Sources of wisdom and authority

Sources of wisdom and authority
Islam Topic 2 Revision Booklet Sources of wisdom and authority Miss Connolly Pre Islamic Arabia, Muhammad and the rise of Islam The authority of the Qur’an The Hadith and The Sunnah Shariah Law

Life before Muhammad-Jahiliyyah (the days of ignorance)
ESSENTIAL IDEAS Life before Muhammad-Jahiliyyah (the days of ignorance) Religion Bedouin polytheism, belief in animism and jinns (Muhammad's problem with this as he wanted to worship only one God) Other religions evident but in minority-Jewish, Christian and Zoroastrian (Muhammad did not believe in God being divided into 3 as Christians believed-this went against his belief in Tawhid) Muhammad believed previous versions of the Holy book example Torah and Bible were the words of God but had been distorted. Political and economic factors, social groupings Prominent Empires at the time Tribes Clans Disputes The time was right to restore Islam in Arabia Religious Political Social Climate How these factors made it possible for Muhammad to restore Islam in Arabia The life of Muhammad The key events in the life of Muhammad His birth, childhood, Marriage to Khadijah, Night of power and significance Life in Mecca the Hijra and significance Life in Medinah, Return to Mecca and the growth of theocracy His last sermon His death The view of Muhammad as the final messenger and prophet

ESSENTIAL IDEAS Hadith and Sunnah Qur’an Shariah
Their compilation and authority The significance and implications of the Hadith and Sunnah for Muslim living Qur’an Status of the Qur’an as the revealed exact words of Allah The message of the Qur’an The importance of the Qur’an in guiding Muslims in submitting to the will of Allah The significance of the Qur’an as a source of authority for all Muslim belief and practice (example the 5 Pillars) Shariah Sources of Shariah The use of the Qur’an and the Hadith in the establishment of Shariah law Application of Shariah law The 5 different categories of Shariah Law The application of key moral principles that are considered halal and haram Including Alcohol, gambling, killing and eating of animals The principle of Makruh and how this has been applied.

KEY QUOTES Jahiliyyah:
“There was no law except the law of the strongest. Whatever notions they had of morals, culture and civilisation were primitive in the extreme. They worshipped stones, trees, idols, stars and spirits, in short, everything conceivable except God.” (Mawdudi) Establishment of Islam: If we glance at the world atlas, we find that no other country could have been more suitable than Arabia for the much needed world religion. Look at the history of the era too, you will find that no other people were more suited to be endowed with this prophet than the Arabs. (Mawdudi) Muhammad: In one revelation, Muhammad was told “Proclaimed what you have been ordered and turn away from the polytheists. (Sura 15 v 94) He practiced meticulously what he preached. His character and demeanour had a magnetic quality about them. His life was perfect example of total obedience to Allah’s commands. (Ghulam Sarwar) Qur’an: The Qur’an is the complete book of guidance for mankind. It is the sacred book for Muslims and the main source of law in Islam. The whole of the Qur’an is from Allah. Each word of it is a revealed word. (Ghulam Sarwar) Quran: Belief in the Qur’an should be of the nature that it is absolutely God’s own words, that it is perfectly true, that every word of it is preserved, that everything mentioned therein is right. (Mawdudi) Hadith and Sunnah: Hadith and Sunnah are complimentary to the Holy Book itself. It helps to explain the Holy Qur’an and to present practical application of its teachings. Without a study of the Hadith, a Muslim’s knowledge of his faith remains incomplete . Shariah: The Islamic Shariah removes from human beings harmful and burdensome customs and superstitions, aiming to simplify and ease the business of day to day living. Its principles are designed to protect evil and to benefit him in all aspects of life. (Qaradawi)

ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS
Life before Muhammad- (Jahiliyyah) Religion Bedouin polytheism, belief in animism and jinns (Muhammad's problem with this as he wanted to worship only one God) Other religions evident but in minority-Jewish, Christian and Zoroastrian (Muhammad did not believe Jesus was the most important prophet, and did not believe in God being divided into 3 as Christians believed) Muhammad believed previous versions of the Holy book example Torah and Bible were the words of God but had been distorted. Explain each of these ideas, include any appropriate quotes What was the main religion at the time? Bedouin polytheism.-Arabs who were still nomads (travelled around/not settled in one place) who believed in multiple Gods. What is meant by animism? Animism is a belief in spiritual beings. The nomads thought of strange objects like rocks, trees and springs as being inhabited by the spirits. They believed there were tribal Gods and spirits that protected individual tribes. What is meant by jinn? Spirits of the desert who could who could be good or evil and were likely to approach lone travellers in the desert. Where was Bedouin polytheism centred on? Mecca and the Ka’ba was the main centre of pilgrimage. The leaders of Mecca liked it this way as it made them money. What did they believe in? They believed in multiple Gods. There were over 300 statues of various Gods in the Ka’ba when Muhammad captured it in 630CE.As there was no holy book, there was no strict moral code as such. What was Meccan polytheism based on and why did Muhammad not like this? Based on trade and making money and had little religious content. Muhammad wanted people to take religion seriously and worship only one God, and for everyone to follow a strict moral code. Other religions at the time Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Muhammad could not accept the religions of Christianity and Judaism even though they only believed in one God, for the reasons outlined above. There were a few Arab thinkers who had given up on Bedouin polytheism and accepted the idea of one God, but who could not accept either Judaism or Christianity. They were looking for a more Arab form of monotheism. These were known as hanifs.

Life before Muhammad- (Jahiliyyah) Social Background The Arabs were tribal (groups of people with a common ancestor Within tribes lots of different clans Lots of conflict between them-usually to do within issues of trade No civilised way of sorting out disagreements-violence was used Low social status of women Explain each of these ideas, include any appropriate quotes Give one example of a tribe in Mecca at the time? The Quraysh Give two examples of clans within this tribe at the time? The Umayyad clan The Hashemite clan Which clan did Muhammad belong to? Explain how decisions were made in the clan? Each clan had a council of elders (the heads of extended families within the clan) who elected one of their members as a Shaykh. They could rule on some disputes but they found it difficult to deal with any new or social economic situations. How were disputes sorted out? They sorted out their problems with other clans using violence and vendetta (you kill one of my clan and I kill one of yours) What was the status of women at the time? Women had a low social status and female children were often killed at birth. Social and economic climate Social and economic changes were taking place in Mecca and the system was finding it difficult to cope as they did not have a very efficient or organised set up.

Political and Economic background
ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS Life before Muhammad- (Jahiliyyah) Political and Economic background Explain each of these ideas, include any appropriate quotes Landscape of Arabia Mostly desert, not very fertile. Could not grow a lot of things themselves Trade Every year, a caravan (series of camels carrying passengers and goods on a regular service between points) of merchants would travel to the edges of the desert to purchase goods from the Byzantine and Sassanian Empires and travel back to Mecca to sell the goods. Muhammad’s great grandfather Increased the Meccan role in the yearly trade cycle. He set up an agreement with the Byzantine, Sassanian and Abyssinian to allow the Meccan traders to move freely in these areas, as well as in central Arabia. What was the Roman Empire known as? What were conditions like? The Byzantine Empire. It was a very advanced and civilised society. This was to the North West of Arabia. What Empire ruled in the East? What were conditions like? The Sassanian Empire was very successful (to the North East of Arabia) It had an advanced based on irrigation and had its own philosophies and literature. People living their were educated. Political conflict: However, these two great powers were at war with each other from CE and religious disputes were occurring in the areas on the edge of Arabia. This left Arabia in a power vacuum and made it easier for someone with new views and fresh ideas to influence the people at the time.

Muhammad’s early life Lots of unrest-religious, political and social Muhammad born into an influential clan Grew up to be very wise and trusted to sort out disputes between clans Married Khadijah Continued to dislike the polytheism prominent at the time Explain each of these ideas, include any appropriate quotes What clan was Muhammad born into? Hashemite clan, which was part of the ruling tribe of Mecca, the Quraysh. Who did he live with? His mother, then his grandfather and then his uncle, Abu Talib who was the leader of the Hashemite clan. Why did Muhammad come to find Meccan polytheism more and more offensive? Muhammad had frequent contact with monotheists and he liked what they spoke about. IN contrast, the frequent wars, the greed and dishonesty of the leaders of Meccan polytheism were particularly upsetting him. Explain what happened on Lailat al’Qad’r? 610CE Towards the end of Ramadan, Muhammad was praying in a cave called Hira when the Night of Excellent happened. The Angel Jibrail appeared to Muhammad and told him “Recite in the name of thy Lord.” This was the first revelation. What was Muhammad called to do with the religion of Islam in his 2nd revelation? Give 2 things The 2nd revelation ordered Muhammad to rise and warn. The subsequent revelations challenged him to teach people in Arabia at the time that: Meccan polytheism was wrong-There is no God but God (The beginnings of Tawhid) “Proclaim what you have been ordered and turn away from the polytheists.” They should not follow a new religion, but rather return to the original religion of Arabia, which was Islam They needed to adopt a strict moral code and change to a good life of honesty and concern for the poor as they will be judged by God.

Responses to Muhammad’s message
ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS Responses to Muhammad’s message Not well received Managed a few converts Responses of Meccan authorities Persecution of his followers Explain each of these ideas, include any appropriate quotes Why did Muhammad pose a threat to the Meccan authorities? Give 2 reasons In the beginning, Muhammad only had a small number of converts in Mecca. (not very influential-mainly weak and poor people). Muhammad was threatening the wealth on Mecca by saying that the idols were nonsense. He was also threatening their political leadership. A hostile campaign began against the early Muslims in Mecca. Early followers of Islam were persecuted in Mecca. Where did Muhammad encourage his followers to flee to? Abyssinia, which is now known as Ethiopia. Muhammad sent 83 Muslims, plus their families, who were not supported by their clans here for protection. Why was Muhammad able to stay in Mecca at this time? He was protected by his uncle, Abu Talib and his clan. However the Meccan authorities imposed a trade boycott on Abu Talib’s clan and anyone associated with them, in an attempt to get Muhammad to stop, which made life difficult for them. However, his wife Khadijah died and shortly after this, his uncle and so he only had the protection of the weaker tribes in Mecca. Muhammad was struggling to convert people. Explain what happened on the night of Al’Miraj The night journey where Muhammad was taken on a flying horse from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven where he met with the previous prophets. Explain what happened in 620CE Muhammad was preaching his message at a nearby fair when he met 6 men from Yathrib (Medina) . There was lots of unrest in Yathrib at the time between waring tribes, and the 6 men believed Muhammad could help them sort out the issues, given his reputation for being wise and fair. These 6 men agreed to accept Muhammad’s message of worshipping one God and leading moral lives. They invited Muhammad to Yathrib. Muhammad sent Meccan Muslims to Yathrib to “suss it out”. Some people in Yathrib just wanted Muhammad’s trading expertise, but some accepted him as the next prophet.

Muhammad gains influence
ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS Muhammad gains influence Popular in Medina Trusted to sort out disputes Accepted as a prophet of Islam Established the religious Ummah Muhammad based his laws on religion not tribalism What is the Hijra? The “flight” or “emigration”of the first Muslims from Mecca to Yathrib. The people of Yathrib wanted Muhammad to be their leader whereas he was not even allowed to preach in Mecca. Why did the people of Yathrib (Medina) accept Muhammad when the majority of Meccans did not? Trade-Yathrib was becoming a more important trade centre and they valued Muhammad’s experience in this area (as he had worked with his uncle and earned a very good reputation) They trusted him to settle the long running blood feud between the Aws and the Kazraj (two feuding clans at the time) They decided they needed an impartial person to act between the tribes What year do most Muslims believe marked the beginning of the Muslim Era in Arabia? 622CE. This was when Muhammad officially established the Ummah (Muslim community) based on Muhammad and the Qur’an. Why did many Jews in the area not accept Muhammad’s message? They argued with him about the differences between the Qur’an and their scriptures and his assertion that Jesus was a prophet. Many Jews were forced to leave Medina.

Clearly, Mecca was not going to accept Muhammad’s takeover of Medina
Clearly, Mecca was not going to accept Muhammad’s takeover of Medina. He posed a threat to the whole concept of Arab leadership. Also, his religion claimed to have supremacy over the whole of Arabia so he was actually making a claim to rule Mecca as well. Battle of Bad’r Muslims: 1 Meccans: 0 Battle of Uhud Muslims: 1 Meccans: 1 Battle of Ahzab Muslims: 2 Meccans: 1

Muhammad and Mecca Several battles between Muhammad and his supporters and the Meccan authorities Battle of Bad’r Battle of Uhud Battle of the Trench Explain each of these ideas, include any appropriate quotes Who won the Battle of Bad’r? Muhammad and the Muslims Who won the Battle of Uhud? Meccans (Enemies of Islam) Who won the battle of the Trench? Muhammad and the Muslims. Muhmmad was now in a much stronger position and he made many alliances with the tribes between Medina and Mecca. Muhammad had a vision of himself doing a pilgrimage to Mecca and so he gather an army together to march towards Mecca ready for a pilgrimage. However, he was met by a Meccan army but did not want to fight with them anymore. He signed an agreement with them, called the treaty of Hudaybiya. What happened in 630CE? The Meccans broke the treaty by foolishly attacking a tribe under Muhammad’s protection, and Muhammad led an army to Mecca. What happened in Mecca? Muhammad triumphantly captured the city of Mecca and smashed all the false idols in the Ka’ba. A number of Muhammad’s greatest enemies were executed, but in the main an amnesty was declared and Mecca rapidly became Muslim. Muhammad had successfully challenged the idea of tribal separation and leadership in Arabia. For the first time in it’s history, Muhammad had united Arabia under one leader by making them acknowledge one religious faith.

Changes Muhammad brought to Arabia
ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS Changes Muhammad brought to Arabia Changes to 5 pillars Rejection of polytheism Introduced the Shahadah “There is no God but Allah” and insisted that all forms of Meccan polytheism had to be abandoned. Belief in animism was phased out. Idol worship Idol worship in all its forms was banned. (Statues, pictures etc) Salah The people went from saying very few formal prayers to being instructed to pray 5 times a day. The concept of ritual washing was introduced (which would have been a big difference to jahilliyah time when hygiene was not traditionally important to the Arabs. Sawm Ramadan had always been a sacred month in Arabia but now it was to include a month long fasting during daylight hours to show commitment to Allah. Zakah Zakah was introduced to encourage people to share their wealth. This was big change for the people of Arabia at the time, many of whom had traditionally focused on gaining and hoarding of wealth for their own clan. The focus was on helping the poor, orphans and widows. Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca had always been part of the culture in Arabia pre Islam, however Muhammad added certain parts, such as the confession of ones sins on the plain or Arafat to Allah (Which encouraged people to follow the strict moral code) and also introduced some parts to make people focus on the oneness of Allah and the brotherhood of Islam.

Changes Muhammad brought to Arabia
ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS Changes Muhammad brought to Arabia Shariah Position of women Holy Book The Arabs now had a holy book to call their own (Qur’an) and it was one which told them exactly how to change their lives. This was to be their guidebook and the beliefs of tawhid, risalah and akhirah were a great incentive to change and follow a strict moral code. It is worth remembering that Muhammad did not claim be introduce a new religion, he was simply bringing back Islam to the Arabs who had received it from Adam and Ibrahim, but then distorted it. Muhammad was simply removing the distortions. Shariah The Meccans had to stop drinking alcohol, and subsequent immoral behaviour, gambling, charging interest and eating certain unclean things example pork. Improved position of women The whole attitude to marriage, divorce, the status of women and the killing of female babies were all revolutionised. The re-establishment of Islam raised the status of women. “Islam liberated women from the dark age of obscurity fourteen hundred years ago.” (Ghulam Sarwar.)

The significance of the life of Muhammad for Muslims
ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS The significance of the life of Muhammad for Muslims Seal of the Prophets The Great Exemplar Explain why Muhammad is known as the “Seal of the Prophets” He was given the final revelation of Allah in a way that could never be distorted. Explain why Muhammad is known as the “Great Exemplar” He renewed Islam in Arabia and established the first Muslim state. He is the one whose life is the perfect example for all Muslims to follow. How does Ghulam Sarwar describe Muhammad? “He practised meticulously what he preached. His life was a perfect example of total obedience to Allah’s commands.” How does Abul Ala Mawdudi describe Muhammad? “He was a paragon of virtue and goodness, a symbol of truth, his piety and goodness, his character and morals all stand as proof of his prophethood.”

The Qur’an Origins Compilation Authority Muslim attitudes to the Qur’an Why Muslims believe it is the word of God Contents of the Qur’an How does Ghulam Sarwar describe the Qur’an? The Qu’an is the complete book of guidance for mankind. It is the sacred book of the Muslims and the main source of Shariah law in Islam. The whole of the Qur’an is from Allah. Each word of it is a revealed word. Name the other Holy Books from other religions (and give the Arabic terms also) Ibrahim-Scrolls of Ibrahim Musa was given the Tawrat (Torah-first 5 books of the Bible-Old Testament) Dawud was given the Zabur (Psalms) Isa was given the Injil (Gospels) Unfortunately, none of these were given in such a way that they could not be distorted. Explain why Muslims believe the Qur’an is superior Muslims strongly believe the Qur’an is the exact, unchanged words of Allah. They believe the message of Allah was distorted in previous Holy Books. Explain why Muslims believe Muhammad was chosen to give the words of God to? Muslims believe that the message of Allah which had been written down in previous Holy Books had been distorted over time. Muslims believe that when Allah saw that the Injil (Gospels) had been completely distorted (ie Jesus saying he was God’s son), he decided to send his word in such a form that it could not be distorted. To do this, he chose Muhammad. Muhammad, though very intelligent, could not read or write. This meant that Allah could give Muhammad his word as dictation which Muhammad could learn by heart and not distort it.

The Qur’an Origins Compilation Authority Muslim attitudes to the Qur’an Why Muslims believe it is the word of God Contents of the Qur’an Between what years did Muhammad receive the revelations Between 610CE and just before the prophet’s death in 632CE. AT first, the prophet got his followers to learn the revelations by memory. Muhammad also had secretaries to whom he dictated the revelations and they wrote them down on whatever came to hand (bits of leather, different scraps of paper). Muhammad checked these to make sure they were exactly what God had said and then they were put in to a chest which was kept by his wife Hafsa for safe keeping. What did Caliph Abu Bakr order to happen two years after Muhammad’s death He ordered the prophet’s chief secretary to make an official version of the Qur’an from the various documents in Hafsa’s chest. This complete written Qur’an was given to Hafsa for safekeeping. Abu Bakr wanted to make sure that the exact “words of God” were written down safely. What happened in 652CE? Why is it important that this was done? However, during the reign of Umar (next leader), other written Qur’ans were made from the statements of the rememberancers (people who Muhammad told about the revelations) and there were at least 4 versions in circulation. This undermined the credibility of the Qur’an. It was important that there were no variations and so Caliph Uthman (3rd Caliph)ordered all the prophet’s secretaries to meet together and make an official copy of the Qur’an based only on Hasfa’s documents. This was done 20 years after the Prophet Muhammad’s death and all other copies of the Qur’an were destroyed. Explain the difference between the Qur’an and the Bible. The Qur’an was all revealed to one person, it was revealed over a period of 21 years and written down within another 21 years and there are no differences between texts of the Qur’an. The Bible was revealed to many people over a period of 1500 years, did not achieve its final written form until 300 years after the final revelation and there are many differences between texts of the Bible .

The Qur’an Origins Compilation Authority Muslim attitudes to the Qur’an Why Muslims believe it is the word of God Contents of the Qur’an Muslims believe the Qur’an has absolute authority. Give a quote from Mawdudi which reflects this “Belief in the Qur’an should be of the nature that it is purely and absolutely God’s own words, that it is perfectly true, that every word of it is preserved, that everything mentioned therein is right.” Give 2 ways in which Muslims show respect for the Qur’an as the ultimate source of authority Keep their Qur’an wrapped up when not in use to prevent it being damaged Always keep it on a higher shelf than all other books Wash their hands before reading it Will not eat, drink or engage in causal conversation while reading the Qur’an Never let it rest below their navel so they will place it on a special stand when reading from it at the mosque. Give 2 reasons why Muslims believe the Qur’an is the exact word of God Muhammad was illiterate and so could not have written the Qur’an himself, Muslims believe he recited exactly the words of Allah to others who had it written down exactly as Muhammad said. There are no differences between different copies of the Qur’an, therefore, Muslims believe it is the exact words of God, unlike previous Holy Books which have sight differences between different versions. The contents of the Qur’an The Qur’an contains many prophecies of future judgement, but it also contains: Guidance on what Muslims should believe and how they should live their lives All the fundamental Muslim beliefs about God Stories from the lives of the prophets Teachings about prayer and the other 5 pillars of Islam The nature of morality and guidance on how followers can be good Muslims “This is the book, in it is guidance sure without doubt to those who fear God.” (Sura 2-Qur’an)

The Qur’an Sunni and Shi’a interpretations Sunni Sunni believe that the Quran is explicit and we should base our faith on the definite verses. It is the exact, unalterable word of God. Shi’a In general, their way of interpretation is called “Batini” which means internal, because they believe that the Qur’an has an external meaning, which everyone can understand, and an internal meaning which is hidden and only the Imams can interpret. Some Shi’as believe that the Qur’an is not final and that it can be added to by the Imams, and that it was altered by Sunnis so that references to the 12 Imams were missed out.

Explore how the Qur’an is understood as the revelation of Allah
ESSENTIAL IDEAS – QUICK QUESTIONS SAMPLE QUESTION Explore how the Qur’an is understood as the revelation of Allah

Hadith The nature and status of Hadith Hadith of Bukhari The isnad guarantee Hadith Contains guidance on what Muhammad said Sunna Contains guidance on what Muhammad did (the example of Muhammad) Explain why some Muslims would turn to the Hadith and the Sunna for guidance? Although the Qur’an is complete and unalterable, like any other book, there can be different ideas about what different passages mean. There are also some things which are not covered by the Qur’an. To help them with these difficulties, many Muslims will look to the guidance of Muhammad. Sunna and Hadith are the second source of behaviour for Muslims. What is the problem with Hadith? There is no one, authorised version and so there are differences and contradictions between Hadith. Bukhari Bukhari recognised this problem and made a collection of 600,000 Hadith which he subjected to scrutiny. He determined that only those with a genuine isnad (list of guarantors going back to the one of the companions of the Prophet) could be accepted as correct. For example Munsif told me he had heard from Ali who had heard Muhammad say. In this way, he reduced the number of Hadith from 600,000 to 7,000. Accepted? The vast majority of Muslims accept the Hadith and Sunna of the prophet and feel that they must obey them. They believe that the Hadith have been kept pure, and that as Muhammad was the final prophet, his words and example offer Muslims the perfect way to live. They would not place Hadith and Sunna on par with the Qur’an, but they would place them one step down. “Whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. Whatever he forbids, abstain from it.” Questioned There are some modern Muslims who distrust the Hadith because they are not the word of God and they will only follow the Qur’an. The Hadith, because of their history, could have been distorted (think Chinese whispers). They claim the Qur’an is the word of God which cannot be distorted.

Hadith and Sunna Sunni and Shi’a views Different Muslim views Sunni Interpretation of the Hadith and Sunnah is an Islamic academic science. The Sunnis consider all Hadith and Sunnah narrated by any of twelve thousand companions to be equally valid.. Shi’a Shi'as recognise these as useful texts relating to Islamic jurisprudence, but subject them to close scrutiny The Shi'a gave preference to those credited to the Prophet's family and close associates. Ultimately this difference of emphasis led to different understandings of the laws and practices of Islam.

SAMPLE QUESTION: “The Hadith and the Sunnah are important guides for Muslims today.” Assess this view. (12 marks) Intro The Qur’an is the most important guide for Muslims, but obviously if they need help or clarification, they will look to the example of Muhammad. The Sunna and Hadith are the second source of authority for Muslims. The Sunna outlines what Muhammad did (so Muslims can follow his example) and the Hadith outlines what he said. Most Muslims would agree that along with the Qur’an, hadith and Sunnah are very important guides as they allow them to emulate the example of the prophet Muhammad however there are some issues regarding reliability which I will explore in this essay. Agree The Prophet’s hadith cover a vast range of topics: belief, matters of the unseen, signs of the Last Hour, prayer, fasting, charity, marriage, death, divorce, childbirth, Halāl, Harām and almost every aspect of life that is connected to Religion. The Hadith, alongside the Qur’an are used as the basis of the Sharia (Islamic Law). They are regarded as important tools for understanding the Quran, and in fact, provide much guidance to Muslims on issues not detailed in the Quran at all. For example, there is no mention at all of the details of how to correctly practice salat--the five scheduled daily prayers observed by Muslims--in the Quran. This important element of Muslim life is entirely established by hadith. “As the Qur’an is the word of Allah, it must be strictly followed. In the same way, the teachings contained in the Prophet’s Sunna must be observed by all who profess to be Muslims. Without a study of Hadith, A Muslim’s knowledge of his faith remains incomplete.” Ghulam Sarwar. Disagree The problem with the Hadith is there is no one authorised version and so there are differences and contradictions between Hadith. The 4 main versions are: Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu- Dawud, and Malik's Muwatta. Despite these collections, there are some modern Muslims who distrust Hadith because they are not the word of God and they will only follow the Qur’an. They claim the Qur’an is the word of God which cannot be distorted. The Hadith could have been distorted. The Sunnis consider all Hadith and Sunna narrated by any of twelve thousand companions to be equally valid. The Shi’a however are more suspicious of the isnad (chain of transmission). They believe that the messages of Muhammad could have been distorted somewhere along the transmission. A such, The Shi'a gave preference only to those credited to the Prophet's family, Ali and close associates. Ultimately this difference of emphasis led to different understandings of the laws and practices of Islam. There are also different categories of reliability: The 3 levels are: Sahih (definitely reliable, traced back to a competent and trusted person), Hasan (not as reliable as Sahih, but can be used to support evidence) and Da’if (weak and unreliable, is only really used for discussion and reflection). Counter argument The vast majority of Muslims, particularly Sunni Muslims accept the Hadith and Sunna of the Prophet and feel that they must obey them. They believe that the Hadith have been kept pure, and that as Muhammad was the final prophet, his words and example offer Muslims the perfect way to live. They would not place the Hadith on par with the Qur’an, but they would place them one step down. Conclusion They are both important as they give Muslims an indication of how the Qur’an is to be interpreted in a human way by following the human example of Muhammad, and so despite some of the limitations regarding reliability, they are still useful accompaniments to the Qur’an to guide Muslims in their behaviour. They are respected and expected as a major source of religious law and guidance it is second only to the authority of the Quran. As the Qur’an says “Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.” This leads me to conclude that the Hadith and Sunnah should be used a source of authority to compliment the guidance of the Qur’an.

Shariah Sources of Shariah Categories What does Shariah mean? A clear straight path. The whole idea of Shariah is to set down for Muslims exactly what they should and should not do. It is not just a religious law, but a civil law. If people follow it, it should lead to a better society. “Shariah law removes from human beings harmful, burdensome actions and superstitions, aiming to simplify and ease the business of day to day living. It is designed to protect man from evil and to benefit him in all aspects of his life.” What is the 1st source of Shariah law The Qur’an. What are the 6 secondary sources for the Shariah? The Sunnah (Example of the Prophet Muhammad) The Hadith (Saying of the prophet Muhammad) Custom or practice of the Muslim community in Medina, as set up by Muhammad Opinion-The view of a Muslim lawyer who is a pious, holy man who has studied law. Refers to one Muslim lawyer. Consensus-decisions of the Ulama (a group of Muslim lawyers-muftis) who agree that this is the Muslim way to do things. Refers to the opinion of many Muslim lawyers. Analogy-if you cannot find guidance in the Qur'an, Hadith or Sunnah on your particular problem, then look for a similar problem discussed in these books and deduce your answer from that. What are the categories of Shariah law? Halal (allowed) Fard (obligatory duties, for example 5 Pillars of Islam) Mandub (Recommended and rewarded, for example voluntary prayers-Dua) Haram (forbidden actions which will be punished by law and by God, for example homosexuality) Makruh (actions disapproved of but not punished ,for example divorce)

Shariah Regulations What does Shariah say about drinking and taking drugs? Muslims are not allowed to drink alcohol, have alcohol in their house, sell alcohol, give alcohol as a gift. They believe alcohol can make people intoxicated and not in control of their own actions, which can lead to things which could be bad for society, example, violence, gambling. The Arabic term Khamr is translated as “intoxicant”. Alcohol and drugs are included in this category and are strictly not allowed. “Oh ye who believe. Intoxicants and gambling are an abomination, avoid such abomination so that ye may prosper.” What does Shariah say about gambling? Islam prohibits any game which involves betting or has any elements of gambling in it, such as the National Lottery. What does Shariah say about the slaughter and eating of animals? Muslims are not allowed to eat certain types of meat for example pork, and are not allowed to eat animals killed without invoking the name of God. Meat Muslims are allowed to eat is called halal and is meat which has been slaughtered by the neck vein being split and the blood drained fully from the animal whilst a halal butcher says a prayer invoking the name of Allah. Identify 3 jobs which Muslims who follow Shariah law strictly would not do. Bank manager (making money off interest) Mortgage broker Bar man Work in a casino Drug Dealer Non Halal butcher

GLOSSARY Abyssinia Ethiopia. Muhammad encourage his first followers who were being persecuted to flee to here. Animism Animism is the religious belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess distinctive spiritual qualities Bedouin An Arab, semi-nomadic group, descended from nomads who have historically inhabited the Arabian and Syrian deserts. Hadith A saying of Muhammad Hadith Qudsi A hadith which was directly inspired by God Halal Permitted under Shariah law Hanif Arab monotheist before Muhammad Haram Forbidden under Shariah law Hashemites The clan Muhammad was born into. This clan was part of the Quraysh tribe. Hijra The emigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina Injil Gospel revealed to Isa (Jesus) Jahiliyya Days of ignorance in Arabia Jinn Spirits of the desert who can be good or evil Khamr Intoxicants forbidden by the Qur’an

GLOSSARY Mahr Money given by groom to bride as part of marriage contract Makruh Frowned upon under Shariah but not punishable Mandub Recommended under Shariah but not compulsory Mufti Muslim lawyer Muhajirun Meccan companions of the Prophet who emigrated to Medina with him Quraysh A prominent tribe at the time of Muhammad Shari’a The Muslim law of God Sunna Example or way of life of Muhammad Talaq Divorce only when the man wants it Tawrat The Torah revealed to Musa (Moses) Ulama Group of Muslim lawyers Yathrib Traditional name for Medina Zina Sex outside marriage Zoroastrianism A monotheistic pre-Islamic religion of ancient Persia founded by Zoroaster in the 6th century BC

Video clips Muhammad http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z3tfgk7
The beginnings of Islam The Qur’an

Sources of wisdom and authority

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