The The Qur’anQur’an

Qur’anQur’an

HadithHadith

Islamic Islamic JurisprudenceJurisprudence

© Karen Devine 2008

Qur’anQur’an The Qur’an is central The Qur’an is central to Islam. to Islam.

It is the revelation It is the revelation of God to Muhammad of God to Muhammad through the Angel through the Angel Gabriel.Gabriel.

The Qur’an should be The Qur’an should be the first and the the first and the last word a person last word a person hears.hears.

It is considered It is considered unalterable and unalterable and literal.literal.

It has 114 chapters It has 114 chapters or or surassuras, divided , divided into 6000 verses.into 6000 verses.

Qur’anQur’an The Qur’an is treated The Qur’an is treated with the greatest with the greatest respect:respect:

a)a)Hands are washed Hands are washed before reading itbefore reading it

b)b)It is wrapped in a It is wrapped in a special clothspecial cloth

c)c)No other books are No other books are shelved higher than shelved higher than it.it.

d)d)It is chanted in It is chanted in personal prayer.personal prayer.

Qur’anQur’an

Most Muslims know a Most Muslims know a chapter, some memorise chapter, some memorise the whole book. the whole book.

The Qur’an is also the The Qur’an is also the source of:source of:

a)a) Islamic doctrines and Islamic doctrines and ethicsethics

b)b) Islamic lawIslamic lawc)c) The intellectual aspects The intellectual aspects of Islam.of Islam.

Muhammad did not write Muhammad did not write the Qur’an but received the Qur’an but received it and scribes wrote it. it and scribes wrote it.

Professional memorisers Professional memorisers were used for the were used for the scribing of the Qur’an. scribing of the Qur’an.

Qur’anQur’an The collection of The collection of sura were pieced sura were pieced together by the first together by the first and third caliphs. and third caliphs.

The final Qur’an is The final Qur’an is arranged in order of arranged in order of decreasing length.decreasing length.

There are no There are no variations of the variations of the Qur’an text. Qur’an text.

It is written in It is written in Arabic and Arabic and recitations should recitations should only occur in Arabic.only occur in Arabic.

Qur’anQur’an

The Qur’an contains:The Qur’an contains:

a)a) Rules for livingRules for living

b)b) Stories of the ProphetsStories of the Prophets

c)c) Passages on the meaning Passages on the meaning of lifeof life

d)d) Details on fastingDetails on fasting

e)e) The ritual of the HajjThe ritual of the Hajj

f)f) Criminal lawCriminal law

g)g) Social and economic Social and economic policy.policy.

HadithsHadiths A A hadithhadith is a narration is a narration on the life of the on the life of the prophet. prophet.

This is distinguished This is distinguished from the from the sunnasunna which is which is the details of the the details of the actual life of actual life of Muhammad.Muhammad.

Hadith include the Hadith include the sayings of the prophet.sayings of the prophet.

The Hadith are The Hadith are secondary to the Qur’an secondary to the Qur’an in terms of their in terms of their religious importance.religious importance.

HadithsHadiths There are 2 kinds of There are 2 kinds of Hadith:Hadith:

a)a) Sacred Hadith: Words of Sacred Hadith: Words of God uttered by Muhammad God uttered by Muhammad yet not part of the yet not part of the Qur’an.Qur’an.

b)b) Noble Hadith: Details of Noble Hadith: Details of the actions and words of the actions and words of the prophet.the prophet.

There are 6 key There are 6 key collections of Hadith collections of Hadith known as the “accurate known as the “accurate six”. six”.

The sayings of the Hadith The sayings of the Hadith make an authoritative make an authoritative guide to the guide to the sunnasunna of of Muhammad and the life Muhammad and the life that Muslims should seek that Muslims should seek to imitate.to imitate.

Islamic JurisprudenceIslamic Jurisprudence Surrendering to the Surrendering to the will of Allah is the will of Allah is the key Islamic value. key Islamic value.

There are 4 ethical There are 4 ethical sources for Islamic sources for Islamic values:values:

a)a) The Qur’an- a The Qur’an- a recitationrecitation

b)b) Sunna- the life of Sunna- the life of MuhammadMuhammad

c)c) Ijma- the consensus Ijma- the consensus views of Muslim views of Muslim scholarsscholars

d)d) Qiya- analogies drawn Qiya- analogies drawn from the Qur’anfrom the Qur’an

Islamic JurisprudenceIslamic Jurisprudence

Together these 4 Together these 4 values form the values form the guiding guiding principles of principles of Islam. Islam.

A Muslim must A Muslim must “try one’s “try one’s hardest” (Jihad) hardest” (Jihad) to establish to establish good.good.

Jihad is the use Jihad is the use of personal of personal energy to sustain energy to sustain a Muslim way of a Muslim way of life. life.

Islamic JurisprudenceIslamic Jurisprudence

Shari’a law or “path Shari’a law or “path to the waterhole” to the waterhole” regulates Muslim regulates Muslim life on issues life on issues including:including:

a)a)MoralityMorality

b)b)HygieneHygiene

c)c)EtiquetteEtiquette

d)d)InheritanceInheritance

e)e)CommerceCommerce

Islamic JurisprudenceIslamic Jurisprudence All Muslim actions are All Muslim actions are either halal (allowed) either halal (allowed) or haram (forbidden).or haram (forbidden).

There are 3 severe There are 3 severe offences that can be offences that can be committed by a Muslim:committed by a Muslim:

a)a) KufrKufr: disbelief or : disbelief or ingratitude to Allah.ingratitude to Allah.

b)b) ShirkShirk: Associating : Associating anything with Allah anything with Allah such as icons or ideas.such as icons or ideas.

c)c) TughyanTughyan: Not trusting : Not trusting in Allah and acting in in Allah and acting in a contrary way to a contrary way to nature.nature.

Question TimeQuestion Time

Research Research behaviours behaviours which are which are halal and halal and haram.haram.