Islamic Doctrine

Introduction

What is Islam?

Islam is the final religion revealed to humanity. The Islamic Message was delivered through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny). He received the first revelation in the year 610 after Christ.

Islam is a principle. A principle is defined as a doctrine plus a system of life in harmony. The system is in harmony with the doctrine when the system is built upon and derived from the doctrine.

A person who does not believe in anything except in this world would be inclined to care for his own pleasure regardless of other people's welfare. Such a person would find no point in making sacrifices for others, because materially this means a loss to him.

Yet there are some people who would be moved emo- tionally by idealistic motives sometimes but such people are usually few and their work is inconsistent and uncertain. On the other hand, a person who believes in God and a life after death would provide for the Hereafter.

He would refrain from bad deeds knowing that great punishment might be inflicted upon him in the life after death. He would be willing to sacrifice for others because there is a promise of a reward in the next world. Hence the behaviour of people is moulded as soon as they decide which doctrine they adhere to.

Islam is a direct enlightenment of the Creator to humanity. It deals with all fields of their activity, whether on the individual or collective level. Special care is given to individ- uals and their behaviour in order that their spiritual side is strengthened and made sublime.

This is done through explaining the ideology first, then binding them to God in prayers, fasting, pilgrimage, etc. The collective aspect is given due importance, where the social, eco- nomic and political systems were clearly for- mulated and minutely explained.

Islamic legislation defines two kinds of laws, namely, the constitutional type and the regulative type. The constitutional laws are basic and permanent. For instance, the concept of defence against enemies is a permanent law, but the means of defence are changing with time and place.

In the past the means of transport and defence were horses, camels and elephants, etc. But now rockets, aeroplanes, nuclear ships and weapons are used. Therefore, the consti- tution is concerned with the basic needs while the - regulative laws are concerned with the best means and ways to satisfy these require- ments.