Welcome to Islam, - Integrity of the individual in Islam

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There are two concepts in Islam that, among others, define our understanding of integrity; its meaning and method of attainment. These are purity and wholeness. We find that the Islamic definition of integrity resembles the scientific and natural interpretations of the word more than the philosophical or theoretical understanding; insofar that it refers less to the consistency with which human behavior is aligned to a given moral or ethical dogma, and more to the extent to which human behavior is brought into agreement with intrinsic human nature.
Purity:
The Islamic understanding of purity, unarguably, bases itself on the concept of the fitrah )natural disposition of the human being(. Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention( referring to this natural state of the human being, said:"Every new-born child is born in a state of fitrah. Then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magian, just as an animal is born intact. Do you observe any among them that are maimed )at birth(?"]Ahmad[.
All creatures, then, including human beings, are born in a state of innate purity; any subsequent defilement of that natural condition results from a variety of social influences and manipulations. It is significant that in the above hadeeth, the impurity that develops, or that is to a degree inflicted, is likened to an actual injury or deformity -- it is a disfiguration of the natural state of the human being.
Integrity in Islam refers to the restoration and maintenance of that natural and primal state of purity. Allaah says )what means(: "Set your face to the deen )religion of Islam( in sincerity which is Allaah's fitrah upon which He created mankind. There is no changing in the creation of Allaah. That is the right deen but most people know not." ]Quran 30:30[. When we talk of integrity, we generally refer )at least in part( to the realization of that nature which is literally integral to our being; of being true to our intrinsic qualities and character.
Wholeness:
It is fair to say that completeness is a theme of Islam. Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, frequently employed metaphors to explain the message with which he was sent, that invoked imagery of incomplete or unfinished things being brought to completion. For instance, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said:"My likeness and the likeness of the Prophets before me is the likeness of a person who built a house and made it complete and beautiful, except the place of a brick in a corner. So people began to go around it and wonder at it and say, "Why has not this brick been placed?" He said, "I am that brick and I am the last of the Prophets". ]Muslim[. The imagery of cohesion here reinforces the words of Allaah Almighty, in the Noble Quran announcing the final perfection of His Revelation to mankind, )what means(: "This day I have perfected My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion."]Quran 5:3[
Similarly, this aspect of wholeness is emphasized in varying contexts; regarding, for example the singularity of the entire Muslim Ummah )Nation( as one body, and so on. This emphasis on holistic consistency enlightens the second component of integrity in Islam.
Maintaining the purity of the fitrah becomes a complex and challenging process as we age, and our duties, relationships, psychological and emotional development become more sophisticated and varied. We must take care to ensure that the intricate self of adulthood does not become partially or wholly alienated from the natural, simpler purity present in childhood. This requires a comprehensive alignment of all areas of life; private and public behavior, social relationships, habits, disciplines etc, with a system based upon the fitrah . That is, the quintessential purity of the fitrah must be realized in the totality of one's being through adherence to the detailed guidance of Islam.
Rather than a simple adherence to a particular ethical and moral code, as mentioned, integrity in Islam indicates the fullest manifestation of human essence. The wholeness is achieved by bringing human attributes and faculties in agreement with human function and purpose. In the same way that we would refer to a perfectly shaped, smooth, circular wheel as having integrity, so Muslim integrity has to do with the extent to which the individual is actualizing in totality his or her attributes and capabilities, in accordance with the purpose for which he or she has been endowed with them: the worship of Allaah.
Integrity in Islam has to do with the consistency of the individual with his or her innate purpose; the totality of the individual's life being kept in alignment with their intrinsic function. It is not merely the dogmatism of adherence to a relatively arbitrary code of conduct and behavior, but the preservation of the individual's purity and authenticity. Whereas the philosophical definition of integrity would take violation of a given code of ethics as what invalidates one's integrity; in Islam, the violation of integrity constitutes an alienation from one's nature with drastic and profound consequences that ultimately invalidate one's very life.

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Welcome to Islam, - Why Islam series

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Islam and Security
One of the basic needs of man is to feel secure. The feeling of security is a psychological need which has to be satisfied so as to achieve the individual’s harmony and adjustment. As we know, human needs are of two types: physical and psychological. Physical needs include the need for water, food, and shelter. Psychological needs include the need for belonging, security, and affection. If a physical need is not satisfied, this usually causes harm to the body. On the other hand, if a psychological need is not satisfied, this usually leads to psychological disorders, lack of happiness, anxiety, and a variety of maladjustment symptoms.
Internal harmony
Islam emphasizes the moral and ethical aspects, because man needs more than bread to live happily. Man needs internal harmony. Man is body and soul -- not body or soul only. Therefore, man needs what satisfies both his body soul.
Islam provides man with the feeling of security. This feeling of security is built in different ways.
This feeling will remove despair, hopelessness and anxiety, and will make man more hopeful, active, and self-confident.
Allaah’s Mercy
Islam instructs the believer that Allaah is the Most Merciful. This concept of Allaah’s Mercy is essential in Islam. Allaah’s Mercy affects the Muslim in two ways: by example and forgiveness. If Allaah is the Merciful, man must be merciful. Man must be merciful to other persons of all races and all religions. He must be merciful to animals as well. He must be merciful to women, relatives and strangers, to parents and children, and to all living beings.
This atmosphere of mercy in Islam gives the person a feeling of security for one’s life, honor, rights and property, because mercy is something you give to others and others give it to you.
Allaah’s Mercy works in another way, if man sins, he is not driven out of Allaah’s blessings forever. In Islam, if you sin, the door of Allaah’s forgiveness remains open. If you sin and then sincerely repent, Allaah forgives. This formula of Allaah’s Mercy and forgiveness keeps the Muslim secure about his relation with Allaah and secure about his ethical code and moral future.
Human Mercy
This concept of Allaah’s Mercy and interhuman mercy is emphasized by Islam. When a Muslim eats, he begins by saying: “In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful and the Most Gracious.” When a Muslim reads the Quran or quotes the Quran he starts by mentioning Allaah’s Mercy. In prayer, the Muslim mentions Allaah’s Mercy a number of times every day.
Thus, the Muslim lives in an atmosphere of mercy, both physically and psychologically. A Muslim is led to feel that God is merciful and that his brethren are merciful. If a person’s relations with Allaah and men are controlled by mercy, this will make him feel secure in the present and the future.
Belief in Allaah
Believing in Allaah gives the believer a sense of security. How can a person feel secure if he does not believe in Allaah? Research has shown that mental disorders show up in non-believers more frequently and more severely than in believers. A non-believer is not sure about anything. He is not sure about his beginning, his end, or his goals. A non-believer is not sure about values, ideals, right, wrong, good, or bad. A non-believer is usually a sceptical person, anxious, disordered and hesitant.
On the contrary, a Muslim knows the origin and purpose of his life. He is one hundred percent sure about what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. A Muslim is certain about himself, his life, the Universe, his social relations, his rights, and his duties. He is sure of his ideals and values.
Certainty of Values
The Muslim’s certainty about his values and ideals springs from the comprehensive code of ethics given by God to man. When a person has clear values, clear ideals, a clear beginning, and a clear destination, he feels secure, because he know where he is going.
Coming to more specific data, if we look at some non-Islamic communities, we find that there is a high frequency of persons with mental disorders. This is due to the lack of religion in those communities. With no religion, man feels lost, unsupported, and feels that he has no significant purpose. On the other hand, with belief in Allaah, man feels secure, because he feels that he is guided and supported by Allaah and that he has a significant purpose.
Thus, Islam provides man with the psychological security he needs throughout life, through the mercy and guidance of Allaah.
When you know that Allaah guides and protects those who believe in Him, you would feel secure.

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Welcome to Islam, - Islam: a home of tolerance, not fanaticism

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Media speculation since the horrific terrorist attacks onAmericahas pointed the finger at Muslims and the Arab world, and that has meant ordinary citizens of theUSand other Western countries becoming easy prey for anti-faith hooligans. Shame.
Sadly, the latest horror to hit theUSlooks to have been caused by people of Middle Eastern origin, bearing Muslim names. Again, shame.
This fuels more hatred for a religion and a people who have nothing to do with these events. This is why I want to explain some basic facts about this noble way we call Islam, before, God forbid, another disaster occurs -- next time probably aimed at Muslims.
I came to Islam in my late 20s, during my searching period as a wandering pop star. I found a religion that blended scientific reason with spiritual reality, in a unifying faith far removed from the headlines of violence, destruction and terrorism.
One of the first interesting things I learned in the Quran was that the name of the faith comes from the word Salaam -- peace. Far from the kind of Turko-Arab-centric message I expected, the Quran presented a belief in the universal existence of God, one God for all. It does not discriminate against peoples; it says we may be different colors and from different tribes, but we are all human and "the best of people are the most God-conscious".
Today, as a Muslim, I have been shattered by the horror of recent events; the display of death and indiscriminate killing we've all witnessed has dented humanity's confidence in itself. Terror on this scale affects everybody on this small planet, and no one is free from the fallout. Yet, we should remember that such violence is almost an everyday occurrence in some Muslim lands: it should not be exacerbated by revenge attacks on more innocent families and communities.
Along with most Muslims, I feel it a duty to make clear that such orchestrated acts of incomprehensible carnage have nothing to do with the beliefs of most Muslims. The Quran specifically declares )what means(:"If anyone murders an )innocent( person, it will be as if he has murdered the whole of humanity. And if anyone saves a person it will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity."]Quran 5:32[
The Quran that our young people learn is full of stories and lessons from the history of humanity as a whole. The Injeel )Gospels( and the Torah are referred to; 'Eesaa )Jesus( and Ibraaheem )Abraham(, may Allaah exalt their mention, are mentioned. In fact there is more mention in the Quran of the prophet Moosaa )Moses(, may Allaah exalt his mention, than of any other. It acknowledges the coexistence of other faiths, and in doing so, acknowledges that other cultures can live together in peace.
It states )what means(:"There is no compulsion in religion"]Quran 2:256[ meaning that people should not be compelled to change their faith. Elsewhere it states )what means(:"To you, your religion; to me mine."]Quran 109:6[
Respect for religious values and justice is at the Quran's core. The Quranic history we teach our young provides ample examples of inter-religious and international relationships of how to live together.
But some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context. They act as individuals, and when they can't come together as part of a political structure or consultative process, you find these dissident factions creating their own rules, contrary to the spirit of the Quran -- which demands that those recognized as being in charge of Muslims must consult together regarding society's affairs. There is a whole chapter in the Quran entitled ‘Consultation’.
Communal wellbeing is central to human life, so there is a concept in Islam called Istihsaan, which means "to look for the common good". Even though the Quran may lay down a diktat, scholars are also supposed to consider the circumstances prevalent at the time. Sometimes that means choosing the lesser of two evils or even suspending legislation if necessary: for instance, a person who steals bread during a famine is not treated as a thief.
Once I wrote in a song: "Where do the children play?" Our sympathy and thoughts go out to the families of all those who lost their lives in these tragic acts of violence, as well as all those injured. But life must go on. Children still need to play and people need to live and learn more about their neighbors, so that ignorance doesn't breed more blind fanaticism. Moderation is part of faith, so those who accuse Muslim schools of fostering fanaticism should learn a bit more about Islam.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention( said:"Ruined are those who insist on hardship in faith" and "A believer remains within the scope of his religion as long as he doesn't kill another person illegally."Such knowledge and words of guidance are desperately needed at this time, to separate fact from falsehood, and to recognize the Last Prophet's, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, own definition of that which makes a person representative or otherwise, of the faith he lived and the one we try to teach.

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Dought & clear, - (Manners of Seeking Knowledge), - Memorizing Qur’aan and Sunnah

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I am memorizing some of the Qur’aan, and I hope to memorize all of it, then move on, by the help of Allaah, to memorizing the ahaadeeth of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which are recorded in al-Saheehayn. Is this method good, or should I work on memorizing both at the same time, memorizing some of the Qur’aan and some of the ahaadeeth?
Praise be to Allaah.
Both methods are sound, so choose the one which is easier for you and which best meets your needs and the needs of the people around you. We ask Allaah to give us and you strength and right guidance.

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