(Question No. 1)
Explain the guiding principles
of the Islamic way of life?
Introduction: -
Islam is a universal religion and
a complete code of life. Tauheed is the central point
around which revolves the whole system of Islam. Islam has made life easier
by providing the guiding principles for its followers. The following are
the main guiding principles, which provides us a better guideline to live
a happier life.
Unicity: -
Unicity is the epicenter of the Islamic code of life. This means that the
creator of this universe is only one who is All Sovereign and Omnipotent.
Every thing in the universe small or big is created by Him and owes its
existence to Him. The political, economic, cultural and other system of
Islam are based on the fact that real sovereignty and authority belongs
to Almighty ALLAH. The Qur’an says:
“Blessed be He, in whose hands is Dominion & He over all things hath
Power”
Faith in Finality of Prophet
hood: -
We must spend our life according to the teachings of our beloved Prophet
Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) because the words of ALLAH revealed
to the Holy Prophet and the conduct of righteous live are eternally preserved
in the form of Holy Qur’an Sunnah and Hadith.
Performance of Prayer: -
Prayer is the first obligation and second pillar of Islam. It helps us
to become a duteous, honest, Muslim unity and enable us to resolve problems
like economical, social and political by mutual interaction.
Fasting: -
Fasting is the third pillar and second obligation of Islam. It comes in
the month of Ramazan. According to our Holy Qur’an it helps us to learn
self-restraint.
Paying of the Poor-Due: -
It is the fourth pillar and third obligation of Islam. Due to the paying
of the poor dues it eliminates, selfishness, greatness and the evil of
avarice and also helps us to earn the pleasure of ALLAH. At the same time
inspire the sentiments of mutual co-operation.
Making the Pilgrimage to Ka’ba
the House of ALLAH:-
It is the fifth pillar and the fourth obligation of Islam. It comes in
the month of Hijri. In a simple language it is called Hajj. To go on Hajj
the Muslim must be healthy affording adult and free from any bondage. It
provides us a local unity by open out skirt Eid Mosque. It also provides
us the international unity and cohesion.
Faith in the Day of Judgment:
-
Every Muslim believes in the Day of Judgment. Every Muslim earns the pleasure
of Almighty because of the judgment day. That’s why Muslims live their
lives according to Islamic ways. Muslims perform their duties faithfully
because the fear of the displeasure of ALLAH.
Holy Struggle & War: -
Jihad means any effort made in furtherance of the cause of Islam. It is
a relentless struggle of deeds, words & sacrifices of life and property
in the way of Islam. Every Muslim must take part in this struggle of war.
Simple Living: -
Every Muslim lives a simple life because our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace
Be Upon Him) also led us to a simple life. It means that every individual
should take part in all activities in the society for good of life here
& here after.
Filial Piety & Elderly Esteem:
-
In Holy Qur’an
and Hadith of the Holy Prophet been commanded that we must obey our parents,
teachers, elders & youngsters also with love, affection, esteem &
reverential attitude. The disobedience of parents is disobedience of ALLAH.
Enlightenment & Forbearance:
-
It is another
guiding principle of Islam. It teaches us equal treatment to the humanity.
It means that nobody in the world is black or white; rich or poor, religious
or non-religious all are same in the eyes of Islam.
Lawful Wherewithal: -
It is another guiding principle of Islam. It teaches us to live our lives
lawfully & earn according to the principles of Islam. In Islam every
Muslim carries an obligation to seek a lawful livelihood.
Soft Speaking: -
It is another guiding principle of Islam. It teaches us that we must speak
gently with our relatives, friends, teachers, elders, enemies etc.
Sympathy: -
It is another guiding principle of Islam. It teaches us that we should
help those people who are poor, needy etc. In order to help these people
we must give them money or in other words pay our Zakat. Every Muslim should
live their life with sympathy.
Conclusion: -
After studying these principles we come to know that Islam has a great
concern for its followers. It has provided us the basis of life & the
complete system through which we can spend an easier & happier life.
Our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) has left the Holy
Book of ALLAH with us. It is on us to read it, understand it & act
according to its teachings. If we do so we shall never go wrong.
(Question No. 2)
What is meant by society,
explain the main characteristics of the Muslim society?
List of points:
Society: -
Society (Muashra) means a group of people living together for promoting
their common interests. These people have to contribute to wards progress
& continuity of the society.
Muslim Society: -
A Muslim society is governed & guided by the teachings of the Holy
Qur’an & Sunnah. All members must reflect the Islamic teachings. In
this society, the Islamic teachings regulate all laws & enactments
& its members should live their lives accordingly.
Characteristics of Muslim Society:
a) Equity & Justice: -
Equity & justice are the very soul of Islamic society. No civic society
can survive without establishing itself on the principles of equity &
justice. Its absence turns a society into a jungle where might becomes
right & the whims of the mighty becomes the law. In such a society
life itself becomes unbearable.
Equity
& justice is a complete code of life. Almighty ALLAH has created the
universe with its instinctive disposition & bestowed Islam along with
its principles of equity & justice for the good of mankind.
The presence
of equity & justice can be seen in our daily life. If a trader weighs
or measures improperly, he negates the principles of equity & justice.
The life of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) & his religious caliphs
are the testimony to the fulfillment of the requisites of equity &
justice by under going utmost sacrifices & hard ships to please ALLAH.
The system of judiciary in an Islamic society is meant to provide protection
to the oppressed & to render right to the aggrieved.
b) Fraternity: -
Fraternity means brotherhood or the quality of bring brotherly. It implies
creating an atmosphere in which all members of the society work in unison
with love & affection, earning for an helping one another, both in
happiness & misery. The Islamic society has its moorings in the Qur’anic
injunctions in which the Muslims have been directed below:
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope of ALLAH and be not divided among
yourselves”.
ALLAH has
guided us with certain principles, the effective adherence to which will
root out such frictions. For instance, usury (Riba) is forbidden to promote
fraternal atmosphere by curbing greediness & making the payment of
alms-due, an obligation to relieve the poor from distress.
In order to relegate the differences of languages, races & customs,
the last Prophet of ALLAH emphatically said in his last sermon:
“No Arab is superior to a non-Arab & non-Arab to an Arab & no white
to a black & no black to a white”.
c) Equality: -
Masawaat is equal ranking i.e. giving equal rights to all. In the pre-Islamic
society there existed no concept of equality & as such ‘Might Is Right’
was in practice. The mightier ruled the weaker. Racial superiority &
discrimination was the order of the. People felt pride in their race &
belongings. The life of slaves was miserable. The advent of Islam removed
all this & put a new spirit in the society. Faith & righteous deeds
became the bases of greatness & every one was provided with equal rights
to flourish.
(i) Legal Equality: -
It means establishing such a judicial system wherein every body enjoys
equal states in the eyes of law. In such a system the rich & the poor,
the master & the servant, the Muslim & the non- Muslim every one
enjoys similar legal protection. The court shall provide justice to all.
The life of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is the best example, which
never did injustice in any way. Legal equality also means providing equal
opportunities to all people for their economic, social & intellectual
advancement.
(ii)
Social Equality: -
Equality is equal ranking i.e. conceding equal rights to all. It means
that no person is allowed to enjoy superiority over others in social &
religious congregations. Just as the rich & poor, the master &
the servant, lose their distinction while observing prayers, similarly
there is no discrimination among them in the general routine of life. This
stands for social equity.