GED-198: Islamic Culture Flashcards
Betrothal ‘khutuba’
Formal engagement to be married
8 Conditions & Pillars of Marriage Contracts
- Specifying Groom & Bride
- Mutual Consent
- Guardianship (Wali)
- Witnesses
- Both should be free from obstacles that prevents marriage: Suhur, Milk Relationship & Faith
4 Pillars of Marriage Contract
- The Wording
- The Guardian
- Witnesses
- Eligibility of Bride & Groom
Family Types
- Traditional Muslim Family – Extended family that includes close relatives (especially uncles acting as real fathers: guidance & discipline)
- Modern Muslim Family – Nuclear family is common because of economic & social changes caused by urbanism and modernity.
Family Structure
Patriarch – Father is Chief of Family (Financial Support)
Mother: Internal Affairs - Budget Planning & Surveillance
What does Islam encourage regarding children expressing their views?
Islam encourages children to express their views with respect. However, in traditional Muslim families, children are often expected to show respect to elders, but this can sometimes lead to restrictions on expressing opinions
How did the Holy Qur’an address the pre-Islamic practice of burying daughters alive?
In pre-Islamic Arab societies, boys were preferred over girls, and some even buried daughters alive to escape shame. The Holy Qur’an denounced this heinous crime.
4 Validity Requirements for Marriage
- Consent
- Bridal Gift (Dowry)
- Witnesses
- Publicity
Marriage: CONSENT
The groom and bride must consent to the marriage verbally and in writing through a formal proposal (ijab) and acceptance (qabul).
A first-time bride is represented in contract negotiations by her Wali, a male guardian, but she must also personally express her willingness to marry.
Marriage: Bridal Gift “Mahr”
Bride has right to receive a gift from the groom which becomes her own property to secure the marriage.
Marriage: Witnesses & Publicity
Two adult witnesses are required to verify the marriage contract.
Publicity is fulfilled through a marriage ceremony.
Divorce طلاق
Dissolution of Marriage Contract
Types of Divorce
Unilateral, Delegated, Judicial
Unilateral Divorce
A husband can initiate divorce by declaring, “I divorce you,” followed by a waiting period. Couples may divorce and remarry twice, as the first two divorces are revocable, but the third is final. Successive divorces cannot occur within the same waiting period.
Delegated Divorce
The husband can delegate the right of divorce to his wife in the marriage contract, allowing her to initiate divorce without forfeiting her dowry.
Judicial Divorce
Wife can file for divorce in court if she was subjected to harm. Judge acts on behalf of the wife to effect the divorce.
Khulu’ خلع
Right of woman to seek a divorce from her husband in Islam for compensation (Usually monetary)
Who typically gets custody of children in Islamic law, and until what ages?
Custody is awarded to the mother—until boys are 7-9 years old and girls are 12—if she has ethical character, can ensure the child’s well-being, and resides near the father.
What can make a mother ineligible for custody in Islamic law?
- Remarriage
- Lack of ethical character
- Inability to ensure the child’s health and moral upbringing
- Living far from the father
Who is next in line for custody if the mother is unavailable or ineligible?
It transfers to the MATERNAL grandmother, then to the PATERNAL grandmother, according to most legal scholars.
Iqtisaad اقتصاد
Iqtisaad means balanced spending (in moderation).
It also means ECONOMY.
Characteristics of Islamic Economy
- Ethics
- Balance between Individual Interest & Public Interest
- Wealth belongs to Allah & Man is only His Ambassador
- Distribution of Wealth and Prohibition of amassing it
- Lawful means of wealth acquisition
Islamic Economy
A system based on Islamic principles nad laws, emphasizing fairness, ethical practices & prohibition of riba (interest)
Concept of Islamic Banking
A financial institution that follows the Islamic law (Sharia). It avoids charging interests and promotes fair & ethical investments/activities approved by Sharia. Bank acts as intermediaries between depositors & investors. They offer financial services rooted in Islamic law.
History of Islamic Banking
Islamic Caliphate - Economy was based on Islamic Shari’a until 1924:
1. 1924 - Colonization Era: Riba was introduced
2. 1963 - Dr. Ahmad Al-Najjar (Chief of Islamic Banking & Egyptian Economist), taught Modern Islamic Banking
3. 1971 - Nasr Bank (Saudi Arabia)
4. 1975 - Islamic Development Bank (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
5. 1975 - Dubai Islamic Bank (UAE)
Characteristics of Islamic Banking
1- Total compliance with Islamic Law rulings
2- Interest free transactions
3- Profit and loss are shared by bank & client
4- real economic growth/solidarity
Usury Riba
Practice of making immoral loans which intends to enrich the lender. A loan maybe considered usurious because of excessive interest rates.
How is the Islamic economy a middle ground between Capitalism and Socialism?
Capitalism is based on individual freedom is owning wealth. Private ownership is the foundation of capitalist economy. Public ownership, where the government controls certain services or industries, only happens when it’s necessary for society or when experience shows that nationalizing a service benefits the public.
Socialism is based on common ownership. Industries like factories, mines, & companies are owned by the government, not individuals. The government manages these resources on behalf of the people.
Modes of Islamic Financing
- Al-Mudarabah (profit sharing)
- Murabaha
Policy (Siyasa)
Involves managing in order to reform & improve. It also refers to commands issued from a higher authority.
5 Foundations of Islamic Political System
- Sovereignty
- Khilafah of Mankind (Vicegerency of Man)
- Legislation by Shura (Consultation)
- Accountability of Government
- Equality Before Law
Islamic Political System: SOVEREIGNTY
Sovereignty = source of power. In Islam, Allah is the source of all powers and laws. He knows what is good or bad for His servants, and His say is final. The Islamic constitution is divinely ordained, remaining unchanged and unalterable.
General Authorities
- Legislative Authority
- Executive Authority
- Judicial Authority
Islamic Political System: KHILAFAH OF MANKIND
Khilafah = Humans should implement Allah’s will on Earth as His deputy or agent on behalf as trust (AMANAH).
Islamic Political System: LEGISLATION BY SHURA (Consultation)
Islam encourages governance and decision-making through Shura, meaning to take decisions by consultation and participation. This process, removes despotism/tyranny and involves experts in decision-making to benefit the Ummah (nation).
Islamic Political System: ACCOUNTABILITY OF GOVERNMENT
Makes ruler & government responsible firstly to Allah and then to the people. The ruler & the government are elected by people to exercise powers on their behalf.
Islamic Political System: EQUALITY BEFORE LAW
The Islamic political system guarantees equality for all citizens under the law. It does not allow discrimination based on language, color, location, gender, or ancestry. In Islam, the only basis for preference is piety.
Human Rights
It refers to any established privilege deserved by a human being regardless of religion, color, or nationality.
10 Basic Human Rights
- Right to Life
- Right of Weak to Security
- Right of Poor to Property: Poor people have share in public wealth
- Justice & Equity
- Right to Equality: Criterion is based on virtues & piety
- Right to Political Activity
- Protection of Man’s Dignity
- Protection of Private Life
- Protection of Right to Expression
- Protection of Freedom of Religion & Belief
Orientalism
An expression invented by European & Westerners to identify studies related to orientals.
Orientals vs Orientalists
Orientals → The arabs’ history, religion, languages and etc.
Orientalist → People of the west that studies the orientals.
Edward Saeed
- Book: Orientalism
- He introduced and owned the word, Orientalism
- Palestinian-American
- NOT an Orientalist, but a scholar.
Bernard Lewis
- Book: Islam + the West
- an American orientalist.
- Chair of Islamic studies.
Zigrid Hunke
- Book: Arab’s Sun Over the West
- a female German orientalist.
Types of Orientalists
- Priests & Church Officials – attacking Islam
- Government Officials – responsible of colonization to the Orient.
- Orientalists with Genuine Academic Agenda (Edward Saeed, Bernard Lewis & Zigrid Hunke)
Globalization
A phenomenon wherein economic, political, cultural, social, and behavioral issues converge.
Areas of Globalization
- Economic Globalization
- Political Globalization
- Cultural Globalization
Problems of Globalization
Rich are getting richer while many live in poverty, with 358 billionaires earning more than the poorest half of the world. The global economy is so connected that if one big bank fails, other banks around the world are affected. Globalization also creates an identity crisis.
Secularism
It means to separate religion from state.
Types of Secularism
- Moderate - does not deny God’s existence
- Absolute - denies God’s existence.
7 Maxims of Islamic Law
- If you are faced with two certain evils you can commit the lesser of the two evils.
- If you are faced with a situation of harm and good, start first with pushing the harm away as the priority is given to pushing harm over getting good.
- Certainty is not expelled by doubt.
- Everyone is innocent until proven otherwise.
- Necessity permits commission of the illegal
- Whenever faced with two religious duties where one is difficult and the other is easy, you should choose the easy one.
- No one is held accountable for doing bad because of forgetfulness, mistake, coercion.
Muslim’s Contribution to Medicine
It developed gradually from the Umayyad period and reached its peak during the Abbasid era.
- Arabs performed surgeries on various parts of the body, including plastic & eye surgeries, with Al-Zahrawi excelling in removing blue water from eye caused by Glaucoma.
- Muslim physicians were the first to use anesthesia through inhalation.
- Avicenna identified several diseases, including Ascaris, Enterobius, and guinea worm, which had been known in the Arab world for over 1,000 years.
Muslim’s Contribution to Chemistry
- Al-Kindi wrote a treatise on swords in which he discussed how iron is made.
- Arabs scientists realized that magnetic power decreases with time.* Jabir Ibn Hayyan* observed a stone carrying a mass of iron which he weighted at 100 Dirhams but after a period of time it carried only 80 Dirhams.
Muslim’s Contribution to Astronomy
- Muslims discovered that the Earth was spherical & that it orbits along with other planets.
- They came up with maps locating the planets and their orbits.
- They knew that stars have different sizes and dimensions.
- Muslims were the first to use telescope.
Sabr
In Islam, the virtue of patience teaches to remain steadfast and be consistent with action in the goal of faith (IMAN).
It prevents from despair, panic, and complaints, and other negativities during the lowest point of life. If a Muslim is patient, then it makes one thankful to God (Shukr).
Tawbah
Tawba = Retreat/Return (Qur’anic Word)
It refers to the act of leaving what Allah has forbidden and returning to what He has commanded.
**The Qur’an and Hadith emphasize repentance, as seen in the verse: “And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed” (Qur’an, 24:31).
Bir al-Walidayn
Respect & kindness towards parents is one of the most productive deeds you can ever do in Islam.
Thus, it is a biggest gateway to Paradise.
Al Mudarabah
Mode of Islamic Financing
Contract agreement between two or more parties where one partner provides the capital, and the other contributes labor/expertise to invest in a project, with profits shared according to a pre-agreed ratio.
Murabaha
Mode of Islamic Financing
A Sharia-compliant sale arrangement in which the seller clearly discloses the product costand sells it to the buyer at a marked-up price, with the profit margin transparently agreed upon.
C. Islamic Economy: Ethics
Islamic Economy is built from strong ethical values:
- Trustworthiness - People should be fair & honest in business activities to build trust with other businesses.
- Leniency - Practice forgiving with people struggling to pay (i.e. debt); they must treat them with kindness.
- Mutual Consent - Everyone must willingly agree.
- Prohibition of Exploitation & Monopoly - Unfair advantage is not allowed.
- Prohibition of Deceit - Cheating & lying are strictly forbidden.
C. Islamic Economy: Wealth belongs to Allah & Man is His only Ambassador
Wealth is considered a blessing from Allah, and people are the ambassadors of wealth, making sure to use it to benefit others.
C. Islamic Economy: Distribution of Wealth & Prohibition of Amassing It
Fair distribution of wealth in a community is encouraged; amassing wealth without fairly distributing it is discouraged.
C. Islamic Economy: Lawful means of Wealth Acquisition
Wealth should gained in a lawful & ethical way.
Gambling, fraud, excessive profit & monopoly are not allowed.
Principles of Islamic Economy
- Fair distribution of Wealth
- Social justice – Zakat
- Legal & Ethical acquisition of Wealth
P. Islamic Economy: Social Justice
Social Justice is key to a good economy; part of your wealth should be given through
Zakat - 2.5% of annual saving
10% of the produce of non-irrigated land
5% of the produce of an irrigated land
