04-08-2009, 04:43 PM
In the Name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful
THE ISLAMIC WAY OF LIFE:
Guidelines from the Quran
When the revelation of the Glorious Quran was completed, twenty-three years after it all began, Allah (God) stated:
"Today I have perfected your religious law for you, and have bestowed upon you the full measure of My blessings, and willed the self-surrender unto Me (Islam) shall be your religion." (5:3)
Unlike many other religions of the world, Islam is a complete way oflife which provides guidance to mankind in all aspects of human endeavor. Instead of bifurcating human life into a multitude of separate and often mutually con¬flicting compartments, Islam requires its adherents to: "Enter into submission (of Allah) completely" (2:207) and to proclaim to the rest of the world: "Say, truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for God, the Cherisher of the world." (6:162)
The Islamic way of life is based on the teachings of the Quran as amplified and exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). One of its objectives is that humans have PEACE OF MIND. Material gains and pro¬gress alone can not bring about either true happiness, comfort and content¬ment in this temporary life or a blissful eternal life in the Hereafter.
Individuals constitute society, the nucleus of which is the family. Thus, many Quranic injunctions teach individuals to practice the Quranic edicts themselves and exhort others to follow suit. This is essential if the society at the very least:
a) is to be comprised of people who acquire knowledge and fully apply
their faculties of learning and reasoning positively and constructively.
B) is to opt to live in peace, and practice justice and equity.
c) is to show care for the needy and oppressed
d) is to preserve and protect mutual rights and obligations
e) is to be free from exploitation
f) is to ensure equality of opportunity for all
g) is to ensure that the resources of the universe are employed to society's best advantage and well-being equitably and without harming or damaging them and maintaining a perfect balance.
These have been the goals of all civilizations. Each has employed its own means and devices to inculcate in individuals a sense of responsibility and obligation towards the building and preservation of a good society striving for these goals.
Today, western society may claim to be the closest of all to these goals.
However, its reliance is solely on the human intellect and its laws. These are enacted without seeking the guidance of an authentic Revelation such as the Quran, or the earlier Revealed Books, which unfortunately, no longer exist intact. Moreover, the concepts of the separation of Church and State, and of humans being totally free and not bound by any Divine Laws have dramatically altered peoples' thinking and conduct. As a result, people continue to suffer injustice and are disillusioned/discontented and have no peace of mind or genuine happiness, in spite of all material progress. They mistakenly place them¬selves and their comforts above everything else. Laws have proliferated and governmental controls and regulations have restricted men's freedom and hin¬dered their acquisition of good moral values.
Our present society compares poorly with the conditions that existed when the Islamic Way of Life was practiced in a large part of the world. History bears wit¬ness and provides more than ample proof of the efficacy of the teachings contained in the Quran.
The present-day condition of Muslims and their decline is directly related to their following personal whims, desires and traditional and family practices, customs and values, rather than the Quranic edicts.
Unless humans accept the Supremacy, Authority and Power of the One and Only God who is the Evolver, Shaper, Sustainer, Owner, and Sovereign ofthe Universe and all that is in it; natural human selfishness and egotism will prevail, thereby demeaning man's noble nature and disrupting his welfare.
It is only when the individual is steadfastly righteous in his conduct in everyday life that he can hope to achieve PEACE OF MIND, through God's Blessing and guidance. This will give him a comfortable and happy life on earth, and, more importantly, an eternal life after death.
The Quran (the final Divine Revelation; being the only one in existence in its original language) provides guidance and contains directives in respect of all human activity. Amplification of these can be found in the sayings (Hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
In addition, the Prophet's life history, (Seerah) exemplifies how these rules are to be applied in everyday life.
Thus. the study ofHadith and Seerah provides sound guidance in living the Islamic Way of Life, since the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) personified the Quranic teachings in all of his actions.
In the interpretation and application of the teachings of the Quran, Hadith and Seerah, it is very important to bear in mind the kind of society which Islam aims to establish, and to ensure that this interpretation conforms to the guiding principles contained in the following verses of the Quran:
And so. set thy face steadfastly towards the (one ever-true) faith, turning away from all that is false, in accordance with the natural disposition which God has instilled into man: (for,) not to allow any change to corrupt what God has thus created• this is the (purpose of the one) ever-true faith; but most people know it not. (30:30)
God wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to suffer hardship; (2:185)
And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind, and that the Apostle might bear witness to it before you. (2: 143)
To be able to lead the Islamic Way of Life, it is essential to be ever mindful of the acceptance and commitment one makes while accepting Islam. In short, one must always be GOD CONSCIOUS - (Muttaqi). To help achieve this goal, the performance of five regular prayers (Salat) has been prescribed:
Convey (unto others) whatever of this divine writ has been revealed unto thee, and be constant in prayer; for, behold, prayer restrains (man) from loathsome deeds and from all that runs counter to reason; and remem¬brance of God is indeed the greatest (good). And God knows all that you do. (29:45)
Constant remembrance of God is also achieved by using appropriate words of greeting and invocation, such as:
Assalam u Alaikum
Wa Rahmatullah - Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon you
Bismiullah i'r
Rahman i'r Raheem - In the name of Allah the Mercy Giving the Merciful
In sha' Allah - If Allah Wills
Ma sha' Allah - Allah has willed it Alhamdulillah - Praise be to Allah Subhanallah - Glory be to Allah
The following verses direct us to remember God in our behavior and in our speech:
But when you are greeted with a greeting (of peace), answer with an even better greeting, or (at least) with the like thereof. Verily, God keeps count indeed of all things. (4:86)
And never say about anything, "Behold I shall do this tomorrow," without (adding), "if God so wills." And if thou shouldst forget (thyself at the time, and become aware of it later), call thy sustainer to mind and say: "I pray that my sustainer guide me even closer than this, to a consciousness of what is right!" (18:23)
A study of the Quranic verses will show that the required matters of"ma'roof' (good deeds) are no different than those required by Law or society in the U.S. Indeed, such ethical rules have contributed to its greatness. In the matter of "Al-munker" (forbidden), however there are many differences between Islam and American Culture. The present problems arising in the American society can be seen as the result of transgressing the Quranic edicts.
A Muslim is required to observe these commandments as an act of worship ¬namely, in obedience to and for seeking the pleasure of Allah. Consequently, he does not seek ways to get around them. For the Muslim these com¬mandments are eternal and no society or authority can change them.