Islam in Daily Life

Introduction• Previously, we have looked at the following topics…1. Arabia before Islam2. The life of Muhammad3. Islam in Medina4. The Sunni-Shi`a Divide5. The Islamic understanding of God6. The Quran and Prophetic Traditions (hadith)7. The Hadith of Jibreel8. The 5 Pillars

• In the final couple of weeks before the Christmas break, I want to look at some key concepts

• So, tonight, we will look at the practice of Islam in our daily lives

• In particular, we will look at the following topics…

Islam and Daily Life

1. Doing Islam: living ethically2. How is the Quran used in everyday life?

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• We recently looked at the Hadith of Jibreel (Gabriel)• If you recall, this important tradition refers to three

different levels of faith• Islam, Iman and Ihsan• Can anyone remember how Muhammad talked

about Islam and Iman? What are they?• Islam: “Islam is to bear witness that there is no god

but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God; and to perform the prayer; pay zakat; fast Ramadan; and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able.”

• Iman: “It is to believe in Allah; His Angels; His Books; His Messengers; the Last Day; and in destiny—its good and bad.”

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Ihsan (literally, ‘doing what is good/beautiful/excellent’)• In the words of Muhammad…

‘The man said, “You have spoken the truth. Now, tell me about spiritual excellence (ihsan).” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “It is to serve Allah as though you behold Him; and if you don’t behold him, (know that) He surely sees you”.’ ‘God is with those who are god-wary [literally, ‘those who have taqwa], and those who do what is beautiful [literally, ‘those who have ihsan]’ (16:128)

• That is, ihsan means to live and serve God as though you can see him all of the time, in whatever you do

• What is taqwa?• Often translated as ‘fear of God’ or, as above, ‘God-wary’• A shield: a way of acting that shields us from God’s displeasure – being

conscious of God all of the time• Muhammad reported to have said:

‘Fear Allah wherever you may be [literally, ‘have taqwa of Allah wherever you may be’]; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards people’.

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• What does ‘seeing’ mean?• The Quran talks about ‘seeing’, ‘sight’ and perception in a number of

places‘On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith, as also in your own selves: Will ye not then see?’ (51:20-21) ‘Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth’ (41:53)

• Reflection in the Quran (tafakkur)• The ability to consider matters and think for yourself absolutely vital• The meaning of revelation

‘Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, indeed, you would have seen it humble itself and cleave itself asunder for the fear of Allah. Such are the similitudes which We propound to men, that may reflect [la`alahum yatafakkarun]’ (59:21)

‘They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say: ‘In them is a great sin, and some profit for me; but their sin is greater than their benefit…Thus does Allah make clear to you His signs: in order that you may consider [la`alakum tatafakkarun]’ (2:219)

• Here, we are invited to consider the merits of alcohol

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Contemplating creation

‘With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give thought’ (16:11)‘And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect’ (45:13)

• Contemplating life and death‘It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect’ (39:42)

• Reflection and Contemplation‘Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire’ (3:191)

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Contemplating life and religion

‘Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date palms and vines and streams flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruit, while he is stricken with old age and his children are not strong - that it should be caught in a whirlwind, with fire therein and be burnt up? Thus does Allah make clear to you Signs: that you may consider [la`alakum tatafakkarun] (2:266)

• The limits of vision‘No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all human vision: for He alone is Subtle Beyond Comprehension, All-Aware. Means of insight have now come to you from your Sustainer through this divine Message. Whoever, then, chooses to see, does so for the benefit of His own soul; and whoever chooses to remain blind, does so to His own harm’ (Sürah al-Anªäm 6:102-104)

• That is, we are dealing with ethical living (or seeing with the heart, you might say, and not seeing with eyes)

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Doing what is good (and beautiful) is the key

‘By Time, indeed humanity is in a state of loss.  Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of truth and in the mutual teaching of patience’ (Surah al-`Asr, 103:1-3)

• And again…‘Do what is good/beautiful.  God loves those who do what is good/beautiful’ (2:195)‘God is the Protecting Friend of those who believe. He brings them out of the darknesses into the light…’ (2:257)‘O you who have attained to faith! If you remain conscious of God, He will endow you with a standard by which to discern the true from the false, and will clear evil from you, and will forgive you your mistakes: for God is limitless in the abundance of His blessing. (Sürah al-Anfäl 8:29)

• Struggle (jihad)‘Those who struggle for Us - We shall guide them on Our paths, and God is with those who do what is beautiful’ (29:69)‘The mercy of God is near to those who do what is beautiful’ (7:56)‘We have returned from the lesser jihad (battle) to the greater jihad (jihad of the soul)’ - hadith

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Living for others…

‘It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts - these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil)’ (Surah al-Baqarah 2:177)

• Goodness: some further examples‘Worship none but God, and do what is beautiful towards parents’ (2:83)‘Pardon them and forgive; God loves those who do what is beautiful’ (5:13)‘Have patience.  God will not leave to waste the wage of those who do what is beautiful’ (11:115)

• Good conduct?Muhammad said: ‘Righteousness is good character, and sin is that which wavers in your heart and which you do not want people to know about’.The Prophet said: ‘There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm’.

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Why? For what reason?

‘Every soul will taste death.  And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned’(Surah al-Anbiya 21:35)‘And I did not create the Jinn and Humankind except that they should worship Me’ (51:56)‘So. he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it, and he who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it’ (99:7-8)

• Ibadah = worship and service• Or, believing and doing good

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Developing taqwa

‘Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? No! You would abhor it…But fear Allah: For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful’ (Quran 49:12)

• But, being human, we all fall short…‘Enter the gate with humility, and We will forgive you’ (Surah al-Baqarah 2:58)

• Forgiveness towards others‘Pardon them and forgive; God loves those who do what is beautiful’ (5:13) ‘To God belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, so that He may recompense those who do the ugly for what they have done, and recompense those who do what is beautiful with the most beautiful’ (53:31)

• The Prophet (alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam) is reported to have said:

‘When the servant submits and his submission is beautiful, God will acquit him of every ugly thing he approached…’

Doing Islam: Living Ethically• Consciousness of God is the essence of

religious practice‘O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become conscious of God [literally, ‘that you might have taqwa’]’ (Surah al-Baqarah 2:183)

• Thus, the 5 Pillars are all about helping us to become more conscious of God, and thus better able to serve him

• So, with all this in mind, how should Muslims use the Quran in their daily lives?

The Words of the Wise‘In the presence of His Glory,

Closely watch your heart,So your thoughts won’t shame you.

For He sees guilt, opinion, and desireAs plainly as a hair in pure milk’

(Jalaluddin Rumi, Mathnawi I.3144-3145)

• Sufyan al-Thawri (an early scholar)‘A person, if he is given to reflection [tafakkur], he will derive a lesson from everything’

• Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Wasiti (a medieval scholar)‘So instill in yourself, O brother, shyness of God; Mighty and Majestic is He, even if it be for an hour of the day…Tell no one that you are engaged in such a deed for fear that the light of God’s vigilance [muraqabah] will be extinguished from your heart…Never let your heart be devoid of the realisation that God watches over you, for the heart’s delight [lies] in it; as does its tranquillity, fear, awe, shyness and honour’.

Over to you…• In groups of 3, I want you to read through

the reading material• How is the Quran being used in each

different section?• Is this material relevant to daily life?• If yes, how?• More broadly, how is the Quran used in

the daily life of Muslims?