Social Life

Abduction: It is a crime to abduct a human being or an animal. Abductor faces punishment.

Abortion: Life is sacred in Islam. It can not be taken away without a genuine reason. It is not a matter of choice of comfort or pleasure to abort full development of a human issue. Allah provides needs and provision to every soul he creates. However, if an existing life is in danger of perishing because of birth of a new life, its birth then can be aborted to save existing life.

Adultery: It is a crime against humanity. If it is consensual, both are liable to be punished. If it is a forced one, the one who uses force is liable to punishment.

Alimony: A husband, who has divorced his wife, has to take care of necessary sustenance of his divorced wife during her waiting period. If husband has died, his heirs have to take care of his widow during her waiting period (Please see Waiting Period for details).

Animals: Allah has conquered the universe for human kind. Animals are created to serve humans. Mankind uses them for riding, milk, meat, hides, guard, prey, etc. Torture or cruelty to animals is forbidden. For safety of human beings, killing of poisonous or wild carnivorous animals is allowed. Domestic and harmless animals can be had as pets. All these are valid for birds as well.

Art: Any art- may that be drawing, picture, film, movie, music, dancing, singing, sculpture, drama, theater or any form as such- that depicts nudity, obscenity, or raises unwanted sexual desire, or incites immorality is strictly forbidden for the sake of spiritual and physical health of society.

Beard: Men have been asked by Prophet Muhammad (s) to maintain beard, and trim moustache.

Burial of Dead: Dead bodies should be cleaned and bathed. They should be wrapped in two pieces of simple white cloth, and buried in the earth at the earliest possible time. Before burial, a congregational prayer should be held to seek Allah’s forgiveness for the deceased. All types of pompous or costly ceremonies are disliked.

Business: For earning, business of halal (Please see Halal for details) goods with legal means is encouraged.

Calendar: Islam allows both solar and lunar system of reckoning time. However, its festivities and worships are held according to Hegira or Hijri calendar (Please see Hegira for details).

Charity: To help needy peoples irrespective of their religion, race, nationality, color, or relationship, physically or monetary, is regarded as a virtue of very high level in Islam.

Children: Today’s children are tomorrow’s nation. They should be treated with love and compassion. They should be trained with good manners and etiquette. They should be equipped with most modern knowledge. They should be raised as good productive citizens. They should not only be taught how to worship Allah, but asked to obey him in their lives as well.

Cleanliness: Islam raises cleanliness of body, soul and environment to the level of Faith. It equates cleanliness to half of Faith. It advises its believers to perform ablution five times a day before going to prayer. In some cases, such as wet dream, Islam orders to take a full bath to clean body and wash dress to remove impurities. Islam treats removing stones from path as charity.

Covenants: Covenants between two persons or two parties must be fulfilled. The party that disregards a covenant after agreeing to it must be forced to fulfill it or punished if not abiding it.

Crime: Islam takes care of basic needs of a human being in each sphere of life (For examples, please see Charity, Earnings, Marriage, Ownership, Polygamy, and Social Security, etc.). In a society where human needs of sustenance, honor, and freedom to compete are available to every one, crimes of murder, rape, adultery, stealing, snatching, possession by force, disturbance of peace and order are taken very seriously. Islam does not show compassion to peoples who commit such crimes against society or humanity. Islam orders to inflict exemplary and open punishment on criminals to warn other aspiring or plotters of crimes, and thus save society from further crimes and disturbance.

Dating: The prevalent type of dating in the West that leads to touching other’s body, and then kissing, and then ultimate sex between a couple is totally abhorrent and forbidden in Islam. However, Islam allows a man or a woman who wants to marry a person of opposite gender to see and talk to each other.

Da’wah: Society as a whole and a person as an individual are responsible to invite human beings to submit themselves to one God.

Divorce: Islam allows a husband to divorce his wife. A wife can not divorce her husband unless she has taken that right at the time of her marriage to him. A wife can however seek separation (khula’) from her husband through a court of law. If a husband divorces his wife, he can not take any thing away from his wife that he had given to her. If a wife seeks separation or divorce, she has to give up all that her husband demands from what he had given her. There are three types of divorce- 1. A husband can take her divorced wife back without fresh vow of marriage while she is still in waiting period; 2. Former husband and former wife can marry each other again with fresh vow of marriage after divorce or separation if she has already completed her waiting period; 3. If any one of the two previous divorces was made two times or one time each of the two then the same couple can not marry each other unless the wife marries a second person and she is then consequently divorced by the second husband as well. Divorce or separation without a genuine cause which makes them unbearable to live with each other is very much discouraged. Islam recommends a process of reconciliation between husband and wife, before any one of them resorts to divorce or separation.

Dower: It is that cash or kind which husband gives to or promises to his wife at the time of their marriage as a gift. It is a necessary condition for marriage. If a husband consummates his marriage, he must give this gift in full to his wife. If a husband divorces his wife or dies before consummation of his marriage, he or his inheritors are liable to pay half of the agreed dower. A wife however can forego full or half of it.

Dress: Islam clearly teaches three objectives of dress. It should cover nakedness. It should save body from adverse effects of weather. It should be pleasing to eyes as well. Islam orders all human beings to keep their bodies covered in front of others. Covering means not only to hide nakedness but hiding curves, mounds, and shape of body as well. A transparent or a tight dress is consequently not allowed. Men are required to cover their bodies at least from navel to knees in front of all. Women are required to cover their bodies in front of non-mehrem men (strangers) from head to toe, except their faces and palms and fingers; however in front of women, or men with whom their marriage is forbidden (Please see Mehrem), requirement of covering their whole body is relaxed quite a bit. In addition when they go out, they should put on a cloak or a robe over their bodies to save themselves from mischief of strangers. Islam does not encourage nakedness even when a person is alone, except in front of one’s spouse, or a doctor for treatment, or in front of a court assignee for ascertaining certain information. Women can wear dresses made of any fine colorful and beautiful material but men are not allowed to wear a dress made of pure silk, or in red color only.

Earnings: Islam allows both men and women to earn by lawful business, employment in lawful work, physical labor, inheritance, farming, gifts, mutual help, charity or zakat-if deserving (Please see Worships for details), damages, or donations etc. It forbids earnings from unlawful means such as interest, gambling, theft- forced or hidden, bribe, black marketing, blackmailing, life insurance, undeserved zakat or charity.

Eid: Please see festivities.

Enjoining Good: Islam orders its followers to enjoin good in the society. Some examples of good: honesty, social service, help or assistance to others, speaking truth, friendship, sacrifice, tolerance, forgiveness, etc.

Entertainment: Entertainments that are sound and preserve moral, spiritual, and physical health of a person and society are not only allowed but encouraged as well. For example: races, ridings, wrestling, walking, jogging, acrobatics, picnic, sight seeing, humor, reading, swimming, flying, shooting, poetry etc. Entertainments that are obscene or offensive to feelings and moral values are not allowed.

Equality: Islam treats all humans equal in law. There is no preference on the basis of color, race, language, nationality, gender, or religion. Arabs have no preference over non-Arabs and vise versa. Men have no preference over women and vice versa. However old and young have some extra benefits because of their age, such as in concessions or compassion.

Family: In Islam a society’s basic unit is family. Islam not only orders family life but takes measures to preserve and strengthen it. A family comes into being when a man and a woman marry each other. The purpose of a family is two- fold- 1, to seek comfort from each other and 2, to raise children for the continuity of mankind. It may consist of husband, wife, children, father, mother, brothers, and sisters. In Islam a husband is head of his family. It is his duty to earn and spend on needs such as food, dress, health, education, and entertainment of his family members. It is his duty to safeguard his family members from any type of spiritual or physical harm or danger. A wife is required to take care of children, raise them as good productive citizen, and guard property of her husband in his absence. A wife has no responsibility of earning and contributing to necessary household expenses of her husband Islam does not recognize a family of gays or lesbians.

Festivities: Basically there are only two festivals in Islam- Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Eid means a festivity that repeats itself. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of month of fasting to thank Allah for giving opportunity to complete full month fasting in order to seek his forgiveness. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated to honor Abraham (a)’s sacrifice of his only son in obedience to Allah’s command. Muslims can also celebrate on other occasions such as birth and naming of a child, marriage, completion of recitation of whole Qur’an, etc. Muslims celebrate birth of Messenger Muhammad (s) as well.

Food: Islam allows all pure foods for eating. There are certain foods that are, however, strictly forbidden to eat. These are pork, dead animal (except fish and locusts), blood, animal or bird gored by wild animal or bird, wild and carnivorous animal and birds, animal or bird offered on an altar, animal or bird slaughtered in the name of some one other than Allah, a food prepared to seek pleasure or intercession of a dead person.

Forbidding Evil: A society collectively or a person individually has a duty to forbid evil deeds to be planned or committed, such as telling lies, usurping other’s right or property, dishonesty, false witnessing, unlawful killing, theft, adultery etc. (For some details, please see Immorality in ‘Morality’).

Fornication: Please see Adultery.

Freedom: Islam allows freedom of religion, lawful profession, lawful assembly, marriage, movement, lawful business, education, possession of moveable or immoveable property, etc.

Gambling: All sorts of and all forms of gambling, whether in casinos or outside, are forbidden in Islam. People gamble because of greed, and Islam abhors greed. Generally poor and needy people gamble to get quick money. A few people do win, but most of the people who gamble lose all their money in greed to be rich. This process leads wealth to flow from poor to rich, where as Allah wants wealth to flow from haves to poor and have-nots.

Gays: Islam totally bans sexual relationship between two or more persons of same gender. This relationship is an aberration and not a natural physical need. Such persons should be medically treated rather than allowed to indulge in it. It is a punishable crime.

Government: Islam orders peoples to run their community affaires by mutual consultations, keeping in mind the basic notion that they are vice-regent of Allah on this earth. Thus sovereignty lies with Allah. Hence, no law can be enacted which is repugnant to laws of Allah and his Messenger (s).

Greetings: Peoples should greet each other peace, health and happiness. Islam emphasizes use of better greeting words when replying to a greeter.

Halal: Halal means lawful or allowed. Generally all deeds, words, foods and drinks are halal except those that have been forbidden or made unlawful by Allah and or his Messenger (s). Such unlawful or forbidden things are called Haram.

Hegira: It is a lunar system of reckoning time, dates, and years. It was started by second caliph of Islam, Umar bin Al-Khattab R. He made hijrah i.e. migration of Messenger Muhammad (s) from Makkah to Madinah as the starting year of this calendar and named it as Hijri calendar. Its twelve months are: 1, Muharram; 2, Safar; 3, Rabi’ I; 4, Rabi’ II; 5, Jumadi I; 6, Jumadi II; 7, Rajab; 8, Sha’ban; 9, Ramadan; 10, Shawwal; 11, Zul Qa’dah; 12, Zul Hajj. (Please see also Calendar). Each one of them has either 29 or 30 days, according to sighting of new moon. The total number of days in this calendar is 354.

Hijab: It means a covering or a partition that blocks a view. This word is used in the Qur’an to advise believers to talk to the wives of the Prophet (s) from behind a partition (Hijab). Now -a- days, this word is used for a scarf that is worn by a woman to cover her head and bosom. It is called khimar in the Qur’an, where Allah orders women to use their headdress to cover their bosoms as well. In Pakistan and its surroundings, it is called ‘Dopatta’.

Hijri: Please see Hegira.

Homicide: It is a crime that can be settled between heirs of a killed person and the killer if the killer pays blood money (Please see also Ransom) to the heirs. If he is unable to pay, he will be jailed.

Infaq: It means spending of money without any worldly return or gain on the needs of individuals or society solely to seek pleasure of Allah. Islam incites and encourages its followers to spend as such, and as many as they have more than their needs (Please see Charity also).

Inheritance: Detailed distribution formulas are given by the Qur’an and the Messenger of Allah (s). It is called Ilm-ul- Faraidh i.e. Knowledge of Required Distribution of Inheritance. In this Knowledge, Allah and his Messenger (s) have clearly given a list of heirs in order of priority under prevailing conditions, as well as proportions of their shares. The first basic principle of distribution is to give a male heir twice that of a female heir. It is because a man is burdened by Islam to earn and support his entire family, whereas a woman has been made free of this duty; moreover she has been given a right of being sustained and provided for her other needs by her husband or father. The second basic principle is that a deceased person can not totally deprive heirs of her or his inheritance. The third basic principle is that the proportion of distribution of inheritance among the heirs can not be altered by the deceased. The fourth basic principle of distribution is writing of will, according to which a deceased person can gift his or her one-third inheritance to needy peoples or welfare social organizations or religious bodies or community work all other than his or her heirs. All these distributions will only be made after paying any loan or debt that was due on the deceased. All these principles are themselves based on a single compassing principle: Man on this earth is a vice-regent of Allah. All the wealth which he has belongs to Allah. After his death it reverts to Allah. Allah then distributes it to those whom He deems nearer to the deceased and have greater need than the others as well.

Insurance: There are two types of insurance: insurance of property and health, and life insurance. Insurance of property and health is based on the principle of helping members of community in their unforeseen calamities such as car accident, house fire, health problem, etc. Whenever such calamity occurs, insurers help remove it as many times as it occurs. If no such calamity occurs, the insured does not get his or her contribution back. He or she is participating in community welfare plans by monetary contribution. This type of insurance is allowed in Islam. In life insurance, an insured person gambles his money in order to win a large amount in return. No body knows when he or she will die, but die must. It is a gamble of time and money. Moreover greed of getting large amount of money at once for his or her family left behind also plays its part. A third point is that when the insured does not die within the set time of insurance, he or she gets much larger amount of money than paid in installments. This extra money is paid on the basis of interest calculated by actuary experts. All these three factors i.e. gambling, greed, and interest play their part in life insurance, and all three are forbidden in Islam. On the basis of this analysis, a person can easily understand that life insurance is repugnant to Islamic principles of acquiring wealth.

Interest: Any kind of free dealing involving interest or usury of any type- simple or compound- is totally forbidden. In fact it is the only act or dealing against which Allah and his Messenger (s) have openly declared war. If capital is used to invest in business, then it should be on the basis of share in profit or loss. If capital is given to help needy as loan, then it should be given without any charge or benefit in return (Please see also Mortgage). If by local law one is forced to accept interest, it should be given away to those in plight.

Intoxicant: All intoxicants, when eaten or smelled whether in small quantity or more, which make people lose their mental balance are forbidden. Drinks or food made with them are also forbidden. However, these are allowed as much as a doctor or physician prescribes them for saving life. Thus all sorts of alcoholic drinks and drugs, such as marijuana, are all forbidden.

Jewelry: Women can wear jewelry made of any thing such as gold, silver, stones, etc. Men are however not allowed to wear any thing made of gold.

Jihad: Jihad means to struggle with utmost energy and resources to remove evil and defend virtue. It can be waged against one’s own evil desire or actions, or family, or neighborhood, or community at large in order to help society to lead peaceful virtuous life. Fighting is the last resort to achieve peace and crush disturbance. It can be resorted to only defend Muslim land or values, or help oppressed gain freedom from clutches of an oppressor, or stop people from breech of covenants. Fighting to usurp other’s property or land, or force others to practice a particular man-made philosophy of life, or to subdue other for worldly gains is strictly forbidden in Islam. Islam abhors all types of imperialism and hindrances in the path of establishment of Truth in human society.

Justice: Islam says that all messengers of God and all his books and messages were sent to the peoples on earth to establish justice among them. Peoples are asked to rule with justice without any consideration of religion, race, language, tribe, gender or nationality.

Peoples are ordered to witness truth even though it might be against them or their parents or relatives or poor or rich.

Killing: Every life is sacred in Islam. Every soul is a creation of Allah according to his Will and plan. None is authorized to try to interfere in his plan. He completely abhors and prohibits killing of human or animal souls without a just cause. However, He allows killing in the following four cases: 1. killing fighters and their helpers on a battle front, 2. killing of people engaged in subversion of an established peaceful Order of Allah, 3. killing a murderer to avenge loss of life by him, 4. and killing of a person who committed adultery. The last three killings, however, can only be done by an established authority when a court of law decrees as such after allowing accused to defend through a process of justice established by law.

Khula’: It is an Arabic word. It means release from or annulment of marriage sought by a wife from her husband (Please see Divorce for details).

Knowledge: Seeking knowledge is required of all Muslim men and women. Allah says that one who has knowledge can not be equated to one who has no knowledge. He asks believers to pray to him to increase them (growth) in knowledge. A person who leaves his or her house to seek knowledge is busy in the path of Allah till he or she returns home.

Lesbians: Please see Gays.

Lottery: If the number of peoples desiring some thing is more than the number of available thing then drawing lot on the basis of equality to distribute the thing among the peoples is not only allowed but recommended as well, provided none loses his or her property or wealth in this lottery. If one loses his or her wealth and does not succeed in winning as well, it is not lawful (Please see ‘Gambling’ for details).

Man: Allah made the first man Adam from clay. He then made a woman Eve of the same kind as of Adam. Both were sent down on earth as his vice-regent. He then spread a lot of men and women on earth from the two. Allah gave strength and power to man to help him to work hard and struggle in life. The basic duty of a man is to earn and spend his earning on his family members. It is also his duty to use his physical strength and power to safeguard interest of his family members from inside or outside danger or attack. He is made head of his family. His right is to get comfort and cooperation from his family.

Marriage: Men and women are free to choose their life partner from non-Mehrem (Please see Mehrem) peoples of opposite gender. Islam advises them to choose a God- fearing practicing partner of Islam. It forbids believers to marry polytheists even though they may be attractive. Islam wants a family of monotheists in order to have spiritual peace and environment for them as well as help them raise children as monotheists. In order to live together as life partner they have to perform a formal marriage. It is a formal contract between them to live together as husband and wife. They will fulfill each others physical and spiritual needs with love, cooperation, and sacrifice. They will together raise children, and see that they grow as good and productive members of society. This contract is solemnized with two conditions: 1. both should publicly- in front of at least two witnesses- accept each other as husband and wife; 2. the man pays or promises to pay the woman some sort of cash or kind gift as agreed by the woman to be his wife. It is called Mehr (Please see ‘Dower’ for detail).

Mehrem: These are relatives (Please see Relatives for details) with whom marriage of a person has been totally forbidden i.e. Haram. The list includes all parents and grand parents, uncles and aunts (not by marriage), sisters and brothers (not by marriage)-half or step, nephews and nieces (not by marriage), grand children (not by marriage). Any sexual relation with any one of them is incest, and is liable to be punished.

Mortgage: Mortgaging some property as guarantee or security of refunding a loan is allowed. The lender, however, can not get any benefit from the mortgaged property during his or her possession, except as cost of maintaining it in its functional form. If the mortgage property is damaged or lost by the custodian, the equivalent amount of loss will be deducted from the loan before it is refunded.

Mosque: It is a very important institution in a Muslim community. It is a place where daily, weekly, and yearly worships are performed in congregation. Men are asked to worship in congregation in a community mosque. Women are however exempted from praying in a mosque. It is a duty of the community to maintain it and keep it alive. It is a center of D’awah-il-Allah (Please see Da’wah). It is a center of teaching and training people for the work of Allah. It is a center of religious and cultural activities of Muslim community.

Neighbor: Islam teaches its followers to be good to their neighbors. Muslims should treat their neighbors like members of their family. They should stand in their needs and help them out of their wants. They should share their food with their neighbors. They should never make trouble for their neighbors. Those who cause trouble or mischief to their neighbors are not good believers. The first case that will be presented before Allah on the Day of Judgment for his judgment will be a case of contention between two neighbors.

Non-Muslims: Non-Muslims are free to practice their religions. They have all those rights that Muslims enjoy in a Muslim society. They are equal in a court of law. They can have friendship with Muslims. They are allowed to enter a mosque for talks, to seek justice, on some official need, or even as a guest. They have a right to seek exemption from military services by paying nominal fees for guarding their lives and property from an enemy in case of war. Muslims can not seek this type of exemption. They must enlist in military services to fight in case of war whenever the government deems fit. Muslims have to pay zakat on their wealth, whereas non-Muslims are exempted from it.

Ownership: Ownership by individuals of any thing such as houses, farms, land, industry, business, precious metals or stones, or even large some of cash all earned by legal means is allowed. Islam encourages individuals to use their intelligence, knowledge, art, time, labor to compete each other in acquiring and owning earnings and wealth by lawful means.

Parents: Islam assigns parents a very high position in Muslims lives just after that of Allah and his Messenger (s). Muslims are asked to treat their parents kindly. It is imperative on Muslims to help their parents live an honorable decent life in their old age.

Muslims should try their best to fulfill needs, wishes and commands of their parents. In fact in principle it is a payment back to parents of their investment on their children. They had spent their time, energy, wealth, and had braced difficulties and problems by sacrificing their feelings and comfort to educate and raise their children. Their grown up earning children are fruits of their labor and investment not only for this world but for Hereafter as well. Hence, according to Islam, what children own basically belongs to their parents. Muslims are advised never to show their displeasure or anger on any words or action of any of their parents either by a word of oh or facial impression. Mother commands a treatment of kindness three times more than a father does. By serving mother kindly, Muslims can earn paradise. By making father angry, Muslims make Allah angry. Even after death, parents have rights over their children. Muslims are asked to pay debt and loan of their parents as they inherit all their estates. They should invoke Allah’s forgiveness for them. They should treat their relatives and friends with respect and kindness.

Polygamy: Islamic human codes are given by Allah-Creator of humankind- and his Messenger (s). The Creator fully well knows natural and physical needs of his creation. He is all Wise and Powerful. Man is by nature polygamous. Polygamy is practiced all over the word, whether legal or illegal. Consensual sex between two adults- adultery or fornication or gay-ism- without becoming a family and accepting responsibility is now norm of secular world. This habit is so much spread that even public figures, representatives, legislators, preachers of non-Islamic religions, and stalwarts of monogamy are now openly involved in it. Man is selfish by nature. On one hand he wants to fully enjoy his rights, but on the other hand he tries his best not to fulfill his responsibilities and duties. The so-called modern civilization of secular world has made man a butterfly who freely hovers over flowers, sucks juices from as many as it wishes, and then flies away free from them. Islam has totally banned this type of conduct (see Adultery), but takes care of polygamous need of man by legally allowing, but does not require, polygamy with the condition that he should accept that woman as his wife who agrees to satisfy his sexual needs, make her a full member of his family and fulfill his duties to her as a life partner. Even this allowance of polygamy is limited to a maximum of four wives at a time.

Pornography: Indulging, participating, witnessing, or exhibiting any sexual act whether legal or illegal, in public or for public, is strictly prohibited (Please see also Adultery).

Prostitution: It is totally prohibited. It is a punishable crime. (Please see also Adultery, Earning, and Pornography).

Ransom: Peoples undergo tremendous emotional and physical sufferings because of unwarranted murder of their relatives or injuries to themselves or relatives. Islam consoles such people. It pacifies their emotional suffering by assuring them that the unwarranted death of their relatives makes them a shaheed (martyr) in the path of Allah. They are alive and have been awarded a place in paradise. To take care of physical sufferings due to murder or injuries, Islam forces the peoples causing death or injury to pay blood-money or ransom, called diyyah, of life or injury to the aggrieved party.

Rape: Illegal intercourse, whether consented or forced, is a crime in Islam. Rape is a forced intercourse against the desire of one gender by the other. The party that committed the crime using force is liable to be punished.

Relatives: Islam recognizes three types of relatives: 1.Blood Relative. These are parents (Please see Parents), children (Please see Children), grand children, brothers and sisters- half or step, paternal and maternal uncles, aunts, and grand parents, cousins etc. A person is encouraged and advised to be kind to them. These needs of these relatives and kindness to them have priority over all others, such as needy, traveler, or even one busy in the cause of Allah. A person is also advised to be kind and helpful to the following two types of relatives as well.

2. Relative by Marriage. These are blood relatives of one’s spouse.

3. Relative by Milk. A woman who suckles some other woman’s child becomes mother of that child by milk. Her relatives become milk relatives of the child.

Salaam: Muslims are advised to greet (Please see Greeting) each other with Salaam-o-Alaikum. It means peace be upon you. And the one who is greeted first you reply back with Wa’Alaikum-as-Salaam wa Rahmatullahi. It means and peace be upon you too and Allah’s mercy as well.

Sects in Islam: Besides some others, there have arisen two major sects in Islam: 1. Ahle-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah (shortly known as Sunni), 2. Ahle-Tash’ee (shortly known as Shia’).

The Sunnis constitute about 90 percent of Muslims, whereas Shias constitute 8 to 10 percent. Though Shias are al most in every nation, they constitute majority in four nations- Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen- only.

The chief and major point of contention between the two sects is “Who should have rightfully succeeded Prophet Muhammad (s) after his death as the first caliph?” Sunnis believe that leadership is nobody’s right. Leader should be elected by the people, as was done after the death of the Messenger of Allah. As majority of the people at that time chose Abu Bakr R as the first successor, he was a rightful caliph. Shias believe that leadership of believers (Imamat) was not something to be decided by people but was already decided by Allah, and he had chosen Ali R- a cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (s) - as the first successor of his Messenger (s). Thus, they claim that Ali R was deprived of his right to be the first successor. Ali R later became the fourth caliph by peoples’ choice. To Shias, the first three caliphs before Ali R, and those after his son Hasan R were not rightful ones. Later on differences grew further on religious and political canvas.

Sex: Sex like hunger is also a natural physical need. Islam controls diet, and allows only pure and healthy food to satisfy hunger. Similarly Islam does not allow free for all satisfaction of sexual urge to safeguard spiritual, moral, and physical health of society. It eliminates major sources and reasons of Aids (Please see also Adultery, Polygamy, Pornography, and Prostitution). It allows only husband and wife to enjoy clean and pure sex with each other to seek comfort and raise children (Please see Marriage). Even this sex between a husband and a wife is regarded as a very private and hidden relationship. It should never be in front of a third person, not even in front of children, or in public.

Social Security: Islam makes it a duty on rulers to provide peoples of their state with facilities to earn their basic needs of food, dress, and shelter freely, and to live with honor. It is a duty of the state to help provide its needy or deprived people with basic needs, and guard their honor, property, and freedom.

Suicide: In an Islamic society, no one is allowed to destroy any life or wealth, whether his own or others. Allah directly deals with creation or destruction of life. Suicide is a destruction of a life made sacred by Allah. It is a punishable crime (Please see also ‘Killing’).

Taxation: Islam allows state to levy taxes on its people in order to develop means of earnings, safeguard life and property, and provide necessary facilities and freedom to live honorably and with ease.

Trust: Islam allows setting up revocable or irrevocable Trust of properties or means of income and earning in order to safeguard peoples interest or help fund some projects, etc.

Usury: Please see Interest.

Waiting Period: A divorced woman is advised to wait for her three menstrual periods before she can marry again some one of her choice. She has a right of provision for this period from her former husband. A widow is asked to wait for four months and ten days before she can come out of her mourning period and marry again some one of her choice. She has a right of provision of life during mourning period from heirs of her deceased husband.

Wealth: Islam encourages production and acquiring of wealth by legal means, and allows its free purposeful use so as to benefit individuals or society. Its wrongful or illegal use or destruction is prohibited. Islam does not like accumulation and non-utilization of wealth in a few hands. Wealth should circulate in the society either by investment or charity. Islam opposes any system of earning which increases greed or in which wealth flows from have-nots to haves (Please see also ‘Interest’, ‘Gambling’ and ‘Insurance’).

Will: Islam allows, rather encourages distributing a maximum of one-third of total estate left behind after death through a will. This will can be made for poor, needy people, or organizations, or projects which are not direct inheritors (Please see also ‘Inheritance’).

Woman: Allah made first woman Eve along with first man Adam (Please see ‘Man’ also). Islam does not accuse Eve of inciting Adam to commit a sin, rather makes both of them responsible for their actions. Islam does not regard monthly menstrual period, which a woman suffers from, as a perpetual punishment to her because of a sin committed by Eve. Islam totally rejects the philosophy of punishing some innocent person because of a crime or a sin committed in the past by someone else. It is against the basic principle of justice. Islam says no person will bear the load of sin of some other person.

Women have been completely exempted from doing hard work of earning for themselves or family. They have a right to demand these from their men-folk. Women however are permitted to earn wealth and property by all lawful means, and solely own it and use it according to their free will. They are not required to share their earning or wealth with any other person in or outside their families. However, they have a duty of taking care of mental, spiritual and physical development of their children, maintaining and safeguarding honor, secrets, and property of their husbands as well. Women have been exempted from going to mosque for prayers.

Zabiha: Zabh means cutting the vein of a living body. Islam allows Muslims to eat meat of certain (Halal) animals and birds whose veins are cut under certain conditions. The first condition is that the animal or bird should be alive at the time of slaughter. The second condition is that the animal or bird should be slaughtered in the name of Allah or at least with an intention that slaughter was done in his name. The third condition is that the blood is oozed out of body of slaughtered animal or bird. It is also desirable to wait till the slaughtered animal or bird stops moving before its part or meat is cut from its body. Thus any animal or meat of animal is called Zabiha if all the three conditions are met.