I

SLAM NOTESUPPERSI
X

Thenat
ureoft
heQur
an&whyt
heQur
anhassupr
emeaut
hor
it
yforMusl
ims

 -
Musl
i
msbel
i
evet
heQur
ani
sthedi
rectwor
dofAl
l
ah.

 -
Iti
sdi
vi
ne,
heav
enl
y,andaut
hent
ic&consi
der
edt
obemi
racl
e.

 -
Thef
istsur
r aht
ober
ev edwassur
eal ah‘
alaq.Thi
shappenedi
nthecav
e
ofhi
raont
heni l
ghtofpower(ayl
atulqadr
)thr
ought j
heangeli
brai
l(a.
s).

 Theent
ir
equr
anwasr
eveal
edov
eraper
iodof23y
ear
s.

 Thepr
ophetMuhammad(
s.a.
w)woul
ddi
ctat
ethev
ersest
ohi
sscr
ibes&t
ell
t
hem wher
etowr
it
eeachv
erse&wher
etopl
acet
hem.

 Manyoft
hecompani
onsal
somemor
isedt
hequr
an.

 Thequr
ani
sspl
i
ti o114sur
nt ahs(
chapt
ers)
,30aj
za(
par
ts)
.
Eachsur
ahhasayat(
ver
ses)
.

 Al
lchapt
ersbegi
nwi
thbi
smi
ll
ahexcept
sur
aht
aubah.

 I
twascompi
l
edi
ntobookf
orm dur
ingt
het
imeofabubakr(
r.
a)af
teranumber
ofhuf
fazwer
emar
tyr
ed.Thi
sresponsi
bil
i
tywasgi
vent
ozai
dibnt
habi
t(r
.a)
.

 Thecopywaskeptwi
thhaf
sa(
r.
a),
thedaught
erofumar(
r.
a).

 Dur
ingt
het
imeofut
hman(
r.
a),
dif
fer
encesar
osei
nit
sreci
tat
ion.Heaskedf
or7
copi
est
obemadei
nthedi
alectoft
hequr
aishf
rom t
heor
igi
nal
thatwaskept
wi
thhaf
sa(
r.
a),
&hadt
hem di
str
ibut
edi
ndi
ff
erentr
egi
ons.Al
lot
hercopi
eswer
e
t
obedi
sregar
ded.

1
AUTHORI
TYOFTHEQURAN(
KORAN)

Thequr
anhassupr
emeaut
hor
it
yfort
heMusl
i
msbecause:

 Theybel
i
evei
tcont
ainst
heexactwor
dsofAl
l
ah.

 I
twasbr
oughtt
opeopl
ethr
ought
hef
inal
prophetMuhammad(
s.a.
w)asa
messaget
oal
lofmanki
nd.

 I
twasr
eci
tedexact
lybyt
hepr
ophet&r
ecor
dedi
mmedi
atel
y&accur
atel
ybyhi
s
compani
ons.

 I
thasnev
erbeenchanged,
sot
heyar
esur
ethei
rknowl
edgei
scor
rect
.

 I
t’
sami
racl
efr
om Al
l
ahbecausePr
ophetMuhammad(
s.a.
w)di
dn’
tknowhowt
o
r
ead&wr
it
e.

 I
tshowst
hem howt
ofol
l
owt
hest
rai
ghtpat
h.

 I
tinspi
rest
hem t
ost
ruggl
eint
hecauseofAl
l
ah.

 I
tmakescl
eart
othem t
hei
robl
i
gat
ions&dut
iest
owar
dsAl
l
ah.

 I
tenabl
est
hem t
opr
act
icet
hei
rrel
i
gionpr
oper
ly&t
obegui
ded.

 I
tencour
agest
hem t
hrought
heexampl
esoff
ait
hful
bel
i
ever
s.

 I
tdev
elopsl
ovef
orAl
l
ah.

Respectf
ort
hequr
an.

 Musl
i
msshowr
espectf
ort
hequr
anbyper
for
mingwudhubef
oret
ouchi
ngi
t.

 Keepi
ngi
tonahi
ghpl
ace.

 Tr
yingt
ofol
l
ow&pr
act
iceuponwhati
tsay
s.

2
 Readi
ngi
tev
eryday
.

 Av
oideat
ing&dr
inki
ngwhi
l
str
eadi
ng.

 Handl
eitwi
thr
espect
.

 I
mpor
tanceofr
evel
ati
onofhol
yqur
ant
oPr
ophetMuhammad

 Rev
eal
edont
heni
ghtofpoweri
nt eofhi
hecav raont
hemount
ainofl
i j
ghtabal
an-
nur
.

 I
twast
het
imewhent
hef
ir
stwor
dsoft
hequr
anwer
erev
eal
ed.

 Hebecamet
hef
inal
chosenmessengerbecauseher
ecei
vedt
hismessagef
rom
Al
l
ah.

 I
tpr
ovest
hatt
hequr
ani
sthewor
dofAl
l
ah.

 I
twast
hebegi
nni
ngofmanysuchr
evel
ati
onswhi
chcont
inuedf
oraper
iodof23
y
ear
s.

 Qur
ani
sregar
dedasagr
eatmi
racl
e.

 I
trest
oredt
heor
igi
nal
messagesentt
opr
evi
ouspr
ophet
s&cl
ari
fi
edt
heer
ror
s
ofpr
evi
ousnat
ions.

 Ev
erysoundst
ruct
uremusthav
easol
i
dfoundat
ioni
nor
dert
oremai
nst
rong.
I
slam’
sfoundat
ioni
sthef
ivepi
l
lar
sitwasbui
l
tupon,
for
mingt
hebasi
sof
I
slami
cteachi
ngast
aughtbyPr
ophetMuhammad(
peacebeuponhi
m),
wher
ein
hesai
d:

PI
LLARSOFI
SLAM

 I
slam i
sbui
l
tuponf
ivepi
l
lar
s:
 TheDecl
arat
ionofFai
th(
Shahadah)
;
2.Est
abl
i
shi
ngr
egul
arpr
ayer
s(Sal
ah)
;

3
 3.Pay
ingChar
it
y(Zakah)
;
4.Fast
ingt
he(
lunar
)mont
hofRamadan(
Sawm)
;
5.Pi
l
gri
mage(
Haj
j
)
 Thesef
ivepi
l
lar
sar
eacor
ner
stoneofaMusl
i
m’sl
i
fe.

Decl
arat
ionofFai
th–SHAHADAH

 Thedecl
arat
ionoff
ait
hisbear
ingwi
tness(
test
if
ying)t
hatt
her
eisnodei
ty
wor
thyofwor
shi
pbutAl
l
ah(
God)
,andt
hatMuhammad(
peacebeuponhi
m)i
s
Hi
sSer
vantandMessenger
.Itmustbebasedonasi
ncer
eandf
ir
m bel
i
efi
nthe
hear
t,aswel
lasbei
ngut
ter
edv
erbal
l
y.
 Thef
ir
stpar
toft
hedecl
arat
ioni
mpl
i
est
hat
:
 Noper
son,
obj
ectorbei
nghast
her
ightt
obewor
shi
ppedexceptAl
l
ahal
one.
TheAr
abi
cname“
All
ah”r
efer
stot
heOneTr
ueGodofal
lmanki
ndand
ev
ery
thi
ngt
hatexi
sts.

 Al
l
ahal
onei
stheCr
eat
orandSust
ainerofal
lthatexi
sts,
andHehaspower
ov
eral
lthi
ngs.

 Al
l
ahal
onehasper
fectat
tri
but
esandi
sfr
eef
rom al
ldef
ici
enci
es.

 Al
l
ahhasnopar
tner
,equal
,fat
her
,mot
herorson.

 Thesecondpar
toft
hedecl
arat
ioni
sthatMuhammad(
peacebeuponhi
m)i
s
Al
l
ah’
sSer
vantandf
inal
Messenger
.Hei
sthef
inal
Propheti
nal
ongchai
nof
Pr
ophet
ssentt
ocal
lthepeopl
etot
heobedi
enceandwor
shi
pofAl
l
ahal
one.
Someoft
hesePr
ophet
sincl
udeAdam,
Noah,
Abr
aham,
Ishmael
,I
saac,
Jacob,
Joseph,
Moses,
Dav
id,
Sol
omonandJesus(
peacebeupont
hem al
l
).
 ThePr
ophetMuhammad(
peacebeuponhi
m)wassentwi
tht
heQur
’an(
thef
inal
r
evel
ati
on)
,inor
dert
oteacht
hepeopl
eAl
l
ah’
smessage,
andser
veasan
exampl
eforal
ltof
oll
ow.
 Somebenef
it
soft
heDecl
arat
ionofFai
th:
 Compl
etesur
rendert
othewi
l
lofAl
l
ahandbecomi
ngHi
str
ueser
vantand
subj
ect
.

4
 Pr
oducesahi
ghdegr
eeofsel
f-
respectandconf
idence,
whi
l
eal
sor
emai
ning
humbl
eandmodest
.

 Pr
oducesst
rongdet
ermi
nat
ion,
pat
ienceandper
sev
erance,
maki
ngaper
son
br
aveandcour
ageous,
aswel
lasdut
if
ulandupr
ight
.

 Makesaper
sonobeyandobser
veAl
l
ah’
scommands.
ThePr
ayer–SALAH

 “
Indeed,
Iam Al
l
ah!Ther
eisnonewor
thyofwor
shi
pbutI
,sowor
shi
pMeand
of
fert
hepr
ayerf
orMyr
emembr
ance.
”Qur
’an20:
14

 Thef
ivedai
l
ypr
ayer
sfor
mthemosti
mpor
tantr
it
ual
ofwor
shi
pinaMusl
i
m’sl
i
fe;
oneeachatdawn,
noon,
mid-
aft
ernoon,
sunsetandni
ght
fal
l
.Pr
ophet
Muhammad(
peacebeuponhi
m)sai
d:“
Pray
eri
sapi
ll
aroft
her
eli
gion(
Isl
am)
.
Whoev
erest
abl
ishesi
t,est
abl
ishesr
eli
gion;
andwhoev
erdest
roy
sit(
e.g.
negl
ect
sit
),dest
roy
srel
igi
on.
”
 Pr
ayerest
abl
i
shesaper
sonal
andspi
ri
tual
connect
ionbet
weent
heMusl
i
m and
hi
sCr
eat
or,
basedonf
ait
h,l
ove,
hopeandr
ever
ence.Whenpr
ayeri
sper
for
med
cor
rect
lywi
thcompl
eteconcent
rat
ion,
humi
l
ityandsi
ncer
it
y,i
twi
l
lhav
ean
endur
ingef
fectont
heper
son,
fil
l
inghi
shear
twi
thcont
ent
ment
,peaceand
cl
osenesswi
thAl
l
ah.
 Pr
ayeri
sthecent
reofaMusl
i
m’sl
i
feandt
hebestwayt
oachi
evesubmi
ssi
ont
o
Al
l
ah.I
tcanbeof
fer
edal
mostany
wher
ecl
ean:
suchasi
nfi
elds,
off
ices,
f
act
ori
esoruni
ver
sit
ies;
andt
akesonl
yaf
ewmi
nut
est
oper
for
m.I
tconsi
stsof
r
eci
tat
ionf
rom t
heHol
yQur
’an,
suppl
i
cat
ingt
oandpr
aisi
ngAl
l
ah,
wit
hvar
ious
bodypost
uressuchasst
andi
ng,
bowi
ng,
prost
rat
ingandsi
tt
ing.Thr
oughpr
ayer
,
t
heMusl
i
mremember
sthegr
eat
nessofhi
sCr
eat
orandsuppl
i
cat
est
oHi
mfor
hi
sneedsandwi
shes.
 Repeat
edl
yhumbl
i
ngonesel
fbef
oreAl
l
ahpr
event
saper
sonf
rom f
all
i
ngi
ntosi
n,
andi
sat
ypeofpur
if
icat
ionf
orone’
ssoul
,asment
ionedi
ntheQur
’an:
“Ver
il
y,t
he
pr
ayerpr
event
sonef
rom t
heshamef
ulandev
ildeeds.
”Qur
’an29:
45.Pr
ayeri
s
al
soanoppor
tuni
tyf
orr
epent
anceandseeki
ngf
orgi
venessf
rom Al
l
ah.

5
 TheMessengerofAl
l
ah(
peacebeuponhi
m)askedhi
scompani
ons,
“Ifoneof
y
ouhadar
iverbyhi
sdoori
nwhi
chhebat
hedf
ivet
imesaday
,woul
danyf
il
th
r
emai
nonhi
m?”Theyr
epl
i
ed,
“No.
”Thent
hePr
ophetadded“
Likewi
se,
All
ah
wi
pesawaysi
nswi
tht
hef
ivedai
lypr
ayer
s.”
ThePr
escr
ibedChar
it
y–ZAKAH

 “
Thosewhoest
abl
i
sht
hepr
ayer(
sal
ah)andgi
vet
hechar
it
y(zakah)…t
hesear
e
t
heoneswhowi
l
lpr
osper
.”
Qur
’an31:
4-5

 Al
lthi
ngsbel
ongt
oAl
l
ah,
incl
udi
ngweal
th,
whi
chi
sconsi
der
edasat
rust
.The
pr
escr
ibedchar
it
y(zakah)i
sanobl
i
gat
iononev
eryMusl
i
m whomeet
scer
tai
n
cr
it
eri
a(e.
g.at
tai
nedmat
uri
ty,
issane,
hasweal
thabov
eacer
tai
nthr
eshol
d).A
smal
lpor
ti
onofweal
th(
incl
udes2.
5%monet
aryandmayi
ncl
udeot
herasset
s)
whi
chmustbepai
dannual
l
ytot
hosewhoar
eel
i
gibl
e,aspr
escr
ibedi
ntheQur
’an
(
e.g.t
hepoorandneedy
).
 ThePr
ophet(
peacebeonhi
m)sai
d:“
All
ahhasmadezakahobl
igat
orysi
mpl
yto
pur
if
yyourr
emai
ningweal
th.
”
 Themeani
ngoft
hewor
d“zakah”
,isbot
h‘pur
if
icat
ion’
and‘
growt
h’.Thi
sis
si
mil
art
othepr
uni
ngofpl
ant
s,wher
ebyr
egul
arl
ytr
immi
ngpr
ovi
desbal
anceand
encour
agesgr
owt
h.Byf
ulf
il
li
ngt
hisobl
i
gat
ion,
Musl
i
mspur
if
ythei
rremai
ning
weal
th,
aswel
lasensur
ebot
hfi
nanci
alandspi
ri
tual
growt
h.
 Somebenef
it
sofzakah:
 Pur
if
iesonef
rom sel
fi
shness,
arr
oganceandagr
eedyhear
t.

 Tr
ainsonet
obesy
mpat
het
icandcompassi
onat
etowar
dst
hepoorandneedy
.

 Remi
ndsoneoft
hebl
essi
ngsf
rom Al
l
ahandencour
agesonet
obegr
atef
ul.

 Br
idgest
hegapbet
weendi
ff
erentsoci
o-economi
ccl
assesandgr
oups,
andi
s
af
orm ofsoci
alsecur
it
y.

 Reducespov
ert
yandensur
esequal
i
tybymaki
ngi
tobl
i
gat
oryupont
her
icht
o
shar
esomeoft
hei
rweal
thwi
tht
hel
essf
ort
unat
e“…sot
hatt
his(
weal
th)may
notci
rcul
atesol
elyamongt
her
ichf
rom amongy
ou.
”Qur
’an59:
7

6
 Aper
sonmayal
sogi
veasmuchast
heypl
easeasaddi
ti
onal
vol
unt
arychar
it
y.

Fast
ing–SAWM

 ”
Fast
ingi
spr
escr
ibedf
ory
ouasi
twaspr
escr
ibedf
ort
hosebef
orey
ou,
thaty
ou
mayat
tai
npi
ety
.”Qur
’an2:
183

 Aswi
thanyactofwor
shi
p,f
ast
ingr
equi
resobedi
enceandsubmi
ssi
ont
oAl
l
ah’
s
commandst
hrought
hehi
ghestdegr
eeofcommi
tmentandsi
ncer
it
y.Ev
eryy
ear
dur
ingt
hemont
hofRamadan(
the9t
hmont
hoft
hel
unarcal
endar
),Musl
i
ms
f
astf
rom dawnunt
ilsunset
,abst
aini
ngf
rom t
hreekeyhumanneeds–f
ood,
dr
inkandsexual
rel
ati
ons.Oneshoul
dal
soabst
ainf
rom al
lsi
nful
act
ions.
 Fast
ingdur
ingRamadani
sobl
i
gat
oryonev
eryphy
sical
l
yandment
all
ycapabl
e
adul
tMusl
i
m.Chi
l
dren,
thesi
ck,
thement
all
yunf
it
,theel
der
ly,
menst
ruat
ing
women,
andt
rav
ell
ersar
eexempt
.
 Somebenef
it
soff
ast
ing:
 Pr
omot
esspi
ri
tual
sel
f-
pur
if
icat
ionandgr
owt
h.

 Sci
ent
if
ical
l
ypr
ovenheal
thbenef
it
s.

 Sy
mpat
hyf
ort
hosel
essf
ort
unat
e,pr
ompt
ingmor
echar
it
y.

 Ameansofl
ear
ningsel
f-
rest
rai
ntandpat
ience.

 Pur
if
iest
hesoul
andhel
psi
tacqui
ret
hehabi
tofobey
ingAl
l
ahbyr
est
rai
ning
desi
res,
andpr
omot
esst
eadf
ast
ness.

 Cr
eat
esani
ncr
easedf
eel
i
ngofuni
tyandcol
l
ect
ivei
dent
it
yamongstt
hose
f
ast
ing.

 Cr
eat
esani
ncr
easedawar
enessaboutt
hest
ateofaf
fai
rsacr
osst
hegl
obe
andt
hehar
dshi
psendur
ed.

 For
giv
enessofsi
ns.ThePr
ophet(
peacebeuponhi
m)sai
d,“
Hewhof
ast
s
Ramadan,
wit
hfai
thandhopi
ngf
orr
ewar
d(f
rom Al
l
ah)
,thenhi
spastsi
nsar
e
f
orgi
ven.
”
Pi
l
gri
mage–HAJJ

7
 “
AndHaj
j(pi
l
gri
maget
oMakkah)t
otheHouse(
Ka‘
bah)i
sadut
ythatmanki
nd
owest
oAl
l
ah,
fort
hosewhocanaf
for
dtheexpenses(
forone’
str
anspor
tat
ion,
pr
ovi
sionandr
esi
dence)
.”
Qur
’an3:
97

 Pi
l
gri
maget
otheHol
yci
tyofMakkah(
inSaudi
Arabi
a)andot
hersacr
edsi
tes
mustbeper
for
medatl
eastoncei
naper
son’
sli
fe,
ift
heyar
ephy
sical
l
yand
f
inanci
all
ycapabl
e.
 Per
for
mingt
hepi
l
gri
magei
sat
empor
arysuspensi
onofal
lwor
ldl
yact
ivi
ti
es,
and
i
sat
imef
oronet
oref
lect
,wor
shi
p,seekt
hef
orgi
venessofAl
l
ahandat
tai
nHi
s
cl
oseness.
 ThePi
l
gri
magei
sanannual
eventi
nthe12t
hmont
hoft
hel
unarcal
endar(
Dhul
-
Hi
j
jahi
nAr
abi
c),
whi
chuni
fi
espeopl
eofev
erycol
our
,race,
stat
usandage,
as
t
heyj
oini
nwor
shi
poft
heOneTr
ueGod.Al
lpi
l
gri
mswearsi
mpl
eandsi
mil
ar
cl
othi
ng,
whi
chst
ri
psawaydi
sti
nct
ionsofcl
assandcul
tur
e,sot
hatal
lst
and
equal
bef
oreAl
l
ah.
 Pr
ophetMuhammad(
peacebeuponhi
m)sai
d,“
Whoev
erper
for
msHaj
jand
doesnotut
terobsceni
ti
esorcommi
tsi
n,wi
llcomebackj
ustl
iket
hedaywhen
hi
smot
herbor
ehi
m(i
.e.pur
eofsi
ns)
.”
 Haj
ji
nvol
vesf
oll
owi
ngi
nthef
oot
stepsofPr
ophetAbr
aham,
ast
aughtt
ousby
Pr
ophetMuhammad(
peacebeupont
hem)
.Thi
sgr
eatactofwor
shi
pconsi
stsof
manycomponent
sincl
udi
ngsacr
if
ici
nganani
mal
,suppl
i
cat
ing,
visi
ti
ngand
pr
ayi
ngatv
ari
oussi
tes,
cir
cli
ngt
heKa’
bah,
wal
ki
ngbet
weent
womount
ains,
as
wel
lasmanyot
herr
it
ual
s,al
lofwhi
char
eper
for
medov
eraper
iodof6
cont
inuousday
s.
 Suchanexper
iencei
sli
fe-
alt
eri
ngandhumbl
esaper
son,
maki
ngt
hem mor
e
pat
ientandt
hankf
ult
oAl
l
ah.Br
other
hoodi
sincr
eased,
asi
sthesenset
hatal
l
Musl
i
ms,
regar
dlessoft
hei
rdi
ff
erences,
areonenat
ion.

Concl
usi
on

 Thef
ivepi
l
lar
sofI
slam hav
ebeenpr
escr
ibedbyAl
l
ah,
andaMusl
i
misr
equi
red
t
obel
i
eveandactaccor
dingt
othem.Theyar
epr
act
ical
aswel
laseasy
,andt
he
8
 bl
essi
ngsandwi
sdom behi
ndt
hem ar
emani
fol
d.Whenputi
ntoper
spect
ive,
they
cont
ri
but
etot
hewel
lbei
ngofbot
hthei
ndi
vi
dual
andt
hesoci
ety
,enhanci
ngt
he
char
act
erandmanner
soft
hei
ndi
vi
dual
,andmaki
ngbot
hsoci
etyandi
ndi
vi
dual
s
account
abl
eandcl
osert
oAl
l
ah.
 Thesenobl
epi
l
lar
sofI
slam ar
epur
elyf
ort
hebenef
itofHi
scr
eat
ion,
asAl
l
ah
(
Glor
ybet
oHi
m!)i
sfr
eeofal
lneeds.Thesef
ivepi
l
lar
spr
ovi
det
hesol
i
d
st
ruct
ureand‘
tr
aini
ngpr
ogr
amme’
fort
hebet
ter
mentandsuccessofal
l
humani
ty.

t
tt
T

THESHARI
ALAW

 Monot
hei
sm,
bel
i
efi
noneGod,
ist
hemosti
mpor
tantandf
oundat
ionalconcept
i
nIsl
am.Musl
i
msbel
i
evei
noneGodwhocr
eat
edt
heuni
ver
seandhaspower
overever
ythi
ngwi
thi
nit
.Hei
suni
queandexal
tedaboveever
ythi
ngHecr
eat
es,
andHi
sgr
eat
nesscannotbecompar
edt
oHi
scr
eat
ion.Fur
ther
mor
e,Hei
sthe
onl
yonedeser
vingofanywor
shi
pandt
heul
ti
mat
epur
poseofal
lcr
eat
ioni
sto
submi
ttoHi
m.TheI
slami
cunder
standi
ngofGodi
sdi
sti
nctf
rom al
lot
her
r
eli
gionsandbel
i
efsi
nvar
iousr
espect
ssi
ncei
tisbasedonapur
eandcl
ear
under
standi
ngofmonot
hei
sm.Thi
sessent
ial
l
ycapt
urest
heconceptofGodi
n
I
slam,
whi
chwi
l
lbef
urt
herel
abor
atedi
nthi
spamphl
et.

 Musl
i
msof
tenr
ef oGodasAl
ert l
ah.Thi
sisauni
ver
sal
namef
orGodanddoes
notr
efert
oanexcl
usi
vel
y‘I
slami
c’God.I
nter
est
ingl
y,t
hisnamei
srel
atedt
othe
Ar
amai
candHebr
ewnamesf Al
orGod, l
ahaandEl
ohi
m.Ther
efor
e,Al
l
ahi
s
si
mpl
ytheAr
abi
cnamef
orGodwhi
chaf
fi
rmst
hatHei
sOnesi
ngul
arGodwi
th
nopar
tner s.ThenameAl
sorequal l
ahcannotbepl
ural
i
zedorl
i
mit
edt
oa
speci
fi
cgender
,whi
chest
abl
i
shest
hatGodi
sOneandt
hatHei
suni
quef
rom
ev
ery
thi
ngHecr
eat
es.Musl
i
mscont
inuet
ouset
hisor
igi
nal
Arabi
cnamef
orGod

9
 Al
( l
ah)si
ncei
tper
fect
lyexpr
essesHi
suni
quequal
i
ties.

 Godi
stheCr
eat
orandt
heSust
aineroft
heuni
ver
sewhocr
eat
edev
ery
thi
ngf
ora
r
eason.Musl
i
msbel
i
evet
hatHecr
eat
edhumanki
ndwi
thasi
mpl
epur
pose–t
o
wor
shi
pHi
m.Hesentmessenger
stogui
depeopl
einf
ulf
il
li
ngt
hispur
pose.
Someoft
hesemessenger
sincl
udeAdam,
Noah,
Abr
aham,
Moses,
Jesus,
and
Muhammad,
peacebeuponal
loft
hem.Theyal
ltaughtaconsi
stentmessage
aboutGodbyaf
fi
rmi
ngHi
sgr
eat
nessast
heCr
eat
orandgui
dingpeopl
eto
wor
shi
pHi
m al
one.Thi
sbasi
cconcepthasal
way
sresonat
edwi
thpeopl
e’
s
nat
ural
under
standi
ngofGod.(
Cli
ckher
etol
ear
nmor
eaboutpr
ophet
sinI
slam.
)

 Whent
hef
inal
prophet
,Muhammad,
peacebeuponhi
m(pbuh)
,wasaskedabout
God,
theanswercamedi
rect
lyf
rom Godi
nthehol
ybookofMusl
i
ms,
theQur
an
(
alsospel
l
ed‘
Kor
an’
):“
Say,
‘Hei
sGodt
heOne,
Godt
heet
ernal
.Hebegotnoone
norwasHebegot
ten.Noonei
scompar
abl
etoHi
m.’
”[112:
1-4]Thi
sisacl
ear
st
atementbyGoddescr
ibi
ngHi
msel
ftohumani
tywi
thoutanyr
oom f
or
conf
usi
on.Godi
sOneandi
sexal
tedabov
eev
ery
thi
ngHecr
eat
esandHei
s
capabl
eov
eral
lthi
ngs.

 Shar
ial
awi
sthel
awofI
slam.TheShar
ia(
al edShar
sospel
l i'
aor
Shar
iah)l
awi
s
castf
romMuhammad'
swor
ds,
cal
l hadi
ed" th,
"hi
sact
ions,
cal
l sunnah,
ed" "and
t
heQur
an,
whi
chhedi
ctat
ed.Shar
ial
awi
tsel
fcannotbeal
ter
ed,
butt
he
i
nter
pret
ati
onofShar
ial
aw,
cal
l f
ed"i
qh,
"bymuf
ti
s(I
slami
cjur
ist
s)i
sgi
vensome
l
ati
tude.

 Asal
egal
syst
em,
Shar
ial
awi
sexcept
ional
l
ybr
oad.Whi
l
eot
herl
egal
codes
r
egul
atepubl
i
cbehav
ior
,Shar
ial
awr
egul
atespubl
i
cbehav
ior
,pr
ivat
ebehav
ior
,
andev
enpr
ivat
ebel
i
efs.Compar
edt
oot
herl
egal
codes,
Shar
ial
awal
so
pr
ior
it
izespuni
shmentov
err
ehabi
l
itat
ion,
andt
hepenal
ti
esunderShar
ial
aw
f
avorcor
por
alandcapi
tal
puni
shment
sov
eri
ncar
cer
ati
on.Ofal
ll
egal
syst
emsi
n
t
hewor
ldt
oday
,Shar
ial
awi
sdeemedt
hemosti
ntr
usi
veandr
est
ri
cti
ve,
especi
all
yagai
nstwomen(
seebel
ow)
,andi
smaki
ngi
nroadsi
ntoWest
ern
democr
aci
es(
seeShar
ial
awi
nAmer
ica,
Canada,
Eur
opeandUK)
.

10
Accor
dingt
oShar
ial
aw(
seel
i
nksf
ordet
ail
s):

• Thef
tispuni
shabl
ebyamput
ati
onoft
hehands(
Qur
an5:
38-i
ncl
udes
gr
aphi
cimage)
.
•Cr
it
ici
zi
ngordeny
inganypar
toft
heQur
ani
spuni
shabl
ebydeat
h.
•Cr
it
ici
zi
ngMuhammadordeny
ingt
hathei
sapr
opheti
spuni
shabl
eby
deat
h.
•Cr
it
ici
zi
ngordeny
ingAl
l
ahi
spuni
shabl
ebydeat
h(seeAl
lahmoongod)
.
•AMusl
i
m whobecomesanon-
Musl
i
mispuni
shabl
ebydeat
h
(
SeeCompul
sion)
.
•Anon-
Musl
i
m whol
eadsaMusl
i
m awayf
rom I
slam i
spuni
shabl
eby
deat
h.
•Anon-
Musl
i
m manwhomar
ri
esaMusl
i
m womani
spuni
shabl
ebydeat
h.
•Awomanorgi
rlwhohasbeenr
apedcannott
est
if
yincour
tagai
nsther
r
api
st(
s).
•Test
imoni
esof4mal
ewi
tnessesar
erequi
redt
opr
over
apeofaf
emal
e
(
Qur
an24:
13)
.
•Awomanorgi
rlwhoal
l
egesr
apewi
thoutpr
oduci
ng4mal
ewi
tnessesi
s
gui
l
tyofadul
ter
y.
•Awomanorgi
rlf
oundgui
l
tyofadul
ter
yispuni
shabl
ebydeat
h(see
"
Isl
amophobi
a")
.
•Amal
econv
ict
edofr
apecanhav
ehi
sconv
ict
iondi
smi
ssedbymar
ryi
ng
hi
svi
cti
m.
•Musl
i
m menhav
esexual
right
stoanywoman/
gir
lnotwear
ing
t
heHi
jab(
seeTahar
rush)
.
•Awomancanhav
e1husband,
whocanhav
eupt
o4
wi
ves;
Muhammadcanhav
emor
e.
•Amancanmar
ryani
nfantgi
rlandconsummat
ethemar
ri
agewhenshe
i
s9y
ear
sol
d.
•Gi
rl
s'cl
i
tor
isshoul
dbecut(
Muhammad'
swor Book41,
ds, Kit
abAl
-Adab,

11
 Hadi
th5251)
.
•Amancanbeathi
swi
fef
ori
nsubor
dinat
ion(
seeQur
an4:
34andRel
igi
on
ofPeace)
.
•Amancanuni
l
ater
all
ydi
vor
cehi
swi
fe;
awi
feneedsherhusband'
s
consentt
odi
vor
ce.
•Adi
vor
cedwi
fel
osescust
odyofal
lchi
l
drenov
er6y
ear
sofageorwhen
t
heyexceedi
t.
•Awoman'
stest
imonyi
ncour
t,al
l
owedi
npr
oper
tycases,
car
ri
es½t
he
wei
ghtofaman'
s.
•Af
emal
ehei
rinher
it
shal
fofwhatamal
ehei
rinher
it
s(seeMat
hemat
ics
i
nQur
an)
.
•Awomancannotdr
iveacar
,asi
tl of
eadst i
tnah(
upheav
al)
.
•Awomancannotspeakal
onet
oamanwhoi
snotherhusbandor
r
elat
ive.
•Meatt
oeatmustcomef
rom ani
mal
sthathav
ebeensacr
if
icedt
oAl
l
ah-
i
.e.
,be"
Hal
al.
"
•Musl
i
msar
etosubj
ugat
ethewor
ldunderI
slam (
seeQur
an
9:
29andPal
est
ineI
ssue)
.
•Musl
i
msshoul
dengagei
nTaqi
yyaandl
i
etonon-
Musl
i
mst
oadv
ance
I
slam.

WhoI
sthePr
ophetMuhammad?

 Muhammad wasbor
ninMakkahi
nthey
ear570.Si
ncehi
sfat
herdi
edbef
orehi
s
bi
rt
handhi
smot
herdi
edshor
tl
yther
eaf
ter
,hewasr
aisedbyhi
suncl
ewhowas
f
rom t
her
espect
edt
ri
beofQur
aysh.Hewasr
aisedi
l
li
ter
ate,
unabl
etor
eador
wr
it
e,andr
emai
nedsot
il
lhi
sdeat
h.Hi
speopl
e,bef
orehi
smi
ssi
onasapr
ophet
,
wer
eignor
antofsci
enceandmostoft
hem wer
eil
l
iter
ate.Ashegr
ewup,
he
becameknownt
obet
rut
hful
,honest
,tr
ust
wor
thy
,gener
ous,
andsi
ncer
e.Hewas
sot
rust
wor
thyt
hatt
heycal
l
edhi
mtheTr
ust
wor
th

12
 Muhammad wasv
eryr
eli
gious,
andhehadl
ongdet
est
edt
hedecadenceand
i
dol
atr
yofhi
ssoci
ety
.

 Att
heageoff
ort
y,Muhammad r
ecei
vedhi
sfi
rstr
evel
ati
onf
rom Godt
hrough
t
heAngel
Gabr
iel
.Ther
evel
ati
onscont
inuedf
ort
went
y-t
hreey
ear
s,andt
heyar
e
col
l
ect
ivel
yknownast
heQur
an.

 Assoonashebegant
oreci
tet
heQur
anandt
opr
eacht
het
rut
hwhi
chGodhad
r
eveal
edt
ohi
m,heandhi
ssmal
lgr
oupoff
oll
ower
ssuf
fer
edper
secut
ionf
rom
unbel
i
ever
s.Theper
secut
iongr
ewsof
ier
cet
hati
nthey
ear622Godgav
ethem
t
hecommandt
oemi
grat
e.Thi
semi
grat
ionf
rom Makkaht
otheci
tyofMadi
nah,
some260mi
l
est
othenor
th,
mar
kst
hebegi
nni
ngoft
heMusl
i
m cal
endar
.

 Af
tersev
eral
year
s,Muhammad andhi
sfol
l
ower
swer
eabl
etor
etur
ntoMakkah,
wher
etheyf
orgav
ethei
renemi
es.Bef
oreMuhammad di
ed,
att
heageofsi
xty
-
t
hree,
thegr
eat
erpar
toft
heAr
abi
anPeni
nsul
ahadbecomeMusl
i
m,andwi
thi
na
cent
uryofhi
sdeat
h,I
slam hadspr
eadt
oSpai
nint
heWestandasf
arEastas
Chi
na.Amongt
her
easonsf
ort
her
api
dandpeacef
ulspr
eadofI
slam wast
he
t
rut
handcl
ari
tyofi
tsdoct
ri
ne.I
slam cal
l
sforf
ait
hinonl
yoneGod,
Whoi
sthe
onl
yonewor
thyofwor
shi
p.

 ThePr
ophetMuhammad wasaper
fectexampl
eofanhonest
,just
,mer
cif
ul,
compassi
onat
e,t
rut
hful
,andbr
avehumanbei
ng.Thoughhewasaman,
hewas
f
arr
emov
edf
rom al
lev
ilchar
act
eri
sti
csandst
rov
esol
elyf
ort
hesakeofGodand
Hi
srewar
dint
heHer
eaf
ter
.Mor
eov
er,
inal
lhi
sact
ionsanddeal
i
ngs,
hewas
ev
ermi
ndf
ulandf
ear
ful
ofGod.

Tenr
easonsPr
ophetMuhammad‫ ﷺ‬wast
hebestPr
ophetofal
lti
me.

 AsMusl
i
ms,
iti
smandat
oryt
hatwebel
i
evei
nal
lPr
ophet
sandMessenger
sof
God,
wit
houtmaki
nganydi
sti
nct
ionbet
weent
hem.AsAl
l
ahst
atesi
ntheQur
an

13
 r
egar
dingt
hebel
i
ever
s:
 “
Alloft
hem havebel
i
evedi
nAl
l
ahandHi
sangel
sandHi
sbooksandHi
s
messenger
s,[
sayi
ng]
,“Wemakenodi
sti
nct
ionbet
weenanyofHi
smessenger
s.”

 Qur
an2:
285
 Nev
ert
hel
ess,
alt
houghwemakenodi
sti
nct
ioni
nter
msofbel
i
evi
ngt
hatal
l
Pr
ophet
sandMessenger
swer
esentbyGod,
whet
heri
tbeAdam,
Noah,
Abr
aham,
Moses,
Jesusandofcour
seMuhammad‫ ﷺ‬,
wedoi
nfactf
avourcer
tai
n
Pr
ophet
samongstot
her
s.

 AsAl
l
ahal
sost
atesi
ntheQur
an:

 “
Thosemessenger
s–someoft
hem Wecausedt
oexceedot
her
s.Amongt
hem
wer
ethoset
owhom Al
l
ahspoke,
andHer
aisedsomeoft
hem i
ndegr
ee…”

 Qur
an2:
253
 Onsay
ingt
his,
weasMusl
i
mswhol
ehear
tedl
ybel
i
evet
hatPr
ophetMuhammad
‫ ﷺ‬wast
hegr
eat
estofal
lPr
ophet
sduet
othemanyev
idencesav
ail
abl
e.We
hav
ecompi
l
edal
i
stoft
enoft
hest
rongestsi
gnst
hatpr
ovet
his,
alongwi
tht
hei
r
accompany
ingr
efer
ences.

1.
Hewast
hef
inalMessengersentbyGodt
otheent
ir
etyofhumani
ty.
 Al
l
ahst
atesi
ntheQur
an:

 “
Muhammadi
snott
hef
atherofanyofyourmen,
but(
hei
s)t
heApost
leofGod,
andt
heSealoft
hePr
ophet
s:andGodhasf
ullknowl
edgeofal
lthi
ngs.

 Qur
an33:
40
 Thawbanal
sonar
rat
edt
hatt
heMessengerofAl
l
ah‫ ﷺ‬sai
d:

 “
…AndIam t
hel
astoft
hePr
ophet
s,t
her
eisnoPr
ophetaf
terme.
”
2.Hewasgi
vent
heQur
an,
thef
inalr
evel
ati
onofGod.

14
 Al
l
ahst
atesi
ntheQur
an:

 Hehassentdownuponyou,
[OMuhammad]
,theBooki
ntr
uth,
conf
ir
mingwhat
wasbef
orei
t.AndHer
eveal
edt
heTor
ahandt
heGospel
.

 Qur
an3:
3
3.Hewasgr
ant
edt
hel
argestf
oll
owi
ng.
 TheMessengerofAl
l
ah‫ ﷺ‬sai
d:
“
Amongstt
heapost
lesIwoul
dhavet
hel
argestf
oll
owi
ngont
heDayof
Resur
rect
ion,
andIwoul
dbet
hef
ir
stt
oknockatt
hedoorofPar
adi
se.
”
4.Hei
sthel
eaderoft
hechi
ldr
enofAdam.
5.Hewi
llbet
hef
ir
stt
ober
esur
rect
ed.
6.Hewi
llbet
hef
ir
stt
oint
ercedeont
heDayofJudgement
.
 AbuHur
ayr
ah,
nar
rat
edt
hatt
heMessengerofAl
l
ah‫ ﷺ‬sai
d:

 “
Iwi
l
lbet
hel
eaderoft
hesonsofAdam ont
heDayofResur
rect
ion,
andt
hef
ir
st
onef
orwhom t
hegr
avewi
l
lbeopened,
andt
hef
ir
stt
oint
ercede,
andt
hef
ir
st
whosei
nter
cessi
onwi
l
lbeaccept
ed.
’
”
7.Hewi
llbet
hef
ir
stt
ocr
osst
heSi
raatbr
idgeov
erHel
lFi
re.
 I
twasnar
rat
edt
hat‘
Atabi
nYazi
dsai
d:

 “
Iwassi
tt
ingwi
thAbuHur
air
ahandAbuSa’
eed.Oneoft
hem nar
rat
edt
hehadi
th
abouti
nter
cessi
onandt
heot
herwasl
i
steni
ng.Hesai
d:‘
Thent
heangel
swi
l
l
comeandi
nter
cede,
andt
hemessenger
swi
l
lint
ercede.
’Andhement
ionedt
he
Si
rat
,andsai
d:“
TheMessengerofAl
l
ah(
‫) ﷺ‬sai
d:‘
Iwi
l
lbet
hef
ir
stonet
ocr
oss
i
t…”
8.
Hewi
llbet
hef
ir
stt
oent
erPar
adi
se.
 Anasbi
nMal
i
knar
rat
edt
hatt
hePr
ophet‫ ﷺ‬sai
d:

 “
Iwi
l
lcomet
othegat
eofPar
adi
seont
heDayofResur
rect
ionandwi
l
laskf
ori
t
t
obeopened.Thekeeperwi
l
lsay:‘
Whoar
eyou?’
Iwi
l
lsay,
‘Muhammad.
’Hewi
l
l

15
 say:‘
Iwascommandednott
oopeni
tforanyonebef
oreyou.
”
9.
Hewasgr
ant
edt
heMaqaam Al
-Mahmoud(
ThePr
aisedSt
ati
on)
.
 Al
l
ahst
atesi
ntheQur
an:

 “
Itmaybet
hatyourLor
dwi
l
lrai
seyout
oMaqaam Al
-Mahmoud(
ast
ati
onof
pr
aiseandgl
ory)
.”
Qur
an17:
79
 I
bnJar
eersai
d,

 “
Mostoft
hecomment
ator
ssai
dthati
stheposi
ti
onwhi
chhe‫ ﷺ‬wi
l
loccupyi
n
or
dert
oint
ercedef
ort
hepeopl
eont
heDayofResur
rect
ion,
toaskt
hatt
hei
rLor
d
mi
ghtgr
antt
hem r
espi
tef
rom t
hegr
eathar
dshi
pthatt
heyar
esuf
fer
ingont
his
Day.
”
10.Hel
edal
lthePr
ophet
sinPr
ayerdur
ingt
heNi
ghtJour
ney
.
 Thi
spr
ovest
hatourPr
ophetMuhammad‫ ﷺ‬i
sthegr
eat
estl
eader
,andasi
twas
st
atedbyI
bnKat
heeratt
hebegi
nni
ngofhi
scomment
aryonSur
ahAl
-I
sra’
:“Then
hi
shonour
abl
est
atusandsuper
ior
it
ytot
hem wasmani
fest
edwhenhewas
madet
ogof
orwar
dtol
eadt
hem i
npr
ayer
,whenJi
breel
(peacebeuponhi
m)
i
ndi
cat
edt
ohi
mthatheshoul
ddoso.
”
 Thesear
ejustasel
ect
ionoft
hepr
oof
sthati
ndi
cat
ethatt
hePr
ophet
Muhammad‫ ﷺ‬wast
hegr
eat
estofal
lPr
ophet
stohav
ewal
kedt
hisEar
th.May
t
hepeaceandbl
essi
ngsofAl
l
ah,
GodAl
might
y,beuponhi
m,hi
sfami
l
yandhi
s
compani
ons.

THESTATUSOFWOMENI
NSLAM
I
ntr
oduct
ion

 Thest
atusofwomeni
nIsl
am i
soneoft
hecr
uci
alt
opi
csanddomi
nantt
hemes
i
nthemoder
ner
a,whi
cht
heol
ogi
anshav
ebeenst
udy
ing.I
slam r
egar
dsmenand
womenasbei
ngoft
hesameessencecr
eat
edf
rom asi
ngl
esoul
.Awomanhasa
compl
etel
yindependentper
sonal
i
tyi
nIsl
am.I
nthi
spaper
,Iwi
l
lpr
ovi
dean

16
 ov
erv
iewoft
hest
atusofwomeni
nIsl
am i
ngener
alandt
henIwi
l
lfocusont
he
i
ssueofequal
i
ty.

 Onei
mpor
tantpar
toft
hedi
scussi
onwi
l
lbedev
otedt
ocl
ari
fyt
heconcept
ual
cont
extandt
her
elev
antt
ermi
nol
ogyoft
hesubj
ectofi
nher
it
anceandt
oex
plai
n
cer
tai
nrul
i
ngsofi
nher
it
ancei
nIsl
ami
clawt
hatmayseem atf
ir
stgl
ancet
obei
n
conf
li
ctwi
tht
hei
deaofequal
i
ty.

St
atusofWomani
nIsl
am

 I
ntheI
slami
cper
spect
ive,
awomanhasanhonour
edposi
ti
on.Shehasspeci
al
r
espect
,lov
e,af
fect
ionandgent
lef
eel
i
ngal
ongwi
thherl
egal
andci
vi
lri
ght
s.

 I
sshenott
hecompassi
onat
emot
her
?
 I
sshenott
hebel
ovedwi
fe?
 I
sshenott
heaf
fect
ionat
edaught
er?
 Act
ual
l
yIsl
am expr
essest
hebestexpl
anat
ionf
orawoman’
str
uei
magei
nthe
f
oll
owi
ngv
ersesf
rom t
heQur
’an:
 Wehaveenj
oinedmant
obeki
ndt
ohi
spar
ent
s.Hi
smot
herhascar
ri
edhi
min
t
ravai
l,
andbor
ehi
mint
ravai
l,
andhi
sgest
ati
onandweani
ngt
aket
hir
tymont
hs.
Whenhecomesofageandr
eachesf
ort
yyear
s,hesays,
‘MyLor
d!I
nspi
remet
o
gi
vet
hanksf
orYourbl
essi
ngwi
thwhi
chYouhavebl
essedmeandmypar
ent
s,
andt
hatImaydor
ight
eousdeedswhi
chmaypl
easeYou,
andi
nvestmy
descendant
swi
thr
ight
eousness.I
ndeedIhavet
urnedt
oyoui
npeni
tence,
andI
am oneoft
hemusl
ims.
’(46:
15)

 YourLor
dhasdecr
eedt
hatyoushal
lnotwor
shi
panyoneexceptHi
m,and[
He
hasenj
oined]ki
ndnesst
opar
ent
s.Shoul
dtheyr
eachol
dageatyoursi
de–one
oft
hem orbot
h-donotsayt
othem,
‘Fi
e!’
Anddonotchi
det
hem,
butspeakt
o
t
hem nobl
ewor
ds.Lowert
hewi
ngofhumi
li
tyt
othem,
outofmer
cy,
andsay,
‘
MyLor
d!Havemer
cyont
hem,
justast
heyr
ear
edmewhenIwas[
a]smal
l
[
chi
ld]
!’(
17:
23&24)
17
 Donotcovett
headvant
agewhi
chGodhasgi
vensomeofyouoverot
her
s.To
menbel
ongsashar
eofwhatt
heyhaveear
ned,
andt
owomenashar
eofwhat
t
heyhaveear
ned.AndaskGodf
orHi
sgr
ace.(
4:32)

 Si
mil
art
otheQur
’an,
thePr
ophet
ichadi
thsal
soemphasi
zet
hehonourand
r
espectofwomenwi
thi
nsuchaf
rameofl
ove,
endear
mentandaf
fect
ion.Thi
sis
especi
all
ytr
uewhent
hehadi
thst
eachaboutt
hemot
her
,thewi
feandt
he
daught
er.Forexampl
e,t
hePr
ophetsai
d:

 Obser
vey
ourdut
ytoGodi
nrespectt
othewomen,
andr
ecommendt
hem t
obe
wel
ltr
eat
ed.

 Heal
sosai
d:

 Idonott
hinkt
hatamanget
sbet
teri
nfai
thwi
thoutl
ovi
ngwomenbet
ter
.

 ThePr
ophethadadaught
erwhom hel
ovedv
erydeepl
yandt
ender
ly.Heusedt
o
say
:“Fat
imahi
sapar
tofme;
whoev
erwr
ongsherwr
ongsmeandwhopl
eases
herpl
easesme.

 Hev
isi
tedherf
requent
ly;
andonhi
sret
urnf
rom anyj
our
neyhecal
l
edonherf
ir
st
bef
oregoi
ngt
ohi
sownhome.Whenev
ersheappr
oached,
hisey
esgl
owedwi
th
j
oy.Hewoul
dtakeheri
nhi
sar
m,ki
ssherwar
mlyandof
ferherhi
sownseat
.
I
ndeedt
hiski
nd,
tenderpat
ter
nisani
deal
model
formanki
nd.

 Amancamet
othePr
ophetandaskedhi
m,“
OmessengerofGod!Whom shoul
dI
bemor
edut
if
ult
o?”ThePr
ophetr
epl
i
ed:
“Toy
ourmot
her
.”Heasked,
thent
o
whom.Thenher
epl
i
ed:
“Toy
ourmot
her
.”Themanagai
nasked,
thent
owhom.
Thent
hePr
ophetr
epl
i
ed:
“Toy
ourf
ather
.”

Equal
it
y

 I
slam consi
der
sbot
hmenandwomenequal
l
yhumanandgr
ant
sthem equal
humanr
ight
s.Thought
hei
rtasksandf
unct
ionsmaysomet
imesdi
ff
er,
theybot
h
hav
eoppor
tuni
ti
esf
orachi
evi
ngper
fect
ionandcl
osenesst
oGod.Thef
oll
owi
ng
v
ersesf
rom t
heQur
’anandsay
ingsoft
hePr
ophetsuppor
tthi
sar
gument
.For

18
 exampl
e,Godsay
s:

 manki
nd!I
ndeedWecr
eat
edyouf
rom amal
eandaf
emal
e,and
madeyounat
ionsandt
ri
best
hatyoumayi
dent
if
ywi
thone
anot
her
.Indeedt
henobl
estofyoui
nthesi
ghtofGodi
sthemost
Godwar
yamongyou.I
ndeedGodi
sAl
l-
knowi
ng,
All
-awar
e.(
49:
13)

 manki
nd!Bewar
yofyourLor
dwhocr
eat
edyouf
rom asi
ngl
esoul
,
andcr
eat
edi
tsmat
efr
om i
t,and,
from t
het
wooft
hem,
scat
ter
ed
numer
ousmenandwomen.(
4:1)

 Al
soPr
ophetMuhammad(
S)sai
d:

 Al
lpeopl
ear
eequal
,ast
het
eet
hofacomb.Ther
eisnocl
aim ofmer
itofanAr
ab
andnon-
Arab,
orawhi
teov
erabl
ackper
son,
oramal
eov
eraf
emal
e.Onl
yAl
l
ah-
f
ear
ingpeopl
emer
itapr
efer
encewi
thGod.
5

 Themosti
mpor
tantsour
cesi
nIsl
ami
cthoughti
.e.t
heQur
’anandSunnahbot
h
conf
ert
hegr
eatmessageofuni
ver
sal
equal
i
tyamongal
lmanki
nd.Theabov
e
t
ext
sar
ejustaf
ewexampl
esandt
her
ear
emanymor
eav
ail
abl
e.

 Apar
tfr
om t
his,
ther
ear
ehundr
edsofv
erseswhi
cht
aket
hef
orm ofaddr
ess:
“O
manki
nd,
or“
Obel
i
ever
”whi
chr
efert
obot
hmenandwomen.Bot
hhav
esi
mil
ar
dut
iest
oper
for
m;f
ori
nst
ancepr
ayer
,ri
tual
s,f
ast
ing,
tocommandt
ogoodand
t
opr
ohi
bitf
rom ev
il
.Mor
alv
irt
uessuchast
oler
ance,
trut
hful
ness,
honest
yar
e
r
equi
redf
rom bot
h.Accor
dingt
oIsl
am,
per
sonal
super
ior
it
yisonl
ybasedon
pi
ety
.

 I
slam’
sregar
dforwomeni
snotsi
mpl
ygi
vi
ngherachancet
osur
viv
e.Musl
i
ms,
menandwomen,
aret
oldt
oseekknowl
edgeandeducat
ionwher
evert
heyf
indi
t
andt
ouset
hisknowl
edget
ohel
pfel
l
owhumanbei
ngs.Thi
sisadut
yabout
whi
cht
heywi
l
lbequest
ionedonJudgementDay
.Hi
stor
ytel
l
susaboutt
he
i
mmensecont
ri
but
ionofMusl
i
m woment
othecommuni
ty.Onel
adyi
.e.t
heLady
Khadi
j
ah,
daught
erofKhuway
li
d,andoney
oungboywer
ethef
ir
stt
obel
i
evei
n

19
 I
slam.LadyKhadi
j
ahwasagr
eatsuppor
terofI
slam andt
hePr
ophet
.

Ananal
ysi
sofequal
it
y

 Ther
ear
efourl
ogi
cal
char
act
eri
sti
csofequal
i
ty,
whi
char
ecr
uci
ali
nQur
’ani
c
per
spect
ive:

 Equal
i
tyi
nrel
i
giousmat
ter
s;
 Equal
i
tyi
net
hical
obl
i
gat
ionsandr
ewar
ds;
 Equal
i
tyi
neducat
ion;
 Equal
i
tyi
nlegal
right
s.

Equal
it
yinr
eli
giousmat
ter
s
 TheQur
’ancommandsequal
i
tyf
ormenandwomenr
egar
dingr
eli
gious
obl
i
gat
ionsandr
ewar
ds.Wer
ead:

 I
ndeedt
hemusl
im(
orsubmi
ssi
ve)menandt
hemusl
im(
orsubmi
ssi
ve)women,
t
hef
ait
hfulmenandt
hef
ait
hfulwomen,
theobedi
entmenandt
heobedi
ent
women,
thet
rut
hfulmenandt
het
rut
hfulwomen,
thepat
ientmenandt
he
pat
ientwomen,
thehumbl
emenandt
hehumbl
ewomen,
thechar
it
abl
emen
andt
hechar
it
abl
ewomen,
themenwhof
astandt
hewomenwhof
ast
,themen
whoguar
dthei
rpr
ivat
epar
tsandt
hewomenwhoguar
d,t
hemenwho
r
ememberGodgr
eat
lyandt
hewomenwhor
emember[
Godgr
eat
ly]
-Godhol
ds
i
nst
oref
ort
hem f
orgi
venessandagr
eatr
ewar
d.(
33:
35)

Equal
it
yinet
hical
obl
igat
ionsandr
ewar
ds

 Secondl
y,t
heQur
’anr
eveal
stomanki
ndt
hedesi
redequal
i
tyoft
het
wosexesby
est
abl
i
shi
ngt
hesameet
hical
obl
i
gat
ionsandr
ewar
dsf
orwomenandmen:

 Andwhoeverdoesr
ight
eousdeeds,
whet
hermal
eorf
emal
e,shoul
dheorshe
bef
ait
hful-
suchshal
lent
erpar
adi
seandt
heywi
llnotbewr
onged[
somuchas]
t
hespeckonadat
e-st
one.(
4:124)

 Whoeveract
sri
ght
eousl
y,[
whet
her
]mal
eorf
emal
e,shoul
dhebef
ait
hful
,-We

20
 shal
lrevi
vehi
m wi
thagoodl
if
eandpayt
hem t
hei
rrewar
dbyt
hebestofwhat
t
heyusedt
odo.(
16:
97)

 I
fGodhadnotdeemedt
het
wosexesofequal
stat
usandv
alue,
suchexpl
i
cit
st
atement
soft
hei
requal
i
tyi
net
hical
obl
i
gat
ionsandr
ewar
dswoul
dnothav
e
beenmadei
ntheQur
’an.

Equal
it
yineducat
ion

 Al
thought
hemor
especi
fi
ccommandsf
ort
heequal
right
sofwomenandment
o
pur
sueeducat
ioncanbef
oundi
nthehadi
thl
i
ter
atur
e,t
heQur
’andoesatl
east
i
mpl
ythepur
sui
tofknowl
edgebyal
lMusl
i
msr
egar
dlessoft
hei
rsex.For
exampl
e,i
trepeat
edl
ycommandsal
lreader
stor
ead,
tor
eci
te,
tot
hink,
to
cont
empl
ate,
andaswel
last
olear
nfr
om t
hesi
gns(
ayat
)ofGodi
nnat
ure.I
n
f
act
,thev
eryf
ir
str
evel
ati
ont
oPr
ophetMuhammad(
S)wasconcer
nedwi
tht
he
messageofknowl
edge.

 I
ntheQur
’ani
cper
spect
ivet
her
ecannev
erbear
est
ri
cti
onoft
hisknowl
edget
o
onesex
.Iti
sthedut
yofev
eryMusl
i
m manandev
eryMusl
i
m womant
opur
sue
knowl
edget
hroughoutl
i
fe,
eveni
fitshoul
dleadt
heseekert
o“Chi
na,
”wear
etol
d.
ThePr
ophetev
encommandedt
hatt
hesl
avegi
rl
sbeeducat
ed,
andheasked
Shi
fa’
bint‘
Abdi
l
laht
oeducat
ehi
sownwi
fe–Haf
sahbi
nt‘
Umar
.

 Audi
encesofbot
hmenandwomenat
tendedl
ect
uresoft
hePr
ophet
;andbyt
he
t
imeoft
hePr
ophet
’sdeat
h,t
her
ewer
emanywomenschol
ars.
6

Equal
it
yinl
egalr
ight
s

 Af
our
thev
idencei
ntheQur
’anf
ort
heequal
i
tyofmenandwomeni
sit
s
speci
fi
cat
ionofl
egal
right
swhi
char
eguar
ant
eedf
orev
eryi
ndi
vi
dual
from cr
adl
e
t
ogr
ave.TheQur
’anpr
ocl
aimst
her
ightofbot
hwomenandmeni
nenj
oyi
ngf
ull
l
egal
right
s.Shemaybuy
,sel
l
,ear
nal
i
vingandmanageherownmoneyand
pr
oper
ty.I
nIsl
am t
hewomanhasal
egal
l
yindependentper
sonal
i
tyandher
obl
i
gat
ionsar
eindependentf
rom t
hoseofherf
ather
,husbandorbr
other
.

21
 Thus,
thewomani
nIsl
am enj
oysal
lri
ght
sandi
str
eat
edequal
tomani
nthi
s
r
espect
.

 I
naddi
ti
ont
otheser
ight
s,t
heQur
’angr
ant
sthewomanashar
eint
hei
nher
it
ance
oft
hef
ami
l
y(4:
7-11)andwar
nsagai
nstdepr
ivi
ngheroft
hati
nher
it
ance(
4:19)
,
speci
fi
est
hatt
hedowr
y(mahr
)ofhermar
ri
ageshoul
dbel
ongt
oheral
oneand
nev
erbet
akenbyherhusband(
2:229;
4:19-
21&25)unl
esspr
esent
edbyt
he
womanher
sel
fasaf
reegi
ft(
4:44)
.

 Aswi
thanypr
ivi
l
ege,
theser
ight
sofwomencar
rycor
respondi
ngr
esponsi
bil
i
ties.
I
fshecommi
tsaci
vi
lof
fence,
theQur
’ant
ell
sus,
awoman’
spenal
tyi
snol
essor
nomor
ethant
hatofamani
nasi
mil
arcase(
e.g.24:
2).I
fshei
swr
ongedor
har
med,
shei
sent
it
ledt
ocompensat
ionj
ustl
i
keaman.

 I
tiscl
eart
hatt
heQur
’annotonl
yrecommends,
buti
sal
soi
nsi
stentupon,
the
equal
i
tyofwomenandmenasanessent
ial
char
act
eri
sti
cint
heQur
’ani
c
per
spect
ive.

Acr
it
icalanal
ysi
sofequal
i
ty

 Ther
ear
esomedi
scussi
onsaboutawoman’
sequal
i
tyi
nheri
nher
it
ance,
educat
ionandsoci
alr
ight
s.Aswehav
eal
readydi
scussed,
ther
eli
gionofI
slam
hascl
ear
lyr
equi
redt
hatequal
i
tyhast
obeexer
cisedr
egar
dlessoft
hephy
sical
gender
.Howev
er,
ther
emaybeadi
ff
erencebet
weent
het
heor
yofI
slam andt
he
pr
act
iceofMusl
i
ms.I
nor
dert
ounder
standwhatI
slam hasest
abl
i
shedf
or
woman,
ther
eisnoneedt
olookatwr
ongcust
omst
hatmayexi
sti
nsome
Musl
i
m soci
eti
es.

 Obj
ect
ivel
y,r
eli
gionmeanshumani
ty,
notcr
uel
tyorbr
utal
i
ty.Howev
er,
some
cul
tur
esmayhav
ejustamaskofI
slam buti
nreal
i
tyt
her
ear
esomel
ocal
cul
tur
al
pr
obl
emsbehi
ndt
hemask.Forexampl
e,onewr
it
ersay
s:

 Men’
sener
giesshoul
dbeexpendedi
nwor
shi
p,r
eli
giousact
ivi
ti
esandi
nthe

22
 sear
chofknowl
edge.

 Thi
sist
obeat
tai
nedbymaki
ngwomendev
otet
hemsel
vest
oser
vingt
hei
rmen
i
nthehome,
prepar
ingf
oodanddr
ink,
washi
ng,
cleani
ngandcar
ingf
ort
he
chi
l
drenandel
der
ly.

 Howev
er,
theabov
eideasar
enotr
elat
edt
ogenui
neI
slami
cper
spect
ivesas
demonst
rat
edi
ntheQur
’anandHadi
th.Thi
swr
it
erhasj
ustr
ever
tedbackt
opr
e-
I
slami
ccul
tur
e.Basedupont
heabov
etex
tsf
rom t
heQur
’anandSunnah,
these
i
deasar
enotpl
ausi
ble.I
fwewer
etoaskt
hewr
it
er,
“wher
ear
ethese
char
act
eri
sti
csi
ntheQur
’anandHadi
ths?
”wewi
l
lbeassur
edofasi
l
encet
hat
woul
dspeakv
olumes.

 Accor
dingt
oIsl
ami
cpoi
ntofv
iew,
awomanhasnoobl
i
gat
iont
opr
epar
efood
anddr
ink,
washandcl
eanf
orherhusbandorhi
sfami
l
y.Ofcour
se,
husbandsand
wi
veswhof
orm af
ami
l
y,shoul
dshar
eandcar
etomai
ntai
nfami
l
yli
fewi
th
mut
ual
under
standi
ng.

 I
nthecaseofi
nher
it
ance,
thequest
ionofequal
i
tyi
sful
l
yappl
i
cabl
e.I
npr
inci
ple,
bot
hmanandwomanar
eequal
l
yent
it
ledt
oinher
itt
hepr
oper
tyoft
hedeceased
r
elat
ionbutt
hepor
ti
onst
heygetmayv
ary
.Insomei
nst
ancesmanr
ecei
vest
wo
shar
eswher
easwomanget
sonl
yone.Thi
sisnosi
gnofgi
vi
ngpr
efer
enceor
supr
emacyt
omanov
erwoman.Ther
easonswhyamanget
smor
eint
hese
par
ti
cul
ari
nst
ancesmaybecl
assi
fi
edasf
oll
ows:

 Fi
rst
,amani
ssol
elyr
esponsi
blef
ort
hecompl
etemai
ntenanceofhi
swi
fe,
his
f
ami
l
yandanyot
herneedyr
elat
ions.I
tishi
sdut
ybyLawt
oassumeal
lfi
nanci
al
r
esponsi
bil
i
tiesandmai
ntai
nhi
sdependent
sadequat
ely
.Iti
sal
sohi
sdut
yto
cont
ri
but
efi
nanci
all
ytoal
lgoodcausesi
nhi
ssoci
ety
.Al
lfi
nanci
albur
densar
e
bor
nebyhi
m al
one.

 I
ncont
rast
,awomanhasnof
inanci
alr
esponsi
bil
i
tieswhat
soev
erexceptv
ery
l
i
ttl
eofherper
sonal
expenses,
e.g.t
hehi
ghl
uxur
ioust
hingst
hatshel
i
kest
o
hav
e.Shei
sfi
nanci
all
ysecur
eandpr
ovi
dedf
or.

23
 I
fshei
sawi
fe,
herhusbandi
sthepr
ovi
der
;ifshei
samot
her
,iti
stheson;
ifshe
i
sadaught
er,
iti
sthef
ather
;ifshei
sasi
ster
;iti
sthebr
other
,andsoon.I
fshe
hasnor
elat
ionsonwhom shecandepend,
thent
her
eisnoquest
ionof
i
nher
it
ancebecauset
her
eisnot
hingt
oinher
itandt
her
eisnoonet
obequeat
h
any
thi
ngt
oher
.

 Ev
eni
fshehasnoonet
olookaf
tershewi
l
lnotbel
eftt
ost
arv
e;mai
ntenanceof
suchawomani
sther
esponsi
bil
i
tyoft
hesoci
etyasawhol
eandt
hest
ate.She
mustbegi
venai
doraj
obt
oear
nherl
i
ving,
andwhat
evermoneyshemakeswi
l
l
beher
s.So,
int
hehar
destsi
tuat
ionawoman’
sfi
nanci
alr
esponsi
bil
i
tyi
sli
mit
ed,
whi
l
eaman’
sfi
nanci
alr
esponsi
bil
i
tyi
sunl
i
miv
ement
sforMusl
i
m woment
o
seekr
olesi
nnat
ional
leader
shi
phav
eincr
easedr
api
dly
.Gr
eat
eroppor
tuni
ti
esf
or
womeni
neducat
ionhav
efur
therencour
agedt
hei
rinv
olv
ementi
npol
i
tics.

 Themostpr
omi
nentMusl
i
mfemal
eleader
sar
efor
merpr
imemi
nist
er
of
Paki
stanBenazi
rBhut
to(
ser
ved1988-
1990and1993-
1996)
,Indonesi
an
Pr
esi
dentMegawat
iSukar
noput
ri
(becamepr
esi
dent2001)
,for
merTur
kishPr
ime
Mi
nist
erTansuCi
l
ler
(ser
ved1993-
1995)
,for
merSenegal
esePr
ime
Mi
nist
erMameMadi
orBoy
e(appoi
nted2001)
,Bangl
adeshi
Pri
me
Mi
nist
ersBegum Khal
edaZi
a(ser
ved1991–96and2001–06)andShei
khHasi
na
Waj
ed(
ser
ved1996-
01,
2009–pr
esent
),f
ormerI
rani
anVi
cePr
esi
dent
Masoumeh
Ebt
ekar(
ser
ved1997–2005)
,Mal
i
anpr
esi
dentCi
sséMar
iam Kaï
dama
Si
dibé(
elect
edi
n2011)
,Kosov
anPr
esi
dentAt
if
eteJahj
aga(
ser
ved2011–16)
,
cur
rentPr
esi
dentofMaur
it
iusBi
biAmeenahFi
rdausGur
ib-
Faki
m(el
ect
edi
n
2015)andCur
rentPr
esi
dentofSi
ngapor
eHal
i
mahYacob(
elect
edi
n2017)

 Daral
-I
ft
aal
-Mi
sri
yyah,
anI
slami
cinst
it
utet
hatadv
isesEgy
pt'
smi
nist
ryofj
ust
ice,
i
ssuedaf
atwast
ati
ngt
hatf
emal
erul
ersandj
udgesar
eal
l
owedi
nIsl
am.
[2]

 TheQur
’ancont
ainsv
ersest
hatappeart
osuppor
tther
oleofwomeni
npol
i
tics,
suchasi
tsment
ionoft
heQueenofSheba,
whor
epr
esent
edar
ulerwho
consul
tedwi
thandmadei
mpor
tantdeci
si
onsonbehal
fofherpeopl
e.Fur
ther
,
t
heHadi
thpr
ovi
desnumer
ousexampl
esofwomenhav
ingpubl
i
cleader
shi
p

24
 r
oles.Muhammad’
sfi
rstwi
feKhadi
j
abi
ntKhuway
li
dwashi
schi
efadv
iseraswel
l
ashi
sfi
rstandf
oremostsuppor
ter
.Hi
sthi
rdwi
feAi
shaAbuBakr
,awel
l
-known
aut
hor
it
yinmedi
cine,
hist
ory
,andr
het
ori
c,of
tenaccompani
edt
hePr
ophett
o
bat
tl
es,
evenl
eadi
nganar
myatt
heBat
tl
eoft
heCamel
.Howev
er,
iti
sal
sowi
thi
n
t
hecont
extoft
hisbat
tl
ethataf
amoushadi
thi
sascr
ibedt
oMuhammadwher
e
hesay
s"Nev
erwi
l
lsucceedsuchanat
ionasmakesawomant
hei
r
r
uler
."
Howev
er,
cont
empor
aryschol
arshav
ecastdoubtont
heaut
hent
ici
tyof
t
hisHadi
th,
cit
ingt
heoddt
imi
ngoft
heHadi
th'
sfi
rstr
elease,
itscont
radi
cti
on
wi
tht
hev
ersesoft
heQur
an,
andt
hemostl
i
kel
yuseoft
heHadi
thf
oraspeci
fi
c
per
sonatt
het
ime(
QueenofPer
sia)r
athert
hanasagener
alr
uleoradv
ice.

 Thoughl
eader
shi
poppor
tuni
ti
esf
orMusl
i
m womenar
ecement
edi
nrel
i
gious
t
extandcont
inuet
oexpandt
oday
,ear
li
ergener
ati
onshaddi
ff
erent
under
standi
ngsofwomen’
srol
es.

 Despi
temoder
ndev
elopment
sandgr
eat
eri
ncl
usi
onofMusl
i
m womeni
n
pol
i
tical
li
fe,
ther
ear
eMusl
i
msi
ncer
tai
ncount
ri
eswhomai
ntai
nthatt
hei
deal
Musl
i
m womanshoul
dconf
ineher
sel
ftot
her
oleofmot
herandwi
fe.
Howev
er,
t
her
ehav
ebeenschol
arsi
nav
ari
etyofr
eli
giousf
ait
hsandcul
tur
est
hathav
e
adv
ocat
edf
ort
hesamet
hing.

Et
hicsi
nIsl
am

I
slam hast
heuni
quecapaci
tyt
otr
ansf
ormi
tsv
ari
oust
heol
ogi
cal
tenet
sand
v
aluesi
ntopr
act
ical
andmor
alpr
inci
ples.I
nfact
,theI
slami
cShar
iahwasspeci
fi
cal
l
y
est
abl
i
shedwi
thaney
etoi
nst
il
li
nggr
aci
ousbehav
iorandl
oft
ymor
alsamongi
ts
adher
ent
sandt
oref
inet
hei
rchar
act
ers,
all
ofwhi
chcont
ri
but
est
ogener
alwel
lbei
ng
amongpeopl
eandt
hroughoutt
hel
and.

Thesegoal
sar
eai
medatguar
ant
eei
ngasaf
eandpeacef
ulexi
stencef
oreach
per
sonandpr
otect
ingal
laspect
soft
hel
i
vesofi
ndi
vi
dual
s,whet
heri
nthear
enaof
bel
i
efs,
weal
th,
honor
,orpeaceofmi
nd.

25
-Accor
dingt
oIsl
am,
humanwel
lbei
ngbegi
nsandendswi
thmanner
sandmor
als.I
t
begi
nswi
tht
hecal
lforpeopl
etoacceptgui
danceandr
ight
eousnessandcul
minat
esi
n
pr
oduci
ngbehav
ior
samonghumanbei
ngsi
ndi
cat
iveofhumani
ty,
nobi
l
ity
,andl
ove.

-I
slam hassetdownl
awsandr
uleswhi
ch,
byt
hei
rnat
ure,
ser
vet
oensur
ethe
est
abl
i
shmentofgoodmor
alsandmanner
swi
thi
nIsl
ami
csoci
ety
,whet
heratt
hel
evel
ofi
ndi
vi
dual
sast
heydeal
wit
honeanot
heroratt
hel
evel
ofsoci
eti
esi
nthegr
eat
er
wor
ld.Theser
ulesensur
ethesur
viv
alandpr
otect
ionofI
slam’
set
hical
str
uct
ure,
thus
al
l
owi
nghumanbei
ngst
oli
veamongoneanot
heront
hebasi
sofpeaceandmut
ual
cooper
ati
on.

-Ther
ear
eregul
ati
onsgov
erni
ngt
hepoordue,
char
it
y,pl
edges,
expi
ati
ons,
andf
inanci
al
guar
ant
eesaswel
lasr
ulest
ouchi
nguponj
ointr
esponsi
bil
i
tiesnecessar
ytot
he
pr
eser
vat
ionofast
abl
esoci
etyamongMusl
i
ms.Ther
ear
erul
esr
egar
dingt
he
puni
shmentofcr
imi
nal
s,t
rai
tor
s,ki
l
ler
s,andadul
ter
ersduet
othef
actt
hatt
hei
r
di
sregar
dformor
alv
aluesposesat
hreatt
othegr
oupandt
ransgr
essesagai
nstsoci
ety
andi
tsi
ntegr
it
y.I
tisnecessar
ytot
reatsuchof
fender
shar
shl
yinor
dert
oguar
ant
eea
saf
eandpeacef
ulsoci
ety
.

ConceptofJi
had

Meani
ngofJi
had

-
Jihadi
sanAr
abi
cter
m,andi
tspl
ainconnot
ati
oni
s“t
ost
ri
veorwor
khar
dfor
somet
hing”
.So,
itdoesnotmean“
theHol
yWar
”agai
nstnon-Musl
i
ms,
whi
cht
heWest
hasassoci
atedwi
thi
t.Theabsol
uteanal
ysi
soft
hisr
eli
giousact
ioni
sdi
vi
dedi
ntot
wo
sect
ions,
Maj
orandMi
norJi
had.Thef
ormeri
saspi
ri
tual
eff
ortwhi
chbi
ndsaMusl
i
m
t
ofi
ghti
tsi
nnersel
fagai
nstt
hesat
ani
cdesi
res.I
tisanongoi
ngpr
ocesst
hroughout

26
one`
sli
fet
il
ldeat
h.Thel
att
erf
ormi
sthephy
sical
str
uggl
eagai
nstt
heenemi
esofI
slam.
Buti
tisgr
eat
lymi
stakenasameansofv
iol
ence,
alt
houghi
nIsl
am,
ther
eisnor
oom f
or
ki
l
li
ngofbl
amel
ess,
butshoul
donl
ybeusedf
ordef
endi
ngonesel
fagai
nstt
heenemi
es.
Forf
urt
herel
abor
ati
ngt
hedel
i
cacyoft
hismat
ter
,letusdi
scussi
tint
hel
i
ghtoft
he
Hol
yQur
anandt
heSunnahoft
heHol
yPr
ophet(
PBUH)
.

Ji
hadi
nQur
an

-
Likeanyot
herobl
i
gat
oryandsupr
emeact
sint
her
eli
gionofI
slam,
Jihadi
sal
soaGod
gi
venr
esponsi
bil
i
tyt
otheMusl
i
ms,
whi
chshoul
donl
ybeanal
yzedaccor
dingt
othe
Sacr
edScr
ipt
urei
.e.TheHol
yQur
an,
andnotwhatt
heuni
nfor
medpeopl
edoby
mani
pul
ati
ngi
tsact
ual
denot
ati
on.Al
l
ahSWTsay
sinFur
qaneHameed:

“
Theoneswhohav
ebel
i
eved,
emi
grat
edandst
ri
veni
nthecauseofAl
l
ahwi
tht
hei
r
weal
thandt
hei
rli
vesar
egr
eat
eri
nranki
nthesi
ghtofAl
l
ah.Andi
tist
hosewhoar
ethe
at
tai
ner
s(ofsuccess)
.”[
Qur
an,
9:20]

-
So,
Jihadi
sact
ual
l
ythenameofdoi
ngone`
sbesti
nter
msofbot
hfi
ght
ingand
expendi
ngev
ery
thi
ngonehas.Aspr
oper
tyi
samongt
hemosti
mpor
tantt
hingsonehas,
soi
tisi
mper
ati
vet
ospendasmuchasonecan,
besi
desgoi
ngi
ntodi
rectbat
tl
ewi
th
t
heenemi
esofI
slam.

-
Now,
theactofwar
far
eneedst
obeel
abor
ated,
asi
tisgr
eat
lymi
sjudgedandl
i
nked
wi
thwr
ongmot
ives.Al
l
ahAl
might
ysay
sint
heHol
yQur
an:

“
Fighti
nthewayofAl
l
aht
hosewhof
ighty
oubutdonott
ransgr
ess.I
ndeed.Al
l
ahdoes
notl
i
ket
ransgr
essor
s.”[
Qur
an,
2:190]

-
Thephr
ase“
WhoFi
ghtYou”cl
ear
lyi
ndi
cat
est
hatt
heAl
might
yhasor
der
edt
ocl
ash
wi
thonl
ythosewhobr
awl
wit
hMusl
i
msandt
ryt
odest
royt
hem.So,
ther
eisnowayone
coul
dsayt
hatJi
hadi
sanal
ter
nat
enamef
orspr
eadi
ngaggr
essi
onandsl
aught
eri
ng

27
peopl
e.I
tal
someanst
hatonecannoti
nst
igat
eawaragai
nstot
her
s,butonl
ytodef
end
t
hemsel
ves.

-
Aft
eri
thasbecomeev
identt
hatJi
hadi
sonl
ymeantf
orsel
fdef
enseandnott
heot
her
wayar
ound,
iti
snecessar
ytohav
eal
ookatt
hef
oll
owi
ngv
ersei
nthesameChapt
er
(
Sur
ahBaqar
ah)
:

“
Andki
l
lthem wher
every
ouov
ert
aket
hem andexpel
them f
rom wher
evert
hey
hav
eexpel
l
edy
ou………Andi
ftheycease,
theni
ndeed,
All
ahi
sFor
giv
ingandMer
cif
ul.
”
[
Qur
an,
2:191-
192]

-
Hat
ersofI
slam onl
yquot
ethev
eryf
ir
stl
i
neoft
heabov
ever
ses,
andar
guet
hat
Musl
i
msar
ecr
uel
andar
emeantt
oki
l
lot
her
swher
evert
heyf
indt
hem,
butt
hati
snot
act
ual
l
ytr
ue.I
thasbeenaddedi
nthef
oll
owi
ngv
ersebyAl
l
ahSWTt
hati
ftheyaskf
or
mer
cy,
thent
her
eisnoneedt
ofi
ghtandki
l
lthem.Thi
sist
hewhol
econceptofJi
had
f
rom abov
eli
nesofQur
anandi
tshoul
dnotbemi
squot
ed.

-
Onanot
heri
nst
ant
,theAl
might
ysai
d:

-
Woul
dyounotf
ightapeopl
ewhobr
oket
hei
roat
hsanddet
ermi
nedt
oexpel
the
Messenger
,andt
heyhadbegun[
theat
tackupon]y
out
hef
ir
stt
ime?Doy
ouf
eart
hem?
ButAl
l
ahhasmor
eri
ghtt
haty
oushoul
dfearHi
m,i
fyouar
e[t
rul
y]bel
i
ever
s.[
Qur
an,
9:
13]

-
So,
itscr
yst
alcl
earf
rom t
hepr
evi
ousl
i
nesofQur
ant
hatcombat
ingi
sonl
yobl
i
gat
ed
onceMusl
i
msar
eunderat
tack,
andwhent
heyneedt
opr
otectt
hemsel
ves.

-
Jihadi
ssai
dtobe“
fi
ght
ingf
ort
hecauseofAl
l
ah”
,butt
her
eisi
ncr
easedr
equi
sit
eto
compr
ehendwhatt
hisphr
aseact
ual
l
ymeans,
ast
hewor
dfi
ght
ingi
sbei
ngmi
susedby
ext
remi
stor
gani
zat
ionsoper
ati
ngi
ndi
ff
erentr
egi
onsoft
hewor
dandpor
trayi
tast
he
r
eli
giousdut
y.Al
l
ahSWTsay
sint
heHol
yQur
an:

“
Andwhati
s[t
hemat
ter
]wi
thy
out
haty
ouf
ightnoti
nthecauseofAl
l
ahand[
for
]the

28
oppr
essedamongmen,
women,
andchi
l
drenwhosay
,“OurLor
d,t
akeusoutoft
hisci
ty
ofoppr
essi
vepeopl
eandappoi
ntf
orusf
rom Your
sel
fapr
otect
orandappoi
ntf
orus
f
rom Your
sel
fahel
per
?”[
Qur
an,
4:75]

-
Manyoft
hebel
i
ever
sandnewl
yadmi
tt
edper
sonst
oIsl
am st
il
lresi
dedi
nthel
andof
Makkahev
enaf
termassmi
grat
iont
oMadi
naofMusl
i
msundert
heMessenger(
PBUH)
ofGodear
li
er.Thosewhower
elef
tbehi
ndwer
esev
erel
ydeal
twi
thandoppr
essedby
t
hepol
ythei
stsanddi
sbel
i
ever
s.Then,
God,
theExal
teddi
rect
edMusl
i
mst
ohel
pthem
sav
efr
om t
yrannyandr
epr
essi
ont
heywer
efaci
ng.I
tmeanst
hatef
for
tmadef
ort
his
causei
sJi
hadandi
sdeart
oAl
l
ah.

-
So,
theper
cept
ionofJi
hadi
nQur
anr
evol
vesar
oundst
ri
vi
ngi
nAl
l
ah`
sCause,
fight
ing
whenbei
ngat
tackedbyr
ival
s,hel
pingoutt
heoppr
essedones,
andhav
epeacei
fthey
ceaset
ofi
ght
.

I
slam andEnv
ironment
.

-
Env
ironmentpr
otect
ioni
sani
mpor
tantaspectofI
slam.Bei
ngst
ewar
dsoft
heEar
th,
it
i
sther
esponsi
bil
i
tyofMusl
i
mst
ocar
efort
heenv
ironmenti
napr
oact
ivemanner
.
Ther
eisadef
ini
tepur
posebehi
ndt
hecr
eat
ionofdi
ff
erentspeci
es,
bei
tpl
ant
sor
ani
mal
s.Musl
i
msar
eencour
agedt
oref
lectont
her
elat
ionshi
pbet
weenl
i
ving
or
gani
smsandt
hei
renv
ironmentandt
omai
ntai
ntheecol
ogi
cal
bal
ancecr
eat
edby
Al
l
ah.Pr
otect
ionoft
heenv
ironmenti
sessent
ial
toI
slami
cbel
i
efsandmanki
ndhast
he
r
esponsi
bil
i
tyt
oensur
esaf
ecust
odyoft
heenv
ironment
.

Env
ironmentPr
otect
ionandResour
ceConser
vat
ion

-
TheI
slami
cper
spect
iveonenv
ironmentpr
otect
ionr
efl
ect
saposi
ti
vei
mageabout
I
slam andhowi
tembr
acesev
erysi
ngl
emat
tert
hehumansf
aceonear
th.TheI
slami
c
at
ti
tudet
owar
dsenv
ironmentandnat
ural
resour
ceconser
vat
ioni
snotonl
ybasedon

29
pr
ohi
bit
ionofov
er-
expl
oit
ati
onbutal
soonsust
ainabl
edev
elopment
.TheHol
yQur
an
say
s:

"
Iti
sHewhohasappoi
ntedy
ouv
icer
oysi
ntheear
th…t
hatHemayt
ryy
oui
nwhatHe
hasgi
veny
ou.
"(Sur
ah6:
165)

-
"Ochi
l
drenofAdam!…eatanddr
ink:
butwast
enotbyexcess,
forAl
l
ahl
ovesnott
he
wast
ers.
"(Sur
ah7:
31)

-
ProphetMuhammad(
SAW)encour
agedt
hepl
ant
ingoft
reesandt
hecul
ti
vat
ionof
agr
icul
tur
ewhi
char
econsi
der
edasgoodact
s.Thi
sisi
l
lust
rat
edi
nthef
oll
owi
ng
t
radi
ti
ons:
Nar
rat
edbyAnasbi
nMal
i
k(RA)t
hatAl
l
ah’
sMessenger(
SAW)sai
d:"
Ther
eis
noneamongstt
heMusl
i
mswhopl
ant
sat
reeorsowsseeds,
andt
henabi
rd,
ora
per
sonoranani
mal
eat
sfr
om i
t,buti
sregar
dedasachar
it
abl
egi
ftf
orhi
m."
(
Bukhar
i)
.

-
Isl
am i
sagai
nstt
hecut
ti
ngordest
ruct
ionofpl
ant
sandt
reesunnecessar
il
yasi
s
ev
identi
nthef
oll
owi
ngHadi
th:
Abdul
l
ahi
bnHabashi
repor
tedt
hatPr
ophetMuhammad
(
SAW)sai
d:"
Hewhocut
sal
ote-
tr
ee[
wit
houtj
ust
if
icat
ion]
,Al
l
ahwi
l
lsendhi
mto
Hel
l
fir
e."(
AbuDawud)
.Thel
ote-
tr
eegr
owsi
nthedeser
tandi
sver
ymuchneededi
nan
ar
eawhi
chhasscar
cev
eget
ati
on.Thedev
ast
ati
oncausedbydef
orest
ati
oni
nmany
count
ri
escausessoi
ler
osi
onandki
l
lsmanyoft
hebi
odi
ver
sit
yoft
heear
th.

-
Theappr
oachofI
slam t
owar
dst
heuseofnat
ural
resour
ceswasbr
il
li
ant
lyputf
orwar
d
byt
heFour
thCal
i
phHaz
ratAl
ii
bnAbi
-Tal
i
b(RA)whosai
d“Par
takeofi
tgl
adl
ysol
ong
asy
ouar
ethebenef
act
or,
notadespoi
l
er;
acul
ti
vat
or,
notadest
roy
er.Al
lhuman
bei
ngsaswel
lasani
mal
sandwi
l
dli
feenj
oyt
her
ightt
oshar
eEar
th’
sresour
ces.Man’
s
abuseofanyr
esour
cei
spr
ohi
bit
edast
hej
uri
sti
cpr
inci
plesay
s‘Whatl
eadst
othe
pr
ohi
bit
edi
sit
sel
fpr
ohi
bit
ed”
.

-
WhenAbuMusa(
RA)wassentt
oAl
-Basr
ahast
henewgov
ernor
,headdr
essedt
he
peopl
esay
ing:
"Iwassentt
oyouby'
Umari
bnAl
-Khat
tab(
RA)i
nor
dert
oteachy
out
he
Bookofy
ourLor
d[i
.e.t
heQur
’an]
,theSunnah[
ofy
ourPr
ophet
],andt
ocl
eany
our
st
reet
s."AbuHur
air
ahr
epor
tedt
hatt
heMessengerofAl
l
ah(
PeaceBeUponHi
m)

30
f
orbadet
hataper
sonr
eli
evehi
msel
finawat
ersour
ceoronapat
hori
napl
aceof
shadeori
nthebur
rowofal
eav
ingcr
eat
ure.Thesev
alueshi
ghl
i
ghtI
slam’
sst
resson
av
oidi
ngpol
l
uti
onofcr
it
ical
resour
cesandi
mpor
tanceofcl
eanl
i
ness.

Spr
eadi
ngEnv
ironment
alAwar
eness

-
Ther
ear
evar
iousway
swhi
chy
oucanr
aiseenv
ironment
alawar
enessi
nyourper
sonal
andpr
ofessi
onal
cir
cles.Thepopul
ari
zat
ionofsoci
alnet
wor
kingamongy
oung
gener
ati
onmakesi
teasi
erandat
tract
ivet
ospr
eadenv
ironment
alawar
enessusi
ng
Facebook,
Twi
tt
er,
Googl
e+et
c.Asi
mpl
eandef
fect
ivemet
hodwhi
chIusei
sthe
di
str
ibut
ionofQRCodes(
Qui
ckResponseCodes)i
nmycol
l
egecampus.

-
Anot
hergr
eati
deawoul
dbet
ost
arty
ourownschool
,col
l
egeorwor
kpl
acecampai
gn
f
orpl
ant
ingt
rees.St
udent
s,f
acul
tymember
sandco-
wor
ker
scanbemot
ivat
edt
o
donat
eanomi
nal
amountofmoneyt
owar
dspl
ant
ati
oncampai
gn.Keepi
ngpl
ant
s
ar
oundy
ourhome,
school
orwor
kpl
acei
snotonl
yaest
het
icanddecor
ati
vebutal
so
keepy
ouheal
thyandi
mpr
ovei
ndoorai
rqual
i
ty.Accor
dingt
oHazr
atJabi
r(RA)r
epor
ted
t
hatPr
ophetMuhammad[
S.A.
W]sai
d:“
NoMusl
i
m,whopl
ant
sashoot
,exceptt
hat
what
everi
seat
enorst
olenf
rom i
t,orany
oneobt
ainst
hel
eastt
hingf
rom i
t,i
s
consi
der
ed[
li
kepay
ing]al
msgi
vi
ngonhi
sbehal
funt
ilt
heDayofJudgement
."(
Musl
i
m)

Concl
usi
ons

-
Env
ironment
alawar
enessandpr
otect
ionofnat
ural
resour
cei
sani
ntegr
alpar
tof
I
slami
cbel
i
efs.Asv
icer
oysofAl
l
ahont
hisear
th,
wehav
etout
il
izenat
ural
resour
cesi
n
asust
ainabl
emanneri
nor
dert
oensur
ethatAl
l
ah’
sBount
iest
ocont
inue.Thepr
inci
ple
ofconser
vat
ioni
sbeaut
if
ull
yil
l
ust
rat
edbyt
her
ulewhi
chsay
sthatwhi
l
emaki
ng
abl
uti
ons(
wudu)weshoul
dbeabst
emi
ousi
ntheuseofwat
erev
eni
fwehav
ear
iverat
ourdi
sposal
.Ashumans,
wear
ekeeper
sofal
lcr
eat
ion,
incl
udi
ngsoi
l
,ai
r,wat
er,
ani
mal
sandt
rees.Amaj
orobj
ect
iveofI
slami
cteachi
ngsandPr
ophet(
PeaceBeUpon
Hi
m)t
radi
ti
onsi
stobui
l
dandmai
ntai
naheal
thyandcl
eanenv
ironmentwhi
chi
sdev
oid

31
ofanysour
ceofpol
l
uti
onandmi
suse.

PRI
NCI
PLESOFGOODGOVERNANCEI
NISLAM

I
ntr
oduct
iont
oIsl
am

-
Thewor
dIsl
am i
sder
ivedf
rom Ar
abi
cwor
dSLM andi
tsmeansur
render
,obedi
ent
andaswel
laspeaceandt
hismeant
hataper
soncanhav
eaphy
sical
andment
alpeace
onl
ywhenhef
ull
ysur
render
stoal
lmi
ght
yGOD

-
Thi
srel
i
gioussy
stem i
sbeenst
artbyMuhammadSWTPeacebeuphi
m atsev
ent
h
cent
uryandI
slam i
soneoft
hef
ast
estgr
owi
ngr
eli
gionsi
nthewor
ldandi
neachf
ive
per
sononei
saMusl
i
minal
lar
oundt
hewor
ldt
her
eis3mi
l
li
onoft
heMusl
i
ms(
Mal
i
k,
2003)

-
TheHol
yQur
andescr
ibesgoodgov
ernanceast
hel
awofj
ust
ice,
ajustandpr
inci
pled
or
derandcompl
i
anceofr
ight
sandr
esponsi
bil
i
tiesi
nasoci
ety
.

-
TheQur
’andecl
ares:
“Thosewhengi
venaut
hor
it
yinl
and,
est
abl
i
sh(
syst
em of
)sal
ah,
gi
vezakahandenj
oinwhati
sgood(
maur
uf)andf
orbi
dwhati
swr
ong(
munkar
)(Qur
an,
al
-Haj
j
,22:
41)

-
Itf
urt
hersay
s:“
Oyouwhobel
i
evest
andupasawi
tnessf
orAl
l
ahi
nal
lfai
rness,
anddo
notl
ett
hehat
redofpeopl
edev
iat
eyouf
rom j
ust
ice(
‘adl
).Bej
ust
,thi
siscl
osestt
opi
ety
(
Qur
an,
Al-
Mai
dah,
5:8)

-
Isl
ami
cvi
ewofgoodgov
ernancei
squal
i
tat
iveandnotmechani
cal
.Maj
orf
eat
uresof
goodgov
ernancecanbepr
éci
sedundersev
enf
undament
als

Rul
esofLaw(
As-
Shur
a)

Khi
l
afah

Account
abi
l
ity

Tr
anspar
ency

32
 Just
ice

Equi
ty

Al
-amrbi
lmar
ufwanahi
anal
-munkar

Rul
esofLaw(As-
Shur
a)

-
As-
shur
aisoneoft
hemosti
mpor
tantconst
it
uti
onal
pri
nci
plesi
ntheI
slami
cLaw.As
i
t’
sver
yimpor
tantt
hat
’swhyi
t’
sbeenment
ionedi
nQur
anMor
eov
er,
asur
a(chapt
er)i
n
t
hehol
yQur
’anwasnamedaf
tert
hatpr
inci
ple.I
tiscal
l
ed“
Shur
a”.Thi
sshowt
he
i
mpor
tanceoft
hispr
inci
plei
nal
ltheaf
fai
rsofMusl
i
ms.Thewhol
esy
stem oft
he
I
slami
cst
atef
rom i
tsbegi
nni
ngt
othesel
ect
ionoft
heKhal
i
faoft
hest
ateandal
lthose
i
nkeyposi
ti
onsaswel
lasi
tscommuni
cat
ionsmustbel
edbyShur
a,soi
tshoul
dbe
car
ri
edoutdi
rect
lyori
ndi
rect
lyov
ersel
ect
edornomi
nat
edcounci
l
s

-
Ther
eisment
ioni
nQur
an:
Oyou,
whobel
i
eve,
becust
odi
ansofj
ust
ice(
and)wi
tness
f
orAl
l
ah,
event
houghagai
nsty
our
sel
vesory
ourpar
ent
sory
ourr
elat
ives.Whet
hera
mani
sri
chorpoor
,Al
l
ahi
sthegr
eat
estwel
l
-wi
shert
hany
ou.Sof
oll
ownort
hebehest
s
ofl
ust
,lesty
ouswer
vef
rom j
ust
ice(
Qur
an,
An-
Nisa,
4:135)

-
Event
hePr
ophet
,al
thoughhewast
her
ecei
verofdi
rectgui
dancef
rom t
heAl
might
y
Al
l
ah,
wascommand-
ed.Al
l
ahsay
s:

-
Consul
tthem i
naf
fai
rs(
ofmoment
).Then,
wheny
ouhav
etot
akeadeci
sionputt
he
t
rusti
nAl
l
ah.ForAl
l
ahl
ovest
hosewhoputt
hei
rtr
ust(
inHi
m).(
Qur
an,
Al-
Imr
an,
3:159)

-
Fol
l
owi
ngt
hisadv
iceandl
ead,
Khal
i
faUmaradmoni
shedt
hat
:

-
Ther
eisnokhi
l
afahwi
thoutconsul
tat
ion.

-
Thus,
Thesamemechani
sm wasf
oll
owedbyt
hef
oll
owerofMuhammadSWTf
ort
he
sel
ect
ionofKhal
i
faandI
twast
hef
ir
stMusl
i
m el
ect
edf
ourkhul
afahgui
dance,
alt
hough
t
hesel
ect
ionandappr
oval
processv
ari
es.Thei
mpor
tantpr
inci
plei
sthet
rut
hand
account
abi
l
ityandpubl
i
cconf
idencei
nthoseel
ect
edbyt
hecommuni
ty.

Thei
mpor
tanceofShur
a

33
-
Thebasi
cfundament
alsofI
slami
cpol
i
tical
syst
em i
scal
l
edShur
a.i
tsi
sresponsi
blef
or
al
ltheaf
fai
rsofMusl
i
ms.
Thus,
theI
slami
cst
atemi
ghthav
epr
ecededt
hemoder
n
democr
ati
csy
stemswi
thr
egar
dtot
henecessi
tyofagr
eementov
erchoosi
ngt
heone
whor
unsi
tsaf
fai
rsandcar
esf
ori
tsi
nter
est
s,somet
hingwhi
chst
ressest
hev
alueand
ef
fect
ivenessofunani
mit
yamongMusl
i
ms(
Al-
Nuzum,
p24,
25).

Deci
sionmakerofShur
a

-
Agr
oupofMusl
i
m peopl
ewhohav
ethepowert
omakedeci
sionar
eal
lcal
l
edShur
a.
Andt
hosewhoar
emember
sofShur
amusthav
esomequal
i
tiesl
i
keEducat
ion,
Wise
andJust
icesoi
tcanbesai
dthatt
heShur
apeopl
ear
eschol
arsandl
eader
s.

-
Forappl
yi
ngt
her
uler
sit
’si
mpor
tantandnecessar
ytohav
eaShur
a.I
tcanbesai
dthat
i
tisoneoft
hemosti
mpor
tantmani
fest
ati
onsofci
vi
li
zat
iont
hatMusl
i
mscont
ri
but
ed
t
oit
scr
eat
ionandconsol
i
dat
ioni
ntheMusl
i
m communi
ty.So,
Shur
awasaki
ndof
expr
essi
onoft
hedi
vi
newi
l
lont
hebasi
sofwhatt
hePr
ophet(
peacebeuponhi
m)sai
d:
“
Mynat
ionshal
lnotagr
eeuponaner
ror
.”(
Maj
ah).I
nHer
eIwoul
dli
ket
oment
iont
hat
Khal
i
fai
nIsl
am can’
tgi
vet
heRi
ghtt
oexpr
esst
hedi
vi
newi
l
l.I
.e.hei
snotaut
hor
izedt
o
passl
egi
slat
ion,
becauset
hepowerofl
egi
slat
ioni
sent
it
ledt
otheMusl
i
m communi
ty
ort
hewhol
enat
ion(
Al-
Sanhur
i)andt
his,
ofcour
se,
happensi
ntheabsenceofcl
ear
ev
idencef
rom t
heQur
’anandt
hePr
ophet
’st
radi
ti
ons.

-
Dif
fer
encebet
weenShur
aanddemocr
acy

-
Weshoul
dsayt
heI
slami
cShur
aismuchdi
ff
erentf
rom moder
ndemocr
acysy
stem.
Democr
acyi
sthepeopl
emader
ulesandassumedbypeopl
eandpeopl
eshoul
dmake
t
hei
rownconst
it
uti
onandl
aw,
Inor
derf
orpeopl
etoassumel
awmaki
ngaut
hor
it
y,set
l
awsanddi
sti
nctbet
weenaut
hor
it
ies,
gener
alel
ect
ionsar
ehel
dtosel
ectagr
oupof
i
ndi
vi
dual
swhoar
eabl
etomoni
toral
laut
hor
it
ies,
andt
hoseper
sonshav
ether
ight
sto
r
emov
eorbr
ingmi
nist
ersorheadofast
ate

-
Isl
ami
cShur
ahav
eadi
ff
erentv
iew.Shur
ainI
slam i
sbasedont
her
uleofAl
l
ah’
sand
SunnaMuhammadSWTandl
oyal
tyt
othoser
ulesi
nbasi
soff
ait
h.

-
Schol
arsar
ethepeopl
eofpoweranddeci
sion.Theycomeatt
het
opoft
hepeopl
eof

34
Shur
a.Gi
venAl
l
ah’
srul
es,
schol
arsdon’
thav
ethei
rownconsul
tat
ionl
awst
heyj
ust
hav
etopr
ovet
het
exti
sfr
om Qur
anandsunnah.

-
Thet
rut
hist
hatdemocr
ati
csy
stem canbeeasi
l
ycont
rol
l
edorav
oidbysomepower
ful
par
ti
esov
erpol
i
tical
act
ionsi
nacount
ryandt
heywi
l
landpol
i
tel
ypar
ti
esandt
heywi
l
l
f
orcet
oappl
ybyt
henat
ion.Howev
ert
heI
slami
cShur
aissupr
emacyf
orAl
l
ahonl
yand
andgi
vet
hepr
ior
it
ytoAl
l
ah’
srul
ewhi
chl
eadt
otheemer
genceofmenl
i
vingi
nthe
companyofAl
l
ahandf
ear
ingHi
m Honest
ly(
Ghal
ush)

Khi
l
afah

-
Khal
i
fai
sanAr
abi
cwor
dmeanssuccessor
.Thewor
dcal
i
phi
ssi
mpl
yanAngl
i
ciz
ed
v
ersi
onofkhal
i
fa.Thet
ermskhi
l
afatandcal
i
phat
e,t
houghder
ivedf
rom khal
i
faand
cal
i
phi
ndi
vi
dual
l
y,hav
edi
ff
erentmeani
ngs.Khi
l
afatr
efer
stot
heI
slami
cinst
it
uti
onof
spi
ri
tual
successorshi
p,wher
eascal
i
phat
eindi
cat
esapol
i
tico-
rel
i
giousMusl
i
m st
ate
gov
ernedbyacal
i
ph

-
Whent
hePr
ophetMuhammedSAW pastawayi
n(632C.
E.)
,Hazr
atAbuBakr
succeededt
ohi
sspi
ri
tual
,admi
nist
rat
ivepur
posesassuccessoroft
hemessengerof
God(
khal
i
far
asul
All
ah)
.Ber
nar
dLewi
s,t
hepr
eemi
nenthi
stor
ianofI
slam,
obser
ves:

“
AbuBakrwasgi
vent
het
it
leofKhal
i
faor‘
Deput
y’(
oft
hepr
ophet
)…andhi
sel
ect
ion
mar
kst
heappoi
ntmentoft
hegr
eathi
stor
ici
nst
it
uti
onoft
heCal
i
phat
e.Hi
svot
erscan
hav
enoi
deaofl
aterpur
posesandgr
owt
hoft
heof
fi
ce.Att
het
ime,
theymadenoef
for
t
t
odef
inehi
sdut
iesorpower
s.Theonl
yst
ateofhi
ssel
ect
ionwast
hemai
ntenanceof
t
hei
nher
it
anceoft
hePr
ophet
.”(
Lewi
s,1993)

-
All
ahhaspr
omi
sedt
othoseamongy
ouwhobel
i
eveandactr
ight
ly,
thatHewi
l
lsur
ely
maket
hem Successor
s(khal
i
fas)i
ntheear
th,
asHemadeSuccessor
sfr
om among
t
hosewhower
ebef
oret
hem;
andt
hatHewi
l
lsur
elyest
abl
i
shf
ort
hem t
hei
rrel
i
gion,
whi
chHehaschosenf
ort
hem;
andt
hatHewi
l
lsur
elygr
antt
hem secur
it
yandpeacei
n
pl
aceoft
hei
rfear(
Qur
an,
Alnoor
,24:
54)

-
Int
hisv
erse,
theHol
yQur
anpr
esent
sthei
nst
it
uti
onofkhi
l
afatasar
ewar
dfor
col
l
ect
ivev
irt
ue.I
tisof
tenunder
stoodt
opr
ovi
deabasi
sforanI
slami
cor
gani
zat
ion

35
f
oundedupont
hedemocr
ati
cli
nesheadedbyakhal
i
fawhoseof
fi
cei
s,i
npr
inci
ple,
el
ect
iveandboundbyt
heQur
anandt
hesunnah.

-
Inawel
l
-knownhadi
th,
thePr
ophetMuhammadSWTi
srepor
tedt
ohav
eobser
ved:

-
ProphetHoodshal
lremai
namongy
ouasl
ongasGodwi
l
ls.Thenkhi
l
afatont
he
pat
ter
nofpr
ophethoodwi
l
lcommenceandr
emai
nasl
ongasHewi
l
ls.Acor
rupt
monar
chyshal
lthenf
oll
owandi
tshal
lremai
nasl
ongasGodwi
l
ls.Ther
eshal
lthenbe
aoppr
essi
vedespot
ism whi
chshal
lremai
nasl
ongasGodwi
l
ls.Thenonceagai
n
khi
l
afatwi
l
lar
iseont
hepr
inci
pleofpr
ophethood(
Masnad-
Ahmad)

-
Thi
shadi
thnotonl
yreassur
esusaboutt
her
epet
it
ionofwel
lgui
dedkhi
l
afatbuti
tal
so
per
mit
sahi
stor
ical
judgmentonwhatwast
ofol
l
owt
heear
lyKhi
l
afat
.

-
Thef
amoushi
stor
ianofI
slam,
MuhammadSWTi
bnJar
irAl
Tabar
i,nar
rat
est
he
f
oll
owi
ngi
nci
dent

-
Umarsai
dtoSal
man:
‘Am Iaki
ngorakhal
i
fa?
’andSal
mananswer
ed:
‘I
fyouhav
e
l
evi
edf
rom t
hel
andsoft
heMusl
i
msonedi
rham,
ormor
e,orl
ess,
andappl
i
edi
t
unl
awf
ull
y,y
ouar
eaki
ngnotakhal
i
fa’
.AndUmarwept

-
Her
eHazr
atUmar
,thesecondKhal
i
fa,
whosegoodness,
senseofj
ust
ice,
and
pur
it
ani
cal
str
ict
nesswer
ewel
l
-known,
camet
otear
sbyt
hemer
ement
ionoft
he
possi
bil
i
tyofmi
susi
ngasi
ngl
ecoi
nfr
om t
hepubl
i
cexchequer
.Thi
sinci
dence
under
scor
est
hechar
act
eri
sti
coft
her
ight
ly-
gui
dedkhi
l
afat
.(Al
Tabar
i,Tar
ikhal
-Rusul
Wal
Mul
uk)

-
AsGod’
ssov
erei
gnt
yext
endsov
ert
heuni
ver
se,
thef
inal
ideal
ofapubl
i
cinI
slam i
sa
uni
ver
sal
feder
ati
onorassoci
ati
onofi
ndependentst
ates,
rel
atedt
oget
herf
or
mai
ntenancef
reedom ofi
ntegr
it
y,f
ort
hemai
ntenanceofpeace,
andf
orcooper
ati
oni
n
pr
omot
inghumanwel
far
ethr
oughoutt
hewor
ld(
Khan,
Feb1993)

-
Akhal
i
fahast
hepr
omi
seofdi
vi
nesuppor
tsol
ongasi
tremai
nsf
ir
mlybasedont
he
pr
eceptofpr
ophethood–t
hati
s,t
hepr
inci
plesandpr
otot
ypesdemonst
rat
edby
pr
ophet
s.Hei
sboundbyt
her
ulesofgr
eatl
aw.Hedeci
desquest
ionsofr
uleaf
ter
di
scussi
onwi
tht
hechosenr
epr
esent
ati
vesoft
hepeopl
e.
36
-
Ingov
erni
ngt
hecor
por
ati
on,
mani
sseenast
heessent
ial
elementf
ort
hesy
stem t
obe
ef
fect
ivel
ywor
kingi
nther
ightway
.Asmani
stheshar
ehol
der
,cr
edi
tor
,exami
ner
,
r
egul
ator
,manageraswel
last
hedi
rect
ort
hus,
itsmani
festt
hatmanpl
ayst
hepr
inci
pal
r
olesi
nmanagi
ngandl
edt
otheaccompl
i
shmentofcompany
’sv
isi
onandmi
ssi
on.The
i
ssuesofmani
nter
m ofv
alues,
ethi
csandmor
alconductt
her
efor
eneedt
obewel
l
det
ainedi
nthef
ir
stpl
acet
oensur
etheconcer
noft
hesoci
etycoul
dbet
akencar
e.The
concer
namongot
hert
hingsar
emai
ntenancet
rust
,mai
ntai
ninghonest
y,exer
cisi
ng
t
ranspar
encyandaccount
abi
l
ity
,tr
adi
ti
onal
inmanagi
ngr
esour
ces,
car
ingandconcer
n
oft
heenv
ironment
.Thef
ail
uret
oimpr
esst
hesev
aluesmayposeser
iouspr
obl
em t
o
t
hepubl
i
catl
arge.

Account
abi
l
ity

-
Int
heHol
yQur
'an,
thewor
dhesabi
srepeat
edmor
ethanei
ghtt
imesi
ndi
ff
erentv
erses
(
F,1997)Hesabor'
account
'i
sther
ootofaccount
ing,
andt
her
efer
encesi
ntheHol
y
Qur
'anar
eto'
account
'i
nit
sgener
icsense,
rel
ati
ngt
oone'
sresponsi
bil
i
tyt
o'account
'to
Godonal
lmat
ter
srel
ati
ngt
ohumanef
for
tforwhi
chev
eryMusl
i
mis'
account
abl
e'
.

-
TheMusl
i
msbel
i
evei
nthet
ermsofaccount
abi
l
ityt
hatt
heywi
l
lbej
udgedf
orwhat
ever
t
heydoi
nthi
swor
ldi
ntheher
eaf
ter(
li
feaf
terdeat
h).I
nIsl
am,
It’
sthedut
yofeach
Musl
i
mtof
ulf
il
lthewi
l
lsofAl
l
ahi
nor
dert
oseekhi
spl
easur
eandt
hepr
omi
sedpr
izes
i
nthel
i
feaf
terdeat
h.Thus,
itr
equi
resev
eryact
ionandwor
dint
hiswor
ldmustbei
n
l
i
newi
tht
heI
slami
cteachi
ngs.I
tdoesnotmat
terwhatact
iont
heMusl
i
msdoei
ther
i
badah(
sol
ah)orpur
chasi
ngshar
esi
nthest
ockmar
ket
,eat
ing,
sleepi
ngl
i
kedai
l
yjobs
t
heymustf
oll
owt
heI
slami
cteachi
ngf
ramewor
kcar
eful
l
y.Thei
mpor
tanceof
account
abi
l
ityt
otheman’
sli
feal
sohasbeenment
ionedbyHol
yQur
an:
“…Lot
he
hear
ingandt
hesi
ghtandt
hehear
t–ofeachoft
hesewi
l
lbeasked”(
Qur
an,
Bani
Isr
ail
l
,
17:
36)

-
Abdul
l
ahr
epor
tedt
hatAl
l
ah’
sMessengerMuhammadSWTsai
d:Ev
eryoneofy
oui
sa
guar
dianandaccount
abl
e(mas’
ul
)forhi
schar
ge.Thust
heKhal
i
fai
sacust
odi
anoft
he
peopl
eandHei
sresponsi
blef
ort
hem.Andamani
saguar
dianofhi
shousehol
dandhe
i
saccount
abl
efort
hem;
andawomani
sinchar
geoft
hehousehol
dandherchi
l
dren

37
andshei
saccount
abl
efort
hem;
andaser
vanti
sguar
dianofhi
smast
er’
spr
oper
ty,
ev
eryoneofy
oui
saccount
abl
eforhi
ssubj
ect
s(Bukhar
i)

-
Int
hev
iewofcor
por
ategov
ernancepr
act
ices,
asf
arasI
slam i
sconcer
ned,
thecount
ry
di
rect
ors,
managementaswel
last
heaudi
torshoul
dper
for
mthei
rpr
ofessi
onal
dut
ies
wi
tht
heobj
ect
iveofsat
isf
yingt
heneedsoft
hePubl
i
candt
oAl
l
ahaswel
l
.Supposi
ng,
t
her
eshoul
dbenosuchdi
sease(
i.
e.f
raud;
mat
eri
almi
sst
atement
)exi
sti
nthecount
ry
i
fthi
sconceptcoul
dbeaf
fect
edandcoul
dber
efl
ect
edi
nthei
rconduct
s.Unf
ort
unat
ely
,
mostoft
hem hav
ebeenf
oll
owedbyt
hephy
sical
exper
iencedl
i
fewhi
chhasl
edt
othe
badbehav
ior
sthatcauset
heowner
s(communi
ty)oft
hecount
rysuf
fert
hepenal
ti
es.

Tr
anspar
ency

-
Theconceptoft
ranspar
encyhasbeendi
vul
gedbyAl
l
ahi
nthef
oll
owi
ngAy
at:
“Oy
ou
whobel
i
eve!Wheny
oudeal
wit
heachot
her
,int
ransact
ionsi
nvol
vi
ngf
utur
eobl
i
gat
ions
i
naf
ixedper
iodoft
ime,
reducet
hem t
owr
it
ing.Letascr
ibewr
it
e-downf
ait
hful
l
yas
bet
weent
hepar
ti
es…”(
Qur
an,
Al-
Baqar
ah,
Begi
nni
ngoft
heAy
at,
2:282)
.Thi
sver
se
st
atest
hatev
eryt
ransact
ionmustbewr
it
tent
oav
oidj
ust
ice.

-
Appl
yi
ngt
heconceptoft
ranspar
ency
,cor
por
ati
onshoul
dal
sodi
scl
osei
nfor
mat
ion
r
egar
dingi
tsst
rat
egy
,act
ions,
cont
ri
but
iont
othecommuni
tyandt
heuseofr
esour
ces
andpr
otect
ionofenv
ironment(
Hani
ff
a,2002)

-
Transpar
encyi
sthenecessi
tyf
oropennessi
nal
lpubl
i
caf
fai
rs.Tr
anspar
encyal
l
ows
Commi
tt
eet
ogat
heri
nfor
mat
iont
hatmaybeunsaf
etoexposur
emi
susesand
def
endi
ngt
hei
rbenef
it
s.

-
Accor
dingt
oAy
eet
ranspar
encyent
ail
sthat
:ci
ti
zenshav
ear
ightt
oav
ail
abl
e
i
nfor
mat
ionper
tai
ningt
o,f
orexampl
e,awar
dofcont
ract
s,pr
ivat
izat
ionofst
ate
ent
erpr
ises,
rul
esagai
nstcor
rupt
ionort
hef
undi
ngofpol
i
tical
par
ti
es(
Ayee,
2000)
.A
t
ranspar
entgov
ernmenti
sthatwhi
chof
fer
schancet
oci
ti
zenst
ofi
ndoutt
het
rue
pr
oof
satf
ir
sthand,
wit
houtt
hemat
eri
albei
ngchangedorpr
esent
edt
hrougha
mi
srepr
esent
ingmi
rr
or.

-
Incor
e,t
ranspar
encyi
sbasi
cal
l
yconcer
nedwi
thopenandest
abl
i
shedsy
stem of

38
gov
ernment
,theext
ermi
nat
ionofcor
rupt
ionandt
hei
nst
it
uti
onal
i
zat
ionofasy
stem
t
hati
sfai
r,j
ustandbasedont
her
uleofl
aw.Tr
anspar
encyoropennessi
ngov
ernance
i
simpor
tanti
nthepr
ocessofgr
owt
h.I
tisser
iousi
ntheel
i
minat
ionofcor
rupt
ionand
t
hepr
omot
ionofr
esponsi
bil
i
tyi
ntheconductofgov
ernmentbusi
ness.Today
,thequest
f
ort
ranspar
entper
for
mancehasbecomeawor
ld-
widephenomenonwi
tht
he
Tr
anspar
encyI
nter
nat
ional
.

Just
ice

-
Int
heI
slami
cwor
ldv
iew,
just
icemeanspl
aci
ngt
hingsi
nthei
rri
ght
ful
place.I
tal
so
meansgi
vi
ngot
her
sequal
treat
ment
.InI
slam,
just
icei
sal
soanhonestqual
i
tyanda
f
eat
ureofhumanper
sonal
i
ty,
asi
tisi
ntheWest
ernt
radi
ti
on.Just
icei
scl
oset
oequal
i
ty
i
nthewi
sdom t
hati
tcr
eat
esast
ateofequi
l
ibr
ium i
nthedi
str
ibut
ionofr
ight
sand
dut
ies,
butt
heyar
enotequal
.Somet
imes,
just
icei
saccompl
i
shedt
hroughi
nequal
i
ty,
l
i
kei
nunequal
dist
ri
but
ionofweal
th.(
Musl
i
ms)

-
Just
icei
ntheI
slami
cgov
ernment
alsy
stem,
incl
udi
ngsoci
alj
ust
ice,
whi
chmeanst
hat
t
hegov
ernmentshoul
dar
ranget
omeetandpl
easet
heneedsandneedsofal
lthe
peopl
east
heyhav
eav
ali
dpar
toft
hecount
ryandci
ti
zensoft
hecount
ry.Thi
scont
ains
t
hef
aci
l
ityofj
ob,
meansofexi
stenceandf
inanci
alj
ust
ice.Thi
sint
urnsuggest
sthati
t
i
sthedut
yoft
hegov
ernmentt
opr
ovi
def
ood,
housi
ngandcl
othi
ngf
oral
lthepeopl
ein
t
hecount
ry.Economi
cjust
iceai
medatequi
tabl
esuppl
yofl
i
fest
yleandcheckst
he
awar
enessofweal
thi
naf
ewhands.

TheI
mpor
tanceofJust
ice

-
TheQur
an,
thehol
yscr
ipt
ureofI
slam,
consi
der
sjust
icet
obeahi
ghestv
irt
ue.I
tisa
basi
cobj
ect
iveofI
slam t
othedegr
eet
hati
tst
andsnexti
nor
derofi
mpor
tancet
obel
i
ef
i
nGod’
sexcl
usi
ver
ightt
owor
shi
p(Tawheed)andt
het
rut
hofMuhammadSWTpr
ophet
hood.Goddecl
aresi
ntheQur
an:
Godcommandsj
ust
iceandf
airdeal
i
ng.
..(
Qur
an,
Al-
Nahal
,16:
90)
.

Andi
nanot
herpassage:

• y
ouwhobel
i
eve,
beupr
ightf
orGod,
and(
be)bear
ersofwi
tnesswi
thj
ust
ice!
..

39
(
Qur
an,
Al-
May
eeda,
5:8)
.

-
Ther
efor
e,onemayachi
evet
hatj
ust
icei
sanr
esponsi
bil
i
tyofI
slam andunf
air
nessi
s
f
orbi
dden.Thei
mpor
tanceofj
ust
icet
otheQur
ani
cval
uesy
stem i
sshowedbyt
he
f
oll
owi
ngv
erse:

-
WesentOurMessenger
swi
thcl
earsi
gnsandsentdownwi
tht
hem t
heBookandt
he
Measur
einor
dert
oest
abl
i
shj
ust
iceamongt
hepeopl
e…(
Qur
an,
Al-
Hadeed,
57:
25)
.

-
Thephr
ase‘
OurMessenger
s’showst
hatj
ust
icehasbeent
hegoal
ofal
ladmi
ssi
onand
scr
ipt
uressentt
ohumani
ty.Thev
erseal
soshowst
hatj
ust
icemustbemeasur
edand
appl
i
edbyt
hev
aluesandr
ulessetbyadmi
ssi
on.I
slam’
sappr
oacht
ojust
icei
s
compl
eteandcompl
ete.Anypat
hthatl
eadst
ojust
icei
sbel
i
evedt
obei
naccor
dwi
th
I
slami
cLaw.

-
Godhasr
equi
redj
ust
iceand,
alt
houghHehasnotpr
escr
ibedadef
ini
tepat
h,has
pr
ovi
dedgener
alr
ules,
onhowt
oachi
evei
t.Hehasnei
thergi
venaf
ixedmeansby
whi
chi
tcanbef
ound,
norhasHest
atedunaccept
abl
eanyspeci
fi
cmeansormet
hods
t
hatcanl
eadt
ojust
ice.Ther
efor
e,al
lmeans,
processes,
andmet
hodst
hatenabl
e,
i
mpr
ove,
andadv
ancet
hecauseofj
ust
ice,
anddonoti
nter
ruptt
heI
slami
cLawar
eval
i
d
(
Qar
zawi
)

-
Equal
i
tyi
nJust
ice

-
TheQur
ani
cst
andar
dsofj
ust
iceexceedt
hought
sofr
ace,
rel
i
gion,
col
or,
andf
ait
h,as
Musl
i
msar
eor
der
edt
obej
ustt
othei
rfr
iendsandenemi
essi
mil
ar,
andt
obej
ustatal
l
l
evel
s,ast
heQur
anput
sit
:

• y
ouwhobel
i
eve!St
andoutf
ir
mlyf
orj
ust
ice,
aswi
tnessest
oAl
l
ah,
eveni
fitbe
agai
nsty
our
sel
ves,
yourpar
ent
s,andy
ourr
elat
ives,
orwhet
heri
tisagai
nstt
her
ichor
t
hepoor
..
.(Qur
an,
Al-
Nisa,
4:135)

-
Accor
dingt
oanot
herQur
ani
cpassage:

-
Letnott
hehat
redofapeopl
eswer
vey
ouawayf
rom j
ust
ice.Bej
ust
,fort
hisi
scl
osest
t
ori
ght
eousness…(
Al-
May
eeda,
Qur
an(
Al-
May
eeda)
,5:
8)

40
-
Theschol
arsoft
heQur
anhav
edeci
dedt
hatt
hesedeci
sionsappl
ytoal
lnat
ions,
f
oll
ower
sofal
lfai
ths,
asamat
teroff
actt
oal
lhumani
ty(
Kamal
i
)Int
hev
iewoft
he
Qur
an,
just
icei
sar
esponsi
bil
i
ty.Thati
swhyt
hePr
ophetwast
old:

-
…Ify
ouj
udge,
judgebet
weent
hem wi
thj
ust
ice…(
Al-
May
eeda,
Qur
an(
Al-
May
eeda)
,5:
42)

-
Fur
ther
mor
e,t
hePr
ophetwassentasaj
udgebet
weenpeopl
es,
andt
old:

-
…Say
:Ibel
i
evei
ntheScr
ipt
ure,
whi
chGodhassentdown,
andIam commandedt
o
j
udgej
ust
lybet
weeny
ou.
..(
Al-
Shur
a,42:
15)

-
TheQur
anwantt
hatj
ust
icecanbeencount
eredf
oral
l
,andt
hati
tisachar
act
eri
sti
c
r
ightofal
lhumanbei
ngsunderI
slami
cLaw(
Qut
b)

-
Tor
educej
ust
icei
sat
rustt
hatGodhasdi
scussedont
hehumanbei
ngand,
li
keal
l
ot
hert
rust
s,i
tscont
ent
mentmustbedi
rect
edbyl
ogi
cofaccount
abi
l
ityout
sidesi
mpl
e
t
radi
ti
onal
i
sm t
osetr
ules.

-
Ther
efer
encet
ojust
icewhi
chdi
rect
lyf
oll
owsar
efer
encet
oful
fi
ll
mentoft
rust
s
i
ndi
cat
est
hati
tisoneoft
hemosti
mpor
tantofal
ltr
ust
s(Razi
,Al
-Taf
siral
-Kabi
r)

Equi
ty

-
Thepr
inci
pleofequal
i
tyi
soneoft
hemosti
mpor
tantconst
it
uti
onal
pri
nci
plesupon
whi
cht
hecont
empor
arysy
stem r
est
s.Thi
smeanst
hatt
hepr
inci
pleofequal
i
ty
cont
ainedi
nthei
ndi
vi
dual
communi
ti
esar
eequal
inr
ight
s,r
esponsi
bil
i
tiesandpubl
i
c
dut
iest
hatwi
l
lbeenj
oyedbyal
lwi
thoutdi
scr
imi
nat
ionofr
ace,
ori
gin,
lan-
measur
eor
bel
i
ef.Thepr
inci
pleofequal
i
tyhasbeeni
nit
iat
edbyt
heQur
'anandSunnahandt
he
expansi
onofI
slam dur
ingsomeasapr
ecedenti
nIsl
ami
clawandi
tsownt
imeand
pl
ace

-
Thi
sval
ueofequal
i
tyi
snott
obei
ncor
rectf
ororconf
usedwi
thsi
mil
ari
tyorst
ereot
ype.
I
slam t
eachest
hati
nthev
iewofAl
l
ahAl
might
y,al
lpeopl
ear
eequal
,butt
heyar
enot
necessar
il
yindi
sti
ngui
shabl
e.Ther
ear
evar
iancesofcapabi
l
iti
es,
abi
l
iti
es,
det
ermi
nat
ions,
weal
thandsoon.

-
Yet
,noneoft
hesedi
ff
erencescanbyt
hemsel
vesf
oundt
hest
atusofl
eadofoneman

41
orr
aceov
eranot
her
.Thest
andar
dofman,
hisski
ncol
or,
theamountofcapi
tal
hehas
andt
hedegr
eeofr
espectheenj
oyshasnoat
ti
tudeont
heper
sonal
i
tyoft
hei
ndi
vi
dual
asf
arasAl
l
ahi
sconcer
ned.Theonl
ydi
ff
erence,
whi
chAl
l
ahi
dent
if
ies,
ist
hedi
ff
erence
i
nrel
i
giousnesst
heonl
yst
andar
dwhi
chAl
l
ahappl
i
es,
ist
hest
andar
dofgoodnessand
spi
ri
tual
excel
l
ence.I
ntheQur
an,
All
ahAl
might
ySay
s(whatmeans)
:Omanki
nd,
indeed
wehav
ecr
eat
edy
ouf
rom mal
eandf
emal
e,andhav
emadey
oui
ntonat
ionsandt
ri
bes,
t
haty
oumayknowoneanot
her
.Indeedt
hemosthonor
edofy
oui
nthesi
ghtofAl
l
ahi
s
t
hemostr
ight
eous.I
ndeed,
All
ahi
sKnowi
ngandAcquai
nted(
Qur
an,
Al-
Huj
rat
,49:
13).

-
Thi
sist
odecl
aret
hati
nIsl
am,
nonat
ioni
smadet
obeabov
eot
hernat
ionsort
ori
se
abov
ethem.Man'
sval
uei
ntheey
esofmenandi
ntheey
esofAl
l
ahi
sdet
ermi
nedby
t
hegoodhedoes,
andbyhi
srespectt
oAl
l
ah.

-
Thedi
ff
erencesofr
ace,
col
ororsoci
alst
atusar
eonl
ysuppl
ement
ary
.Theydonot
af
fectt
het
ruest
andi
ngofmani
nthev
isi
onofAl
l
ah.Agai
n,t
hev
alueofequal
i
tyi
snot
si
mpl
yasubst
anceofconst
it
uti
onal
right
sort
heagr
eementofnobl
esor
condescendi
ngchar
it
y.I
tisanar
ti
cleoft
rust
,whi
cht
heMusl
i
mtakesser
iousl
yandt
o
whi
cht
hemustf
oll
owhonest
ly.Thef
undament
alsoft
hisI
slami
cval
ueofequal
i
tyar
e
ext
remel
ydeep-
root
edi
nthear
rangementofI
slam.I
tst
emsf
rom basi
cideol
ogi
essuch
ast
hef
oll
owi
ng:

-
All
menar
ecr
eat
edbyOneandt
heSameEt
ernal
God,
theSupr
emeLor
dofal
l
.

-
All
manki
ndbel
ongt
othehumanr
aceandshar
eequal
l
yint
hecommonpar
ent
ageof
Aadam (
Adam)andEv
e(Hawa)
.

-
All
ahi
sJustandKi
ndt
oal
lHi
scr
eat
ures.Hei
snotpar
ti
alt
oanyr
ace,
ageorr
eli
gion.
Thewhol
eUni
ver
sei
sHi
sDomi
nionandal
lpeopl
ear
eHi
scr
eat
ures.

-
All
peopl
ear
ebor
nequal
,i
nthesenset
hatnoonebr
ingsanypossessi
onwi
thhi
m;and
t
heydi
eequal
int
hesenset
hatt
heyt
akebacknot
hingoft
hei
rwor
ldl
ybel
ongi
ngs.

-
All
ahj
udgesev
eryper
sonont
hebasi
sofhi
sownmer
it
sandaccor
dingt
ohi
sown
deeds.

-
All
ahhasdi
scussedonman,
ati
tl
eofhonoranddi
gni
ty.
42
-
Thosewer
esomeoft
hepr
inci
plesbehi
ndt
hev
alueofequal
i
tyi
nIsl
am.Whent
his
concepti
sful
l
yut
il
ized,
itwi
l
lleav
enopl
acef
orpr
ejudgmentorhar
assment
s.Andwhen
t
hisGr
eatr
ulei
sful
l
yappl
i
ed,
ther
ewi
l
lbenor
oom f
ordomi
nat
ionorconquest
.
Concept
sofchosenandgent
il
epeopl
es,
wor
dssuchas‘
pri
vi
leged’
and‘
condemned’
r
aces,
wor
dssuchas“
soci
alcl
asses”and“
cit
izens”wi
l
lal
lbecomewor
thl
essand
out
dat
ed.

-
ProphetMuhammadSWTsai
d:Omanki
nd,
yourLor
disoneandy
ourf
atheri
sone.You
al
ldescendedf
rom Aadam,
andAadam wascr
eat
edf
rom ear
th.Hei
smosthonor
ed
amongy
oui
nthesi
ghtofGodwhoi
smostupr
ight
.NoAr
abi
ssuper
iort
oanon-
Arab,
nocol
oredper
sont
oawhi
teper
son,
orawhi
teper
sont
oacol
oredper
sonexceptby
Taqwa(
piet
y)(
At-
Tir
mit
hi)
.

-
Ther
efor
e,i
twoul
dbei
mpr
obabl
etodecl
aret
hecompl
eteequal
i
tyofhumanbei
ngs,
al
thoughhumansar
eessent
ial
l
yequal
inr
ight
s,dut
iesandaccount
abi
l
ity
,andt
her
eis
somedegr
eeofsi
mil
ari
tyi
nphy
sical
andment
albehav
ior
s,whi
chenabl
est
hem t
o
under
standandappl
yrul
esandl
aws.Att
hesamet
ime,
iti
sunder
standabl
ethatt
her
eis
anat
ural
rangeamonghumanbei
ngsi
nter
msofqual
i
tiesandabi
l
iti
es;
ther
efor
ether
e
wi
l
lbel
i
mit
sinnat
ural
,commonandpol
i
tical
posi
ti
ons.Someoft
hel
i
mit
sar
e
t
empor
ary
,someper
manent
;somear
erar
e,somer
egul
ar.Howev
er,
acont
rol
is
speci
fi
ctoapar
ti
cul
arsi
tuat
ion.I
tmaynotbegener
ali
zedt
oinequal
i
tyi
not
herr
ight
s.A
per
sonwhoi
smor
all
yupr
ighti
snotequal
toast
affi
nter
msofmor
ali
ty,
butt
heymay
beequal
other
wise.Nori
sani
ntel
l
igentper
sonequal
toadul
lone,
butt
heyar
eequal
in
ot
herspher
es.I
nthesameway
,awomani
snoti
ndi
sti
ngui
shabl
etomani
nher
char
act
ers,
gif
tsandski
l
ls.

-
Al-
amrbi
lmar
ufwanahi
anal
-munkar

-
Amongstt
hegr
eat
estr
esponsi
bil
i
tiesar
eamr
-bi
l
-Ma’
roof(
order
ingf
oracknowl
edged
v
irt
ues)andnahi
ani
lmunkar(
for
biddi
ngf
rom si
n).Al
l
ahsay
s:“
Andt
her
eshoul
dbea
gr
oupamongsty
ouwhoi
nvi
tet
owar
dsgood,
orderf
oracknowl
edgedv
irt
ues,
for
bid
f
rom si
nandt
hesei
tist
hatar
ethesuccessf
ulones”(
Qur
an,
Al-
Imr
an,
3:104)
.

TheHol
yPr
ophetSWTsai
d:“
Howwi
l
litbef
ory
ouwheny
ourwomenwi
l
lcommi
tsi
ns

43
andy
oury
out
hwi
l
ltr
ansgr
essandy
ouwi
l
lnotor
derf
oracknowl
edgedv
irt
uesnor
f
orbi
dfr
om si
n?I
twassai
dtohi
m:“
Wil
lthathappenOmessengerofAl
l
ah?
”Thenhe
SWTsai
d:Yes.Thenhesai
d:“
Howwi
l
litbef
ory
ouwheny
ouor
derf
orsi
nsandf
orbi
d
f
rom acknowl
edgedv
irt
ues?
”Theni
twassai
dtohi
m:“
OmessengerofAl
l
ahSWT!Wi
l
l
t
hathappen?
”Thenhesai
d:“
Yesandwor
set
hant
hathowwi
l
litbef
ory
ouwheny
ou
per
cei
veacknowl
edgedv
irt
ueassi
nandper
cei
vesi
nasacknowl
edgedv
irt
ue?
”

-
Imam Sadi
qsai
d:Woet
othepeopl
ewhodonotsuppor
tther
eli
gionofAl
l
ahby
enj
oini
nggoodandf
orbi
ddi
ngev
il(
Sadi
q)

-
Theexpr
essi
on'
amrbi
al-
ma'
rufwa-
nahyanal
-munkar
'isav
eryi
mpor
tantone.I
tis
associ
atedt
oJi
had,
thati
s,doi
ngone'
shi
ghestt
ounder
standaai
m.Ji
hadi
snot
essent
ial
l
ywarf
oughtont
hebat
tl
efi
eldf
orwhi
cht
hespeci
fi
cAr
abi
candQur
ani
cter
m
i
s'qi
tal
.
'Ji
hadhasav
erywi
demeani
ngandst
atest
ost
ri
vi
ngf
ort
hecauseofAl
l
ah
Al
might
ytopr
omot
egoodnessandel
i
minat
eev
il
.Amuj
ahi
disaper
sonwhocar
ri
esout
Ji
hadorwor
kshar
dfort
hecauseofendor
singt
hev
aluesoft
heGl
ori
ousQur
an.

-
Thus,
Amrbi
lma‘
rufwanahyanal
-munkarwhi
chmeansor
der
inggoodandf
orbi
ddi
ng
ev
il
,i
saJi
hadr
elat
edpr
inci
ple.I
tseekst
oint
ell
i
gent
lycar
ryt
hebenef
it
sofI
slam t
othe
peopl
eandt
oinf
ormt
hem oft
hemeani
ngofwhatdev
ildo.TheQur
ancal
l
sMusl
i
ms
t
hemodel
communi
tywhi
chr
equi
rest
oconv
eyt
hePr
ophetSWTmessaget
oent
ir
e
humani
tyandt
oli
vet
heQur
an,
justast
hePr
ophetdi
d.

"
Amrbi
lMa'
rufwaNahyanal
Munkar
"isani
mpor
tantI
slami
cdut
y,t
oget
herbel
i
evedby
al
lMusl
i
ms.Thedi
ff
erencei
sint
heunder
standi
ngofi
t.Someconsi
dert
hati
tisenough
t
oaccompl
i
sht
hedut
ybyt
he"
hear
tandt
ongue,
"whi
chmeansoneshoul
dsuppor
tal
-
ma'
rufandopposeal
-munkari
nhi
shear
tandusehi
stonguet
ospeakoutf
oral
-ma'
ruf
andagai
nstal
-munkar
.Butt
her
ear
esomewhoj
ust
if
ytaki
ngupar
ms(
ifnecessar
y)f
or
t
hesakeoff
ulf
il
li
ngt
hisdut
y.

EXAMPLESOFGOODGOVERNANCEFROM I
SLAMI
CHI
STORY.

-
Isl
ami
chi
stor
yisr
epl
etewi
thnobl
eexampl
esofgoodgov
ernancef
rom t
heSunnahof

44
t
hePr
ophet(
SAW)andt
hepr
act
iceoft
hepi
ouscompani
ons.Someoft
heseexampl
es
ar
eher
einpr
esent
edwi
thav
iewt
oent
husi
ngust
odot
her
ightt
hingsandf
orbi
dthe
wr
ong.Howev
er,
iti
simpor
tantt
okeepi
nmi
ndt
hatnei
thert
hePr
ophet(
SAW)norhi
s
compani
onswasanangel
.Al
so,
theypr
act
isedI
slam noti
namor
econduci
ve
env
ironmentt
hanourown;
rat
hert
heyi
nfl
uencedt
hei
renv
ironmentconst
ant
lyal
bei
t
posi
ti
vel
yunt
ilAl
l
ahassi
stedt
hem t
obr
ingaboutt
hechanget
heydesi
redi
nthei
rcl
i
me
andepoch.‘
Fori
ndeedAl
l
ahwi
l
lnott
hecondi
ti
onofapeopl
eunt
ilt
heychanget
hat
whi
chi
sint
hei
rownmi
nds.
’(Qur
’an13v11)

45