Islamic Law

Pre-Modern Islam was faced with the new ideas of modernity through reform and expansion, which soon brought new powers and stratified classes. The Islamic culture, which is very similar to Judaism, focuses on the actions of believers, the religious observance, and obedience to God's law. The Islamic religion believes that those who live by the five pillars are considered to be good and therefore they will enjoy eternal happiness by going to heaven, and the 'bad,' those who do not live God's will, will not have eternity, they will go to hell.

Islamic law grew out of questioning, motivation, and inspiration. The Umayyad dynasty is the period where most people turned to the law. The four official sources of Islamic law are the Quran, the Sunnah, analogical reasoning, and consensus. The Quran is the revelation of God, the Sunnah is the example and practice of Muhammad, whose teachings play a major role in this ideology.

There are two major divisions of Islamic law, duties to God and duties to others. These duties are reflected in the Five Pillars of Islam. The pillars provide unity, and are essential when it comes to the topic of eternity. The pillars are the profession of faith, worship or prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Some refer to a Jihad as the sixth pillar of Islam, although it is not officially recognized.

The teachings of the Quran say that men and women are created equal, although their functions in society vary. Men are supposed to earn the money, the women are house keepers. Marriage, the union between a man and a woman, is not a sacrament, but is considered to be a 'civil contract,' and the marriages are pre-arranged.

(World Religions Today)