Terms and Concepts of Islam

ISLAMIC CONCEPTS
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Introduction
Concepts of Islam and those surrounding Islamic law are quite complex and have developed over a very longtime. Concepts such as Hadith, Shari’a, Caliphate, Jihad and Fatwa among others are basic to the Islamic faith. Ideologies such Islamic states are quite controversial and point to the various factions that exist within the Muslim world and the interpretation of the Islamic law. In light of the different factions that exist within the Muslim world, it crucial to understand some of the most basic concepts in the Islamic faith, in an in-depth manner to try and shed light on the background of the same. Other than the factions within theMuslim world, Islam has become one of the most misunderstood of faiths relative to concepts of terrorism and jihad.
Thesis statement: Islam has been branded as a religion that is intolerant, fanatical and one that sparks intimidating aggression in a society that observes other faiths as well; understanding some of the major concepts thus help better understand the Islamic faith in its true nature.
Basic Concepts
Shari’a
This is an aspect that refers to the legal frame work that guides Islamic faith in both private and public spaces. The standards set out in the Shari’a; dictate the way a Muslimshould behave when they are in their private spaces and in the public spaces, relative to morals and worship.As such, there is a wide array of aspects that are covered by Islamic law “Shari’a”, that span from social issues, economics, sexuality, banking, politics, contracts, hygiene and business among others, as Muslims strive to meet the will of God/ Allah.For Muslims across the world, Shari’a is the true guide to what is right and what is considered wring in the eyes of God. As such, every aspect of the Muslim world has to be guided by the Shari’a without negation. Unlike the secular laws, one cannon use loopholes in the Shari’s to make their own justifications relative to what they interpret. Other than just right and wrong, there are five major categories that every Muslim should judge their actions in private or public circles; one is that there are those things that are completely forbidden for any Muslim, such as eating pork and by products and adultery among others. Secondly, there are those aspects that are compulsory, meaning that every Muslim should always observe them including; truth and observing the five pillars (the testimony of faith, prayer, giving Zakat, fasting during the month of Ramadan and pilgrimage to Makkah).
One other concept second to the teachings and guidance of the Quran, Muslims are also guided by hadiths.They encompass a huge collection of traditions that have been passed down for generations in the Islamic faith. Ideally, the hadiths are works, deeds and saying of Prophet Muhammad when he was a live. As such they act as a vital source of inspiration and guidance for every Muslim. Given that these traditions have been passed down through oral transmissions, the authenticity of some has been questionable prompting some of the scholar to establish their eligibility. As such, a collection of the most trustworthy hadiths has been published by the Bukhari. This is critical to the faith, relative to the credibility of the traditions and the guidance. As such, other than playing a vital role in the historical in development of Islam, it has also been vital to the Muslim community as a guide to living fulfilling life doing God’s will. The traditions do not compete with the teachings of the Quran; rather they complement each other to give the faith a firm foundation.
With respect interpretation, Muslims have Qadis. In the secular laws, the judges and the lawyers are at liberty to interpret the law and give their ruling. In the Islamic law, only the Qadis have the mandate to interpret the Islamic law and give their ruling. In most cases, they preside over cases that involve marriage and familyconflicts, inheritance and other religious cases. However, overtime they have been given the mandate to oversee all legal matters pertaining to Islamic ways of life, as guided by the Shari’a, hadiths and the general consensus of the community.As such their mandate transcends between civil and criminal cases. To be a Qadi one has to be a male with clear and in-depth knowledge of the Shari’a and informed by good judgment skills and within the majority age.
Religious figures such as the Qadi rely on their Fiqh, in order to execute their mandate. It basically means that they have to have a deep understanding of the Shari’a and the Quran among other religious concepts that are at the core Islam as a religious faith. The idea behind fulfilling God’s will rests on the ability to have precise and good understanding of Islamic law and all matters Islam. It is this deep understanding that is referred to as Fiqh (pg 36).
The Islamic jurisprudence rests on the ability to agree at a universal level. The ability to come to a consensus is one of the pillars that have seen the Islamic world retain its relevance and continuity. Ijma refers to the consensus formed between different parties such factions in Islam over certain aspects and concepts that form the foundation of Islam. Aspects such as the hadiths which have been passed along for generations have relied heavily consensus made over the years from the time of Muhammad to date.It must be understood that Ijma relates to matters that are of interest to Muslims and those that relate to Shari’a.The general consensus or Ijma may relate to issues that explicit, absolute, silent or one where the positions of the different factions (Shia and Sunni) are unknown or not established fully. Even with the different factions there is Ijma on Shari’a.
There are well educated religious leaders that have excellent Fiqh of the Islamic law and as such have the authority and mandate to give their educated opinions on the interpretation of the Shari’a among other legal and social aspects of the Islamic faith and way of living; these are called muftis. As such they have mastery in issues to do with maxims, Arabic, social realities, hadiths, Shari’aand jurisprudence of Islamic law.
As mentioned earlier, there are factions in the Islamic faith and Sunni are one of the major. The word meaning relates to; the one that follows the ways of the prophet. This is a faction of the Muslim community that is divided on issues of religious faith but rather politically, which date back to the time of ProphetMuhammad’s death (pg 155). The Sunni believe that after the death of the prophet, the rightful leader to take over was Abu Bakr who was a close friend and also acted as an advisor to the prophet. This is politically contested by the Shia Muslims who believe that the prophet successor should have come from the family and thus Ali bin Abu Talib a cousin was the rightful leader.
Some of the legal issues that take place in the society are not explicitly mentioned in the Quran and other legal guidelines for the Muslims, as such one has to have the ability to make legal decision based on their interpretation; it is this aspect of making the interpretation that is referred to as the Ijtihad.However muftis can give educated opinions and interpretation on issues of Islam, referred to as fatwas. As such fatwas by muftis or experts in the Islamic laws may be given on issues such as technology or issues such as jihad, where Islamic jurisprudence is not clear.
Like the Sunnis, Shia is one of the major factions of Islam that believes that the leader who would have succeeded Prophet Muhammad should have been a member of the family. As such they believe that, Ali bin Abu Talib a cousin, should have taken the mantle and not Abu Bakr a close friend, as the Sunni believe.
Within the Muslim community Caliphates are quite common and they refer to a government entity that is basic in the Islamic faith and is led by a caliph. The caliphs are considered to be succeeding the prophet Muhammad and they are brought to power through the shura consultation among the people. There are divided views on this matter of caliphs coming to power among the Sunni and Shia Muslims. The latter believe that the caliphs should be selected by such as imams, while the Sunni Muslims believe that they should elected by the majority of the community. This again points to the political differences among the Sunni and the Shia Muslims. Communities such as the Umayyads are some of the first existence of a caliphate in the history of Islam.
It is interesting to note that, according to the Islamic hadiths, Imam Mahdi will return to earth and bring justice and peace to the people. This can be drawn in parallel with the second coming of Jesus in the Christian faith. There are even signs much like the ones that can befound in the bible that will show his coming. Some of the signs of the coming of the imam include violent deaths, intense disputes among the people and great confutations. According to the bible in Luke 21:34-36; “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man”.
One other important concept to note is Usul-i-fiqh,whichrefers to the body of knowledge that indicates the various ways, methods as well principles that can be used to understand the Quran and the Sunnah. Usul-i-fiqh, also plays a major role in understanding someof the complex aspects that may be unclear by the use of proofs. It also helps in understanding how one can derive meaning and ruling from the Quran as well as the Sunnah (pg 198).
The Quran and the hadiths are both complementary of each other; as such when teaching different aspect and referring to them both, one has to use deductive analogy. It is this aspect of deriving meaning and comparative teachings from the two that is referred to as the Qiyas (pg 24). These elements of analogical reasoning came after the death of the prophet, as the religious leaders encountered situations that were not clearly stipulated in the Quran as well as the Sunnah.
In the recent past jihad has become on of the most contorted words in the Islamic religion, where most factions of terror use it to mean the holy war of instilling Islamic law in the world. On the contrary it refers to striving to inform the people about Islamic faith and ways (pg 322). While use of force is allowed, there are clear guidelines which in most cases are negated and exaggerated to create terror. As such, it is not a declaration against all other religions or a call to war in the name of god. Most of these aspects are well spelled out in the Quran; the most sacred text as revealed to the prophet and guided by God, as the corner stone of Islamic faith (pg 31). It is a piece that is regarded as a proof to the prophet-hood of Muhammad and one of the major miracles that he performed. Organized into suras and ayahs that represent chapters and verses respectively, the book holds a lot of knowledge and is highly protected from any form of distortion. As such, the Quran acts as the moral bedrock in reference to religious guidance for the Muslims across the globe.
Like other religious believes, the Islamic faith also has objectives and purpose for all it believers, it is these that are referred to as the Maqasid, within the Islamic faith. Islam seeks to preserve faith, life property, intellect and continuity among the people and thus its purpose according to Shari'a.These are different from what jihadists claim as they purse goals of political Islam; a term that was coined in an effo...