DOCSLIB.ORG

Islamic Ethics in Australian Muslim Everyday Life: a Shi’Ite Perspective Mohamad Younes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Islamic Ethics in Australian Muslim Everyday Life: a Shi’Ite Perspective Mohamad Younes Islamic Ethics in Australian Muslim Everyday Life: A Shi’ite Perspective Mohamad Younes Master’s Thesis in Sociology Spring Term 2017 Humanities and Communication Arts Western Sydney University 1 17481784 Mohamad Younes 2 17481784 Mohamad Younes ABSTRACT Despite the strong emphasis on ethics within the Islamic tradition, Islamic ethics itself is scarcely represented as a discipline within academic scholarship (Ansari 1989). Even within this area, Islamic ethics have predominantly been studied from Sunni perspectives, with little attention being paid to Shi’ite or other minority understandings. This thesis will, therefore, use qualitative data collection methods of semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus groups, to sociologically study the perceptions, understandings, and applications of Islamic ethics in Australian Shi’ite Muslim everyday living. It will investigate the overarching understanding of Islamic ethics and its specific application in Australian Shi’ite Muslim context. The project's objective, therefore, is twofold: one to strengthen Islamic ethics as an independent discipline; and two to address the scant attention Shi’ite Islamic ethics has received in Islamic ethics scholarship generally. Conceptually, this project will contribute to the understanding of Islamic ethics through a particular analysis of Shi’ite Islamic ethics in an Australian Shi’ite context. This is significant as specific understandings of Islamic ethics in certain contexts help to explain how minority groups such as Shi’ite Muslims develop their own ethical standards to shape social relations in society. In addition, this thesis argues for Shi’ite Islamic ethics to be highly Imamate based; that is, very reliant on the actions and sayings of 12 divinely guided Imams (leaders). Achieving such goals will enhance the overall conceptualisation and understanding of the complexities of Islamic ethics in contemporary Muslim contexts. Keywords: Shi’ite, Islamic ethics, Ethics, Australian Muslim. 3 17481784 Mohamad Younes Acknowledgements This study is the result of a research project conducted for my master’s thesis in Humanities and Communication Arts at Western Sydney University. This thesis is written as part of Western Sydney University’s two-year Master of Research course. After finishing my Bachelor of Business and Commerce degree with a sub major in Islamic studies, I decided to pursue a Master of Research course. Now, almost two years later, I have completed my master’s thesis. When first confronted with my thesis topic of Islamic ethics, several questions crossed my mind. What is Islamic ethics all about? Are Islamic ethics different to secular ethics? Does Islamic ethics have a direct link with the behaviour of Muslims in the West? Eventually the questions expanded and became more specific to studying and understanding the level of understanding from the Shi’ite Muslim perspective. It was triggered by a scanty literature on Islamic ethics from the Shi’ite Muslim point of view. Being a Shi’ite Muslim myself, I wanted to know more about it, and what would be a better manner than writing a thesis on the subject? This master’s thesis would not be accomplished without the support of some important people. I would like to thank Dr. Jan Ali for his excellent guidance in both the master's thesis and bachelor degree phases of my studies, Dr. Jack Tsoutsas for his awesome guidelines for writing, and useful feedback in all aspects of my time in university, and Dr. Alex Norman for providing me with great comments and strategies to improve my study. I would like to thank my co-students, with whom I learnt and shared valuable information. And finally, a special thanks to all my family and friends for the support they gave me to make my student life a really great experience. 4 17481784 Mohamad Younes CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Secular Ethics vs Islamic Ethics .............................................................................. 9 1.1.2 Ethics and Moral Philosophy .................................................................. 11 1.1.3 Good and Bad ........................................................................................... 12 1.2 Early Developments: Essential Values ................................................................ 14 1.2.1 Shi’ite Ethics .............................................................................................. 14 2 FOUNDATIONAL BASIS ............................................................................................. 16 2.1 Islamic Principles .................................................................................................... 16 2.1.1 Sources of Ethics (Qur’an & Sunnah) ................................................................... 17 3 TAQWA (GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS)........................................................................... 19 3.1 An Ethical way of Life is Islamic .......................................................................... 19 3.1.1 Roles in a Muslim Society ..................................................................................... 21 3.1.2 Legal/Intellectual Emphasis on Ethics................................................................ 21 3.1.3 Theological Traditions ........................................................................................... 22 4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ISLAMIC ETHICS ............................................................... 23 Rationalist and Traditionalist ............................................................................... 23 4.1 Traditional Contributions ..................................................................................... 23 4.1.1 Sunni Muslim Approach ...................................................................................... 25 4.1.2 Shi’ite Muslim Perspective ................................................................................... 26 4.1.3 Diversity in Shi’ism .......................................................................................... 29 4.1.4 Modernisation Islamic Ethics .............................................................................. 30 5 DISCUSSION ON ISLAMIC ETHICS ........................................................................ 31 5.1 Minding the Gap in Islamic Ethics ....................................................................... 31 6 RESEARCH METHOD ................................................................................................. 39 6.1 Qualitative Data Collection ................................................................................... 39 5 17481784 Mohamad Younes 7 PARADIGM OF SHI’A ISLAMIC ETHICS ............................................................... 42 7.1 Cultivation of Character Framework .................................................................. 42 8 RESEARCH FINDINGS & RESULTS ......................................................................... 48 8.1 Shi’ite Muslims ..................................................................................................... 49 9 DATA INTERPRETATION & ANALYSIS ................................................................ 52 9.1 Reliability and Validity ............................................................................................. 52 9.1.1 Limitations ............................................................................................................... 53 9.1.2 The (Qualitative Method) ..................................................................................... 53 Principle ethical teachings within Islam ............................................................ 66 Shi'a/ Sunni Differences ........................................................................................ 71 10 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 73 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 75 APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 83 6 17481784 Mohamad Younes 1 INTRODUCTION Amongst the family of monotheistic faiths such as Judaism and Christianity, Islam is the youngest of these major world religions. With its inceptions in Saudi Arabia over 1400 years ago, Islam has expanded encompassing over 1.8 billion adherents, virtually living in all corners of the globe (Lipka 2016). Although most of Islam's adherents, known as Muslims, are located throughout Africa and Asia, there has been a significant growth in Muslim populations living in Australia, Europe and the Americas, or what is collectively known as the West in the twenty first century (Siddiqui 2012). Recently, the diverse communities constituting the worldwide Muslim community have expressed a need, in differing ways, to link their Islamic heritage to points of cultural self- identification (Peters 2015). Where this sensation has grown to be related to internal and external conflict, it has generated a huge amount of confusion and misconceptions with respect to the role of Islam. In order to highly value the variety of Islam's legacy of ethical thought and life, it is potentially vital to develop sociological insights as to how the range of Islamic esteems and crucial ethical presumptions have been fashioned in the progression of Muslim
Load more

Recommended publications
  • An Analysis of Taqwa in the Holy Quran: Surah Al- Baqarah
    IJASOS- International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences, Vol. III, Issue 8, August 2017 AN ANALYSIS OF TAQWA IN THE HOLY QURAN: SURAH AL- BAQARAH Harison Mohd. Sidek1*, Sulaiman Ismail2, Noor Saazai Mat Said3, Fariza Puteh Behak4, Hazleena Baharun5, Sulhah Ramli6, Mohd Aizuddin Abd Aziz7, Noor Azizi Ismail8, Suraini Mat Ali9 1Associate Professor Dr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 2Mr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 3Dr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 4 Dr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 5 Dr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 6 Ms., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 7 Mr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 8Associate Professor Dr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] 9Dr., Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, [email protected] *Corresponding author Abstract Within the context of the Islamic religion, having Taqwa or the traits of righteousness is imperative because Taqwa reflects the level of a Muslim’s faith. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to identify the traits of Takwa in surah Al-Baqara in the Holy Quran. The data for this study were obtained from verses in surah Al-Baqara. Purposive sampling was used to select the verses that contain the traits of Taqwa using an established tafseer (Quranic interpretation) in the Qurainic field as a guideline in marking the Taqwa traits in sampling the verses. Two experts in the field of Quranic tafseer validated the traits of Taqwa extracted from each selected verse.
    [Show full text]
  • Hadith and Its Principles in the Early Days of Islam
    HADITH AND ITS PRINCIPLES IN THE EARLY DAYS OF ISLAM A CRITICAL STUDY OF A WESTERN APPROACH FATHIDDIN BEYANOUNI DEPARTMENT OF ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW Thesis submitted for the degree of Ph.D. in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Glasgow 1994. © Fathiddin Beyanouni, 1994. ProQuest Number: 11007846 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 11007846 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 M t&e name of &Jla&, Most ©racious, Most iKlercifuI “go take to&at tfje iHessenaer aikes you, an& refrain from to&at tie pro&tfuts you. &nO fear gJtati: for aft is strict in ftunis&ment”. ©Ut. It*. 7. CONTENTS Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................4 Abbreviations................................................................................................................ 5 Key to transliteration....................................................................6 A bstract............................................................................................................................7
    [Show full text]
  • Rituals of Islamic Spirituality: a Study of Majlis Dhikr Groups
    Rituals of Islamic Spirituality A STUDY OF MAJLIS DHIKR GROUPS IN EAST JAVA Rituals of Islamic Spirituality A STUDY OF MAJLIS DHIKR GROUPS IN EAST JAVA Arif Zamhari THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY E P R E S S E P R E S S Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/islamic_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Zamhari, Arif. Title: Rituals of Islamic spirituality: a study of Majlis Dhikr groups in East Java / Arif Zamhari. ISBN: 9781921666247 (pbk) 9781921666254 (pdf) Series: Islam in Southeast Asia. Notes: Includes bibliographical references. Subjects: Islam--Rituals. Islam Doctrines. Islamic sects--Indonesia--Jawa Timur. Sufism--Indonesia--Jawa Timur. Dewey Number: 297.359598 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU E Press Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2010 ANU E Press Islam in Southeast Asia Series Theses at The Australian National University are assessed by external examiners and students are expected to take into account the advice of their examiners before they submit to the University Library the final versions of their theses. For this series, this final version of the thesis has been used as the basis for publication, taking into account other changesthat the author may have decided to undertake.
    [Show full text]
  • Japanese Eating and Drinking Culture in View of Adab Education Concept As Guided in Relevant Ahaadeeth Muttafaqun ‘Alayh
    Ibn Khaldun Journal of Social Science Vol. 1, No. 1, 2019, pp 11-21 DOI: 10.32832/ikjss.v1i1.2387 Japanese eating and drinking culture in view of adab education concept as guided in relevant ahaadeeth muttafaqun ‘alayh Nesia Andriana*, Imas Kania Rahman, Muhyani Universitas Ibn Khaldun Bogor, Indonesia *e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Islamic society was born in an underdeveloped community with very limited natural resources of barren desert. The Arab Muslims conquered Mecca and started expanding their territory by conquering Rome in age just 26 years and Persia in 30 years. Followed by further expansion, Mus- lims conquered almost a third of the world and maintained the Islamic empire for about 8-10 centuries. At another point of history, Japan was also a country that has limited natural resources and frequently hit by natural disasters. Two of its major cities were destroyed by first developed atomic bombs in 1945; Japan declared its unconditional surrender in World War II and Japan became a country in ruins. However, it only took Japan a dozen years to recover, and even more, Japan has become a developed and politically stable country. This paper argues that the remark- able achievements made by both Japan and Islamic civilization resulted from developing and maintaining discipline daily habits from strong ethics and educational philosophies and concepts. Taking the most inevitable human daily habits, eating and drinking, as a focus, the writer con- ducted interview of some Japanese people and Indonesians who lived in Japan for over 10 years. The results of interview were compared with Rasoolullah peace be upon him and his companions’ eating and drinking habits as reported in relevant ahaadeeth muttafaqun ‘alayh.
    [Show full text]
  • IIAS Reports
    The Newsletter | No.70 | Spring 2015 48 | The Network IIAS Reports Providing a reference point for the workshop as a Female Islamic authority in comparative whole, Mirjam Künkler gave an overview of recent state- and society-driven initiatives for the promotion of female perspective: exemplars, institutions, practices Islamic authority. Recent years have seen a surge in programs aimed at training and certifying women as legal scholars, International workshop, Leiden, 8-9 January 2015 preachers and counsellors. In most cases, however, this authority is fundamentally limited, in the sense that it David Kloos and Mirjam Künkler depends on, or is placed below male authority, or because it is confined to ‘women’s issues’. Interestingly, the latter limitation runs counter to all major schools of law (madhāhib) that allow women to provide advise (iftā) on any issue, not only issues of particular relevance to women. In light of the limits of top-down programs in training women as religious authority, Künkler called for a research agenda that turns the attention towards the way women are perceived as religious authorities by local communities. The other papers complemented this analysis by explor- ing how female Islamic leaders and authorities have been gathering a following by building up a community. Rahima, a women’s rights organization in Jakarta, and the focus of a paper presented by Nor Ismah, is responsible for one of the first female ulamā (religious scholars) training programs in Indonesia. To increase its reach among the grassroots, this organization has worked together with traditional Islamic boarding schools, most of which are located in rural areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Muhammad Rafiq.Pdf
    MORAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE QURAN AND SUNNAH Researcher: Supervisor: MUHAMMAD RAFIQ DR. SYED ASAD ABBAS RIZVI Reg. 86-FSS/PHDEDU/F11 Co- Supervisor: PROF. Dr. MUHAMMAD TAHIR MANSOORI Department of Education Faculty of Social Sciences INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD 2020 MORAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE QURAN AND SUNNAH By MUHAMMAD RAFIQ 86/FSS/PhD/EDU/F-11 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Education to the Department of Education at Faculty of Social Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad. Department of Education Faculty of Social Sciences INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD 2020 ii iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to Imam Hussain (AS): the biggest example of Islamic morality iv FORWARDING SHEET The thesis entitled “Moral Development Strategies for University Students in the Light of Islamic Philosophy of Moral Development in the Quran and Sunnah” submitted by Muhammad Rafiq for partial fulfillment of degree of Doctor of Philosophy in education, has been completed under my guidance and supervision. I am satisfied with the quality of the research work and allow him to submit this thesis for further process as per rules of International Islamic University, Islamabad. _________________________________ Supervisor: Dr. Syed Asad Abbas Rizvi ______________________________________________ Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir Mansoori v APPROVAL SHEET Thesis titled “Moral Development Strategies for University Students in the Light of Islamic Philosophy of Moral Development in the Quran and Sunnah” submitted by Muhammad Rafiq Reg.
    [Show full text]
  • Philosophy As a Path to Happiness
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Helsingin yliopiston digitaalinen arkisto Philosophy as a Path to Happiness Attainment of Happiness in Arabic Peripatetic and Ismaili Philosophy Janne Mattila ACADEMIC DISSERTATION To be publicly discussed, by due permission of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Helsinki in auditorium XII, University main building, on the 13th of June, 2011 at 12 o’clock. ISBN 978-952-92-9077-2 (paperback) ISBN 978-952-10-7001-3 (PDF) http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/ Helsinki University Print Helsinki 2011 2 Abstract The aim of this study is to explore the idea of philosophy as a path to happiness in medieval Arabic philosophy. The starting point is in comparison of two distinct currents within Arabic philosophy between the 10th and early 11th centuries, Peripatetic philosophy, represented by al-Fārābī and Ibn Sīnā, and Ismaili philosophy represented by al-Kirmānī and the Brethren of Purity. These two distinct groups of sources initially offer two contrasting views about philosophy. The attitude of the Peripatetic philosophers is rationalistic and secular in spirit, whereas for the Ismailis philosophy represents the esoteric truth behind revelation. Still, the two currents of thought converge in their view that the ultimate purpose of philosophy lies in its ability to lead man towards happiness. Moreover, they share a common concept of happiness as a contemplative ideal of human perfection, merged together with the Neoplatonic goal of the soul’s reascent to the spiritual world. Finally, for both happiness refers primarily to an otherworldly state thereby becoming a philosophical interpretation of the Quranic accounts of the afterlife.
    [Show full text]
  • The Right to Asylum Between Islamic Shari'ah And
    The Right to Asylum between Islamic Shari’ah and International Refugee Law A Comparative Study Prof. Ahmed Abou-El-Wafa Produced and Printed by Printing Press of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences Riyadh - 2009 (1430 H.) The Right to Asylum between Islamic Shari’ah and International Refugee Law A Comparative Study Prof. Ahmed Abou-El-Wafa Riyadh - 2009 (1430 H.) “Those who believed and emigrated, and strove in the cause of GOD, as well as those who hosted them and gave them refuge, and supported them, these are the true believers. They have deserved forgiveness and a generous recompense.” (Quranic Surat al-Anfal, "The Spoils of War" [Chapter 8 verse 74]) “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 14) "Every man shall have the right, within the framework of the Shari'ah... if persecuted, is entitled to seek asylum in another country. The country of refugee shall be obliged to provide protection to the asylum seeker until his safety has been attained, unless asylum is motivated by committing an act regarded by the Shari'ah as a crime". (Article 12 of the Declaration on Human Rights in Islam) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Office in the Regional Office in the Arab Republic of Egypt GCC Countries E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Arabic Website: English Website: www.unhcr.org.eg www.unhcr.org First Edition 2009 This book is written, on behalf of UNHCR by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abou-El-Wafa, Chief of the Department of Public International Law, Faculty of Law, Cairo University.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dhimmi Narrative a Comparison Between the Historical and the Actual in the Context of Christian-Muslim Relations in Egypt Today
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate School Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2009-12 The Dhimmi narrative a comparison between the historical and the actual in the context of Christian-Muslim relations in Egypt today Martin, Gianstefano C. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/4488 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS THE DHIMMI NARRATIVE: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE HISTORICAL AND THE ACTUAL IN THE CONTEXT OF CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM RELATIONS IN MODERN EGYPT by Gianstefano C. Martin December 2009 Thesis Advisor: Mohammed Hafez Thesis Co-Advisor: Abbas Kadhim Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited i THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ii REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 2009 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS The Dhimmi Narrative: A Comparison Between the Historical and the Actual in the Context of Christian-Muslim Relations in Modern Egypt 6.
    [Show full text]
  • The Syiah Turmoil in a Sharia Soil: an Anthropological Study of Hidden Syiah Minority Entity in Contemporary Aceh
    International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE) ISSN: 2277-3878, Volume-7, Issue-6S5, April 2019 The Syiah Turmoil in a Sharia Soil: An Anthropological Study of Hidden Syiah Minority Entity in Contemporary Aceh Al Chaidar Abdurrahman Puteh, Abidin Nurdin, T. Nazaruddin , Alfian Lukman Abstract: Syiah had ever been a major Islamic Researches on the history of Syiah in Indonesia - and denomination in Aceh for centuries. This research is not only especially in Aceh -has been done by Hilmy Bakar about how much classical Sharia rules can be a reference to Almascaty (2013) and Fakhriati (2014) and Rabbani (2013) resolve political problems of majority and minority division, but also Dhuhri (2016). Previously, a similar study also also to examine the power of sharia in protecting and concerns the history that comes first in reference to the marginalizing Syiah. Based mainly on classical Snouck Hurgronje ethnography, this study elaborate the the former history of Syiah and its spaces investigated by Thabathaba'i sharia as a living law in old Aceh and comparing it with recent and Husayn (1989), Azmi (1989), Abdul Hadi (2002), and legal pluralism of Aceh nowadays. With a spectacular growing T. Iskandar (2011). Almascaty's study looked more at of traditional Dayah (conservative Sunnism) in present politics, Persian civilization and its influence on customs in Aceh and the transnational Salafi Wahabism intrusion into Aceh, the [1]. Similarly, Wan Hussein Azmi concluded that in the position of Syiah is at the most tip of the edge in society. 10th century AD migration of the most Persians to the Achenese Syiah are now facing hardest situation in this Syafii- archipelago Leran, Gresik, Siak (Inderapura, Riau), and to dominated land and hardened with the rage of Wahabism.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    Introduction The Islamic World Today in Historical Perspective In 2012, the year 1433 of the Muslim calendar, the Islamic popula- well as provincial capitals of the newly founded Islamic empire, such tion throughout the world was estimated at approximately a billion as Basra, Kufa, Aleppo, Qayrawan, Fez, Rayy (Tehran), Nishapur, and a half, representing about one- fifth of humanity. In geographi- and San‘a’, merged the legacy of the Arab tribal tradition with newly cal terms, Islam occupies the center of the world, stretching like a incorporated cultural trends. By religious conversion, whether fer- big belt across the globe from east to west. From Morocco to Mind- vent, formal, or forced, Islam integrated Christians of Greek, Syriac, anao, it encompasses countries of both the consumer North and the Coptic, and Latin rites and included large numbers of Jews, Zoroas- disadvantaged South. It sits at the crossroads of America, Europe, trians, Gnostics, and Manicheans. By ethnic assimilation, it absorbed and Russia on one side and Africa, India, and China on the other. a great variety of nations, whether through compacts, clientage and Historically, Islam is also at a crossroads, destined to play a world marriage, persuasion, and threat or through religious indifference, role in politics and to become the most prominent world religion social climbing, and the self- interest of newly conquered peoples. during the 21st century. Islam is thus not contained in any national It embraced Aramaic- , Persian- , and Berber- speaking peoples; ac- culture;
    [Show full text]
  • Immoral Acts and Their Resultant Effect Among the Muslim Society: an Islamic Exposition
    International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2019 440 ISSN 2250-3153 Immoral Acts and their Resultant Effect among the Muslim Society: An Islamic Exposition Dr. Attahir Shehu Mainiyo1 Department of Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto [email protected] [email protected] +234 80 60060 197 +234 80 35534 192 Ahmad Bello Gidadawa, Admin and General Services, Office of the Head of service, Cabinet Office, Sokoto +2347066666577 DOI: 10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8857 http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8857 Abstract: High moral standard is said to be a core pillar which ensures prosperity of individuals and the society generally. Man therefore, is born with a moral sense which clearly enables him to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad. That is why it is not out of place to say a society, shrouded in immoral acts is certain to breed wayward and unscrupulous elements. In order to actually submit to the good morality, one must speak the truth, keep promises, respect family ties, and help the poor, less privileged and weak ones. This possibly has not been unconnected with the fact that the Muslims took their guidance from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W2.). Sadly enough, these moral qualities that ought to be imbibed by all and sundry diminish or were drastically absent among the Muslim society today. In order to get out of the bondage of servitude of one’s desire to commit certain immoral acts, everyone in the society desires efficient knowledge and skill, societal norms and values.
    [Show full text]