The Products of Islamic Culture

Dawa 111 - Spring 2013Qatar University

The Five Products of Islamic Culture are

• Righteous Human• Righteous Family• Righteous Society• Righteous Humanity• Righteous Economy

Righteous Human Man is the agent of Allah on earth to establish Allah’s laws.

Allah has honored men as the best of His creation.

Allah created the heavens and the earth for man.

Belief and Faith

Man is the creation of Allah. Thus, a man is a slave of Allah before anything else.

A righteous human believes that Allah created the universe and everything in it.

A righteous man also believes that Allah has sent the holy books to guide mankind out of darkness into the light of faith.

Righteous HumanRites and Worship

Man is created for the sole purpose of worshipping Allah.

Man must worship Allah alone.

Man must not associate any partners in the worship of Allah.

Righteous human spends his entire life in the act of worship. All his actions and

words are for the sake of Allah.

Righteous HumanPropagation and Struggle

A righteous does not simply concern himself with his own benefit and improvement, but rather strives and works hard to bring success amongst his people and the society.

Righteous HumanIntellect and Knowledge

A righteous human acquires knowledge and wisdom for the sake of Allah. Moreover, Islam shuns any blind following. Rather, every Muslim must gain knowledge as it is an essential part of faith.

Righteous HumanBuilding and Productivity

A righteous man must be hard working and productive. He must not spend his time in laziness and negligence. He must earn his bread and provide for his family.

Righteous Family

Corrupt and detrimental valuesIn the pre-Islamic era many religions prevailed that degraded the value of women and attributed evil to women. The family, which is the basic unit of civilization, is now disintegrating. Islam’s family system brings the rights of the husband, wife, children, and relatives into a fine equilibrium. It nourishes unselfish behavior, generosity, and love in the framework of a well-organized family system. The peace and security offered by a stable family unit is greatly valued, and it is seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order is created by the existence of extended families and by treasuring children.

1. Allah created everything in pairs in the universe. Thus, Allah ordered man and woman to get married to perform His duties together as couples.

2. Through marriage the progeny of mankind is continued and the children are brought up in a healthy family.

3. Marriage helps a Muslim in protecting himself from adultery and fornication.

4. Marriage is not only a religious obligation but also a worldly enjoyment since husbands and wives are permitted to enjoy each other.

5. Marriage is the only way to start a family, which is the basic unit of soceity.

6. Marriage increases social links by expanding the tribe and clans.7. Marriage helps man devote his time to external affairs of the

country and society while the woman takes care of the children and houshold duties.

Matters related to marriageChoosing the right spouse

The four qualities of a bride:1. Beauty2. Wealth3. Social status4. Piety

The consent of the girl:

The father or the guardian of the bride must take her consent before marrying her off to any potential suitor. Any marriage without the proper consent of the girl can be terminated by a judge. The consent of the groom is also required. Additionally, the consent of the guardians of the bride and the groom is necessary to make a marriage permissible.

The married couple:

Married couples have many obligations to each other. We discuss some of them in the following:

The rights of the wife:

1. The dowry: is any present given by the husband to the wife and he has no right to take it back.

2. Expenditure: a. enough food and drink b. clothing c. Medical cared. Attention

3. Kindness and courtesy: the husband should treat her with kindness

4. Preserving her dignity: the husband should help her in being pious and modest

5. Patience and endurance: the husband should be patient and endure her shortcomings and forgive them

1. Obedience and gentleness: the wife should treat him with gentleness and be dutiful towards him

2. Trust: a woman should guard her chastity, and husband’s wealth when he is not around

3. Help: though many scholars believe women are not obliged to do the household work for their husband, it’s beneficial to both the husband and the wife if they help each other mutually

4. Punishment: as man is responsible for the affairs of the household, he must make sure that his family follows the righteous path and take measures to prevent them from going astray.

Righteous Society

The Principal Values

a. Congregation upon faith: Islam is not a religion any individual society or race or ethic group, but rather it is the religion for the world and the entire mankind. All Muslims are united through the bond of faith

b. Establishing good deeds in society: such as zakat, prayer, etc.c. The call to good: calling people to righteous deeds and asking them to

abstain from evild. Struggle In the cause of Allah: jihad or striving in the cause of Allah is

a fundamental value of Islamic societye. Virtue of character: justice, goodness, morals, cooperationf. Brother hood and fraternity: All Muslims are considered to be

brethren through their faiths

Brotherhood and fraternity: all Muslims are brother and they should help each other in times of need.

Sympathy and kindness: mutual kindness and is the true fruit of brotherhood

Self sufficiency and solidarity: the strong should support the weak, the rich should support the poor and thus harmony will prevail in the society

Mutual trust and advice: Muslims should advice each other sincerely in the worldly affairs

Cleanliness and decency : Islamic society upholds the importance of cleanliness and decency and forbids all kinds of evils

Justice: Islam establishes social and economic justice for all people in the society, whereby the rich and the poor are treated equally according the law

Aim of life: 1. worship Allah2. To be Allah’s vicegerent on earth3. Dwelling on earth according to Allah’s Commands

Integrated advancement:

Righteous Humanity • Islam stresses that man

cannot be truly spiritual without being hu man..

• cannot be truly human without being "spiritual".

• Holiness requires faithful intentions and works,

• it demands that one turns only to Allah, considering His reward.

FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC ECONOMY

Encouraging business and all other kinds of permissible work

Forbidding all unlawful work

Implementing Zakat

Public funds for public welfare

Laws of inheritance and redistribution of wealth

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PRIMARY GOALS OF ISLAMIC ECONOMY

Self-sufficiency

Efficient use of resources

Growth of individuals and society

Reducing the gap between the rich and poor

Social welfare and social security

Fair redistribution of wealth

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Key Terminologies

Zakat: growth; (obligatory) purifying alms

Sadaqah (waqf): (vlountary) charitable donations

Riba: any increase in repayment of loan, generally, interest.

Jizya: a poll tax imposed on non Muslims who are defeated in jihad and stay under the Islamic state's authority in exchange for their protection and security

Tax: a financial charge or other levy imposed upon a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a state

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FORBIDDING RIBA (INTEREST AND USURY)

And whatever you give for interest to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with Allah . But what you give in zakah, desiring the countenance of Allah - those are the multipliers (Quran, 30:39).

O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful (Quran, 3:130).

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DISTRIBUTING ZAKAT

1. Living in absolute poverty (Al Fuqara)2. The needy who cannot meet their basic

need; poor students (Al Masakin)3. Workers in zakah administration (Al

Amilina Alaiha)4. Those whose hearts are being reconciled

(Al-Mu'allafatu Qulūbuhum)5. Freeing slaves; paying ransom (Fir-Riqāb)6. Those under liabilities (Al-Ghārimīn)7. In the way of Allah (jihad) (Fī Sabīlillāh)8. Wayfarers/ travellers (Ibnus-Sabīl)

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Inheritance

• The Quran and Sunnah explain in detail about how property and wealth should be distributed among the relatives after the death of a Muslim.

• The Shariah also commands to fulfill the liabilities and testaments of the deceased before the wealth is redistributed amongst the relatives.

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Scholars differ on the issue of Taxes

• State taxes are not religious obligations• Taxes should only be collected if there are no

alternatives for the general welfare of the country such as building roads, schools, hospitals and so on.

• All taxes must be used explicitly for the benefit of the people

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Production in Islamic States

• Business: Allah has prohibited Riba and permitted business

• Jobs: People are encouraged to work righteously to earn their living

• Manufacturing: many Muslim countries depend on non Muslim countries for many products. Muslims should strive to be self-sufficient

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Encouraging People to Work

• “The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it).” Sahih Bukhari

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Benefits of Islamic Economy• Transparent transactions between buyer and seller – prevents

cheating and distortions

• Interest-free (free from Riba) commodities are less expensive

• Seller should highlight any deficiency in the products that he is selling – avoid conflicts and amiable environment and mutual trust amongst people

• Barakah in dealings and lives

• Free from haram

• Strengthen economy amongst Muslim countries

• Practicing zakat globally will reduce poverty and significant improve the lives of many people

• All dealings are rewarded by Allah© MOHAMMED HOQUE (2013) 31

REFERENCE

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Introduction to Islam by Yusuf Qaradawi

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Thank you