1. Islam Continued
Morality

2. Shariah Law Set of moral rules Set out by Allah
A path towards living a devout life
Legal rules to help govern Muslim society

3. Origins of Shariah Qur’an Sunna Hadith
If not covered in the above: legal experts provide interpretations, called fiqh

4. Implementing Shariah Obligatory actions / duties (5 Pillars)
Recommended actions (e.g., charity work)
Neutral actions (not covered by Shariah)
Discouraged actions (e.g., divorce)
Forbidden actions (e.g., murder, adultery)

5. Shariah Law in Canada Muslims observe shariah in non-legal moral areas
Some want to use shariah to solve legal disputes, e.g., family disputes, marriage, divorce
Some people fear equality rights of women could be threatened if shariah replaces civil law

6. Fatwas interpretations of scripture for today
A fatwa: a religious opinion on Islamic law from a scholar
Can be on any matter

7. Family Life Arabia during Muhammad’s time: harsh & patriarchal
Qur’an improved the treatment of women
In Canada, husbands & wives share household and child rearing duties
Challenge: finding gender roles that respect Canadian laws & nurture families, still reflecting Islam’s teachings

8. Clothing Based on virtues of modesty & respect Styles vary worldwide:
Garment covering whole body when outside one’s home, may or may not cover face
Western style clothes, headscarf (hijab)
Modest dress following local customs
Men: covered at least from navel to knees

9. Education Muslim schools: madrasas
Areas of study: Arabic, Qur’an, shariah, Hadith, logic, Muslim history

10. Diet Foods allowed: halal Foods forbidden: haram
e.g., alcohol, pork
Meat must be slaughtered in a ritual way
Kosher foods are permitted when halal foods are not available

11. Sexuality
Catholics, Jews & Muslims affirm the joy of sexual relationships between husband & wife
Same purpose of conjugal love:
Good of the spouses
Transmitting life

12. Islam teaches Sexual relations  ritual impurity
Ritual purification before prayer
Sins: premarital sex, masturbation, homosexual acts & pornography
Islam not against artificial birth control, joined Catholics at UN condemning government-imposed birth control regulations.