Islam 5
Islamic Culture and Qur'anic Law
Islamic life and culture are seamlessly connected
to the non-negotiable authority of the Qur'an. Either directly or indirectly, Islamic culture is shaped and driven
by the terms of the Qur'an.In matters of state, after the death of the prophet in 632, Qur'anic laws together with the Sunna or the prophet Muhammad's
spoken words became the foundations for governance in Islamic communities. The complexities of these
laws
and their
interpretations were eventually formalized into four different legal systems.
Qur'anic law is also the final word in civil matters such as marriage and divorce, the degree of
legal or illegal relationships,and the inheritance of property. In contemporary society, issues such as
cloning and the place of women in society are very much the substance of legal debates and interpretations with
authoritative injunctions very much a matter of how they align with the teachings of the prophet.
The teachings of the Qur'an are also influential in matters of daily living and everyday conduct.
Food, dress, prayer and the observances of festivals are some of the aspects of life and culture
that are both at once cultural practices and religious observations.
Permissable and Non-Permissable Foods
Muslims are required to follow the dietary
prescriptions of the Qur'an. Permissable foods are known as halaal
as opposed to those that are forbidden (haraam.)
Animal foods that are halaal must also be killed and prepared in the prescribed method. In addition to the forbidden
foods, Islam also forbids the consumption of alcohol.
Hijab
The word hijabcomes from the Arabic word "hajaba" meaning to conceal or hide from view. It
refers to the custom in many Islamic communities where women are covered to varying degrees when they
are in public. In some countries, such as Afghanistan where they wear the burkha women are completely covered from head to feet in a garment
that conceals them completely. In other communities this coverage may simply mean attire
that covers most of the body and the head. Hijab is both an issue of curiosity and debate
particularly among feminists who see the attire as a symbol of patriarchal subjection of women.
On the other hand, some Muslim women often see it as a part of their Islamic identity and an assertion of
freedom from being viewed as sex objects, or unwanted attentions. The original intent for hijab
was based on the injunction to modesty in terms of dress, and this incidentally is an injunction
that is directed to both women and men.
Islamic Observances
The important events for Muslims is regulated by the Islamic calendar. The Islamic Calendar is
based on the lunar year and has 354 days. It is based on Muhammad's historic flight from Mecca to medina
(hijira)in 622 C.E. Some of the key observances are as follows:
Muharram
The first month marks Mohammad's flight and the beginning of Islam.
Rabi'I
or the third month: Muslims observe the birthday of the prophet on the 12th day.
Ramadan the ninth month: Muslims fast from dawn to dusk for the entire month. They also observe Laylat al-Qadr on the 27th day.
This is the commeration of the first revelation that God made to the prophet Muhammad.
Dhu al-Hijja is the twelfth month in the Islamic calendar. This is the month set side for the
pilgrimage to Mecca. On the 9th day of the pilgrims perform the Yawm'Arafator the ritual of
facing God" on Mount Arafat. The end of the haj is marked by Id al-Adba on the tenth day when pilgrim commemorate
God's presentation of a sacrificial ram to Abraham in place of his son.
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