By : Khajidah Dingjan
www.perkim.net.my
In The Name of Allah
The All Merciful, The All-Compassionate
The Shariah Misunderstood
It is propagated in Western countries that the Sharian is a system of legal, political, military and religious laws that calls Muslims to overthrow non-Muslim governments through brutal force, acts of terrorism, and 'holy war' to establish itself, as the sole political and religious power in the world.
To say Muslim terrorists represent Islam is like saying the Klu Klux Klan represent Christianity. But just as Christians don't want to be judged by the beliefs and actions of extremists like the Klu Klux Klan or I.R.A.
Likewise Muslims should not be judged by extremists in their midst, nor characterized e masse.
It is said that Shariah is barbaric intolerant and unjust. It is also said the Shariah cannot co-exist with civil laws and that it forces Muslims to reject the civil laws of the country they live in.
Despite loud voices shouting that the Shariah is a threat to secular society, research shows that there is no evidence that Islamic law is influencing courts in non-Muslim countries (USA, ACLU, 2011).
The truth is that the Shariah law must be seen in the same way as the Jewish Halakah law and Catholic Canon, which are both faith-based laws that exist side by side with civil law. Moreover, the Shariah is not even applicable to non- Muslim.
The fear for the Shariah and the stigma it creates, is divisive and potentially dangerous to a society. History has taught us what fear-mongering does to a civil society.
The Nazis could not have succeeded if they had not instituted an active campaign of instilling paranoia and provoking an intense hatred against minority groups in Germany. Do we really want to go down this route again?
The Shariah demands that Muslims follow the law of the land they live in. This command is binding so long as they are not forced to commit forbidden or blasphemous acts or prevented from fulfilling their religious duties.
What is the Shariah?
Shariah literally means a "path to water", the source of life and signifies the way to God (Allah) as given by Him.
The Shariah is therefore the divinely ordained way of life for mankind, a system of morality and the best way to justice. The two primary sources of the Shariah are the Qur'an (Allah's words) and the Sunnah (the Prophet's way of life).
Shariah Components
Rituals of worship - 70%
Penal laws - 5%
Personal, Family, Economic laws (25%
(muslimmatters.org)
The bulk of the Shariah (= 70%) deals with rituals of worship, it instructs you to :
- Regularly take time out of the day to remember Allah consciously.
- Dedicate a percentage of your savings to the poor.
- Fast a month every year to cultivate patience, piety and to feel unity with the less-fortunate.
- Commemorate the faith of the Prpphet Abraham (pbuh) by visiting the house of worship he built in Makkah.
Approximately 25% of the Shariah deals with personal laws (like dietary regulations), family and economic laws. For example, just like the kosher laws for Jews, Muslims have their personal laws in the Shariah that regulate the way animals should be slaughtered, with respect for their lives and feelings.
Family law in the Shariah requires following religious customs when marrying or divorcing . For example, a husband is obliged to gift his wife a monetary gift at the time of marriage and an additional amount in the case of divorce. The Shariah also prohibits usury.
It is true that some laws of the Shariah are intended for application at a national level, and include penalties for crimes which are most destructive for society and the family, like murder, adultery and theft.
These laws make up a portion of the remaining 5% of the Shariah. However, these laws are intended to be applied in a legal system where the government derives its rules from Islam, is only applicable to Muslims and is subject to evidences and witnesses.
These penalties are called hudud (boundaries, not punishments) because these are the results of crossing the boundaries set by the Creator. They have an educational, preventive and strong deterrent function, history has proven that it works.
There is no need to fear these laws, if one is a law-abiding citizen and not a criminal. Since they are laid down by Allah, it is beyong human authority to reduce or supercede them out of a sense of mercy. There in no one more merciful, more wise and more just than Allah.
Why the world needs the Shariah?
In many societies the florification of fornication, adultery, sodomite sex, alcohol, recreational drugs and gambling is visible. However the Shariah's key principle is "preventing harm and bringing welfare and benegit to people." It protects and defends the five basic necessary human rights; Faith, life, progeny (honour), property and intellect.
Therefore the Shariah :
- Encourages work and trade so that individuals are able to earn a living.
- Urges the pursuit of knowledge and education to ensure the intellectual growth and development of people.
- Punishes theft because it threatens the inherent right of property.
- Prohibits adultery because it violates the sanctity of the family unit.
- Prohibits alcohol consumption because it has the potential to impair one's intellectual capacity, leading to the abuse of other people's rights.
The Shariah covers every aspect of life, ordained by Allah, the Almighty. Due to its divine origin it is considered timeless and perfect, geared towards the success, justice, welfare and peace of humans in this world and in the hereafter.
And Allah knows best.
PERKIM
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150, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (Jalan Ipoh)
51200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4041 2482, 03-4042 6224
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Copied by :
Hj Zulheimy Bin Maamor
Lembah Keramat, K.Lumpur, Malaysia
10/11/2022 > 15 Rabiulakhir 1444H: 4.23 pm
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