Ways
&
Laws

You know,

baby humans

don't know anything about the way to behave.

They just do whatever comes naturally to them

as they start to learn what it means to be a human.

Then as they grow, they start to learn

that some ways of behaving please those around them

and other ways of behaving have the opposite result.

They start to learn about

what is good and what is bad.

And as they get older

they find that their ideas of what is good and what is bad

get more complicated.

They find there are different ways to behave with different people,

family, neighbours and strangers.

They find that they need to behave in different ways in different places,

like at home, or at school, or in the street.

Kids have to learn that there are different rules

as to what they must do and what they mustn't do

when they are in different places,

and that different people can like or dislike different things.

And the main rules that must be followed are called the law,

but all of what they do is their Way of Life.

Now for those who are lucky enough

to be born into a Muslim family

and a Muslim society,

that Way of Life is known as their Deen,

and the laws they have to live by

are called the Shari'ah.

And both the Deen and the Shari'ah

are based on the words of God that are found in the Qur'an,

and looking toward the example of

God's Messenger, the Trustworthy.

So if we are to find the best possible way to live,

it is really important that we learn what is said in the Qur'an,

and understand

what God tells us is best for us.

And to help us understand those words,

we try to learn as much as we can

about the Way of Life of the man who was given those words to speak,

who was known as 'the Qur'an walking',

Muhammad the Messenger.

What about enjoying life?

Do we need to study all the time?

Do we have to dress a certain way?

How does Shari'ah deal with everyday things?

Is there more than one Shari'ah?