriaiy is ioven. ILn
1aymiyya asseirs rlar none o rle
eaily aurloiiries o Islamic lav
is knovn ro lave quesrioneu rle
valiuiry o rle iesumrion o
eimissiLiliry.
Anorlei closely
ielareu maxim lolus rlar rlings
musr Le iegaiueu as eimissiLle
unless ioven laimul. A similai
maxim, rle iesumrion o
cleanness, srares rlar all rlings vill
Le iesumeu ro Le iirually clean
A religious
psychology
narrowly molded
by lists of dos and
donts is greatly
handicapped.
Muslims with
such an identity
struggle not
to feel alien or
out of place in
surroundings
where their list of
dos and donts is
not shared.
living islam with purpose
() unless rle conriaiy is ioven.
1lese anu
ielareu maxims aie Laseu on rle Islamic Lelie rlar
rle voilu vas cieareu oi luman srevaiusli.
1lus, rle voilu anu all rlar ir conrains aie
geneially goou, Lenencial, anu iirually clean. As
a naruial consequence, eimissiLiliry is rle iule,
anu imeimissiLiliry, laimulness, anu iirual
uncleanness aie excerions.
1le iesumrion o eimissiLiliry is ciucial oi
rle eisonal giovrl anu communiry uevelomenr
o Nuslims in rle Unireu Srares. Some Nuslims
iegaiu Islam as lirrle moie rlan a lisr o uo`s anu
uon`rs, anu, geneially, rle uon`rs ournumLei rle
uo`s. Wlen Islamic iuenriry is Lelavioially uenneu
in rlis aslion, ir osreis a syclology eimeareu
virl ueLilirarions, inliLirions, anu naiiov cognirive
iames, ioliLirion is maue Islam`s ueaulr osirion,
anu rle ieligion is given rle aeaiance o eimir-
ring veiy lirrle anu ioliLiring eveiyrling else.
1le iesumrion o eimissiLiliry emlasizes
rlar rle ieveise is riue, Islam`s ieal ueaulr osirion
is one o geneial eimissiLiliry virl an animarive
arriruue rovaiu rle voilu. 1le Lasic iule o
geneial eimissiLiliry uoes nor mean rlar rle
cleai ioliLirions o Islamic lav aie uiscaiueu. In
acr, ir lays sriess on rle acr rlar ioliLirions in
Islam aie giave marreis anu musr nor ro Le raken
liglrly. Because ioliLirions giave marreis, rley
uemanu cogenr ioo Laseu on sounu knovleuge,
nor on leaisay, misgivings, oi inliLirions. ILn
1aymiyya auus in lis uiscussion o rle iesumrion
o eimissiLiliry rlar ir is ieielensiLle oi a
Nuslim ro Le ieoccuieu virl rle minuriae
o vlar may oi may nor Le oiLiuuen oi ro Le
oLsesseu virl consranrly asking aLour rlem.
Since iesumrion o eimissiLiliry is rle
uominanr iule, Nuslims aie nor iequiieu ro
iove rlar rlings aie eimissiLle, only claims o
ioliLirion uemanu ioo. 1ouay, many Nuslims
rake ir liglrly ro ueclaie rlings oiLiuuen, rle
oosire vas riue oi rle Comanions anu rle
aurloiirarive voices o Islamic lav. 1leii inliLirion,
ro rle exrenr rlar rley may Le uesciiLeu as laving
inliLirions, vas ro ionounce rlings oiLiuuen
unless rley veie nor alieauy cleaily knovn ro Le so.
Wlen rle giear legal sclolais o rle asr rook rle
uecision ro classiy somerling as oiLiuuen Laseu on
eisonal inreiierarion, rley Laseu rleii aigumenrs
on conclusive eviuence, anu even rlen rley maue
rleii uecisions virl maikeu lesirarion.
A ieligious syclology naiiovly molueu Ly
lisrs o uo`s anu uon`rs is giearly lanuicaeu.
Nuslims virl sucl an iuenriry sriuggle nor ro eel
alien oi our o lace in suiiounuings vleie rleii lisr
o uo`s anu uon`rs is nor slaieu. 1ley nor only lave
ioLlems ielaring ro non-Nuslims, iionically, ir is
oren even moie uinculr oi rlem ro inreiacr virl
orlei Nuslims vlo uo nor conoim ro rleii vay
o rlinking. In iealiry, lavs, Lelavioial sranuaius,
anu even ieasonaLle lisrs o uo`s anu uon`rs
air rle Islamic erlos, Lur rley musr lave rleii
ounuarion in sounu knovleuge, coie values, anu
univeisal iinciles like rlose eiromizeu in rle
nve oeiarional iinciles. Wlen Islamic iuenriry
is Laseu on coie values anu univeisal iinciles
virlin rle aiamereis o acceraLle Lelavioi, ir
is emoveieu ro uncrion virl sel-connuence
anyvleie anu virl anyone: ir ceases ro Le
syclologically vulneiaLle in uiveisiry anu Lecomes
iecerive ro rle Lioauesr cognirive iames.
Issues sucl as iecognizing rle Consrirurion,
voring, oi accering vomen as communiry leaueis,
seakeis, anu acrive airicianrs in rle mosque
anu orlei uLlic venues aie conrioveisial in some
communiries. 1lese marreis aie ioLaLly nor
ioLlemaric oi mosr Nuslims in Ameiica, Lur rleie
living islam with purpose
aie rlose vlo iegaiu rlem as quesrionaLle oi even
oiLiuuen. 1le iesumrion o eimissiLiliry makes
ir cleai rlar enuoisemenr o marreis sucl as rlese
iequiies no ioo o eimissiLiliry. 1le Luiuen o
iouucing uennirive sclolaily ioo alvays alls
exclusively on rle sloulueis o rlose vlo quesrion
rleii eimissiLiliry. LmLiacing rle Ameiican
Consrirurional legacy, emoveiing vomen, anu
iemoving rle iemnanrs o ariiaicly,
lovevei,
aie nor acrually quesrions o eimissiLiliry, rley aie
socieral oLligarions o rle liglesr oiuei.
1le quesrion o genuei anu ariiaicly iaises
Lioauei conceins. Islamic euucarional insrirurions
in rle Unireu Srares anu elsevleie musr cieare
rle meclanisms neeueu oi iouucing Nuslim
vomen vlo aie ully qualineu Islamic sclolais.
Genuei ielareu quesrions incluuing rlose menrioneu
aLove sloulu nor Le uelegareu exclusively ro male
aurloiiry, moie signincanrly, nc quesrion sloulu
Le uelegareu ro men alone. Nuslim vomen musr
lave ooiruniries equal ro rleii male counreiairs
in all conceins. 1le uisemoveimenr o Nuslim
vomen is a majoi ieason oi rle ieriogiession o
many Nuslim socieries. Degiauarion o rle srarus
o vomen las rle same ueLiliraring eecr on
Wesrein Nuslim communiries rlar counrenance ir,
anu ir musr Le coiiecreu. Islam las a iicl legacy
o accomlisleu anu acrively engageu vomen.
Giear Nuslim vomen excelleu as olirical anu
miliraiy leaueis, oers, sclolais, lilanrlioisrs,
siiirual guiues, anu in orlei caaciries. Reneval
o rleii legacy is essenrial oi rle uruie o Nuslim
communiries eveiyvleie.
An excellenr examle o an emoveieu
anu emoveiing Nuslim voman is rle eleganr
rvelrl-cenruiy sclolai Irima Linr Nulammau al-
Samaiqanui
Islam is ro secuie Lenenrs anu vaiu o ueriimenrs.
By only menrioning laim anu nor Lenenr, rle voiu-
ing o rlis maxim sriesses rle iioiiry o iemoving
laim, as inuicareu eailiei, rle imeiarive ro vaiu
o ueriimenrs rakes iioiiry ovei rle acquisirion o
Lenenrs vlen rle rvo aie murually incomariLle.
Consiueiarions o laim anu Lenenr aie alvays mu-
rually linkeu in Islamic legal ieasoning, rleieoie,
alrlougl rle voiuing o rle maxim laim musr
Le iemoveu uoes nor menrion Lenenr secincally,
rle concer o Lenenr is srill imlicirly unueisroou.
Omission o rle voiu Lenenr nor only emla-
sizes rle imoirance o vaiuing o laim, ir imlies
rlar rle acquisirion o ieal anu lasring Lenenrs is
nor ossiLle unril laims aie iemoveu nisr.
1le iincile unueilying rlis maxim is ie-
lecreu in Qui`anic veises incluuing: Do nor lolu
youi vives in Lonuage, seeking ro laim rlem, rlar
voulu Le riansgiession (Qui`an :). Anorlei
veise emlasizes: o voman Leaiing a clilu slall
Le causeu laim Lecause o lei clilu, noi slall any
arlei ro vlom a clilu is Loin Le causeu laim Le-
cause o lis clilu (Qui`an, :). 1le Pioler
saiu: Haim vill nor Le uone ro orleis, noi vill
laim Le ieciiocareu Ly laim. Anorlei Hauirl
srares: Haim vill nor Le iemoveu Ly a similai
laim. Anu rle Pioler rauglr: Iulnll rle riusrs
rlar you lave Leen given, uo nor ueceive a eison
vlo las ueceiveu you.
1lis maxim laim musr Le iemoveu oLliges
Nuslims, in rle name o rleii ieligion, ro iuenriy
laims anu iemove rlem. Ir leaves Nuslims no jus-
rincarion oi ignoiing oi roleiaring laim anu injus-
rice in rleii miusr. By emlasizing rle necessiry o
iemoving laim, rle maxim gianrs iioiiry ro rle
vicrims o laim, injusrice, anu oiession. 1le iiglr
o vicrims is alvays legirimare, anu rle laim rlar
alicrs rlem musr Le ieuiesseu.
In rle Pioleric lav, all rlar is laimul,
iom laim`s giearesr ro irs leasr maniesrarions,
is unacceraLle anu musr Le iemoveu. Nuslim
legal sclolais uenne laim in Lioau reims, i rle
lav sloulu eii vlen uereimining vlar consrirures
laim anu vlar uoes nor, ir musr eii on rle siue o
leniency anu inclusiveness. Anorlei ielevanr maxim
srares: eeu vill Le ur on rle level o necessiries
(al-lja tunzal hanzilat al-Jarrt). Wlen alieu
ro rle uennirion o laim, rlis iincile imlies rlar
lessei laims, rle iemoval o vlicl reclnically alls
unuei rle leauing o neeJs, aie ro Le iegaiueu as
giearei laims, rle iemoval o vlicl alls unuei
necessities. 1leieoie, vlen rleie is uouLr aLour
rle seveiiry o a airiculai laim, ir is nor iequiieu
rlar rle vicrim o rlar laim iove lov seveie rle
laim acrually is anu vlerlei oi nor ir is acrually a
necessity ro iemove ir oi a neeJ. I a souse is Leing
aLuseu, oi examle, rle souse is nor iequiieu ro
esraLlisl rlar rle uegiee o aLuse is giearei anu nor
lessei. Lven i rle laim veie acrually o a lessei
uegiee, ir musr Le rieareu as a giearei laim, anu ir
musr Le iemoveu.
Nany clallenges cuiienrly acing rle
Ameiican Nuslim communiry consrirure ieal oi
orenrial laims, rleii iemoval is a uennire socieral
oLligarion. Ir is laimul ro rle communiry vlen,
oi examle, mosques iomore armosleies rlar
aie naiiov-minueu anu uninviring. As ieviously
menrioneu, rle uinculry many Ameiican Nuslims
ace in nnuing suiraLle souses is a giear laim, as
aie uysuncrional maiiiages anu uomesric aLuse. Ir
laims rle communiry vlen solurions aie nor ounu
oi uisauvanrageu Nuslims vlo lave no access ro
goou euucarion, cannor nnu auequare emloymenr,
oi vlose communiries lack viaLle economic
iniasriucruies.
1lis maxim laim musr Le iemoveu las
living islam with purpose
oLvious alicarions in rle vake o rle ariociry
o /, vlicl Liouglr virl ir nev uangeis anu
ieviveu olu ones. On rle one lanu, rle maxim
oices Nuslims ro acknovleuge lonesrly rle ieal
anu iesenr uangei o exriemism anu ensuie rlar
rleii communiries iemain iee o ir. On rle orlei
lanu, rle maxim makes ir imeiarive oi Ameiican
Nuslims ro inciease ourieacl iogiams anu oige
sriongei alliances virl suoirive inuiviuuals
anu gious vlo lave concein oi luman iiglrs.
1le maxim also iequiies ioacrive sres rliougl
civic engagemenr, meuia, anu orlei means ro
give Nuslims a luman ace, Liing ro liglr rleii
conriiLurions ro Ameiican sociery, anu ro lel aveir
rle orenrial laims rlar aiise iom uelumanizarion
anu misinoimarion.
Maxih cur: HarJslij hust be alleiiateJ.
1o unueisranu rlis maxim, ir is necessaiy ro knov
rlar rle voiu laiusli useu in ir is nor rle same
as uinculry. Unlike laiusli, uinculry is nor
necessaiily Lau, success in lie uoes nor come virl-
our uinculry anu laiu voik. Noial iesonsiLiliry
(tallf), vlicl is rle Lasis o Islamic ieligious oLli-
garion, lireially means in AiaLic imosirion o a
leavy Luiuen uue ro rle acr rlar acrs o voisli
anu orlei ieligious uuries iequiie some uegiee o
uinculry.
Haiusli, as ieeiieu ro in rlis maxim, ex-
cluues benecial uinculry like rlar iequiieu oi
riaining, sruuy, voik, anu voisli. Islam laces
ligl value on uioseul exeirion Lur iequiies rle
alleviarion o ueriimenral uinculry. 1le ieceu-
ing maxim, laim musr Le iemoveu, emlasizes
eliminarion, laim musr Le eliminareu, nor neces-
saiily ielaceu virl somerling else. 1le ocus o
rlis maxim is uieienr, laiusli musr nor jusr Le
eliminareu, ir musr Le ielaceu virl somerling Ler-
rei. Haiusli musr Le alleviareu oren iequiies
rle ciearion alreinarives, Lecause alreinarives aie
rle means Ly vlicl alleviarion rakes lace. In many
cases, ir may nor Le uesiiaLle ro eliminare com-
lerely a rye o Lelavioi rlar is causing laiusli,
ir may Le Lerrei ro mouiy rlar Lelavioi oi cieare
alreinarives, so rlar ir oi somerling Lerrei rlan ir
may Le uone in a mannei rlar is easiei anu moie
ievaiuing.
1le Qui`an srares: Ir is nor Gou`s vill ro
cause you uisriess, iarlei, ir is Gou`s vill ro make
you uie (Qui`an :). Ir says elsevleie: Gou
vills ro make rlings easy oi you, oi luman Leings
veie cieareu veak (Qui`an :). 1le Pioler
srareu: Nake rlings easy, anu uo nor make rlem
laiu. Give eole voius o goou nevs, anu uo
nor uiive rlem avay. He also saiu: 1le essence
o rlis ieligion o Islam is ease, no one goes ro ex-
riemes in rlis ieligion Lur rlar ir vill ger rle Lerrei
o lim. Seek ro uo vlar is iiglr. 1iy ro ger as close
ro vlar is iiglr as ossiLle, anu give eole goou
nevs. A rliiu Hauirl ielares rlar rle Pioler saiu:
I I commanu you ro uo somerling, uo o ir vlar
you aie caaLle o uoing.
Ioi some Nuslims, Islam uoes nor seem au-
rlenric i ir is nor laiu. Occasionally, rley auor un-
necessaiily iigoious osirions rlar usl rleii sycles
ro rle Lieaking oinr. Yer rle Pioler maue ir cleai
rlar Islam is a ieligion o ease anu rlar sueiing oi
rle sake o sueiing is nor lauuaLle anu uoes nor
lease Gou. 1le Pioler ieeiieu cloosing rle easi-
esr vay ro uo rlings, an aurlenric Hauirl ieoirs
rlar: 1le Pioler vas nevei given rle cloice Le-
rveen rvo goou rlings, one o vlicl vas easiei rlan
rle orlei, Lur rlar le close rle easiei o rlem. 1le
Pioler saiu: Ceirainly, rle Lesr air o youi ieli-
gious iacrice is vlar is easiesr oi you.
1le uieience Lerveen iemoving laim
living islam with purpose
(rle ievious maxim) anu alleviaring laiusli
(rlis maxim) is essenrially a marrei o uegiee.
As uemonsriareu in rle maxim laim musr Le
iemoveu, Islamic lav uennes laim ro incluue
lessei laims. Wlen rle Lioau uennirion o laim
is alieu ro lessei laims, rle rvo maxims renu
ro oveila. 1aken rogerlei, rley resriy ro Islam`s
commirmenr ro ieasonaLle noims rlar aie iee o
laim anu nlleu virl Lenenr as mucl as ossiLle.
1le olloving examles illusriare lov rle
alleviarion o laiusli anu rle iemoval o (lessei
anu giearei) laim may oveila. 1le illusriarions
eirain ro rle allovances Islam makes oi Nuslims
ro Lieak rle oLligaroiy asr o Ramauan. Nuslims
aie nor iequiieu ro asr vlen riaveling, alrlougl
in some cases asring uuiing riavel is easy, in sucl
cases, rle lav`s alleviarion o laiusli is exriemely
Lioau anu rakes in even rle mosr minimal oims o
uinculry. Islam iemoveu rle oLligarion o asring
iom eole vlo lack rle caaciry ro asr uue ro
innimiry, iegnancy, anu similai ieasons. In saei
cases, rle license ro Lieak rle asr
unuei rlese conuirions consrirures
an alleviarion o laiusli, in moie
seiious ones, ir consrirures rle
iemoval o (lessei oi giearei) laim,
ueenuing on rle uegiee o seveiiry.
In rle olloving case, allovance ro
Lieak rle asr vas cleaily an insrance
o iemoving giearei laim. Wlen
one o rle Pioler`s Comanions
voulu arremr ro asr rle monrl o
Ramauan, le voulu all unconscious
anu iorl ar rle mourl, rle Pioler
exemreu lim alrogerlei iom
asring anu uiiecreu lim ro eeu one
ooi eison oi eacl uay o rle asr.
Islamic lav insrirureu
numeious orlei ieligious licenses ro liglren
laiusli, rle iinciles unueilying eacl o rlem
uemonsriares rle liaLiliry o rle lav anu rle
unueilying iincile rlar laiusli oi irs ovn sake
is unuesiiaLle. In exrieme colu oi rle aLsence o
varei, Nuslims aie alloveu ro uiiy rlemselves
iirually Ly conracr virl clean eairl ().
1iaveleis aie alloveu ro comLine iayeis, anu
rle Pioler gave secial eimission ro eioim
rle sunser anu niglr iayeis rogerlei on iainy
niglrs oi vlen rle srieers aie muuuy olloving
iains, alrlougl oiuinaiily eacl iayei musr Le
eioimeu ar seaiare rimes. 1le Pioler gave rvo
o lis Comanions secial eimission ro veai silk
(alrlougl silk is orleivise oiLiuuen oi men) in
oiuei ro alleviare skin iiiirarions. Unuei noimal
ciicumsrances, Nuslim men aie nor eimirreu ro
veai golu, Lur Islamic lav gave men eimission ro
nll uenral caviries virl golu ro alleviare rle laiusli
o using orlei mareiials, vlicl, in eailiei rimes, uiu
nor make goou nllings.
Ioi cenruiies, iayei rimes
veie uereimineu Ly rle movemenrs
o rle sun anu rle inuicarions in rle
sky o uusk, niglr, anu uavn. 1o-
uay, uiLan aieas aie lir ar niglr anu
Luiluings oren Llock our rle sky.
1iauirional merlous o uereimining
iayei rimes aie no longei easy, in
some cases, rley lave Lecome im-
ossiLle. 1o alleviare rlis laiusli,
mosr Nuslims rouay iely on iayei
rimeraLles. Wlen lying, ir is viuely
iegaiueu as eimissiLle ro iay in
one`s sear Ly making minimal ges-
ruies inuicarive o iayei anu virl-
our neeuing ro ace rovaiu Necca.
Given rle lengrl o uiLan commures
Islam is not
culturally
predatory, and it
teaches Muslims
to look upon all
cultural heritages
with an open mind,
especially those
where they live
and to which they
belong.
living islam with purpose
in laige ciries, some sclolais allov commureis ro
comLine iayeis, alrlougl rle uisrances rley uiive
may all sloir o rle uennirion o riavel in Islamic
lav. Iinally, rle maxim laiusli musr Le allevi-
areu sers a ciirically imoiranr sranuaiu oi nev
oi laseu Nuslims, only rle mosr Lasic oLligarions
sloulu Le execreu o rlem, anu rle riansirion
sloulu Le giauual anu unuemanuing.
Maxih iie: Custch las tle ueiglt cf lau.
1lis maxim is rle rleme o rle avavi Iounua-
rion Paei Islam anu rle Culruial Imeiarive,
vlicl illusriares rle imoirance o culruie in Islam
anu rle imeiarive rlar Nuslims in Ameiica cie-
are rleii ovn uisrincrive inuigenous culruie.
1le
maxim cusrom las rle veiglr o lav anims rlar
Islam is nor culruially ieuaroiy, anu ir reacles
Nuslims ro look uon all culruial leiirages virl an
oen minu, esecially rlose vleie rley live anu ro
vlicl rley Lelong.
Once, a giou o Lrlioian conveirs Legan
ro uance virl uiums anu seais in rle Pioler`s
mosque in celeLiarion o an annual Islamic esrival.
1le Comanion 'Umai arremreu ro sro rlem, Lur
rle Pioler inreiveneu anu uigeu rlem ro conrinue.
In one Hauirl, le saiu ro rlem: Play youi games,
sons o Lrlioia, so rlar rle ]evs anu Cliisrians
knov rlar rleie is lexiLiliry (fusla) in oui ieli-
gion. By rlis anu similai acrs, rle Pioler ser rle
ieceuenr o animing culruial uieiences anu maue
ir cleai rlar, oi non-AiaLs, enreiing Islam uiu nor
iequiie rlem ro give u rleii ovn culruial noims
oi rlose o rle AiaLs.
esraLlisleu Ly sounu legal ioo. Al-1usul, a
iominenr Nlik juuge anu legal sclolai, viore:
Ir is oLligaroiy ro ler eole ollov rleii cusroms,
usages, anu geneial asiiarions in lie. 1o lanu
uovn iulings in oosirion ro rlem is gioss
ueviarion anu ryianny.
Ioi rlem, rle voiu culruie is oren associareu
virl rle olu voilu olkvays o rleii aienrs,
ceirain asecrs o vlicl rley may ueem ro Le
un-Islamic, in conlicr virl Ameiican noims, oi
orleivise unacceraLle.
Cusrom las rle veiglr o lav cannor
Le invokeu ro ieeal vlar is cleaily oLligaroiy
oi ioliLireu in rle Pioleric lav, anu rle lav
caregoiically ieuuiares ueriimenral anu uegeneiare
cusroms. Bur, as las Leen seen, Islamic lav rakes an
oen-minueu arriruue rovaiu cusroms in geneial,
anu, vlen juuging culruial noims, ir ieeis ro
eii on rle siue o leniency anu nor iigiuiry. 1le
iesumrion o eimissiLiliry also alies ro
inuigenous cusroms, cusroms roo musr Le iesumeu
acceraLle unril ioven orleivise. A ielevanr
maxim srares: PeimissiLiliry is rle Lasic iule in
cusroms (al-asl al-Jt al-ibla).
As Leoie, rle Luiuen o ioo rlar
a airiculai cusromaiy convenrion
is imeimissiLle alls exclusively
on rlose vlo ieuuiare ir, nor on
rlose vlo anim ir. eveirleless,
in Loiueiline cases, rle lav ieeis
ro eii on rle siue o lenience. 1le
alicaLle maxim in rlis iegaiu
srares: 1le Lasic iule in cusroms
is exemrion (al-asl f al-Jt al-
afu), meaning rlar rley aie exemr
iom Llame.
Accommouarion o inuigenous
culruies maue ir ossiLle oi Islam
ro lay inuigenous ioors vleievei ir
sieau on rle conrinenrs o Aiica
anu Luiasia. Nuslims leaineu nev
veiglrs anu measuiemenrs. 1ley au-
oreu anu eniicleu local languages.
In auuirion ro rle Islamic lunai calen-
uai, Nuslims auoreu solai anu asrial calenuais ro
uereimine rle seasons anu rle Lesr rimes oi lanr-
ing anu laivesr. 1ley uesigneu uisrincrive sryles
o uiess, rle long one-iece gaimenr (tlaub) anu
many orlei irems o clorling rlar some Nuslims
rouay call Sunna aie laigely culruial iouucrs
anu uiei signincanrly iom rle uiess o rle Pioler
anu lis Comanions. Nuslim culruial genius is srill
ielecreu in simle rlings like rle vays rley ieceive
guesrs anu ieaie oou anu in gianuei aclieve-
menrs like rle iouucrion o iegional sryles o air
anu aiclirecruie.
1liouglour rle ie-mouein eiiou, local
exiessions o Islam Loie virness ro inuigenous
culruial cieariviry. Wlen Islam enreieu Inuonesia,
Nuslims ounu rlar rle sranuaiu Islamic call ro
iayei (aJln) uiu nor alvays seive irs uiose.
1le luman voice coulu nor caiiy vell
in rle uense Inuonesian iain oiesrs.
Nuslims auoreu rle local culruial
convenrion o communicaring
rliougl ralking uiums. 1ley
ieseiveu rle Sunna o making rle
iayei call Lur comlemenreu ir
Ly using enoimous uiums, vlicl
rley lung loiizonrally oursiue rleii
mosques anu Lear louuly ro call
eole ro iayei. 1le uee, lollov
sounus o rle uiums iesonareu
rliougl rle oiesrs. 1le uium Lears
signineu rlar rle lace iom vlicl
rleii sounu came vas emry anu
neeueu ro Le nlleu, eole sroeu
vlar rley veie uoing anu came ro
iayei.
In many airs o Inuonesia,
Nuslims voikeu in iice auuies anu
came ro rle mosques virl muuuy
Islam is a religion
of humane
rationales
and practical
objectives.
Application of the
religion in practice
must be consistent
with them. Islam
must make sense,
but, to make
sense, it requires
intelligent
followers
with sound
understanding.
living islam with purpose
eer. Insreau o ieeareuly ieminuing rle iice aim-
eis ro clean rleii eer Leoie enreiing rle mosques,
inuigenous aiclirecrs consriucreu slallov ools in
ionr o rle mosque enriances. 1le aimeis coulu
nor enrei rle mosques virlour valking rliougl
rlem, vlicl cleaneu rleii eer. Bur rle sranuing
varei in rle ools cieareu rle orenrial lazaiu o
Lecoming laLirars oi mosquiroes anu orlei insecrs.
So rle ools veie also useu ro Lieeu cai, rle nsl
are rle insecr laivae, anu rle eole are rle nsl.
In seaking aLour ciearing an inuigenous
Nuslim culruie in rle Unireu Srares, ir musr Le
emlasizeu rlar sucl a culruie voulu nor Le a
single, monolirlic vlole, noi voulu ir necessaiily
uevelo along rle lines o rle uominanr culruie oi
any airiculai suLculruie. Ameiican culruie, like
luman culruies eveiyvleie, is nor a single unioim
enriry. Ir is a comlex o many uiveise culruies anu
suLculruies coexisring. 1ley comlemenr anu com-
ere againsr eacl orlei anu lave rle same ielarion
virl rle uominanr culruie o rle mainsrieam. Ln-
uoisemenr o Ameiican culruie means Leing oen-
minueu rovaiu all rle mulrile exiessions o rle
inuigenous culruial leiirage. As emlasizeu Leoie,
rle maxim culruie las rle veiglr o lav uisal-
lovs ouriiglr iejecrion o any o culruial oi suLcul-
ruial legacy, rle maxim allovs Ameiican Nuslims
ro auor oi ro auar vlar rley like iom vlar rley
like as long as ir is nor ueriimenral. Oui arriruue
sloulu iemain consisrenr virl Islam`s ueaulr osi-
rion rlar cusroms aie iesumeu ro Le eimissiLle,
Lenencial, anu goou unril ioven orleivise, in Loi-
ueiline cases, ve lave iecouise ro rle maxim rle
Lasic iule in cusroms is exemrion.
In riauirional Nuslim socieries, ciearive aua-
rarion o inuigenous noims vas consicuous anu
oren moie Lenencial rlan meie auorion o rlem.
Likevise, Ameiican Nuslims neeu nor Le conrenr
virl jusr auoring goou culruial noims, ir is o-
ren Lerrei ro auar rlem imaginarively in oiuei ro
iouuce iesulrs rlar aie Leauriul anu
Lenencial rlan vlar exisreu Leoie. In rlis iegaiu,
norevoirly aclievemenrs lave alieauy Leen maue
in aieas like music, oeriy, comeuy, jouinalism, nc-
rion, non-ncrion, aslion, anu inreiioi uesign.
One o rle mosr signincanr culruial clallenges
Leoie Ameiican Nuslims is ro uesign riuly inuig-
enous sryles o Ameiican mosques. 1le Ameiican
mosque sloulu nor lave a single ser oim. As srareu
aLove, Ameiican culruie is mulrilex, Ameiican
mosques musr ielecr rlar comlexiry anu suir rle
localiries anu neiglLoiloous vleie rley aie Luilr.
Seveial oirl Ameiican Nuslim communiries lave
maue lauuaLle eoirs in rlis uiiecrion alieauy.
1liouglour lisroiy, Nuslim mosques lave
Leen rle iouucrs o iegional culruies anu suL-
culruies. Islam uoes nor uicrare a ser uesign oi
mosques, rle only necessaiy aiclirecruial elemenr
in a mosque is rlar ir lave an aiea oi iayei. Some
Nuslims iegaiu uomes anu minaiers as essenrial
earuies o rle mosque. 1le Pioler`s mosque uiu
nor lave a uome oi minaiers uuiing lis lierime.
Domes anu minaiers veie osr-Pioleric culruial
innovarions in rle Nuslim voilu. 1le uome vas
a ielarively lare uevelomenr in Islamic aiclirec-
ruie, irs uesign vas cieareu ro allov oi exansive
iayei aieas rlar veie nor raken u Ly illais in an
age vlen Luilueis uiu nor lave access ro iion anu
sreel Leams. Ninaiers veie also larei uevelomenrs.
1ley veie iueal oi making rle call ro iayei in
an age virlour miciolones, Lur rley also lau a
seconu iimaiy uiose. ]usr as liglrlouses aie
Leacons oi slis, minaiers veie oiiginally Lea-
cons oi caiavans. Bonnies veie lir on rle ros o
rle minaiers arei rle niglr iayei ro give uisranr
caiavans a oinr o ieeience. 1le name minaier
living islam with purpose
ielecrs rleii oiiginal culruial uncrion, in AiaLic
(minaier) means lace o nie. Nuslims in
Clina, Anualusia, anu oirl anu Wesr Aiica uiu
nor auor uomes oi minaiers, in air, Lecause rley
uiu nor suir rleii enviionmenrs.
A mosque sloulu nr in laimoniously virl irs
suiiounuings. Hisroiically, rle uesign, sriucruie,
anu lanuscaing o mosques veie suireu ro local
anu iegional aiclirecruial noims, roogialy, anu
climare. Nosques sloulu nor clasl virl inuigenous
rasres anu sryles, rley sloulu nor aeai our o
lace oi give rle imiession o Leing oieign rians-
lanrs. Like all aiclirecruial aclievemenrs, ciearion
o Ameiican mosque sryles iequiies airisric, reclni-
cal, anu culruial genius. Ar a rime vlen seculai
aiclirecruie is rle uominanr noim, rle Wesrein
mosque musr Le arriacrive anu inviring Ly rouay`s
sranuaius yer ieauily iuenrinaLle as sacieu sace.
CONCLUSION
Oui geneiarion o Ameiican Nuslims vill
likely lay rle ivoral iole in rle nisr eecrive
esraLlislmenr o Islam in rle Unireu Srares. 1lis lor
is unlikely ro all ro oui cliluien oi gianucliluien.
1ley vill eirlei Le rle Lenenciaiies o oui success
oi rle vicrims o oui ailuie. Inuieience rovaiu rle
uruie o Nuslims in Ameiica is nor jusr an oense
ro rle communiry, sucl inuieience vill leau ro
iiiemeuiaLle lisroiical misrakes. 1le suieme
socieral oLligarion rlar alls uon oui geneiarion
in Luiluing rle Ameiican Nuslim communiry o
rle uruie is ro iuenriy rle iioiiries anu iimaiy
socieral oLligarions rlar concein us anu ro acquiie
rle means ro meer rlem. 1le nve oeiarional
iinciles aie among rle giearesr o oui iesouices
anu consrirure a necessaiy comonenr o evenrual
success.
j. ALu al-Kaim iLn ILilm al-]l, Al-Insn al-
Khil f Marifat al-Aullir ua al-Auil (Caiio:
NarLaar al-HalaL, i,;o), i:.
6. Almau iLn Nulammau iLn Ar`-Alll al-
Sakanuai, Al-Hilah al-Atiyya ua al-Munjl
al-Illiyya (Damascus: al-NarLaar al-Hslimiyya,
n.u.), 6;.
;. 1le nve illais aie rle resrimony o airl, iayei,
asring, alms, anu ilgiimage.
. 1le nve acr classincarions aie: oLligaroiy (ujib,
farJ), iecommenueu (hanJb), eimissiLle
(hubl), ieielensiLle (halrl), anu oiLiuuen
(larh). 1lese nve acr classincarions ielecr rle
nuances o Islamic erlics. 1ley can Le uiviueu inro
rvo uisrincr counreiairs suiiounueu Ly vaiying
slaues o giay. 1le counreiairs aie rle oiLiuuen
anu rle oLligaroiy. 1le iemaining rliee classinca-
rions consrirure vaiying uegiees o erlical sriengrl
anu veakness. 1le oiLiuuen is caregoiically
viong, moially iniquirous, anu musr nevei Le uone.
Irs counreiair, rle oLligaroiy, is caregoiically
goou, moially Linuing, anu musr alvays Le uone.
As oi rle rliee maiginal caregoiies, ir is allovaLle
ro eioim any o rlem, alrlougl rleii erlical mei-
irs uiei giearly. 1le ieielensiLle ouglr nor Le
uone. Yer ir is neirlei caregoiically viong noi iniq-
uirous, rleieoie, ir may Le uone virlour incuiiing
iniquiry oi ueseiving Llame. 1le eimissiLle is neu-
rial, ir lacks erlical uisrincrion anu may oi may nor
Le uone, as one clooses, virlour ueseiving iaise
oi Llame. 1le iecommenueu is lauuaLle anu goou,
one ouglr ro uo ir anu ueseives iaise oi uoing so,
yer ailuie ro eioim vlar is iecommenueu incuis
no iniquiry oi Llame.
,. 1iansmirreu in Sall ullr, Sall Muslih, anu
orlei aurloiirarive Hauirl souices.
io. Nulammau iLn Nulammau al-Glazl, Ily
Ulh al-Dn, vols. (Damascus: NakraLar ALu
al-Wakl al-DuiuL, nu.), i:;j.
ii. Accoiuing ro Al iLn Nulammau al-Bassm,
rle ren elemenrs o moial claiacrei aie: i) ieason
(aql), :) sounu ieligious iacrice (Jn), j) knovl-
euge (ilh), ) oiLeaiance (lilh), j) magnanimiry
(jJ), 6) riurlulness (siJq), ;) ulnlling moial oL-
ligarions (birr), ) arience (sabr), ,) rlankulness
(slulr), anu io) lenience (ln).
i:. Rarionalism in Islamic rleology ieeis ro any
merlouology rlar makes ieason a iincial uevice
oi ieacling rle essence o ievelaroiy riurl. 1le
Nurazil, Aslai, anu Nruiu sclools veie all
iarionalisr in rlis sense anu ielieu uon ieason ro
inreiier ievelarion, esecially vlen rle rvo a-
eaieu ro conlicr. Lacl o rle sclools uemonsriar-
eu inrellecrual consisrence anu solisricarion. In
some iegaius, Nurazil iarionalism vas less oiigi-
nal anu moie lireial rlan rle orlei rvo sclools. In
rle vell-knovn conrioveisies ovei rle ereiniry o
uivine seecl anu rle Learinc vision, rle Nurazils
insisreu on lireial uennirions o seecl anu siglr as
rle naruial lenomena rlar luman Leings call Ly
rlose names. 1le Aslais anu Nruius, on rle
orlei lanu, aigueu rlar iesriicrion o rlese anu
similai voius in ieligious language ro rleii lireial
meanings vlen ralking aLour Gou consrirureu alse
analogies Lerveen rle urreily uisaiare voilus
o rle luman anu rle uivine, rle cieareu anu rle
uncieareu, anu rle seen anu rle unseen, vleie no
knovn analogies aly. 1le Aslais anu Nruius
aigueu rlar ieligious language rook on uieienr
meanings in uieienr meralysical conrexrs. Wlile
rle Nurazil anu Aslai sclools aie liglly uialec-
rical, rle rleology o rle Nruius sranus our oi
irs sysremaric merlouology anu inueenuence o
rlouglr. Wesrein acauemics lave oren aigueu rlar
rle uemise o rle Nurazil sclool among Sunns
(ir conrinues ro Le rle iincial rleological sclool
o rle Sls) seveiely limireu rle iole o ieason in
Islamic lav. 1lis norion giovs our o a conusion
Lerveen rle rleological iarionalism o Nurazil
erlics anu rle unuamenrally uieienr iagmaric
moue o ieasoning in Islamic lav, vlicl vas
laigely unaecreu Ly rle giear rleological ueLares
anu conrinueu unaLareu long arei rle Nurazils.
1le Nurazils lau lirrle eecr on rle uevelomenr
o Islamic osirive lav. Nosr o rlem olloveu rle
living islam with purpose
Hana sclool o lav anu sav no conriauicrion
Lerveen rleii rleological anu legal osirions. See
Umai I. ALu-Allal, 1leological uimensions o
Islamic lav in Tle CahbriJge Cchjanicn tc Is-
lahic Tleclcgy, eu. 1. ]. Winrei (CamLiiuge: Cam-
Liiuge Univeisiry Piess, oirlcoming).
ij. ]Lii iLn Hayyn, Kitb al-Sabn (Iiankuir:
Nalau 1ikl al-Ulum al-AiaLiyya, i,6).
i. See Klayi al-Dn al-Ziiikl, Al-Alh: _hs
Tarjih li-Asllar al-Bijl ua al-Nis hin al-Arab
ua al-Mustaribn ua al-Mustaslriqn, vols.
(Beiiur: Di al-Ilm li-al-Nalyn, i,,:), j:ji.
ij. See al-Ziiikl, Al-Alh, 6:jij.
i6. See Umai I. ALu-Allal, Innovarion anu Cieariviry
in Islam, ar lrr://vvv.navavi.oig/uovnloaus/
airicle.u
i;. 1le mosr iequenrly cireu ieasons oi emLiacing
Islam aie: i) simliciry o uocriine, :) iarionaliry
(ieasonaLleness), j) aLsolure monorleism, ) rlis-
voiluly ocus, j) anu lack o a iiesrloou. See
Laiiy Posron, Islahic Daual in tle Vest (ev
Yoik: Oxoiu Univeisiry Piess, i,,:), i;6-;.
i. ore rle acr rlar Lelie in Gou`s oneness, rle
Lasr ]uugmenr, rle ioliLirion o muiuei, anu
many orlei Lelies anu iulings aie caregoiically
aurloiirarive uoes nor mean rlar rley aie on a
ai virl eacl orlei in reims o rleii rleological
imoirance. Ir means rlar rleie can Le no uouLr
rlar eacl o rlem is an esraLlisleu air o Qui`anic
anu Pioleric reacling. As sucl, rley musr Le
acknovleugeu as valiu Ly anyone vlo claims ro
Lelieve in rle Qui`an anu rle Pioler.
i,. 1lese numLeis aie Laseu on conriaiy Hauirl
o iesumrive aurlenriciry. One srares rlar rle
numLei o Piolers rlar Gou senr rliouglour
luman lisroiy vas i:,ooo, anorlei riansmission
sers rle numLei ar ::,ooo. Because rle numLeis
aie conjecruial, Nuslim may accer eirlei numLei
oi uisiegaiu rlem Lorl.
:o. See Umai I. ALu-Allal, 1le Piincial Imams anu
1leii Sclools, i CDs (Clicago: 1le avavi
Iounuarion, :oo), also see iLiu., Nlik`s Concer
o Amal in rle Liglr o Nlik Legal 1leoiy, :
vols. (Univeisiry o Clicago Pl.D. uisseirarion,
i,;), i:i:i-:;,.
:i. SlilL al-Dn Almau iLn Iuis al-Qai, Al-Illh
f Tahyz al-atu an al-Allh ua Tasarruft
al-_J ua al-Ihh (Beiiur: Di al-Basl`ii al-
Islmiyya, i,,j), ,,, io,-ii.
::. ALu al-Kaim al-Ri anu orleis, Slarl ]aularat
al-TaulJ li-al-Ihh al-Allha al-Slayll Ibrlh
al-jr (n..: n.., i,;:), i-,:.
:j. See Nulammau ALu al-Hayy al-Karrn, Nizh
al-Hulha al-Nabauiyya al-Musahh bi al-
Tartb al-IJriyya, : vols. (Beiiur: Di al-Aiqam,
n.u.), ::;,-,.
:. Ny ieeience oi rle use o comeuians oi menral
anu meuical rleiay is Di. Nolameu Seiag,
ioessoi o Islamic lav ar rle Ameiican Univeisiry
o Caiio. 1le rleiaeuric use o music goes Lack
ro rle ancienrs anu is vell arresreu in Islamic
civilizarion. Anualusian Nuslims lelu rlar ceirain
musical keys veie moie eecrive rlan orleis in
riearing airiculai menral illnesses. 1le avavi
Iounuarion visireu an Islamic meuical museum
in 1uikey oursiue rle ciry o Luiine in :oo. 1le
museum conraineu an exliLirion on rle rleiaeuric
use o loLLies anu music in riauirional Islamic
meuicine.
:j. Al-Ziiikl, Al-Alh, i:,-,j, Almau iLn Iuis al-
Qai, Nafis al-Usl f Slarl al-Malsl, uil
ALu al-Navjuu anu Al al-Nuavvau, eus., ,
vols. (Nakka: NakraLar azzi Nusra al-Bz,
i,,;), i:i-:.
:6. Ir las Lecome cusromaiy oi ceirain Nuslims ro
iejecr ouriiglr rlis anu similai Hauirl on giounus
o veakness. A veak Hauirl is nor a alse Hauirl,
a veak Hauirl is a iesumaLly aurlenric Hauirl,
rle aurlenriciry o vlicl cannor Le veiineu. 1lis
ieoir Lelongs ro rle caregoiy o oulai Hauirl,
Lecause mosr Nuslims lave leaiu o ir anu oren
ieei ro ir. 1le Hauirl is iecoiueu in iesecraLle
collecrions like rlose o al-Baylaq, al-1aLain,
living islam with purpose
anu al-Daylam. A numLei o ienovneu sclolais,
among rlem al-KlarrL anu al-avav, ueenueu
ir. Al-Baylaq riansmirs a aiallel riansmission,
vlicl ieaus as ollovs: Wlarevei las Leen given
you o rle Book o Gou, no one is excuseu iom
nor urring ir inro iacrice. I rleie is norling in rle
Book o Gou, rlen ollov a vell-esraLlisleu Sunna
iom me. I rleie is no Sunna iom me, rlen ollov
vlar my Comanions lave saiu. Ny Comanions
aie like rle srais in rle sky, vliclevei o rlem
you ollov, you vill Le iiglrly guiueu: 1le uiei-
ences o my Comanions aie a meicy oi you.
Al-KlarrL saiu in lis uiscussion o rlis Hauirl:
1leie aie rliee ryes o uissenr in rle ieligion.
1le nisr eirains ro animing rle exisrence o rle
Nakei anu His oneness. 1o ueny ir is uisLelie.
1le seconu eirains ro rle naruie o His arriiLures
anu His vill. 1o ueny rlem is an innovarion. 1le
rliiu eirains ro iulings iom vaiious eisec-
rives in rle conjecruial (hultahila) ueiivarions
(fur) o rle lav. Gou las maue rlis a meicy anu
uisrincrive lonoi (larha) oi rle sclolais. 1lis
is vlar is meanr Ly rle Hauirl: '1le uieiences
o oinion o my narion aie a meicy`. See Isml
iLn Nulammau al-Ajlun, Kaslf al-Klaf ua
Muzl al-Ilbs ahh Isltalara hin al-AlJtl al
Alsinat al-Ns (Beiiur: Di al-KuruL al-Ilmiyya,
i,), 6-66.
:;. Al-Ajlun, Kaslf al-Klaf, 6-66.
:. See Al iLn al-Qassi, Al-MuqaJJiha f al-Usl,
(Beiiur: Di al-GlaiL al-Islm, i,,6), ii-ij,
ALu al-Walu al-Bj, Illh al-usl f Allh al-
Usl, : vols. (Beiiur: Di al-GlaiL al-Islm, i,,j),
::;i-i6, anu Umai I. ALu-Allal, Cieariviry anu
Innovarion in Islam ar lrr://vvv.navavi.oig/
uovnloaus/airicle.u.
:,. Geoige Nakuisi, Tle Bise cf Huhanish in Clas-
sical Islah anJ tle Clristian Vest: uitl Sjecial
Beference tc Sclclasticish, (LuinLuigl: LuinLuigl
Univeisiry Piess, i,,o), ::-:,, see also iLiu., Tle
Bise cf Cclleges: Instituticns cf Iearning in Islah
anJ tle Vest (LuinLuigl: LuinLuigl Univeisiry
Piess, i,i), io-ii, i-jo.
jo. 1le Hauirl is riansmirreu Ly al-1iimiul, ILn
Njal, anu Almau iLn HanLal. Al-1iimiul classi-
nes irs uegiee o aurlenriciry as goou. 1le Hauirl`s
naiiaroi uennes oLscuiiry (ah), vlicl also
means Llinuness, as soliraiy exisrence virlour
rle exisrence o any orlei rling. 1le AiaLic voiu
ah also ieeis ro a rye o leavy clouu coveiing.
Commenrarois say rlar rle Pioler`s ieeience ro
rleie Leing no armosleie aLove oi Lelov rle liu-
uenness vas meanr ro iemove rle ossiLle misei-
cerion rlar Gou lau Leen in a Lank o clouus.
ji. 1le Innei-Ciry Nuslim Acrion ervoik (INA)
las iecenrly reameu u virl rle Alieu Reseaicl
Cenrei (ARC) ro uLlisl a communiry-uiiven ie-
seaicl uocumenr on rlis suLjecr. Ioi moie uerails,
lease see: lrr://vvv.imancenrial.oig.
j:. Sall Muslih, Sunan al-Nis, Sunan Ibn Mjal,
anu MusnaJ al-Imm Almau iLn HanLal.
jj. Wollair Heiniicls, _auiJ as a Genie o Legal
Lireiaruie, j;:.
j. I ieei ro rianslare rle AiaLic voiu nasl as clil-
uien, Lecause o rle alaLle naruie o rle voiu
anu rle cenrialiry o cliluien in Islam anu in rle
vellLeing o amilies anu socieries. Cliluien is a
valiu rianslarion o rle voiu nasl in irs unuamen-
ral lexical sense o al-ualaJ, nasl is oren ienueieu
as iogeny, vlicl is anorlei valiu rianslarion o
rle voiu in rle lexical sense o al-Jlurriyya. In
AiaLic, rle seconu meaning, iogeny, essenrially
means geneiarions o cliluien. As a majoi oLjec-
rive o Islamic lav, iorecrion o cliluien is closely
rieu ro rle insrirurion o rle amily. Nuslim sclol-
ais iequenrly use rle voiu nasab (lineage) in irs
lace.
jj. Lirrle mareiial on Islamic legal maxims exisrs in
Lnglisl. 1le Lesr availaLle souices aie rle CD
ser o Slaykl ALuallal Lin Bayyal anu rle rvo
acauemic airicles o Wollair Heiniicls, men-
rioneu Lelov. 1le maxims srareu rliouglour rlis
aei anu many o rle oLseivarions ielareu ro
rlem come iom a vaiiery o ieeiences. 1le mosr
imoiranr aie rle olloving, vlicl aie also rle
living islam with purpose
iincial souices oi mosr o rle ielevanr Qui`anic
veises anu Hauirl cireu in conjuncrion virl rle
maxims: ALu-Alll iLn ALu al-Azz al-Ajln,
Al-_auiJ al-Kubr f al-iql al-Islh (Riyaul:
Di 1ayLa, i,,6), YaquL iLn ALu al-WallL
al-BHusayn, _iJat al-Uhr bi-MaqsiJil:
Dirsa Nazariyya ua Tasliyya (Riyaul: NakraLar
al-Ruslu, i,,,), Slaykl ALuallal Lin Bayyal,
1le Legal Plilosoly o Islam, ij CDs (San
]ose: AllamLia Piouucrions, :ooo), Al Almau
al-auav, Mausat al-_auiJ ua al-Daubit
al-iqliyya al-Hliha li-al-Muhalt al-Mliyya
f al-iql al-Islh, j vols. (n. .: Di lam al-
Naiia, i,,,), Wollair Heiniicls, Sriucruiing
rle Lav: Remaiks on rle urq Lireiaruie, in Ian
Riclaiu erron, eu., StuJies in Hcncur cf CliffcrJ
JhunJ csucrtl, vol. i: Hunter cf tle ast: Ara-
bic anJ Sehitic StuJies (Leiuen: Biill, :ooo), .
jj:-, iLiu, _auiJ as a Genie o Legal Lireia-
ruie, in Beinaiu G. Weiss, eu. StuJies in Islahic
Iegal Tlecry (Leiuen: Biill, :oo:), . j6j-,
|1aq al-Dn Almau iLn 1aymiyya], Al-_auiJ
al-iqliyya al-Klahs al-Kubr ua al-_auiJ al-
MunJarija Taltal: ]ah ua Dirsa hin Majh
atu Slayll al-Islh Ibn Tayhiyya, Isml iLn
Hasan iLn Nulammau Alvn, eu. (Riyaul: Di
iLn al-]avz, :ooo), anu Almau iLn al-Slaykl
Nulammau al-Zaiq, eu. Nusra al-Zaiq, Slarl
al-_auiJ al-iqliyya (Damascus: Di al-Qalam,
i,,).
j6. Sunan Ab DuJ anu MusnaJ al-Ihh AlhaJ
ibn Hanbal. Al-1iimiuli riansmirs rle Hauirl virl
a sliglrly uieienr voiuing: Wloevei imirares
orlei rlan us is nor o us.
j;. ILn 1aymiyya, Al-_auiJ al-iqliyya, i::.
j. Akiam Diy` al-Ami, Al-Sra al-Nabauiyya al-
Salla, : volumes (Neuina: NakraLar al-Ulum va
al-Hikam, i,,), :: jo-ji.
j,. ILn 1aymiyya, Al-_auiJ al-iqliyya, :i;.
o. See al-auavi, Al-_auiJ ua al-Daubit, 6o.
i. ILn 1aymiyya, Al-_auiJ al-iqliyya, :o6, :ii-
i.
:. I am using ariiaicly in rle sense uenneu Ly
Asma Bailas as: A olirics o sexual uieienriarion
rlar iivileges males Ly 'riansoiming Liological
sex inro oliricizeu genuei, vlicl iioiirizes rle
male vlile making rle voman uieienr (unequal),
less rlan, oi rle 'Orlei`. See Asma Bailas, e-
lieiing Vchen" in Islah: UnreaJing atriarclal
Interjretaticns cf tle _urn (Ausrin: Univeisiry o
1exas Piess, :oo:), i:.
j. See Umai I. ALu-Allal, Iamous Women in Is-
lam, i CDs (Clicago: avavi Iounuarion,
:oo).
. 1le amily name Samaiqanu means iom Sa-
maiqanu. Hei amily vas Syiian Lur oiiginally
laileu iom Cenrial Asia.
j. Umai Riu Kallla, Alh al-Nis lahay al-
Arab ua al-Islh, j vols. (Beiiur: Nua`ssasar al-
Risla, i,,i), :,-,j, see also Umai I. ALu-Allal,
Iamous Women in Islam, i CDs (Clicago:
avavi Iounuarion, :oo).
6. See Umai I. ALu-Allal, Islam anu rle Culruial
Imeiarive, lrr://vvv.navavi.oig/uovnloaus/
airiclej.u
;. Islam anu rle Culruial Imeiarive, . j.
. 1leie vas no monolirlic AiaL culruie in ie-Is-
lamic AiaLia. Like culruies ovei rle voilu, ie-
Islamic AiaLian culruie vas uiveise anu maue u
o numeious suLculruies. 1le culruial noims o
rle ie-Islamic AiaLs as vell as rleii uialecrs ui-
eieu noraLly iom iegion ro iegion anu iom riiLe
ro riiLe. One o rle imoiranr consequences o rle
Pioler`s migiarion ro Neuina is rlar ir enmesleu
lim anu lis olloveis in rle culruial noims o Ne-
uina, vlicl vaiieu noraLly iom rlose o Necca.
,. See ALu-Allal, Islam anu rle Culruial
Imeiarive.
jo. ILn 1aymiyya, Al-_auiJ al-iqliyya, ::6-:.