The Method of Islam (1/5)

1- Islam and Science:

According to Islamic faith, the first commandment of Allah to man is that he must learn and acquire knowledge.

Allah stated in the Holy Qur’an:

“So know (O Muhammad [may Allah's peace be upon him]) that La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest (in your homes).” (Surah Muhammad, 47:19)

The Qur’an states also:

“My Lord I Increase me in knowledge”. (Surah Ta-Ha, 20: 114)

Allah also stated:

“So ask the people of the Reminder [Scriptures - the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel)] if you do not know.” (Surah Al-Anbiya', 21:7)

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said: “The search for knowledge is a duty laid on every Muslim”.

He also said: “The Superiority of a scholar over an ignorant man is as obvious as the brightness of the full moon in dark nights”.

Islam classifies knowledge into two categories:

a) Obligatory knowledge:

This is a duty on every Muslim, whether male or female, The Muslim must know Allah, His Messenger Prophet Muhammad, may Allah's peace be upon him, and acquire knowledge concerning the fundamentals of Islam using available evidence.

b) Optional Knowledge:

This is a collective duty, meaning that it is not a duty on every individual, but if a group of individuals in the community undertake to acquire this kind of knowledge, all other individuals will be exempted from this duty, and the whole community will be free from responsibility of negligence to acquire this kind of knowledge. Examples of such knowledge are:- to study Islamic Law, to study other basic sciences, industries, and professions which are of vital necessity for the welfare of the community. Muslim rulers should always do their best to procure scholars, professionals and qualified men in all fields of optional knowledge to satisfy the needs of the Muslim community.

2- Islam and Faith:

Allah commanded His Messenger Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be on him, to proclaim to all people that they are the bondsmen of Allah alone, and that they should worship none but Allah. He ordered them to relate themselves with Allah directly without any intercessor between Him and them, that they should put their trust in Him Alone, fear none except Him, and ask for everything from none except Him.

Man must glorify Allah his Lord by His Holy Attributes and Holy Names. This was the manner of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. All these meanings have already been exposed and explained in the chapter dealing with the explanation of the meaning of (No god save Allah.)

3- Islam and fostering bonds of friendship among people:

Allah commanded Muslims to be good and to strive for the deliverance of humanity from the darkness of blasphemy to the light of Islam. Belief in Allah is the cornerstone on which the Muslim bases his relations with others. He loves the righteous people who obey Allah and His Messenger even if they are not connected with Him by any bond of relation. Allah abominates the unbelievers and those who disobey Him and His Messenger even though they may be his closest relatives. This connection, being based on belief in Allah, not only gathers dispersed groups and unites different communities, but it also survives more than all other human-made bonds such as nationalism, material interests and even blood relationships which are feeble and liable to break down. Allah states in the Qur’an:

“You (O Muhammad [may Allah’s peace be upon him]) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad [may Allah's peace be upon him]), even though they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred (people).” (Surah Al-Mujadilah, 58:22)

Allah also states:

“Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [Le. he is one of the Muttaqun (the pious)].” (Surah Al-Hujuraat, 49:13)

Allah commanded Muslims to do justice to both enemies and friends and forbade all his bondsmen to do injustice to others.

Allah commanded His bondsmen to be honest, truthful, kind to parents, the poor and the benevolent and to desist from all kinds of deception. Allah commanded them to be good in their behavior towards everything, even towards animals and birds, which they are ordered not to torture in any way. The Muslim is ordered to kill harmful animals and insects like scorpions, serpents, rats, mordacious dogs ... etc, to protect himself and his community, but he is not allowed to torture them.

4- Self conscientiousness and heart needfulness of the believer:

The verses of the glorious Quran informed people that Allah sees His bondsmen wherever they may be, knows all their deeds and intentions and that His angels are accompanying them to register whatever they do openly or secretly. People will have to account for Allah for all that they do or say. Allah warns them that they will be punished severely if they disobey His commandments. This divine warning refrains the believers and prevents them from disobeying Allah or committing sins and crimes.

As for those who are heedless of Allah's punishment, and are not ashamed of committing sins whenever they can, Islam imposes on them certain deterring restrictions:

1. The whole Muslim community is accountable to Allah for preaching good deeds and forbidding indecency. In this way, the Muslim, who does not interfere positively to prevent a man from committing a crime or a sin will be responsible for his negative attitude to Allah.

2. Muslim rulers are commanded to execute the punishments laid down in the Quran against the criminals who commit grievous crimes mentioned therein. The Prophet, peace be upon him, explained these crimes and carried out such punishments against the sinners during his lifetime.

(Continued)