Ways
&
Laws

You know,

when we come into the world we are immediately dependent on other people

if we are to survive,

and from that moment on our lives are linked

to those with whom we share the times and places of our lives.

All the threads of our lives are woven together

into one fabric of existence,

a life that involves all of us.

So no matter how much we like to think of ourselves as separate

and different from everyone else,

we know that our way of life is dictated by the way that we relate to those other people.

The Deen is not just about what we do ourselves,

but the way that we live with the people around us,

the way that we live as a community,

our human family.

And it all starts with our parents and family members,

a way of loving and caring

that we carry into our understanding of how we relate to our greater family,

our muslim siblings

our brothers and sisters.

Then there are our neighbours

of all their different kinds and cultures,

including non-muslims,

with whom we will work and play

and learn about the world.

And in the Deen we learn how to make all that we do into 'Ibadat,

serving our Creator,

not just by praying and fasting

but throughout the whole of our lives,

including our work and play.

So Islam can be seen through the whole of a muslim society,

not just in the way that they dress

but in their economics,

their politics, and their whole social system.

And so, to make clear the essential rules of behaviour for that society

we define laws,

which in Islam are known as Shari'ah

and are based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

And we know that over the centuries

since the time of the Messenger

those laws have been developed

to include almost all areas of human life.

And muslim law defined actions that were considered essential, Fard,

those that were permitted, Halal,

and those that were forbidden, Haram,

and of course all the various subtle gradations of desirability or disapproval inbetween.

And all these have been argued about by various scholars and schools of law

over the centuries since the time of the Messenger.

And some scholars would argue for the use of reason, Qiyas,

and individual judgement, Ijtihad,

and some would argue for the importance of consensus, Ijma,

and the suppression of individual thought in Taqlid.

And some would say that Shari'ah law can be applied to all areas of human life,

but is now so vast and complex it can only be approached by specialists.

And then again, there are those who would say

that when all legal decisions are locked in precedent,

not open to discussion and re-evaluation by those to whom the law applies,

the law is ossified and unfit for purpose.

And of course

this also comes down to a discussion as to whether the Shari'ah is God's law,

or humanity's necessarily flawed attempts to define

the details of God's will for humankind.

But whatever your opinion,

there are still a few more things for us to think about before we're done.

What's the point of marriage?

How can Islam be the Middle Way?

Can we agree to disagree on matters of law?