I think that rather than condemning Islam, Islam needs to be studied by those who are sincere. (Louis Farrakhan)
Thinking about the musings from Day 46: The Doctrine Of Abrogation…
I would submit to you that after covering the early history of Islam:
Day 41: Location…Location…Location;
Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Yathrib/Medina:
To the early, military victories:
The significance of the Five Pillars and their religious book, the Quran:
Day 45: Five Pillars…And One Quran;
And the importance of abrogation:
Day 46: The Doctrine Of Abrogation;
There is still one more important element that needs to be covered….
Law Of Sharia.
It is at this time in class, that I introduce an algebraic equation to help the students fully understand the belief system of Islam. I would submit to you that this algebraic equation is what Muslims are expected to follow in order to truly please Allah. In addition, this algebraic equation is ultimately the way both Allah and Muhammad would expect you to follow as a Muslim.
It goes like this:
(Q + S) + LOS = M
It is quite ironic that this basic, algebraic equation that I put together, would not have been possible without a Muslim. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a 9th century Muslim who was the head librarian at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Iraq, is known as the ‘father of algebra’…
Back to my algebraic equation. The Q represents the Quran. Read the Quran. Follow the expectations in the Quran. How Allah expects you to live is in the Quran:
Q for Quran.
The S is the Sunnah. Read the Sunnah. Follow the expectations in the Sunnah. How Muhammad would have lived and expects you to live is in the Sunnah:
S for Sunnah.
Lastly, there is a third, key piece to this equation that must be plugged in for Muslims to be true, followers of Islam. That is the LOS portion of the equation:
LOS for Law Of Sharia.
Simply defined, the Law Of Sharia, of Sharia Law, is basically a combination of the Quran and Sunnah. This makes logistical sense in that the Quran, that Allah dictated to the Angel Gabriel, who in turn then dictated the Quran to Muhammad, who in turn then dictated the Quran to his followers. The words of Muhammad, or the ‘hadith’, (his actions), were written down in the ‘Sunnah’.
Without getting too complicated, let’s just stick to the basic, algebraic equation above. In order to be the Muslim that Allah wants you to be, you must not only read the Quran and the Sunnah, following those expectations, but your entire life must be set up around those two books as well. In other words, your social, political, economical, and cultural lives should revolve, from birth to death, around Islam. Revolving around Allah, via the Quran, the one, true god and the last of the prophets, Muhammad, via the Sunnah.
That is basically what Law Of Sharia is.
It is important to note that historically speaking, when Muslims are applying the Law Of Sharia in their everyday lives, they are combining politics with religion. When a society combines politics and religion, that is called a theocracy.
So what are some of the expectations regarding the Law Of Sharia? Here are 11 examples from the Quran:
1) And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al- Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. Quran 2:191;
2) Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand. Quran 4:34;
3) They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper. Quran 4:89;
4) [As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah . And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. Quran 5:38;
5) O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people. Quran 5:51;
6) And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Quran 9:5;
7) Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. Quran 9:29;
8) Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars. Quran 24:13;
9) Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment. Quran 33:57;
10) Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger are abased as those before them were abased. And We have certainly sent down verses of clear evidence. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment. Quran 58:5;
11) O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination. Quran 66:9.
So now that we are familiar with the 3 legs that hold up the foundation of Islam: the Quran, Sunnah and Law Of Sharia, is it a belief system that is worthy of your soul for eternity?
That will be covered next time.
Do not feel discouraged if you are still questioning Islam. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to process the combination of expectations of Islam regarding the Quran, Sunnah and now, the Law Of Sharia. Instead, embrace the idea that learning about these fundamental components of Islam will help lead you to make a clear choice soon.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44 KJV)
Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?
Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 47: So What Exactly Is The Law Of Sharia?.
If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.
Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:
This is well documented and very precise. Good job!