Moral Teachings of Islam

Summary: Many writers who write about Islam are not totally familiar with Islam.’ They present the Five Pillars of Islam as the whole of Islam.’ However, it took us twelve sessions just to explore in some reasonable degree of depth (not total deapth) the meaning and significance of each of the Five Pillars. The Five

Summary of 6.1 “Main Ethical Questions”There is hardly any difference among people of today that the world is facing a crisis as our civilization is being threatened.’ Some say that the problem is economic, social, technical or political which only emphasizing the symptoms of the problem rather than the real causes.’ We tried to indicate

Summary of 6.2 “Foundations of Islamic Ethics” The discussion began by distinguishing between religious and secular morality. We noted that religious morality encompasses fundamental aspects such as the concept of God, belief in the hereafter, the nature of human beings, and a person’s role on Earth. In terms of the concept of God, Islam emphasizes

Summary of 6.3 “Human Nature in Islam”The foundation of any ethical system raises the question of how a person views their own nature.’ We started by exploring and critiquing some of the common views of human nature.’ The first view was that man evolved from animals.’ We said that this basically denies the existence of

Summary of 6.4 “Muslim View of The Universe”In the last program we discussed the relationship of the human and the universe.’ The first point made is that the whole universe was made to be subservient to mankind.’ An example of this is found in (45:13) where it mentions that God made subservient to whatever is

Summary of 6.5 “Characteristics of Islamic Moral Code”We basically coved four points.’ The first point was the objectives and goals of the Islamic moral code. ‘We indicated that the main purpose of the moral code is to build up an Islamic personality which lives by faith in God which is nourished with divine love which

Summary of 6.6 “The Lawful and Unlawful”There were five basic points that we discussed last time.’ First of all, we said that in Islam there is no distinction between secular or religious as all aspects of life come under one jurisdiction and as such the moral code in Islam is not a separate compartment but

Summary of 6.7′ “Prohibitions to Protect Faith and Life”The main criteria for the lawful or unlawful in Islam are the objectives of Islamic law of known as Sharia’a which is summarized to include five basic areas.’ These areas are to safeguard faith, life, mind, honor and property.’ Then we dealt with each of these objectives

Summary of 6.8 “Diet: General” Last week we continued our discussion on prohibitions in Islam and more specifically on the issue of dietary laws.’ We sited the verse in the Quran (5:3) that summarizes prohibited foods in Islam.’ These foods include an animal that died on its own, from a fall, of strangulation, beaten to

Summary of 6.9 “Diet: Pork (Religious Aspects)”We discussed five basic areas last week.’ First of all we discussed some of the verses in the Quran which specify the prohibition of eating pork and we said that in Chapter six the impression is left that eating pork is not only prohibited for Muslims but that it

Summary of 6.10 “Diet: Pork (Medical Aspects)”After covering a broad classification of the different types of fats and oils we looked at the neutral lipids.’ The lipids come in various forms known as monoglycerides (MG), diglycerides, triglycerides and free fatty acids.’ We focused on the triglyceride molecule is composed of glycerol and three fatty acids.’

Summary of 6.11′ Diet: IngredientsIn terms of the main criteria for the lawful and unlawful we have objectives of Islamic law or Sharia and then we have examples of things we should avoid in order to reach those objectives.’ We mentioned that the main objective of Islamic law is to safeguard faith, life, mind, honor

Summary of 6.12′ “Diet: Intoxicants”We discussed four basic areas last time.’ First of all, we discussed how Islam prohibits everything that clouds the mind.’ Even though the term used in the Quran is khamr some people mistakenly translate it into wine but rather it is anything that clouds the mind as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said.’

Summary of 6.12′ “Diet: Intoxicants”We discussed four basic areas last time.’ First of all, we discussed how Islam prohibits everything that clouds the mind.’ Even though the term used in the Quran is khamr some people mistakenly translate it into wine but rather it is anything that clouds the mind as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said.’

Summary of 6.14′ “Diet: Other Issues”Basically what we are covering are the five objectives of Islamic Sharia’a which are the criteria that indicate what is lawful and unlawful in Islam.’ In some of the earlier programs in the series we talked bout safe guarding faith which involves avoiding things like shirk (associating others with God),

Summary of 6.15 “Prohibitions To Protect Honor: General”There are five basic points we addressed last time.’ First of all we discussed safeguarding honor as one of the five basic objectives of Islamic law, the others being protection of faith, life, mind and property.’ This specific topic refers more specifically to sexual morality in an Islamic

Summary of 6.16 “Sexual Morality”First, we started by emphasizing that Islam considers the pursuit of the satisfaction of the sexual urge outside the boundaries of legitimate and recognized marriage a major sin.’ Examples of this would be adultery, fornication, homosexuality or any other sexual perversion. ‘ Secondly, we emphasis that the program that Islam lays

Summary of 6.17′ “Modesty and Dress Code”Our main emphasis last time was to understand why Islam includes the matter of dress in its code of behavior.’ We indicated that Islam doesn’t look at the matter of dress as a decorative thing or for protection from weather conditions.’ In Islam dress in accordance with the Quran

Summary of 6.18′ “Dress Code Continued”In the last few programs we focused on the safeguarding of honor as one of the objectives of Islamic law and part of the moral teachings of Islam.’ More importantly we dealt with issues as to the prohibition of fornication and adultery.’ There are also preventative measures that Islam requires

Summary of 6.19 “Beautification and Behavior” We had several programs in the last few weeks which covered the main criteria for what is lawful and unlawful which we organized along the five basic purposes of Islamic law: safeguarding faith, life, mind, honor and property.’ We spent several programs discussing the various measures that are suggested