Communication Between Cultures

A Complete Way of Life

Another cultural manifestation of Islam is that it is a complete way of life. It must be

remembered that Muhammad was both a political figure and a religious prophet. In

Islam, religion and social membership are inseparable. Islam instructs people on the

best way to carry out their lives in private, social, economic, ethical, political, and spiri-

tual arenas. That is,“Islamic law makes no distinction between religion and society, but

governs all affairs, public and private.”^153 Nydell further develops this idea in the follow-

ing:“An Arab’s [Muslim’s] religion affects his or her whole way of life on a daily basis.

Religion is taught in schools, the language is full of religious expressions, and people

practice their religion openly, almost obtrusively, expressing it in numerous ways.”^154

Viewed from this perspective, Islam is a codification of all values and ways to behave

in hundreds of circumstances. Instructions are offered in activities such as child rearing,

eating practices, treatment of homosexuals, and admonitions about modesty.

We should point out that this notion of Islam being a complete way of life has

historical roots that go back to its beginning as a religion. Islamic scholars write,“It

is worth recalling that towards the middle of the sixth century AD, mankind lived in

pain, oppression, cruelty, and chaos.”^155 Because of this anarchy and turmoil, God,

speaking through Muhammad, believed that structure, regulation, and guidance was

needed. That guidance was supplied

by an all-inclusive theological orien-

tation called Islam. It is a religion

that provides its members with“an

immense body of requirements and

prohibitions concerning religion, per-

sonal morality, social conduct, and

political behavior. Business and mari-

tal relations, criminal law, ritual prac-

tices, and much more were covered

in this vast system.”^156

Sharia Law

We now turn to Sharia law (often spelled Shariah) as yet another example of how Islam

is a complete way of life. These laws fuse religious theology directly with worldly affairs,

such as family, economics, and politics. Like so much of the Islamic approach to the

secular aspects of life, Sharia has numerous interpretations—some accurate and others

erroneous. Van Voorst speaks to some of the varied interpretations of Sharia when he

writes,“If you’ve already heard of the Sharia, traditional Islamic law enforced in many

Muslim lands, it may have been in reports about the stoning of women convicted of

adultery or cutting off of the thieves’hands. These sensationalists reports, although gen-

erally true, give an incomplete and misleading impression of Muslim law.”^157

What is Sharia law, and why has it been a major topic of discussion in the media?

Sharia law (often referred to as Muslim or Islamic law) is a legal code derived basi-

cally from three sources: the Koran, the Hadith (sayings from Muhammad), and fat-

was (rulings of Islamic scholars).^158 These are very specific laws that deal with nearly

all phases of human behavior. They fall into five categories: obligatory, meritorious,

permissible, reprehensible, and forbidden. The controversy surrounding these laws

centers on two related issues. The first is the degree of influence they have over

CONSIDER THIS

What is meant by the phrase“Islam is a complete way of life”?

What are some examples that would validate the truth of this

assertion?

Cultural Expressions of Islam 135

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