SOCIAL SYSTEM OF ISLAM

Topic: One

Family System In Islam (Elements of family in Islam)

a-Family Life in Islam
“ O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and
tribes that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (one who is)
the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” (Qur'an
49:13)

Husband and Wife: “ And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that
you may live in tranquility with them, and He put love and mercy between you; Verily, in that are signs
for people who reflect.” (Quran 30:21)

b-Rights & Duties of spouses

-Rights of the Wife: To accept or reject any marriage proposal. To receive “MAHR”, a gift from the
husband. To be treated with kindness and respect. To be provided with food, shelter, and clothing. To
possess personal property, to acquire education and to seek employment. To be consulted before any
major family decisions.

--Rights of the Husband: To be treated with kindness and respect.To have his property, secrets and
privacy secured by his wife. To have the final say in major family decisions, after consultation. To marry
up to four wives, If he can dealt justly.

c-Divorce & Widowhood

Regarding divorce and widowhood in general, there is no stigma attached to divorce or widowhood in
the Quran - Widows and divorcees have the freedom to marry whomever they choose. Islam recognizes
and allows divorce, but discourages it. The Quran offers Muslim married couples advice on how to save
their marriage. If one of the partners is jeopardizing the matrimonial relationship, the other partner is
advised by the Quran to do whatever possible and effective in order to save this sacred bond. But if a
marriage has to end, then Islam allows the partners to separate peacefully and amicably.
“When you divorce women and they fulfil their terms [three menstruation periods] either take them
back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; But do not take them back to injure them
or to take undue advantage, If anyone does that, he wrongs his own soul. Do not treat Allah's signs as a
jest.” (Quran 2:231)

d-Polygamy
The Quran, allowed polygamy, but also restricted it (see underline portion for clear understanding): “If
you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or
three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them , then only one.” Quran
4:3 ).

e-Parents & Extended Family Status of Parents and Children

-“And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents: In difficulty upon difficulty did his mother
bear him and in two years was his weaning. Show gratitude to Me and to your PARENTS” (Quran 31:14).
-“You shall worship GOD alone - do not associate anything with Him. You shall regard the PARENTS , the
relatives, the orphans, the poor, the related neighbor, the unrelated neighbor, the close associate, the
traveling alien, and your servants. GOD does not like the arrogant show-offs.” (Quran 4:36)

f-Children

“ Wealth and CHILDREN are the adornment of the life of this world” (Quran ‘Al-Kahf’:46)
And Allah has made for you spouses of your own kind and has made for you, from your wives, sons and
grandsons , and has bestowed upon you good provisions.” (Quran ‘Al-Nahl’:72)
When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens and he is filled
with inward grief! With shame he hides himself from his people because of the bad news he has had!
Shall he retain her on (sufferance and) contempt or bury her in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they
decide on!” (Quran 16:58-59)

Topic Two

Ethical Values of Islam

Ethical Values of Islam is divided into different cycles of Life

(i)-One’s relationship with God;

a-Remembrance of God
b-Worship
c-Trust in God
d-Repentance

(ii)-One’s relationship with oneself;

a-Self-control
bTruthfulness3
c-Humility
d-Being moderate and balanced
e-Patience
f-Suppression of anger
g-Avoidance of suspicion
h-Protection of tongue
i-Pursuit of knowledge
j-Reasoning and reflection
k-Focus on One’s own Moral Problems
l-Freedom from Envy

(iii)-One’s relationship with society

a-Fulfilling one’s Promise
b-Delivery of Trust
c-Pardon
d-Serving people
e-Safeguarding family
f-Respect for Parents
g-Hospitality
h-Respect for the Elders
i-Visiting the Sick
k-Treatment of the Sick
l-Respect for Teachers and Scholars
m-Charity

(iv)-One’s relationship with the environment (animals, plants, air, water and other living and non- living
beings)

-Quotation
-“Remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and the morning.” (3:41)
-“And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with exclusive devotion.” (73:8)
-“Those who believe and whose hearts find serenity by the remembrance of God; now surely by God’s
remembrance hearts find serenity and tranquility.” (13:28)
- Surely We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, therefore worship God being sincere to Him in
obedience.” (39:2)
“Say: surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for God, the Lord of the
worlds.” (6:162)
- And on God should you rely and trust if you are believers.” (5:23)
-“O you who believe! Repent towards God a sincere repentance.” (66:8)
-“And ask forgiveness of your Lord, then repent towards Him surely my Lord is Merciful, loving- kind.”
(11:90)
- In this regard, the Qur’an says,
“And as for him who fears to stand in the presence of his Lord and forbids his own soul from its whims
and caprices then surely the Paradise is the abode.” (79:41 & 42)
“O David! …do not follow the whims of your own soul for they will lead you astray from God’s path.”
(38:26)
“O you who believe…. Do not follow your low desires (the whim of your soul).” (4:135)
-O you who believe! fear the wrath of God, and say only that which is true.” (33:70)
-“O you who believe! Fear the wrath of God and be with those who are truthful.” (9:119)
Imam Ali has said,“Certainly God, the Glorified, has made His remembrance the luminosity and shine of
the hearts.”1
“Neither speak your prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.”
(17:110)
- “O you who believe! Seek assistance through patience and prayer, surely God is with the patient.”
(2:152)
-“O you who believe! Be patient and excel in patience and remain steadfast, and be careful of (your duty
to) God, that you may be successful.” (3:200)
-“It (Paradise) has been prepared for those who suppress their anger.” (3:137)
-“O, you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin.” (49:12)
-Imam Ali said, “Do not regard an expression uttered by any person as evil if you can find it capable of
bearing some good.”4
-The Prophet has said,“The salvation of the believer is in the protection of his tongue.”5
-“The belief of a person cannot be firm unless his heart is firm, and his heart cannot be firm unless his
tongue is firm.”6
-Luqman said to his son, “O my son! If you think that the speech is silver, surely the silence is gold.”
“One who has knowledge can never be equal to the one who is ignorant.” (39:9)
-The Prophet has said, “It is the duty of every Muslim male and every Muslim female to seek
knowledge.”8
“Seek knowledge even if you have to travel as far as China.”9
“If one leaves one's house with the intention of gaining knowledge, for every step that he takes, God
shall bestow upon him the reward reserved for a Prophet.”10
The Qur’an asks mankind to use reason (47 times), to think (18 times) and to reflect (4 times). For
example, it says:Every Muslim needs to be an active member of society, be aware of what is going
wrong in society, and try to promote moral values. However, a person should not forget his own
problems and deficiencies. Imam Ali has said: “He who sees his own shortcomings (defects) keeps away
from looking into other’s shortcomings.”13
“Or do they envy the people for what God has given them of His grace?” (4:54)
The Prophet has said:“Surely envy destroys the faith as fire destroys the firewood.”14
-“And fulfil the promise surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.” (17:34)
-“And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant.” (70:32)

“Surely God commands you to make over trusts to their owners.” (4:58)
“If one of you trusts another then he who is trusted should deliver his trust.” (2:283)
“And those who restrain (their) anger and pardon people.” (3:135)
“They should pardon and turn away. Do you not love that God should forgive you? And God is Forgiving
Merciful.” (24:22)
-The Holy Prophet has said: “To believe in God and to benefit His servants are the two highest
characters.”18
“God loves most the servants who benefit other servants most.” 19
“There are some servants (of God) to whom people resort in needs. They will be safe from the
punishment on the Day of Resurrection.”
And He has enjoined on me to be dutiful to my mother.” (19:31)
The Prophet has said, “It is an act of worship to look at either parent with affection and kindness.” 21
“God is pleased when one has pleased his parents, and God gets angry when one has angered either
parent.”22
“Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.”
“If anyone has saved a life, it would be as if he has saved the life of the whole of mankind.” (5:32)
“And when I am sick, He restores me to health.” (26: 80)
“And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Behold, in that are
Signs indeed for those who reflect.” (45:13)
“It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth…” (2:29)
“Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the blessings.” (102:8)
- “Whoever curses an animal he himself will be cursed by God.”

Topic: Three

Social System of Islam (Basic Principles)

An Islamic society is the society whose members have faith in Islam, apply its laws in their life, abide by
its moral standards of love, brotherhood, equality, mercy, and trust, performing religious duties and
abstaining from doing what is unlawful.

In a true Islamic society, drinking alcohol, practising usury, dressing immodestly, deceiving each other,
giving or taking bribes, injustice, violating others rights, are all avoided and prohibited.

Even when the society is so-called Muslim but in it people discard Islam and commit unlawful acts
publicly without the slightest feeling of shame, and no power or authority exists to deter them, this
society cannot be considered an Islamic one. What matters is the lifestyle and system they adopt, not
the name they call it.

Principles of the Social System:

1. Love and loyalty among the faithful

Allah, the Most Glorified, says:

“Surely the faithful are but brothers...” Holy Qur'an (49:10)

“And the faithful men and women, are friends of each other...” Holy Qur'an (9:71)

2. Respecting the rights of the individual and the group, both having mutual rights and duties towards
each other.

3. Islamic society is built on right, justice, and mutual kindness.

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Surely Allah bids to justice, benevolence and giving to relatives, and He forbids indecency, evil and
transgression. He exhorts you so that you may remember.” Holy Qur'an (16:90)

4. The bond of unity and co-operation

Allah, the Compassionate, says:

“...and cooperate (with each other) for righteousness and cooperate not in sin and enmity...”Holy
Qur'an (5:2)
In every aspect of life, the members of an Islamic society cooperate wholeheartedly with each other. For
example, in building mosques and schools, helping the needy, fighting oppression, establishing
economic, social and cultural associations, are all forms of co-operation within the society.

5. Maintaining good morals

It is another significant principle of the social system in Islam. Honesty, sacrifice, mercy, sympathy, love,
faithfulness, keeping ties with near kin, respecting neighbours, and being kind and gentle to others, are
factors which consolidate a society and gladden its members. They become serene and free from
worries and pressures. There is no sadness