Introduction to Islam

Islam is one of the fastest growing religions of the world. Its followers have spread all
across the globe and with every day that passes it experiences and increase in its
followers. The religion that was previously thought as to be the religion of Arabia is
now a universal religion and it has followers from all types of ethnic and cultural
backgrounds.

The information of Islam that people other than Muslims have is what comes from
media, and sadly media is quite biased in this regard and tries to portray Islam as a
negative religion. This post will not discuss how media portrays Islam or how it ought
to portray it, but this writing will give a short introduction of what Islam is and what
characteristics and attributes it entails.

Islam:
The literal meaning of the word Islam is ‘peace’. It is a religion that was revealed to
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over fourteen hundred years ago in Saudi Arabia. As per
Muslim beliefs, Islam is the last religion that Allah Almighty has sent for the guidance
of mankind and there wont be any other religion following it. Moreover, Islam is not
just a religion that gives only the religious way of life, rather it is complete code of
life and speaks about every matter of life, whether it is economics, politics, or social
life and so on.

Key Figures:
In Islam there are two key figures that are of importance and without the knowledge of
which one cannot begin the understanding or knowing of religion.

1. The first key figure in Islam is Allah Almighty. He is the Lord, Creator and the
Sustainer of life in this universe. According to Muslim belief, Allah is the only
Lord, He neither has any parent, siblings, or children. He is the One and Only.
2. The second key figure in Islam is Muhammad (PBUH). He is the Prophet of
Islam and Allah Almighty revealed the religion to Him. He was born in the year
570 in Makkah and when He was 40 years old, He received the first revelation.
Afterwards He formally started preaching Islam till the age of 63 when He died in
Madina. For Muslims there is no other personality in this world more revere and
respect worthy than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Doctrine:
Like all he other religions of the world that have some doctrine which they follow, Islam
has the doctrine in the form of Holy Quran. It is the Divine Book that was revealed on
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over the course of 23 years and it contains all the
guidelines that Muslims require to stick to the path of righteousness. Due to this
imperativeness and the fact that the recitation or reading of Quran comes with religious
reward, millions of Muslims across the world learn Quran and try to understand the
message that Almighty wanted to convey through it.
There is a secondary doctrine as well which Muslims follow in case they are not able
to comprehend the message of Quran. This doctrine is Hadith of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), which are a collection of His traditions and sayings. Thus, when Muslims find
any ambiguity in understanding Quran, they consult the hadith and find the practical
implementations of the commendations of Quran.

Converting To Islam:
When a person decides to convert to Islam, he or she has to proclaim Shahadah, the
declaration in which he or she states that there is no God but Allah and Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) is His Messenger. In addition to saying this verbally, a converting
Muslim must also believe in it from the bottom of the heart as well.

Pillars Of Islam:
There are five major pillars of Islam, which stand as an obligation for every Muslim
and the absence of any of them leaves a void in the faith which is only completed when
the pillars are practiced. The first pillar is of Shadah, where a Muslim testifies to the
Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) from tongue and from
the heart. The second pillar is Salah, as per which offering five prayers on their
prescribed time daily is an obligation upon every Muslim. The third pillar is Sawm, as
per which it is obligatory upon every Muslim to fast in the month of Ramadan. The
fourth pillar is of Zakah, as per which a Muslim is to give a certain ratio of his or her
wealth in charity if the wealth they possess is more than the limit prescribed by Allah
Almighty. The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj, which is the pilgrimage that Muslims undertake
to pay homage to the house of Allah in Macca. All of these pillars need to be practiced
if a Muslim wishes to stay true to the faith.
Articles Of Faith:
In addition to the pillars of Islam, there are the articles of faith as well, that represent
the belief system of a Muslim. The articles of faith in Islam are as follows:

1. Believing in Allah Almighty

2. Believing in Angels
3. Believing in all the Holy Books
4. Believing in all the Prophets
5. Believing in the day of Judgment
6. Believing in the existence of fate
7. Believing in rising up after death
Key Concept:
There are some key concept of the religion Islam as well, following which every Muslim
lives his or her life. Some of the key concept that are a common knowledge of every
Muslim are as follows:

1. Transitory Nature of This World:

Every Muslim believes that this world is transitory and it all will come to an end one
day. Therefore, a true Muslim tries to live in this world as if he or she were in some inn
and they will have to move on once the night ends.

2. Eternal Life in Hereafter:

As is the Muslim belief that the life of this world is temporal and it will end, so is the
belief of a Muslim that the life after this world is what is eternal and would last forever.
Therefore, Muslims keep their eye on the life hereafter.
3. Hell and Heaven:
Muslims believe that those who do good deeds in this world as per the instructions of
Allah Almighty will receive the reward in the form of Heaven in the afterlife, where they
will enjoy an eternal life. On the other hand, those who fall stray and do not stick to
righteousness will receive hell as a punishment in which they will live forever.

Conclusion:
In short, Islam is a comprehensive way of life and speaks about almost every matter
of life. However, the aforementioned are some key concept which can easily be traced
and observed in every Muslim as they are the core of the Islamic belief system.
Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
as a Role Model

The life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is full of countless

examples that show his status as a role model for Muslim societies and
individuals. His life is one that was dominated by a superior morality, good
habits, noble and gentle feelings and superior skills, all of which are
characteristics that help prevent people from getting entangled in a web
of sin. The rich and the prosperous, the poor and the needy, the ruler and
the ruled, the weak and the lonely, the conqueror and the victorious
commander, the teacher and the student, the preacher and the mentor,
the merchant and the craftsman, the employer and the employee - in other
words, every sort of person can find truths in Prophet Muhammad's life
that constitute an example for them to follow.

THE HOLY QURAN AND THE ROLE MODEL STATUS OF PROPHET

MUHAMMAD

In the Holy Quran the only verse that refers literally to the status of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) as a role model is as follows: "Verily in the messenger
of Allah you have a good example for him who looks unto Allah and the
Last Day, and remembers Allah much."
If one accepts that Islam is the final and perfect religion, then it would be
inconsistent to not consider the life of Prophet Muhammad as an example
for the Muslim community or to not accept his life as something that
shapes and guides the daily lives of Muslims. For that reason, the lifestyle
and personality of Prophet Muhammad, demonstrated during his
prophethood of 23 years, includes very significant provisions and
principles for the religious, political, social and moral life of Muslim
communities as a whole.

THE SUNNAH AND PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S STATUS AS ROLE

MODEL

Islamic scholars state that the terms sabil (road), sirat al-
mustaqim (straight path) and uswa al-hasana (best of examples), which
are mentioned in the Holy Quran, in the hadiths of the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him), and in the words of his Companions,
are words and terms that represent the concept of the sunnah. All these
terms indicate the path to be followed and the model to be taken as an
example. The name of this road is the sunnah, and it is collectively
followed by the Companions of Prophet Muhammad and the believers.

MORALITY AND THE PROPHET'S STATUS AS A ROLE MODEL

A person cannot be considered to be a role model sent to guide people

and at the same time be a person who commits deeds that are against
the will of Allah. For this reason, all the prophets have been granted with
a particular high-moral quality. They never intentionally or deliberately
acted against the consent of Allah. The mistakes that they made and the
faults which stemmed from forgetfulness caused Allah to remind or warn
them. These mistakes and faults are not reflected in the people as an
aspect of their status as a role model. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
committed no mistakes that would harm the conveyance of the Quran and
this is proven in the Holy Quran and is agreed upon by the Muslim
community. Those who accept that it was possible for Prophet
Muhammad to make mistakes believe that in such cases he was
immediately warned and corrected by Allah. No Muslim doubts the fact
that Prophet Muhammad was free from faults in the conveyance of the
Shariat (Islamic law) and that his conveyance was dependent on the
revelation imparted unto him by Allah. According to the generally accepted
perceptions and approaches, the sunnah put forward by Prophet
Muhammad resulted from orders found in the revelations. It is understood
from the verses of the Quran and the qualities granted to the Prophet by
Allah that the revelations imparted to him do not only consist of the Holy
Quran. Many verses in the Quran clearly state that each word and
behavior of the Holy Prophet is proof of the existence of Allah.
Status of Women in Islam
Oppressed, inferior, and unequal – for many people, these are the first words
that come to mind when thinking about women in Islam. These stereotypes
confuse Islam with cultural practices and fail to recognize that Islam has
empowered women with the most progressive rights since the 7th century. In
Islam, women are not inferior or unequal to men. This brochure presents the
actual teachings of Islam regarding the rights, roles, and responsibilities of
women, with a special focus on gender equality in Islam.

At a time when female children were buried alive in Arabia and women were
considered transferable property, Islam honoured women in society by
elevating them and protecting them with unprecedented rights. Islam gave
women the right to education, to marry someone of their choice, to retain their
identity after marriage, to divorce, to work, to own and sell property, to seek
protection by the law, to vote, and to participate in civic and political
engagement.

In 610 C.E., God began to reveal the message of Islam to Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him (PBUH), in Mecca. Muhammad (PBUH) called people
towards the belief in one God and encouraged them to be just and merciful to
one another. In reforming the pagan Arab society, he particularly transformed
their mindset regarding the treatment of women. Islam abolished the practice
of killing female children and raised the stature of women in society to one of
dignity, esteem, and privilege.

Islam further confirms that both men and women are equal in the sight of
God. In the Quran, God declares, “…Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of
Allah is the most righteous of you…” (49:13) At another place in the Quran, God
clearly states that all humans are equal: “To whoever, male or female, does
good deeds and has faith, We shall give a good life and reward them according
to the best of their actions.” (16:97)

While Islam clearly establishes that men and women are equal, it does
recognize that they are not identical. God created men and women with
unique physiological and psychological attributes. In Islam, these differences
are embraced as vital components to a healthy family and community
structure with each individual contributing their own distinctive talents to
society.

Hence, God’s rules apply to both genders, but in diverse ways. For example,
God commanded women to cover certain parts of their body, including their
hair, to preserve their modesty. Men are also required to cover parts of their
body out of modesty, but not in the same way as women. Therefore, God
commanded both men and women to be modest; yet, the manner in which
they observe it is different.

Similarly, the rights, roles, and responsibilities of women are evenly balanced
with those of men but are not necessarily the same. As Islam has granted
individual identities to men and women, a constant comparison between the
two is futile. Each plays a unique role to mutually uphold social morality and
societal balance.

Education
Back in the 7th century, Muhammad (PBUH) declared that the pursuit of
knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim – male and female. This declaration
was very clear and was largely implemented by Muslims throughout history.
One of the most influential scholars of Islam was Muhammad’s wife, Aisha.
After his death, men and women would travel to learn from her because she
was considered a great scholar of Islam. The recognition of female
scholarship and women’s participation in academia has been encouraged and
practiced throughout the majority of Islamic history. For instance, al-Qarawiyin
Mosque and University, the oldest running university, was funded by a woman,
Fatima al-Fihri, inMorocco in 859 C.E.

Motherhood
In Islam, God clearly gives mothers a high status and elevates their position in
the family. In the Quran, God mentions all the sacrifices mothers make in
bearing children to remind people to treat their mothers with love, respect, and
care. Emphasizing the importance of mothers, the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) said, “Heaven lies under the feet of your mother.”

On another occasion, a man repeatedly asked Muhammad (PBUH), “Who

amongst the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?” Each
time, the Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Your mother.” When the man asked for the
fourth time, he replied, “Your father.”

Politics and Social Services

Among the early Muslims, women were active participants in the cohesive
functioning of the society. Women expressed their opinions freely and their
advice was actively sought. Women nursed the wounded during battles, and
some even participated on the battlefield. Women traded openly in the
marketplace, so much so that the second caliph, Umar, appointed a woman,
Shaffa bint Abdullah, as the supervisor of the bazaar.

Inheritance
Before Islam, women all across the globe were deprived of inheritance and
were themselves considered property to be inherited by men. Islam gave
women the right to own property and inherit from relatives, which was a
revolutionary concept in the seventh century.

Whether a woman is a wife, mother, sister, or daughter, she receives a certain

share of her deceased relative’s property. This share depends on her degree of
relationship to the deceased and the number of heirs. While many societies
around the world denied women inheritance, Islam assured women this right,
illustrating the universal justice of Islam’s divine law.

Financial Responsibilities
In Islam, women are not obligated to earn or spend any money on housing,
food, or general expenses. If a woman is married, her husband must fully
support her financially and if she’s not married, that responsibility belongs to
her closest male relative (father, brother, uncle, etc).

She also has the right to work and spend the money she earns as she wishes.
She has no obligation to share her money with her husband or any other
family members, although she may choose to do so out of good will. For
instance, Khadija, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was one of the
most successful businesswomen ofMecca, and she freely spent from her
wealth to support her husband and the cause of Islam.

Marriage
A woman has the right to accept or reject marriage proposals and her
approval is required to complete the marriage contract. She cannot be forced
to marry someone against her will and if this occurs for cultural reasons, it is
in direct opposition of Islam. By the same principle, women also have the right
to seek divorce if they are dissatisfied with their marriage.

In Islam, marriage is based on mutual peace, love, and compassion. God says
about Himself, “And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves
mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you
affection and mercy…” (Quran 30:21) Muhammad (PBUH) embodied the best
character and is a role model for all Muslims. His example of being helpful
around the household and treating his family with compassion and love is a
tradition that Muslims strive to implement in their daily lives. Muhammad
(PBUH) treated his wives with the utmost respect and honor and was never
abusive towards them. One of his traditions clearly states, “The best of you
are those who are best to their wives.”

Dignity and Protection from Harm

Any form of emotional, physical, or psychological abuse is prohibited in Islam
and the improper treatment of women is no exception to this rule. Indeed,
there is no teaching in Islam, when studied in its complete context, which
condones any kind of domestic violence. Islam clearly disallows any form of
oppression or abuse, according to Dr. Zainab Alwani, a leading female Muslim
scholar. It cannot be stated enough times that anyone who exercises unjust
authority in the name of Islam is actually doing so to uphold their own cultural
influences or personal interests. All of God’s creation is dignified and
protected under Islamic law.

Modesty
In an environment which constantly emphasizes the physical form through
various media, women are constantly faced with an unattainable standard of
beauty. Although Muslim women are falsely classified as oppressed based on
their modest dress, they are in fact liberated from such objectification by the
society around them. This modest appearance, which includes veiling,
highlights a woman’s personality and character instead of her physical figure
and promotes a deeper appreciation for who she is as a person. In this regard,
Muslim women identify with Mary, the mother of Jesus (PBUH), who is known
for her piety and modesty.

In conclusion, Islam has an extensive tradition of protecting the civil liberties

of women based on the guidelines set forth by God and His Prophet. Women
are empowered with many rights and protections under Islamic law and are
honoured with a dignified stature in society.
The Six Articles of Islam

The six articles of faith are the main doctrines of Islam. All Muslims belief in the
following:

1- The Oneness of God

God is One. He is the Supreme and Eternal, the Creator and Provider, the
Merciful and Compassionate. God has no father or mother and no son or
daughter; He has never fathered anyone nor was He fathered. God has no
equal. He is the God of all humankind, not of a special tribe, race, or group of
people. He is the God of people of all races and colors, and of believers and
unbelievers alike. God is Mighty and Supreme, yet is very near to the pious and
thoughtful believers. God asks us to know Him, to love Him, and to follow His
law for our own benefit and salvation.

2- The Angels of God

Angels are pure and spiritually obedient creatures. God created them to fulfill
His commands and worship Him tirelessly.

3- The Divine Revelations (Books)

Muslims believe in the revelations sent by Almighty God to His prophets and
messengers including the Quran, the Torah, the Gospel, the Scrolls of Abraham
and the Psalms of David.

4- The Prophets of God

All of the messengers and prophets of God such as Noah, Moses, Solomon,
Jesus and Muhammad were mortal human beings who were endowed with
Divine Revelations and appointed by God to teach humankind how to submit
to His will and obey His laws.
5- Resurrection after Death and the Day of Judgment
After the world ends, Muslims believe that all people will be brought back to
life to face the Judgment of Almighty God. Muslims believe in an appointed
Day of Judgment and in heaven and hell.

6- Preordainment (Qadar)
Muslims believe in God’s eternally preexistent knowledge and that nothing in
existence lies outside of His eternal control.
Human Rights in Islam
We live in an age that is striking in its unprecedented technological
sophistication. Unfortunately, the prejudices and inequities that have plagued the
human race historically continue to exist, and are responsible for untold human
suffering. It is in this context that the subject of human rights is especially
pertinent. This brochure explains the origins of human rights in Islam, detailing
the comprehensive and progressive entitlements Islam advocates on various
issues afflicting the world today.

What constitutes human rights? Can we come to a common understanding of

these liberties and thereby ensure that these are universally granted to every
member of society? These questions have been the subject of historic
documents such as the Magna Carta, the French Declaration of the Rights of
Man, the American Bill of Rights and the Geneva Convention.

What is often overlooked, however, is that these questions have also been
addressed by various religious traditions. The Islamic model of human rights in
particular is striking in its rigor, its vision and its relevance to modern times. The
distinguishing feature of human entitlements in Islam is that they are the natural
outcome of a broader practice of faith, deeds and social behavior that Muslims
believe are divinely mandated. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, says:

God commands justice, doing good, and generosity towards relatives and He
forbids what is shameful, blameworthy, and oppressive. He teaches you, so that
you may take heed. (16:90)

Islam’s contribution to human rights is best appreciated when viewed against

the backdrop of world history as well as the realities of modern times. Social,
racial, gender, and religious inequities continue to exist. Economic and social
disparities have resulted in oppression of the lower classes; racial prejudices
have been the cause of subjugation and enslavement of people with darker skin;
women have been weighed down by chauvinistic attitudes, and pervasive
attitudes of religious superiority have led to widespread persecution of people
with different beliefs.

When considering the question of human rights and Islam, it is important to

distinguish the divinely prescribed rights of Islam from potential
misinterpretation and misapplication by imperfect human beings. Just as
Western societies still fight against racism and discrimination, many Muslim
societies struggle to fully implement the rights outlined in Islam.
Dignity and Equality
Human rights in Islam stem from two foundational principles: dignity and
equality. Dignity is a fundamental right of every human being merely by virtue
of his or her humanity. As God states in the Quran, “We have honoured the
children of Adam and carried them by land and sea; We have provided good
sustenance for them and favored them specially above many of those We have
created” (17:70).

The diversity of humanity into many races and ethnicities is a testament to

God’s majesty and wisdom. Therefore, racial superiority and discrimination is
prohibited in Islam and contradicts its essence. This concept is exemplified in
the final sermon of Prophet Muhammadp who proclaimed:

No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any
superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any superiority over a black
man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the
children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay.

Women’s Rights
So many of the human rights violations are committed against women in this
world. Under the laws of Islam, women have the right to own property and
businesses, engage in financial transactions, vote, receive inheritance, obtain
an education and participate in legal and political affairs. The fact that some
Muslim societies do not always accord women all these liberties is an example
of how human beings can fall short of fully implementing the Divine Will.

Both men and women have responsibilities towards their families and societies
as is clear from the following verse: “The Believers, men and women, are
protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they
observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His
Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power,
Wise” (Quran, 9:71).

The Birthrights of Life and Security

In Islam, life is a sacred trust from God and the most basic right of a human
being. No individual is permitted to take the life of another, unless it is for justice
administered by a competent court following due process of law.

God recognizes this right in the Quran, “Nor take life – which Allah has made
sacred – except for just cause” (17:33). He also says, “…if anyone kills a person
– unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land – it is as if
he kills all mankind while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all
mankind” (5:32).

Not only do human beings have the right not to be harmed, they have the right
to be safeguarded from harm, physical or otherwise. For instance, under Islamic
law, people are legally liable for not preventing a blind man from dying of a
perilous fall, if they were in a position to save him.

Even during war, Islam enjoins that one deals with the enemy nobly on the
battlefield. Enemy soldiers and prisoners of war are not to be tortured or
mutilated under any circumstances. Islam has also drawn a clear line of
distinction between combatants and non-combatants.

Freedom of Belief
Contrary to popular misconceptions, a genuine Islamic republic is obligated to
not only permit but respect diversity. Thus, non-Muslims within an Islamic
territory are allowed to worship in accordance with their religion. There are
many examples of this historically.

When Muslims began ruling Palestine in 637 C.E., they invited the Jewish people
to live in Jerusalem after 500 years of exile. In 1187 C.E., after retaking Palestine
from the Crusaders, Muslims treated Christians with honour despite the
brutality they had endured at the hands of the Crusaders. Christians were
allowed to leave in peace or to stay in harmony.

While Spain was under Muslim rule, the city of Cordova was considered the
intellectual center of Europe, where students went to study philosophy, science
and medicine under Muslim, Jewish and Christian scholars. This rich and
sophisticated society took a tolerant view towards other faiths, while peaceful
coexistence was unheard of in the rest of Europe. The historian James Burke
mentions in his book, The Day the Universe Changed, that thousands of Jews
and Christians lived in safety and harmony with their Muslim overlords in
Muslim Spain.

The Right to a Basic Standard of Life

A basic standard of life includes the minimum essentials necessary for survival,
such as food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anyone deprived of these
necessities is entitled to receive aid in order to meet their needs. It is the duty
of every Muslim with adequate means to give from their wealth, in order to
eradicate poverty from society.
Describing the righteous believers in the Quran, God reminds that they are those
who give a “rightful share of their wealth to the beggar and the deprived”
(51:19). The Islamic state is also obligated to spend from its treasury to support
the poor and disadvantaged.

The Entitlement to Justice

Islam requires that Muslims possess upright character and deal justly with the
entire human race, irrespective of their ethnicity, nationality, creed and whether
they are a friend or foe.

Reflecting on the concept of justice in Islam, Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of

India, stated in a speech, “The sense of justice that Islam encompasses is one
of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because, as I read in the Qur’an, I find
those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily
conduct of life suited to the whole world.”

Rights and Mutual Responsibility

From the foregoing discussion, it is clear that Islamic law has divinely mandated
rights for individuals in their specific roles as spouse, parent, child, relative,
neighbour, friend and even foe. In its distribution of rights and responsibilities,
Islam has addressed the social, racial, gender, and sectarian issues plaguing
our global society. Indeed, the model of rights and mutual responsibilities
enshrined in Islam has a tremendous potential for individual and social reform
in the world.
Islamic Code of Life
The claim of Muslims that Islam is the complete code of life is not merely a false
or shallow claim, rather from reading the ayahs of Quran and the knowing
traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) give this claim a strong and provable
groundings on the bases of which a Muslim can follow Islam and its instructions
without any doubt.

The prime focus of Islam is to make sure that maximum of its followers rest in
heavens in the afterlife. However, in order to do so, the followers have to live this
life according to the instructions of Islam and follow the path of righteousness.
Unlike other religions, the path of righteousness is not related to religious
traditions and obligations only, rather righteousness is to be observed in every
aspect of life and this is why Islam gives proper instructions to live life.

Following are the examples of Islamic Code of Life.

1. Spiritual Life
2. Intellectual Life
3. Personal Life
4. Family Life
5. Social Life
6. Economical Life
7. Political Life
8. International Life

1. Spiritual Life

Islamic prescription: Prayer, fasting, charity giving, pilgrimage, love for God and
His Messenger, love for truth and humanity for the sake of God, hope and trust in
God at all times and doing good for the sake of God.

2. Intellectual Life

Islamic prescription: True knowledge based on clear proofs and indisputable

evidence acquired by experience or experiment or by both. The Quran points to the
rich sources of knowledge in the whole universe.

Islam demands faith in God on the basis of knowledge and research and leaves
wide open all fields of thought before the intellect to penetrate as far as it can
reach.
3. Personal Life

Islamic prescription: Purity and cleanliness, a healthy diet, proper clothing, proper
behaviour and good healthy sexual relations within marriage.

4. Family Life

Islamic prescription: A family is a human social group whose members are bound
together by the bond of blood ties and/or marital relationship and nothing else
(adoption, mutual alliance, common law, trial marriage. . . . etc.)

Marriage is a religious duty on all who are capable of meetings its responsibilities.
Each member of the family has rights and obligations.

5. Social Life

Islamic prescription: Man is ordained by God to extend his utmost help and
kindness to other family members, relations, servants and neighbours. No
superiority on account of class, colour, origin or wealth.

Humanity represents one family springing from one and the same father and
mother. The unity of humanity is not only in its origin but also in its ultimate aims.

6. Economical Life

Islamic prescription: Earning one's living through decent labor is not only a duty,
but a great virtue as well. Earning is man's private possession. The individual is
responsible for the prosperity of the state and the state is responsible for the
security of the individual.

The Islamic economic system is not based on arithmetical calculations alone but
also on morals and principles.

Man comes into this world empty-handed and departs empty-handed. The real
owner of things is God alone. Man is simply a trustee.

7. Political Life

Islamic prescription: The sovereignty in the Islamic State belongs to God; the
people exercise it by trust from Him to enforce His laws.

The ruler is only an acting executive chosen by the people to serve them according
to God's law. The State is to administer justice and provide security for all citizens.

Rulers and administrators must be chosen from the best qualified citizens. If an
administration betrays the trust of God and the people, it has to be replaced.

Non Muslims can administer their personal life of marriage, divorce, foods and
inheritance according to the Islamic law or to their own religious teachings.

They may pay Zakah (Islamic tax) or a different tax "Tributes" "Jizyah". They are
entitled to full protection and security of the state including freedom of religion.

8. International Life

Islamic prescription: Man has a common origin, human status and aim. Other
people's interests and rights to life, honour and property are respected as long as
the rights of Muslims are intact. Transgression is forbidden.

War is only justified if the state security is endangered. During war destruction of
crops, animals and homes, killing non-fighting women, children, and aged people
are forbidden.

Summary:
Islam is a total submission to God and His laws.
__________________________________________________

The End