Basic Duties of Islam Islam has five basic duties which Muslims must perform. They are known as the five pillars of Islam (Arkan ul Islam). These pillars are mentioned in the following Hadith (a saying of prophet Muhammad(pbuh)   Buniyal Islamu ala khamsin; Shahadati an la ilaha illal lahu wa anna Muhammad rasulul lahi; wa iqamis Salati, wa ita'iz Zakati,wa Sawmi Ramadan, wa Hajji bait,(Bukhari)   Islam is based on five things: declaring that there in no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, the establishment of salah, the payment of Zakah, the Hajj and sawm in the month of Ramadan. Shari'ah (Islamic LAW) SHARI'AH is the code of law for the Islamic way of life which Allah has revealed for mankind and commanded us to follow. The word Shari'ah means a clear straight path or example. Shari'ah, or Islamic law, is the code of conduct for Muslims and is based on two main sources: The Qur'an and the Sunnah of the prophet. It aims towards the success and welfare of mankind both in this life and the life after death. Shari'ah prescribes a complete set of laws for the guidance of mankind so that good (Ma'ruf) may triumph and Evil (Munkar) disappears from society. It provides a clear and straight path which leads to progress and fulfillment in life and the attainment of Allah's pleasure.   The Qur'an is the main basis of Shari'ah.It states the principles while the sunnah of the prophet provides the details of their application.For exmple, the Qur'an says: establish salah, observe sawm, pay zakah, take decisions by consultation, do not earn or spend in wrong ways but it dose not describe how to do thes things. It is the sunnah of the prophet which gives us the details. The Qur'an is the main book of guidance and the prophet taught how to follow it The prophet not only told us how to follow the guidance, he also practiced it himself. Shari'ah has rules for every aspect of life. It is complete and perfect, and guarantees us success, welfare and peace in this life on earth and in the life after death. Man-made laws differ from Shari'ah in a number of significant ways. Man-made laws differ from Shari'ah in a number of singnificant ways. Social Life in Islam FAMILY LIFE IN ISLAM Family life is the basis of the Islamic society. Its origin goes back to the beginning of the creation of man and woman Adam and Eve. so, it is an institution founded by Allah's will. Allah ways in the Qur'an: 'O mankind, be mindful of your duty to your lord who carted you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from the two carted many men and women. Marriage is the basis of the Islamic family. A good and sound society can only grow if a man and a woman are bound in a solid relationship through the secret contract of marriage. Marriage develops love, care and co-operation between the husband and wife. It gives peace of mind and provides a secure atmosphere for the growth and progress of the whole human race Without marriage, the human race would come to a standstill Marriage was the practice of most of the prophets including Muhammad (pbuh). 'O mankind, be mindful of your duty to your lord who cearted you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from the two cearted many men and women. Marriage is the basis of the islamic family. A good and sound society can only grow if a man and a woman are bound in a solid relitionship through the sacret contract of marriage. Marriage develops love, care and co-operation between the husband and wife. It gives peace of mind and provides a secure atmosphere for the growth and progress of the whole human race Without marriage, the human race would come to a stanstill Marriage was the practice of most of the prophets including Muhammad(pbuh).   MARRAIAGE Marriage is a sacred social contract between a bride-groom and a bridge. A great deal of thought is necessary therefore before the couple decide to marry. Piety should come before all other considerations. Allah's prophet said, Do not marry only for the sake of beauty, maybe the beauty becomes the cause of moral decline. Do not marry even for the beauty becomes the sake of wealth; maybe the wealth becomes the reason of disobedience; marry rather on the grounds of religious devotion." A Muslim is expected to marry a Muslim although in some cases chaste Jewish and Christian woman can be married. However, a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim man. In Islam, marriage is a religious and social institution and not simply a sexual relationship. Muslim marriages are traditionally arranged by parents but the final piety should come before all other considerations.Allah's prophet said, Do not marry only for the sake of beauty, maybe the beauty becomes the cause of moral decline. Do not marry even for the beaty becomes the sake ofwealth; maybe the wealth becomes the reason of disobedience; marry rather on the grounds of religious devotion." A Muslim is expected to marry a Muslim although in some cases chaste Jewish and Christian woman can be married. However, a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim man. In Islam, marriage is a religious and social institution and not simply a sexual relationship. Muslim marriages are traditionally arranged by parents but the final POLYGAMY AND ISLAM Islam is a practical religion. It can answer all human problems. Islam allows restricted polygamy - marriage to more than one woman maximum of four. the normal Muslim practice is monogamy- one man married to one wife; polygamy is the exception. the Qur'an has imposed strict conditions for marrying several wives. "And if you fear that you will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the woman who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if you fear that you cannot be fair to so many, then one only or(the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely that you will not do injustice. This verse says that in order to marry more than one woman, a man must be able to be fair and just to each of them. If he is not able to be so, he should marry only one wife.   - Anther verse of the Qur'an says, "You will not be able to deal fairly between your wives, however much you wish. Yet do not turn completely aside (from one) so that you leave another in suspense, if you maintain proper conduct and do your duty, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful. This further emphasizes fair treatment. But, in special circumstances Islam allows polygamy. These situations are: 1. When a wife is barren and cannot bear children but the husband wants children. It is better to have a second wife than to divorce the barren one. However, a barren wife has the option to seek separation from her husband if she wishes, on the grounds of the second marriage of her husband if she wishes, on though grounds of the second marriage of her husband.   2. If the first wife is chronically ill and she is unable to carry out her marital and household duties, the husband may marry another women and so help restore family stability. 3. Polygamy may be the solution to the problems of a society which has more women than men. This happens especially after war. The verse in the Qur'an allowing more than one wife was revealed. The proportion of women to men increased considerably in the countries which took part in the first and second World Wars. A solution to such a situation is marriage to more than one woman by those men who are able to and can be fair to each wife. This is better than leaving a large number of unmarried women.   Islam strictly forbids any sexual relationships outside marriage. There is no such thing as a mistress in Islamic society. Islam has given dignity to women by marriage and has protected them from the exploitation of greedy and selfish men. Having more than one wife is better and more dignified than having a number of mistresses. Islam holds you responsible for your actions. You cannot just enjoy women and yet have no responsibilities of fatherhood. This is inhuman and unjust. There can be no one-parent family or illegitimate child in an Islam society. It is only possible in a cultural climate of irresponsible permissiveness. A woman who is going to be a second wife can refuse to marry the man on the grounds that he already has a wife. But if a woman happily consents to her husband marrying again and the second wife agrees, why should anyone else object to it?   The overwhelming majority of Muslims are monogamous-they have only one wife. The fact that a few Muslims have more than one wife has become a matter for propaganda against Islam and such propaganda can give a misleading impression of the Islamic way of life. This is especially so when it is non-practicing Muslims who are highlighted on the issue of being married to more than one wife. As opposed to polygamy, the case of polyandry (a women having more than one husband) may be raised. The case of polyandry is impractical and it creates problems rather than solves them. How paternities by will decided? How would inheritance be decided? Such questions have no answer in polyandry. Furthermore, it is possible for a man to live with more than one wife and have children from all of them, but for a woman to please more than one husband seems almost impossible. Economic System of Islam Islam views life as a compact whole and does not divide it into many separate and confliction parts. The economic aspect is one of the most important parts of our life, while not being the whole of it. The Islamic system is balanced and places everything in its right place. Islam has given detailed regulations for the conduct of our economic life which concerns mainly the earning and use of wealth. Man needs bread to live but he dose not live for bread alone. This means that earning and spending money is essential for our living, but we do not live only for this. We have a greater purpose in life. We are Allah's agents (Khalifah) on earth. We not only have a body but we also have a soul and a conscience. Without our soul and conscience, we would be considered little more than animals. Everything in Islam is for the benefit and welfare of mankind. The economic principles of Islam aim at establishing a just society wherein everyone will behave responsibly and honestly, and not as cunning foxes' fighting for as big a share of something as possible without regard for honest, truth, decency, trust and responsibility. The Islamic Economic System is based on the following fundamental principles:   1. Earning and expenditure by Halal means Islam has prescribed laws to regulate earnings and expenditure. Muslims are not allowed to earn and spend in any way they like. They must follow the rules of the Qur'an and the sunnah: a. Any earnings from the production, sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks are unlawful, as are earnings from gambling, lotteries and from interest(Riba) transactions. b. Earning by falsehood, deceit, fraud, theft, robbery and burglary is unlawful. Deceitful acquisition of orphans 'property has been particularly banned. d. Earnings from brothels and from such other practices which are harmful to society are also unlawful. Salatul Janazah (funeral prayer) Earlier we discussed death briefly. It happens to us all. When Muslim dies, his body is given a wash and then a funeral prayer called salatul Janazah is offered in congregation. This salah, unlike other salah, has neither any ruku' (bowing) nor any sujud (prostration) and you don't have to recite Tashahhud. Salatul Janazah is a collective obligation (Fard Kifayah) on all the Muslims of the locality of the dead person. If a number of them joins in, everyone in the locality. Will be considered sinful before Allah. This is how the prayer is offered.   1. Make niyyah (intention) that you are saying this prayer to Allah for the dead person. 2. Stand in rows for the performance of the funeral prayer facing Qiblah, The coffin is placed in from of the congregation on a bier 3. Say Allahu Akbar after the Imam (this tabir is Takbiratul Ihram and there will be three more takbirat after this) and raise your hands up to your ears; bring them down again and place them on or below your chest, putining the right hand on the left and recite the following. Subhanaka allahumma wa bihamdika wa ta'la jadduka wa jalla thanau'ka wa la ilaha ghairuka. Life of Muhammad(pbuh) So you have learning the basic things about Islam. Now it is time to learn about our great and dear Prophet, Muhammad (pace be upon him).It is thought Muhammad (pbuh) that Allah has completed the islamic way of life. No other person in the history of mankind has left so deep so deep an impact on the life of his followers as Muhammad (pbuh), the last messenger of Allah. His life is the best example (Uswatun-Hasanah) for us to follow. He has shown us how to obey Allah, the Lord of the Universe.Allah says in the Qur'an:   Say (O Muhammad), if you love Allah, follows me; Allah will love you and forgive you sins, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. It means that Allah will be pleased with us only if we practice Islam as practiced by Muhammad (pbuh) He has been described in the Qur'an as the blessing for the Universe' (Rahmatul lil alamin). Islam supreme over all other systems of life. In other words, you can say that Muhammad (pbuh) was mad the messenger of Allah to see that truth prevails and falsehood vanishes. As Muslims, we must also work towards the establishment of the supremacy of Allah's Law and the removal of evil from society. This is Jihad, which we learned about earlier. The difference between Muhammad (pbuh) and us is that he received guidance direct from Allah through revelation, but we have not. Muhammad (pbuh) was not only a messenger but a man as well. He was not a super-Human being, but a mortal man and the last of the messenger of Allah. Al-Miraj the ascent After the severe shocks of the deaths of Abu Talib and Khadijah, and the cruel treatment received at Ta'if, Muhammad (pbuh) longed for some comfort. It was not long befor he got it in the form of a remarkable and eventful night journey to Jerusalem called Al-Isra', and an ascent to heaven in the same night called Al- Mi'raj. Mi'raj was a memoreble event for the prophet. Allah honoured him by this unique and extraordinary journey during which Muhammad (pbuh) saw with his own eyes the glory of Allah and the working of the universe. It was the great morale boost he sorely needed. It further strengthened his faith that Allah was always with him. No amount of dismay could prevent him from his task of calling people to Allah. The prophet himself gave vivid details about the journey and the ascent. He said that the angle Jibra'il awoke him from his sleep and took him to jerusalem riding on an animal which looked like a horse with large wings. The name of the animal was buraq.   In Jerusalem, he met all the prophets including Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Harun. He led them in prayer. He was then taken to different heavens and he saw paradise and Hell. The most important of all was his experience of the glory and the Majesty of Allah. He had many more experiences. It is beyond the grasp of ordinary people like us to understand every aspect of the journey. But it was not impossible for the last messenger of Allah to grasp the sigmificance of these things. He had to have such expetiences to act as Allah's messenger. five times daily prayers were laid down for Muslims at the time of Mi'raj. The whole miraculous journey lasted for a short part of the Next morning, when Muhammad (pbuh) related his experience, the Makkans laughed at him and started saying that he must have gone crazy. The Muslims belived him but some of the new entrants to the faith became a bit doubtful and the unbelivers, as usual, refsed to accept the truth. Muhammad (pbuh) gave graphic details of the journey and a caraven which he had seen on his way to Jerusalem confirmed the details he gave when it arrived in Makkah. Remember here that Muhammad (pbuh) was nicknamed by his own people Al-Amin (the Truthful) and As-Sadiq (the Trustworthy). Later, these same people behved quite strangely. Muhammad (pbuh) after reeiving his prophethood, had done everything according to Allah's wish. First covenant of Al-'Aqabah During his open, public preaching, Muhammad (pbuh) met a group of people from Madinah (then called Yathrib) at the time of Hajj and he invited them to accept Islam. They responded to his call and became Muslims. There were six of them. They returned to Madinah as belivers and invited others of their tribes to join the new faith. Next year twelve people from Madinah came during Hajj and the prophet entered into an agreement with them at a place called Al-Aqabah'. In 621 CE. This agreement is known as 'the Covenant of Al-'Aqabah'. In this pledge, they agreed to obey none but Allah, neither to steal nor commit adultery, neither to kill their children nor commit an evil and not to disobey Allah. They were told by Muhammad (pbuh) that if they lived under this covenant, Allah would be pleased with them and reward them with paradise. Second covenant of Al-'Aqabh A second covenant with the Muslims of Madinah was concluded in 622 CE in the same place, Al-Aqabah. In all seventy there people including two woman took part in this pledge. This covenant was an extension of the first. It was agreed that the Muslims of Madinah would protect and help the prophet against all odds, as they would protect their own women and children. All the dangers which would arise out of this covenant were explained by Al-'Abbas, the prophet's uncle, to the Madinite Muslims in clear terms. However the Madinite Muslims still said,"we take him (the prophet) despite all threats to property, wealth and life Tell us, O prophet of Allah, what will be our reward if we remain true to this oath? They prophet answered,"paradise". They stretched out their hands to him and he to them, and in this way the covenant was concluded. they second covenant included clauses about war situations which made it a duty of the Madinite Muslims to defend the prophet in the event of external attack from Makkah. Emigration to madinah The conclusion of the second coenant of Al-Aqabah was anther turning-poin in the history of the Islamic movement. The Muslims now had a place in which to take shelter, an ally in time of war and danger. The unbelives eventually came to know about the covenant after its conclusion. It had been done in secrecy so that the infidels could not have an opportunity to foil it. When they foun out, they reacted in anger and resorted to torturing some of the people from Madinah. The prophet now changed the strategy of his work. For thirteen years he had tried his best to preach the messenge of Allah to the people of Makkah but the Makkan soil was not fertile for this. Madinah provided him with fresh, receptive ground in which to sow the seed of Islam and he planned to use this opportunity.   He commanded the Muslims of Makkah to start emigrating to Madinah and strengthen the bond with the Muslims there. The Muslims of Madinah are kown as Ansar (helpers) and those of Makkah as Muhajirun (emigrants) in Islamic history. Following to Madinah individually and in small groups. The unbelivers terived relentlessly to stop this and became even more malicious. Think of the emigration! Muslims left their homes for the sake of Allah and his pleasure At the moment of need, this was what was required of them. As Muslims, we too must be ready to do the same for the sake of our faith. life on this earth will have meaning and purpose only when we can attain this attitude. The Hijrah of the prophet After most of his companions had left for Madinah Muhammad (pbuh) waited for permission from Allah to emigrate himself. Abu Bakr, his closest friend, soughtpermission to have for Madinah but stayed behand on the prophet's advice. 'Ali,the cousin of the prophet, also stayed behind. Abu Bakr was to accompany the prophet later on. He was very lucky. The unbelivevers now plotted to kill Muhammad(pbuh). permission for him to migrate to Madinah had also come so Muhammad (pbuh) secretly left Makkah one night in 662 CE with Abu Bakr. A specially formed group of unbelievers lay in wait around the prophet's house to kill him as he came out.'Ali was left behind to sleep in prophet's bed and the prophet quietly left, making the unbelievers look very foolish. In the morning, they found'Ali in the prophet's bed and were dumb founded. The Prophet and his companion Abu Bakr had left just before dawn and proceeded to a caved called Thawr, to the south of Makkah. They stayed in the cave for three days and Abu Bakr's servant brought them food in the evening. They left Thawr on the third day and started out for Madinah.   The unbelievers, fooled by the guile of the prophet, now organized a thorough search on the road to Madinah and offereda prize of 100 camels for the capture of Muhammad (pbuh). One, Suraqah, was almost successful, but he failed when his horse fell down three times in his pursuit to kill Muhammad (pbuh). In the end he gave up his sinister aim, taking the falls as bad omens. After a tiresome, exhausting and very difficult journey, the prophet, accompanied by Abu Bakr, reached Quba', a place near Madinah. They stayed there for two weeks and the prophet founded a mosque in Quba where Ali had joined them. the prophet entered Madinah and allowed his camel to kneel where it liked. It knelt first in a place which was owned by two orphans, and got up only to kneel finally in front of the house of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari which became the first residence of the prophet in Madinah. The people of Madinah, who had anxiously awaited the arrival of Muhammad (pbuh), became very happy and excited when they found him among them. They gave him a hero's welcome.   The Hijjrah of the prophet started a new chapter in the history of the Islamic movement. It has two sides: the sad and heart-breaking sense of leaving the beloved birthplace on one side, but a feeling of security and hope for the work of Islam more freely than before on the other. The Islamic calendar starts from the day of the Hijrah of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Makkah to Madinah. The Hijrah was the begining of a new role for the prophet as a statesmen and a ruler. With this ended his fifty three years of life in Makkah, of which he had spent thirteen eventful years as the prophet of Allah. The Prophet of Madinah Muhammad's (pbuh) arrival in Madinah was a memorable event for the people of the city. they felt elated ane were jubilant because they had Allah's messenger among them. Madinah was known at that time as Yathrib. It came to be known as Madinatun Nabi - the prophet's city - after Muhammad's (pbuh) arrival. Later it became known simply as Madinah - The city. The Makkan migrants added a new dimension to the life of Madinah. The city now had three communities: the Ansar (the Helpers) of the tribes of'Aws and Khazraj, the Jews from the tribes of Qainuqa',Nadir and Quraizah and the migrants from the Makkah. The migrants (Muhajirun) had to be absorbed by the local community of the ansar. The companions of the prophet had reached Madinah before Muhammad (pbuh) himself and were living with the ansar as guests. With the arrival of the prophet, the situation became more settled. The migrants (Al-Muhajirun) had brought almost nothing with them.   The prophet's first task was to form a solid bond of faith and brotherhood between the ansar and the Muhajirun. He called a meeting of both communities and asked the ansar to become brothers of the Muhajirun. He also suggested that they should become brothers of the Muhajirun. He also suggested that they should share their property and other belongings with their migrant brothers. The Ansar did as they were asked by the prophet. This was a rare ecent unmatched in human history; such was the powerful influence of Islam. The Ansar practically shared their property with the Muhajirun equally, on the basis of a shared faith. He called a meeting of both communities and asked the Ansar to become brothers of the Muhajirun. He also suggested that they should share their property and other belongings with their migrant brothers. The Ansar did as they were asked by the Prophet. This was a rare event unmatched in human history; such was the powerful influnce of Islam.   The Ansar practically shard their property with the Muhajirun equally, on the basis of a shared faith. Muhammad (pbuh) became the leader of the city. With the cementing of the boned of brotherhood, he had virtually inaugurated the Islamic Society. Madinah was now the capital of the Islamic community, the first Islamic state. The Islamic State of Madinah knew no distinction between the ruler and his subjects. Every citizen belonged to Allah and enjoyed equal rights. Islam does not recognise any preference of one over another except on the basis of piety (Taqwa)."The noblest among you to Allah is the one who is the most viruous,"saya the Qur'an. In the Islamic state of Madinah there was no discrimination on the basis of colour, class or descent. After laying the foundations of the Islamic state, Allah's messenger took steps to secure its internal peace. A treaty with the Jews was signed, but the jews did nit live up to their pledge and later betrayed it.