Characteristics of Islamic Culture and Thought Nature and Legislation of Islam

6.1 Divine Nature  1. Divine Source: Islamic culture and thought stems from the divine sources of Quran and Sunnah.  2. Divine Aim: The aim of our cultural activities and our intellectual discourse is to live our lives in a manner that glorifies Allah swt.  1. Divine Source: Islamic culture and thought stems from the divine sources of Quran and Sunnah.  2. Divine Aim: The aim of our cultural activities and our intellectual discourse is to live our lives in a manner that glorifies Allah swt.

6.2 Comprehensive Nature  Quran (5:3) On this day I have perfected your religion for you, and completed MY blessing on you, and have chosen Islam to be your religion.  The culture and thoughts are generated as a development and expansion of the ideas that come from the divine sources.  Islam is a religion for all mankind.  Islam covers all aspects of life and hereafter.  Islam cover all human needs, whether mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual.  Islam organizes all of a person’s relationships, whether with their Lord, themselves, their family, society, or even the universe.  Quran (5:3) On this day I have perfected your religion for you, and completed MY blessing on you, and have chosen Islam to be your religion.  The culture and thoughts are generated as a development and expansion of the ideas that come from the divine sources.  Islam is a religion for all mankind.  Islam covers all aspects of life and hereafter.  Islam cover all human needs, whether mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual.  Islam organizes all of a person’s relationships, whether with their Lord, themselves, their family, society, or even the universe.

6.3 Balance between Different Aspect  Balance between working for this world and the hereafter.  Balance between physical, mental, and spiritual needs by taking care of all of them.  Balance between the fear of Allah swt and hope in His Mercy. (Hadith of Omar Ra)  Balance between one’s own rights and the rights of others around us.  Balancing the economic system’s ownership of individual vs the collective.  Balancing the time you have in a day among your activities.  Balance between working for this world and the hereafter.  Balance between physical, mental, and spiritual needs by taking care of all of them.  Balance between the fear of Allah swt and hope in His Mercy. (Hadith of Omar Ra)  Balance between one’s own rights and the rights of others around us.  Balancing the economic system’s ownership of individual vs the collective.  Balancing the time you have in a day among your activities.

6.4 The Universality of Islam  Islam is not restricted to any nation or race.  Preceding prophets and books were limited to a certain group of people in contrast RasulAllah saw was not just for all people, but for “A’la’meen”.  The central tenet of Islam, submitting to the will of the Creator, is the foundation of this universality.  Since Quran’s protection is guaranteed by Allah swt, it is here to stay for all humanity present and future.  Islam is not restricted to any nation or race.  Preceding prophets and books were limited to a certain group of people in contrast RasulAllah saw was not just for all people, but for “A’la’meen”.  The central tenet of Islam, submitting to the will of the Creator, is the foundation of this universality.  Since Quran’s protection is guaranteed by Allah swt, it is here to stay for all humanity present and future.

6.5 Humanity  The dignity and honor that was bestowed upon human kind.  The reasons for honoring the children of Adam.  Maintaining the true nature of human beings and the its relationship to divine.  The equality principle of Islam which allows for distinction in the roles of this world but equates all human beings in the mater of hereafter and relationship with Allah swt.  The protection of basic human rights including right to live in dignity, right to choose the religion, right to one’s opinion, the right to work etc. These rights are protected irrespective of the religious beliefs of a person.  The dignity and honor that was bestowed upon human kind.  The reasons for honoring the children of Adam.  Maintaining the true nature of human beings and the its relationship to divine.  The equality principle of Islam which allows for distinction in the roles of this world but equates all human beings in the mater of hereafter and relationship with Allah swt.  The protection of basic human rights including right to live in dignity, right to choose the religion, right to one’s opinion, the right to work etc. These rights are protected irrespective of the religious beliefs of a person.

6.6 The Flexibility and Steadfastness of Rules  Two types of Rules:  Permanent Rules: Explained by Quran or RasulAllah saw, or there exists a consensus on them.  Flexible Rules: Those that change with the situation and reality. Some general areas of flexible rules are political consultation, financial interactions, criminal justice, and anything regarding which explicit rules are absent and the new ones are created in alignment with the spirit of the general principles.  Two types of Rules:  Permanent Rules: Explained by Quran or RasulAllah saw, or there exists a consensus on them.  Flexible Rules: Those that change with the situation and reality. Some general areas of flexible rules are political consultation, financial interactions, criminal justice, and anything regarding which explicit rules are absent and the new ones are created in alignment with the spirit of the general principles.

6.7 The Realistic Nature of Rules  Rules are not imaginary – they deal with real and concrete matter.  What is beyond human capacity cannot be legislated.  Nothing is made unlawful that is needed by human being, on the other hand nothing harmful is or can be made lawful.  The means to all forbidden things are also forbidden.  Realistic expectation from humans (capable of faltering) between making mistakes and being able to acknowledge those mistakes and learn from them.  Rules are not imaginary – they deal with real and concrete matter.  What is beyond human capacity cannot be legislated.  Nothing is made unlawful that is needed by human being, on the other hand nothing harmful is or can be made lawful.  The means to all forbidden things are also forbidden.  Realistic expectation from humans (capable of faltering) between making mistakes and being able to acknowledge those mistakes and learn from them.