How Does Islam Develop?
Questions to Consider What is the nature of G-d? What does God want? Which areas of the world are holy? How is Islamic tradition passed down? What is the role of women? How should the People of the Book and other non-believers be treated?
What is the Nature of God?
The Opening In the name of G-d, the Compassionate, the Merciful All praise belongs to G-d, L-rd of all worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Ruler of the Day of Judgment. It is You that we worship, and to You that we appeal for help. Show us the straight Way, the Way of those You have graced, not those on whom is Your wrath, nor of those who wander astray. The Qur an: Surah 1
G-d! There is no G-d but The One, the Living, the Self- Subsistent: drowsiness does not overtake G-d, nor sleep. To G-d belongs what is in the heavens and the earth: who could there be who can intercede with G-d except by leave of G-d? G-d knows what is in front of them, and what is behind them; but they do not comprehend anything of G-d s knowledge except as G-d wills. The throne of G-d extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of them both is not oppressive to G-d, for G-d is most exalted, most sublime.
What Does God Want?
The Five Pillars of Islam Shahadah The Profession of Faith Salat Daily ritual prayer Zakat Giving alms to the poor Zawm Fasting for the month of Ramadan Hajj Performing the Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in one s lifetime
The Shahadah Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammad Rasulu Allah There is no G-d but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.
The Hajj [3.97] In it are clear signs, the standing place of Ibrahim, and whoever enters it shall be secure, and pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) every one who is able to undertake the journey to it [... ]
Which Areas of the World are Holy?
The Ka aba
The Ka aba [2.125] And We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion and those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves.
Jerusalem 17.1 Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night journey from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show to him some of Our signs; surely He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
How is Islamic Tradition Passed Down?
Sources of Islamic Law The Shariah The code of Islamic law; taken from the Qur an and early religious court cases; similar to the Shulchan Aruch. Sun i -- Islamic custom and tradition, passed down through the generations. Hadith Oral traditions, usually regarding Muhammad or his early followers; does not have the same legal authority as the Shariah, but can be useful in gaining insight into Islamic law.
What is the Role of Women?
Women 4.1 O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women [... ]
Women (cont d) 4.7 Men shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave, and women shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave, whether there is little or much of it; a stated portion.
Women (cont d) 4.124 Anyone, male or female, who does what is good and is faithful will enter the Garden and will not be oppressed at all.
Women (Cont d) 4.34 Men are in charge of women, because G-d has given some bounty over others, and because men shall expend of their wealth on them. [... ] So righteous women obey G-d, guarding unseen what G-d has guarded. As for women whose rebellion you fear, admonish them or banish them to their own beds or beat them. If they then obey, then seek not a way against them; G-d is Sublime, Great.
How Should the People of the Book and other non-believers be treated?
Abraham [3.67] Ibrahim was not a Jew nor a Christian but he was (an) upright (man), a Muslim, and he was not one of the polytheists.
We have inspired you, as We have inspired Noah and the Prophets after him; for We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes and Jesus and Job and Jonas and Aaron and Solomon; as We gave David the book of Psalms. And there were messengers of whom We told you before, and messengers of whom We have not told you. And G-d spoke directly to Moses. --- The Qur an
The Torah... [5.44] Surely We revealed the Taurat in which was guidance and light; with it the prophets who submitted themselves (to Allah) judged (matters) for those who were Jews, and the masters of Divine knowledge and the doctors, because they were required to guard (part) of the Book of Allah, and they were witnesses thereof
... and the Gospel [5.46] And We sent after them in their footsteps Isa [Jesus], son of Marium [Mary], verifying what was before him of the Taurat [Torah] and We gave him the Injeel [Gospel] in which was guidance and light, and verifying what was before it of Taurat and a guidance and an admonition for those who guard [against evil].
Non-Muslims 9:29 [And] fight against those who - despite having been vouchsafed revelation [aforetime] [40] -do not [truly] believe either in God or the Last Day, and do not consider forbidden that which God and His Apostle have forbidden, [41] and do not follow the religion of truth [which God has enjoined upon them] [42] till they [agree to] pay the exemption tax with a willing hand, after having been humbled [in war].
Non-Muslims (cont d) 60:8 As for such [of the unbelievers] as do not fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to behave towards them with full equity: [9] for, verily, God loves those who act equitably.