ISLAM: Basic Principles and Characteristics

Rameeza Aslam

Islam And Human Life

• Islam a religion of truth , code of conduct of life • Human development requires: • Material needs • Knowledge of the principles ALLAH Said: “say, we believe in God, and the revelation given to us ,and to Abraham ,Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes. we believe in the revelation that was sent to Moses , Jesus and all other prophets from their lord. We make no distinction between them ,and unto HIM we surrender.”

Ideology

• “Ideology is one variant form of those comprehensive patterns of cognitive and moral beliefs about man, society and the universe in relation to man and society, which flourish in human societies”.

(International encyclopedia of Social Science) • An ideology is a body of ideas which reflects the beliefs and values of a nation and its political system”

CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAMIC IDEOLOGY

1. RABBANIYYAH Derived from the word “Rabb” (Lord).

a. The Godliness of Objectives and Goals

It indicates that the ultimate goal of Islam is to attain Allah’s love -The realization of the aim of human existence -Guidance to man ‘s fitra nature) -Peace of Mind -Freedom from slavery to one’s own selfishness and desires

b. The Divine Origin of Source and Method The Prophet’s position in this Divine Message -Islam is purely Divine Message (Faith,Worships,Morality,Laws) 2. HUMANITY -It is a religion of man.

The Qur’an is the Book of Man.

-Muhammad (pbuh )…the Human Prophet -Huqooq ul Ibad, The human side in the message of Muhammad (brotherhood,equality,freedom)

3. COMPREHENSIVENESS • A message for all times • A message for the whole world • A message for man in all the phases of his life • The comprehensiveness of Islamic teachings • The comprehensiveness of the Islamic faith • The comprehensiveness of Islamic moral code 4. MODERATION IN ISLAM (balance) 5. COMBINATION OF STABILITY & FLEXIBILITY

• Simplicity ,rationalism and practicalism.

• Unity of matter and spirit.

• A complete way of life • Balanced individuals and society • Permanence and change • Complete record of teachings preserved

The Existence of Allah

• Allah is not the God of only one clan, one nation or one certain province. He is rather “Lord of the Worlds” (1:2) “Lord of the heavens and the earth (18:14),”Lord of the east and the west and of what is between them” (26:28) “How can I seek a lord other than GOD? While He is in the Lord of all things?” (6:164)

“And your God is One God, there is no god but He, the Most Gracious, the Merciful.” (2:163) The Perfection and Infallibility of Allah “He is Allah, (the) One.He begets not, nor was He begotten; and there is none comparable to Him.”(112:304)

kalima

• “There is no God except Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” • Tauheed • Prophet-hood • Tauheed shapes and regulates the entire course of a Muslim's life.

Al-

Ikhlas

–

The Sincerity, Oneness Of Allah

• Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; • Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; • He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; • And there is none like unto Him.

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Al-Fatihah

In the name of Allah Most Compassionate, Most Merciful • All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. • The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

• Master of the Day of Judgement.

• You alone do we worship and You alone do we seek help from.

• Guide us to the straight path.

• The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your blessings, not of those who have incurred Your wrath nor those who are astray.

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shahadat

Allah is the supreme being • The creator • The controller • The regulator • The Sustainer • The master of universe • The highest authority • Worthy of worship

Effects of Doctrine of Tauhid on Human Life:

• The idea strengthens the concept of freedom of mankind.

• Creates the sense of Dignity of mankind • Creates Confidence by having a staunch believe in God Almighty.

• Leads to purification of our souls.

• Belief in Allah gives solace and peace to mind • Self Contentment

SHIRK

Associating partners with God is shirk (Polytheism) “Then do not set up rivals unto Allaah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” [al-Baqarah 2:222] • The belief that Allah is not sovereign, independent and sole dispenser of affairs of the world.

“ And they set up rivals to Allaah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’” [Ibraaheem 14:30]

Types of Shirk

• Shirk-e akbar -Shirk-e-Rububiyah (Lordship) -Shirk-e-Asma was siffat (Attributes) -Shirk-e-Al ibadah (Worships) • Shirk-e-Asghar (Hidden/Secret Shirk) The Holy Prophet said "One who offers the ritual prayers in an ostentatious way is a poly theist. One who keeps the fast, or gives charity, or performs the

Hajj

to show the public his righteousness or to earn good name is a polytheist"

Prophet Hood

• The commonest term of Prophet is Nubuwah.

• In Arabic there are two meanings of Prophet – Elevate – Announce – The Quran uses the term generically for (Nabi or Anbiya) Persons by God to communicate a divinely given message to humanity and the unseen.

– Another term is Rasul, derived from Arabic word means “ Send”

Finality of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)

• Surah Al-Ahzab : 40 “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (He is) the apostle of Allah, And the Seal of the prophets: And Allah has full knowledge of all the things.” • All prophets strove to build man`s relation to God • They were the representatives of God • Belief in Prophets involves and inculcates the acceptance of Shariah (Code of Behavior)

• “Every Messenger who was sent by Us was sent for the purpose that he should be obeyed under the sanction of Allah” Al – Quran Ch#4 verse # 69 • Thus Belief in Kalima means commitment to obey them and to fashion individual and collective life in the light of Law and guidelines provided by them.(Shariah) • And those who do not make their decisions in accordance with that revealed by Allah, they in fact are the disbelievers. Al – Quran : Ch # 5, verse # 44.

Then Belief in the Hereafter

• “And God is the One Who originates creation, and afterwards He will make it return, it is easy for Him. His are the Most Exalted attributes, in the heaven and the earth, and He is the Almighty, the All Wise.” (30:27)