Guiding to foundations of many arts and Sciences

More than a religion of worship, Islam is a complete and comprehensive way of life. Its teachings left nothing of the basic aspects connected to human life unexplained. I will not mention this at length here, but suffice with some key points:

1. Islam teaches its adherents how to deal with the news they receive. Allah guided us how to receive news and evidences be sure about them.  

Allah says:  “O you who believe! If a Fasiq (evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” (Surat Al-Hujraat, 49:6)

Also, to not follow that which you have no knowledge, claiming that you have heard and seen. Allah says:  “And follow not, O man, (i.e., don’t say or witness) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, sight, and hearts of each person will be questioned (by Allah).” (Surat Al-Isra, 17:36)

In his explanation, Ibn Jarir said, its meaning is said to be “Do not say of which you have no knowledge. 

It is also said that it means do not say I saw when you did not see, or I heard when you did not hear, because you will be questioned by Allah on all of this”.

For man`s hearing, sight and heart will be questioned about their actions. What is more, saying against Allah what you don’t know is a greater evil than committing Shirk. Allah says:  “Say (O Muhammad):  ‘The things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are al-fawahish (great evil sins and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.’” (Surat Al-Araf, 7:33)

Lying, itself, is warned against in general, and especially the kinds of lies which are spread amongst people. The gravity of spreading lies is illustrated in the statement of the Prophet, who said:  “As for the man I came upon, whose sides of mouth, nostrils and eyes were torn off from front to back, he is the symbol of the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells lies that are spread all over the world”.

2. Islam encourages making use of the available means of power so the Islamic nation should not be unexpectedly attacked. Allah says:  “And make ready against them all you can of power.” (Surat Al-Anfal, 8:60) Power, here, is unrestricted and includes the different sciences, especially military intelligence and technology, such as planes and tanks.

As long as we are asked to make ready all we can of power, it is obligatory to adopt empirical science, which is today`s measure of power. Allah says:  “O you who believe! Take your precautions.” (Surat Al-Nisa, 4:71) This Divine command is embodied today by remote sensory technology like radar.

3. Islam promotes management leadership. The Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings referring to that point are innumerable. They all stress man`s general and individual responsibility: that all are asked to work and will be questioned about their deeds. Allah says regarding individual responsibility: “O Man! Verily, you are returning to your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (the results of your deeds which you did).” (Surat Al-Inshiqaq, 85:6)

Also, Allah says:  “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.”(Al-Zalzalah, 99:7:8) Regarding collective responsibility, Allah says:  “And say (O Muhammad):  ‘Do (good) deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Prophet and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.’” (Surat At-Tawbah, 9:105)

Here, in the following verse we are being taught that the worker has to possess two basic qualities: strength and trustworthiness. Allah, Glory be to Him, says: "The best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.” (Surat Al-Qasas, 28:26) With such principles, a Muslim appreciates the gravity of this responsibility.

Because of his concern about being questioned later for his deeds, he refrains from causing harm to others. The difference between the Islamic civilization and western civilization is based on two questions: the west always asks ‘how’ and the Islamic civilization always asks ‘why’. 

The first question is destructive, because it is asking about the way of doing something, neglecting its results. The nuclear bomb was nothing but an outcome to such a question, since the question was about how to annihilate an enemy and save its properties! But the second question was a positive one since it asked about the result before starting the action.

4. Islam emphasizes the essence of morals. Allah says in the Qur’an:  “By the nafs (Adam or a person or a soul), and He Who perfected him in proportion. Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him. Indeed he succeeds who purifies himself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). And indeed he fails who corrupts himself (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true faith of Islamic monotheism, or by following polytheism, or by doing every kind of evil wicked deed).” (Surat Ash-Shams, 91:7:10)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) taught his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that the best of people is the best in good morals. He (Peace be upon him) said:  “The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.”  The Holy Qur’an told us that we should have good morals when dealing with everyone.

Allah says:  “And speak good to people.” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:83) Also, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) told us that a sign of a person’s complete faith is him loving for his brother what he loves for himself.  The Prophet  said:  “None of you would be a true believer until he wishes for his Muslim brother what he wishes for himself”.

5. Islam has established sound economic principles. It’s not possible for a civilization to flourish without a sound and robust economy.

For this purpose, buying and selling are permitted while interest is prohibited. Allah says:  “And Allah has made selling lawful, and has prohibited riba (interest).”

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) forbade also what can undermine economy, like monopoly and cheating. Furthermore, Allah warned against extravagance, the terminal illness that can damage economy. Allah the Exalted says:  “O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going around (the tawaf of) the Ka'bah. And eat and drink, but waste not by extravagance. Certainly He (Allah) likes not al-musrifun (those who waste by extravagance)” (Surat Al-Araf, 7:31).

6. Islam has prescribed general health principles. The Prophet (PBHU) encouraged us to treat ourselves with medicine. He (Peace be upon him) said:  “O slaves of Allah treat yourselves with medicine, for Allah does not send down a disease except that He sent down with it its cure, except for old age.”  So the Quran points to the well known principle regarding human health, which is that ‘prevention is better than cure.’ A precursor to this adage is the statement of the Prophet (Peace be upon him):“If whoever eats seven 'ajwa dates in the morning, neither magic nor poison will hurt him that day.”  In Imaam Muslim`s narration:  “He who eats seven dates (of the land situated) between these two lava plains in the morning, no poison will harm him until the evening.”  It is insight that tries to prevent diseases from spreading before people are affected by them. Despite this, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) forbade entering countries stricken by epidemic. He (Peace be upon him) said:  “If a plague strikes a land, then do not enter it and if it strikes a place while you are in it, then do not go out from it.”  The Prophet (Peace be upon him) also warned against visiting people with infectious disease. He (Peace be upon him) said:  “Whoever suffers from infectious disease shouldn’t visit a healthy person”.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) also commanded taking adequate precautions for preventing harm. He (Peace be upon him) said: “Extinguish the lamps when you go to bed; close your doors; tie the mouths of your water skins, and cover the food and drinks.” These are safety instructions for lamps that burn oil or wax for light. He (Peace be upon him) also mentioned closing doors and covering the food and drinks so as to prevent infection with vermin, microbes, and bacteria.