Islam and Society

• Society according to Islam


  an association which is formed according to the divine law to achieve harmonious and peaceful coexistence

  (The divine revelation as contained in the Quran and the Sunnah of the prophet SAW constitutes the foundation of social order in Islamic society)
• In literal sense, society defined as

  1. companionship or association with one's fellow" friendly or intimate
  2. A voluntary association of individuals for common ends
  3. A community, nation or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, collective activities and interests
• Generally, society refers to

  a large group of people who live together in an organised way, making decisions about doing things and sharing the expected work.
• In Islam, the structure of society is

  1. individual
  2. family (basic unit)
  3. community
  4. society
• Structure of family

  1. the closest consist of parents, children, grandparents(live together)
  2. close relatives with whom marriage is forbidden and between whom there is no hijab (veil)(brothers, sisters, uncle, aunts)
  3. all relatives outside the second fold
• Principles in family

  • divinely inspired
  • social contract
  • faith and family
• Divinely inspired


  -In Islam, family is divinely inspired and ordained institution

  -It is an institution that comes into existence with the creation of man

  -It was not evolved through human experimentation involving a process of trial and error spread over time

  -religious legal measures to build a family on a sound and proper footing

  • It ensures that social life starts with establishing a family through marriage
  • forbids all sexual relationships outside marriage
  • the marriage relationships should be permeated with tranquility, love and mercy as a sign of His power and Omnipotence
• Social contract

  -every marriage is a contract

  -The word nikah used for a marriage in the Quran

  -In Sunnah, is defined as purposeful contract to obtain and possess enjoyment/coming together and assembling

  -Al-Quran refers marriage as Mithaqan ghaliza (strong covenant)
• Mithaqan Ghaliza (perjanjian dgn Allah SWT)


  -a covenant bond of marriage that is solemnly attested to with the name of Allah before gathering of people

  -marriage is social and sacred contract through aqd

  -Each contract is not a sacrament, it is revocable (divorce is permissible and marriage is allowed even encouraged)
• Faith and family


  -iman constitutes the bedrock for the institution of the family

  -Islam refrains a Muslim from marrying a non muslim and should be between partners who share a common outlook on life and morality and participate in this co-venture to fulfill their destiny as Allah vicegerent

  -A father or son is forbidden to inherit or make a bequest to a non-muslim son or father

  -if one of the spouses changes his or her faith, the marriage contract is broken
• Husband duties


  supervision of the family

  -provide the financial expenses

  -oversee the religious and moral values of the family members

  -safeguard and protect family members
• Wife duties


  obedience and protecting the honour of the husband

  -obey him in everything lawful

  -guard the honor of her husband and hers
• Parents


  providing sustenance and a good education

  -provide basic necessities (food, drink, clothes, shelter)

  -to cherish and sustain their children and educate with essential knowledge (religion, adab)
• Children


  obedience and good treatment to parents

  -obligatory to respect and treat parents well after the commandment to worship Allah SWT
• Relatives


  -be kind and friendly

  -maintains the bonds of kinship
• Muslim community as a balanced society with the phrase ummatun wasat


  -the community having the attributes of justice, excellence, balance, avoiding the extreme on either side and taking the middle course of affairs

  -served as Allah's trustees to be witnesses over mankind (shuhada ala al-Nas) in this world and hereafter
• Shuhada ala al-Nas


  -divine injunction upon a muslim to be the example and standard for human civilisation as a manifestation of being rahmatan lil alamin (mercy to the universe) and khayr ummah (the best nation).

  -must be exemplary

  -present a middle course of action, providing a reference point for others by avoiding excess, extravagance or static rigidity

  -know what is right and acceptable wrong and rejectable
• Three core elements of muslim community

  1. enjoin what is right
  2. forbid what is wrong
  3. believe in god
• Principles of a balanced society

  1. Al-Tawhid
  2. unity of brotherhood
• Al-Tawhid


  The belief in one God, embodied in the principle of divine unity
• Shahadah


  The Muslim testimony of faith containing the belief in one God
• Al-Tawhid


  • Acknowledging that there is no God but Allah SWT
  • Recognising that Allah SWT is the sole Creator, Lord and Judge of the world
• Purpose of human life

  The realisation of Allah SWT's Will pertaining to this world
• Muslim lives

  • Governed by the constant observation of Allah SWT, who knows everything
  • Ruled by the Divine Laws rather than its own rules or by its people
• Al-Tawhid


  • Prevents him from committing sin and indulging in lying, deceiving and selfishness which harms society
• Unity of brotherhood


  The belief in the oneness of Allah as the sole creator of the universe binds members of society together
• Unity of brotherhood


  • Advocates equality of all members in the society, whereby they enjoy equal rights and status before Allah
  • Doesn't tolerate class warfare, society based on biology, language
  • The basis of unity is religious and moral values
  • Eliminate racial pride and claims of national
• Allah has created all mankind from a single parent and made them into a single brotherhood
• Honour

  Human beings can earn honour based on their faith and righteousness (taqwa)
• Unity of brotherhood


  1. Support and strengthen each other

  2. To worship Allah and serve His cause
• Rights and responsibilities

  • society is responsible to God for the welfare of the individual
  • the individual is expected to contribute to the society when he is capable of doing so
  • society is responsible for his security and welfare
  • individuals rights are preserved and respected as long as they do not conflict with societal rights
• • no individual or any class of individuals is allowed to exploit society and corrupt the state
  • harmony, peace and mutual security bind the relantionship between individuals and society
  • cooperate with all in acts of virtue and goodness, not cooperate in acts of vice and injustice
• • prohibiting three social evils; ridiculing one another; finding fault with one another and reviling one other with nicknames
  • Prophet Muhammad SAW advice is being mindful of one's words and actions, treating others with kindness, being modest and humble in dealing with others and living with people with smiling faces and kind hearts
• hadith about responsibility and rights

  • in hadith, when he meets him, he should greet him, when he gives him an invitation he should accept, when he asks him for advice, he should give him good counsel. When he sneezes and praises Allah, he should wish him mercy, when he is ill, he should visit him. When he dies, he should accompany him
• rights of an individual or group becomes a responsibility for others

  • tenants rights are the responsibilities of owners; children rights are the responsibilities of parents and vice versa
• Religious co-existence and tolerance

  • the acceptance of the co-existence of religions in this world
  • develop a peaceful relationship with the adherents of others religions and implement the spirit of religious tolerance
  • treat them with fairness and justice by extending reciprocal rights and responsibilities
• • Islam disapproves of forceful conversion and there is no compulsion in religion
  • maintain stability in a society and the nation at large by preserving faith by not insulting others faith
• polytheist

  • forbids muslim to do something permissible which is to revile the gods of the polytheist including idols and gods worshipped alongside with Allah since the polytheist would protect their religion and portray fanatical devotion to it
  • it may lead the polytheists to revile Allah in return even it means to be closer to Allah disrespecting the gods and reviling them
• in shariah principle

  • to be judged by the outcomes they lead
  • if they revile him, should the muslim revile their gods
  • lead to something haram, even if they are permissible become haram if they lead to evil
  • the insult towards the idols and others objects of worship will lead to social disturbance and cause enmity and hatred
• A balanced society

  1. purposes and nature
  2. principles
  3. rights and responsibilities
  4. religious co-existence and tolerance