Practical Islam

Question:-

Apart from doctrine, theory or philosophy, or even ritual, I would like to know what Islam has to say at the practical level. What does the Quran have to say about things that apply to everyday life, including mental attitudes, social interactions, ethical and dietary rules?

Answer:-

It will be necessary to study the whole Quran as there are many instructions and they re best understood in the context of the whole system. But here are some extracts that will give some idea of what Islam teaches, but they need to be studied closely and understood at a deeper and more comprehensive level than the casual reading allows. This list could be divided into several sub-categories, and can also be used to test and assess how close a Muslim is to the Islamic Ideal.

(1) The purpose of the Islamic practices can be given as follows:-

"O you who believe! Respond unto Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know that Allah comes in between a man and his own heart; and that He it is unto Whom you shall be gathered." 8:24

"And the soul and Who fashioned it, and enlightened it with what is wrong and right for it! He indeed is successful who causes it to grow (or purifies it)! And he indeed is a failure who corrupts it!" 91:7-10

"Say: I exhort you only to one thing that you awake for Allah's sake (or stand up before Allah) in twos or singly, then ponder. There is no madness in your companion (or comrade, fellow-citizen); he is only a Warner to you before a severe doom." 34:46

(2) The practices are summarised as the 5 Pillars - Remembering and affirming the Shahadah, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, Pilgrimage - and the 3 Duties - Seeking Knowledge, Striving in the Way of Allah, Endurance.

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces towards the East or the West, but it is righteousness to believe in Allah, and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers, and to spend of your wealth for love of Him, for your kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, for those who ask, and to ransom those in captivity; and to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the covenant (contracts) which you have made; and to be firm in patience in times of pain (poverty and deprivation), and adversity, and in periods of panic (or violence); these are the people who are true, and these are those who are Allah-fearing." 2:177

(3) The mental attitudes Muslims are to cultivate are found in the following verses:-

"Remember the favour of Allah to you and His covenant which He made with you, when you said: We hear and we obey; and fear (respect and keep your duty to) Allah. Verily, Allah knows well the secrets in your breasts. O you who believe! Stand steadfast as witnesses for Allah with justice; and let not hatred of (or towards) a people tempt you to injustice. Act with equity, that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah; for Allah is Aware of what you do." 5:7-8

"Say: O mankind! There has come to you the Truth from your Lord, and he who is guided by it, his guidance is only for his own soul; and he who errs, errs only against it; and I am not a warder over you." 10:109

"He who accepts guidance (or does right), accepts it only for his own soul: and he who errs, errs only against it; nor shall one burdened soul bear the burden of another. Nor would We punish until we had sent a Messenger (with warnings)." 17:15

"O you who believe! You have charge of (or guardianship of) your own souls; he who errs can do you no hurt if you are rightly guided. Unto Allah will you all return, and He will declare to you the truth of that which you did." 5:105

"There is not a beast upon the earth nor a bird that flies with both its wings, but is a people like to you; We have omitted nothing from the Book. Then to their Lord shall they be gathered." 6:38

"You shall surely travel from stage to stage!." 84:19

"And give full measure when you measure out (in commerce, judgement, interactions etc), and weigh with a right balance; that is better and fairer in the final determination." 17:35

"And follow (or pursue) not that of which you have no knowledge; verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, of all of these it shall be asked (to give an account)." 17:36

"And walk not on the earth proudly (insolently); verily, you can not rend the earth asunder, nor can you stretch to the height of the mountains." 17:37

"Follow what is inspired in you from your Lord; there is no god but He, and shun the idolaters." 6:107

"Say: O people of the Book! Exceed not in your religion other than the Truth, and follow not the lusts (prejudices, fantasies, superstitions) of a people who have erred in the past, and who lead many astray, and who go astray from the Even Path." 5:77

"Wherefore judge you between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their lusts (prejudices, fantasies, superstitions); but beware lest they mislead you from part of what Allah has revealed to you ; and if they turn back, then know that Allah wishes to smite them for some sins of theirs. Verily, many men are rebellious (evil doers)." 5:49

"And those who patiently persevere, craving their Lord's Countenance, and are steadfast in prayer, and spend, secretly and openly, in charity from what We have bestowed upon them, and overcome evil with good - these shall have the sequel of the final (heavenly) Home." 13:22

"We will try you with something of fear, and hunger and loss of wealth, and lives and fruits (of toil); but give good tidings to those who patiently persevere Who, when there falls on them a calamity say: Verily, we are Allah's and, verily, to Him is our return." 2:155-156

"So whatever thing you are given, that is only a provision of the life of this world, and that which is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. And those who. shun the great sins and indecencies, and whenever they are angry they forgive. And those who respond to their Lord and establish prayer, and whose conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend out of what We have given them, and those who, when great wrong afflicts them, defend themselves. The recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever forgives and amends, he shall have his reward from Allah; surely He does not love the unjust. And whoever defends himself after he has been wronged (or been oppressed), for such there is no blame against them. The blame is only against those who oppress men and revolt (insolently exceed all bounds) in the earth unjustly; these shall have a painful punishment. And whoever is patient and forgiving, these most surely are actions of courage and resolution." 42:36-43

"Know that the life of this world is only sport and play and idle talk and boasting among yourselves, and a rivalry in the multiplication of wealth and children; like the vegetation after rain, whereof the growth pleases the husbandmen; but then it withers away so that you will see it become yellow, then it becomes dried up and crumbles away; but in the Hereafter is a severe chastisement and also forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure; and the life of this world is naught but means of deception." 57:20

"Verily, Allah hath bought of the believers their lives and their wealth, because the Garden will be theirs; they shall fight in the way of Allah, and they shall slay and be slain, a promised binding on Him in Truth, in the Torah and the Gospel and the Quran; and who is more faithful to His covenant than Allah? Rejoice then in the covenant which you have made with Him, for that is the supreme triumph. Triumphant are those who repent, those who serve Him, those who praise, those who fast, those who bow down, those who fall down prostrate (in awe or surrender), those who bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah - glad tidings to those who believe. 9:111-112

(4) Relationship with others:-

"Revile (or abuse) not those who call on other than Allah, for then they may abuse Allah openly in their ignorance. Thus We make seemly to every nation their deeds. But unto their Lord is their return and He will inform them of the truth of what they used to do." 6:109

"Fight, then, in the way of Allah; impose nothing on anyone else but on thyself (or you are responsible only for thyself), and urge on (or rouse, encourage) the believers. Perchance Allah will restrain the violence of those who disbelieve, for Allah is Mightier, severer in punishment." 4:84

"Fight in the Cause of Allah with those who fight you, but transgress not the limits (or begin not hostilities); verily, Allah loves not those who transgress (or the aggressors). 2:191. Kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drive you out; for persecution (oppression or sedition) is worse than slaughter; but fight them not by the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there; If they fight you then kill them, for such is the recompense of those that are faithless. 2:192. But if they desist, then, verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. 2:193. But fight them until there be no more oppression (persecution or sedition) and that the Din (religion, faith, justice, the attitude and way of life) may be Allah's; but, if they desist, then let there be no hostility save against the unjust oppressors." 2:190-193

"O you who believe! If you contract a debt for a stated time, then write it down, and let a scribe faithfully record it in writing between you in equity; nor let a scribe refuse to write as Allah taught him, but let him write, and let him who owes dictate; but let him fear Allah his Lord, and diminish nothing there from; but if he who owes be of low understanding, or weak, or cannot dictate himself, then let the guardian of his interests (or agent) dictate faithfully in justice. And call two witnesses out from amongst their men; or if two men not be at hand, then a man and two women, from those whom he approves as witnesses, so that if one of the two should err, the second of the two may remind the other. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are summoned; and let them not tire of writing it, be it small or great, with the terms of payment." 2:282

"Verily, those who believe, and act righteously, and are steadfast in prayer, and pay the poor due, their reward is with their Lord; there shall no fear come on them, nor shall they grieve. O you who believe! Observe your duty to Allah, and remit the balance of usury, if you be, in truth, believers; And if you will not do it, then hearken to the proclamation of war from Allah and His Apostle; but if you repent, your capital is your s. Wrong not, and you shall not be wronged. And if a debtor be in difficulties, then wait for easier circumstances; but to remit the debt as alms is better for you, if you did but know." 2:277-280

"And when you are greeted with a good (courteous, friendly, beneficial) salutation, salute with a better one, or return it; verily, Allah takes account of all things." 4:86

"The believers are naught else but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of your duty to Allah that mercy may be had on you. O you who believe! Let not one people deride (or ridicule) another people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women deride other women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with (or defame) your own people nor insult one another by (offensive) nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not desist, these it is that are the unjust. O you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft relenting, Merciful. O mankind! Surely We have created you male and female (or from a single pair), and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most noble of you with Allah is the one among you most righteous (careful of his duty to Allah); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. " 49:10-13

"And slay not your children for fear of poverty; We will provide for them and for you. Beware! For to slay them is ever a Great Sin. And draw not near to adultery (and fornication); verily, it is ever an abomination, and evil is the way thereof (it opens the way to other evils). And slay not the soul that Allah has forbidden you (or made sacred), except for just cause; for he who is slain unjustly We have given authority to his heirs (or kin), yet let him not commit excess in slaying; verily, he will be helped. And draw not near to the wealth of the orphan, save to improve it, until he reaches the age of puberty, and fulfil your covenants (or agreements, contracts etc.). Verily, every covenant will be inquired into (on the Day of Judgment). And give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a right balance; that is better and fairer in the final determination. And follow (or pursue) not that of which you have no knowledge; verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, of all of these it shall be asked (to give an account)." 17:31-36

"O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord, who created you from one soul, and created there from its mate, and scattered from the twain a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty towards Allah, in whose name you claim rights of one another, and the wombs that bore you; verily, Allah is Watcher over you." 4:1

"We have commended men to (be kind and considerate to ) his parents - his mother bore him with travail upon travail; and it took two years to wean him - "Be thankful to Me and to your parents; for unto Me is the journeying." 31:14

"And twist not your cheek in scorn towards folk, nor walk haughtily (or insolently) in the land; verily, Allah loves not any arrogant boaster: but be modest in your bearing and subdue your voice; lo! The harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass." 31:18-19

"Hold to forgiveness, and command what is kind, and shun the ignorant. And if an incitement from the devil wound you, then seek refuge in Allah: verily, He is Hearer and Knower." 7:199-200

(5) General behaviour:-

"Whoever intercedes (recommends, promotes, encourages) well in a good cause shall have the reward there from; but he who intercedes (recommends, promotes, encourages) with a bad intercession shall have the like thereof, for Allah oversees all things." 4:85

"And do not strain after what We have provided a few of them - the splendours of the life of this world, through which We test them; but the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting." 20:131

"O you who believe! Spend of the good things that you have earned, and of what We have brought forth for you out of the earth, and do not take the vile (or worst) thereof to spend in alms, that you would not take for yourselves save with closed eyes (or disdain); but know that Allah is Absolute, the Praise-worthy." 2:267

"And give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a right balance; that is better and fairer in the final determination." 17:35

"Devour not your wealth among yourselves vainly, nor present it to the judges that you may devour a part of the wealth of other men sinfully and knowingly." 2:188

"O you who believe! Be you steadfast in justice, witnesses for Allah, though it is against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, be it rich or poor, for Allah is nearer both than either. Follow not, then, lusts (prejudices, superstitions, passions), so as to act unjustly (or with bias); but if you swerve or turn aside, Allah is well Aware of what you do." 4:135

"O you who believe! Be careful of your duty to Allah and speak straight to the point." 33:70

"Verily, those who love to see slander (or scandal) broadcast amongst the believers, for them is grievous woe in this world and the Hereafter; Allah knows, but you know not." 24:19

"If you avoid great sins from which you are forbidden, We will remit (or expel) your lesser offences (or all evil in you) and make you enter a noble gate. And do not covet that by which Allah has preferred one of you over another. The men shall have what they earn, and the women what they earn; but instead (of envy) ask Allah for His Bounty, verily, Allah is All-Knowing." 4:31-32

"And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel evil with what is best, when lo! He between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were an intimate friend. And none are granted this power but those who possess patience and self-restraint, and none are granted it but the owners of great happiness. And if a whisper (incitement or interference) of the Satan should cause you mischief, then seek refuge in Allah; surely He is the Hearer, the Knower." 41:34-36

"He (man) says: I have squandered wealth in plenty. Does he think that no one sees him? Have We not made for him two eyes And a tongue, and two lips? And guided him in the two highways? But he has not attempted the ascent! And what will explain to you the ascent? It is freeing captives (or prisoners, slaves, the restricted or bound), or feeding on the day of privation, an orphan who is a kin, or a destitute lying in the dust (of misery); And again (it is) to be of those who believe and encourage each other to patience, and encourage each other to mercy." 90:6-17

"O you who believe! Observe your duty to (or fear or respect) Allah with the right observance (or with the fear or respect that He deserves), and die not save as those who have surrendered (in a state of Islam).Hold fast, all together, to the cable of Allah, and do not separate (divide or part in sects); but remember the favours of Allah towards you, when you were enemies and He made friendship between your heart, and on the morrow you became brothers, by His grace. You were on the edge of an abyss of fire, but He rescued you there from. Thus does Allah show to you His revelations; perchance you may be guided; And that there may spring from you a nation who invite to goodness, and bid right conduct, and forbid what is wrong (or indecent); these are the successful. 3:105. Be not like those who parted in sects and disagreed after there came to them manifest signs; for them is mighty woe." 3:102-105

"Say: O my servants! Who have acted extravagantly (transgressed) against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives all faults; surely He is the Forgiving the Merciful. And return to your Lord time after time and submit to Him before there come unto you the punishment when you cannot be helped. And follow the best of that which has been revealed to you from your Lord before the punishment comes suddenly while you do not even perceive." 39:53

"Say: O my people! Work in your manner (or work as and how you can), surely I too am working." 39:39

"And when you have performed your rites, remember Allah as you remember your fathers, or with a keener memory still. There is among men such as say: Our Lord! Give us in this world;" but then they have no portion in the Hereafter. And some there be who say: Our Lord! Give us in this world good and good in the Hereafter; and defend us from the torment of the fire!" 2:200-201

"And their word was only to say: Lord, forgive us our sins and wasted efforts; and make firm our footing, and help us against the faithless folk! So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and also good reward in the Hereafter. Allah does love those whose deeds are good." 3:147-148

"Those who give charity, both in prosperity and in adversity, for those who control their rage, and those who are forgiving towards mankind. Allah loves the good. Those who when they do an evil, or wrong themselves, remember Allah, and ask forgiveness for their sins - and who forgives sins save Allah alone? - And do not knowingly repeat the wrong they did." 3:134-135

(6) Personal rules:-

"Forbidden to you (for food) is that which dies of itself, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than Allah, and that which has died by strangling, or by violence, or by a fall, or by goring, and which has been eaten by wild animals - except what you slaughter correctly - annd what is sacrificed to idols. And (forbidden) is the dividing (raffling) of carcasses by arrows (i.e. by games of chance). This is an abomination. This day are the disbelievers in despair of harming your religion; fear them not, but fear Me. This day have I perfected for you your religion, and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam. But he who is forced by hunger, not inclined wilfully to sin, verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." 5:3

"They will ask you what is lawful for them? Say, "Lawful for you are all good things. And what you have trained hunting animals to catch, in the manner directed by Allah; - so eat of what they catch for you, but mention the name of Allah over it, and fear Allah, for verily, Allah is swift in taking account." 5:4

"This day all things good and pure are made lawful for you. The food of those to whom the Book has been given is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them; and chaste women of those who believe, and chaste women of those to whom the Book has been given before you - when you have given them their marriage portions and live with them chastely, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines (or paramours). But whoever denies the faith, of a truth his work is vain, and he shall be among the losers in the Hereafter." 5:5

"O you who believe! When you rise up to prayer wash your faces, and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads, and your feet down to the ankles. And if you are polluted, then purify yourselves (bathe). But if you are sick, or on a journey, or if you come from the toilet, or if you have touched women and cannot find water, then take from high ground (clean) sand or earth and wipe your faces and your hands therewith. Allah does not wish to make a burden for you; but He wishes to purify you and to fulfil his favour upon you; that you may give thanks." 5:6

"They will ask you about wine (or fermented drinks) and el maisar (getting something too easily, i.e. gambling, usury etc.), say: In them both is great sin and some profit to men; but the sin of both is greater than the profit of the same. They will ask you what they shall expend in alms: Say: The surplus (what is beyond need). Thus does Allah manifest to you His signs; per chance (or possibly) you may reflect." 2:219

"Work not confusion (chaos, mischief or evil) in the earth after it has been rightly ordered, and call upon Him with fear and hope (longing and earnestness); for, verily, the mercy of Allah is nigh unto those who do well." 7:56

"And remember how he made you vicegerents …. So remember the bounties of Allah, and waste not the land, despoiling it." 7:74

"O you who believe! Forbid not the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, nor transgress (or commit excess); verily, Allah loves not the transgressors." 5:87

(7) The Islamic way of life depends of course on a faith in God, which is more than just a belief in His existence, but involves a certain idea of what He is like and Trust as well as Love and loyalty to Him. This must be cultivated, sustained and enhanced. Faith is maintained through experience that comes from following a discipline. This includes studying the Quran, following the instructions in it about thought, motivation and action, observing the world and life, praying and meditating, self-awareness and self control.

"O you who believe! Respond unto Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know that Allah comes in between a man and his own heart; and that He it is unto Whom you shall be gathered." 8:24

"Say (O Muhammad): If you love Allah then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger; but if they turn away Allah loves not disbelievers." 3:31-32

"So let them be mindful of their duty to Allah and listen, for Allah guides not the people who do evil." 5:108

"Then who is more unjust than he who devises a lie against Allah, to lead men astray without knowledge? Verily, Allah guides not the unjust people." 6:145

"Have you supposed that giving drink to the pilgrims and tending the Sacred Mosque are equal to believing in Allah and in the Last Day, and striving in the way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah, and Allah guides not a wrongdoing people." 9:19

"Say: If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your clansmen, and the wealth which you have gained, and the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings which you love, if all these are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving in His way: then wait awhile, until Allah brings His command to pass. Allah guides not wrong-doing (rebellious) people." 9:24

Though some faith is necessary to accept the Islamic practices, in general it is the practices that lead to the experiences that create faith.

"The dwellers of the desert (or desert Arabs) say: We believe. Say: You believe not, but rather say, 'We submit'; for faith has not yet entered into your heart; and if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish aught of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Only they are the believers who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then afterwards they doubt not and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah; they are the truthful (sincere or righteous) ones." 49:14-15

"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright." 2:186

"And when the Quran is read, then listen thereto with attention, and keep silence, that per chance (or possibly) you may obtain mercy. And remember your Lord within yourself humbly and with awe, below your breath, in the morning and in the evening; and be not of those who are neglectful (or unheedful)." 7:204-205

"(The Quran is) a Book We have revealed to you abounding in good that they may ponder over its verses, and that those endowed with understanding may reflect." 38:30

"And certainly We have set forth to men in this Quran similitudes of every sort that they may reflect." 39:27

Numerous verses in the Quran point to events in heaven and earth, the plants and animals and to human nature and societies for us to study and as examples.

Human beings have the capacity to know Allah because His spirit is in them.

"Then He fashioned him (man) and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the faculties of hearing, and sight and heart; little is it that you give thanks." 32:9

"And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge)." 50:16

"He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do." 57:4

"Each of them has a succession (of angels) before him and behind him, to keep guard over him at the command of Allah; verily, Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their heart (or in their souls or change it for themselves). And when Allah wishes misfortune for a people there is no averting it, nor have they a protector beside Him." 13:11

In ordinary secure life, human beings are distracted by the allure and temptations that surround them, and the awareness of what goes on in our minds and of God is suppressed. But in times of stress and danger there is an instinctive appeal to God for help.

"When We have let men taste of mercy after some adversity which has afflicted them, behold! They use a plot against Our revelations! Say: Allah is quicker at plotting. Verily, Our Messengers (angels) write down that which you plot." 10:22

"And when distress touches you in the sea, all those whom you call on fail you, except Him, but when He has brought you safe to shore, you turn away; for man is ever ungrateful." 17:67

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