Towards A Fiqh For Minorities: Some Basic Reflections

Remembrance and Prayer: The Way of Prophet Muhammad, was one of the first works of Shaykh al Ghazali’s to be translated into English. The book describes in vivid prose how the Prophet, upon him be peace, used to remember Allah and pray to Him. Not only are the exquisitely beautiful, deeply moving and penetrating words of the Prophet given in the English translation, but in the original Arabic as well, thus allowing those desirous of memorizing Arabic access to the original texts. The intimate relationship with Allah, which was the hallmark of the Prophet’s life, becomes clear and vivid. The book’s contents are immensely relevant. to the life and concerns of modern man, whose life has been made barren by the present secularist machinery.

Ibn Khaldun, the fourteenth century Arab historiographer and historian, is viewed as a founder of modern historiography, sociology and economics. He lived during a turbulent part of history, and out of his experiences, he ?conceived and created a philosophy of history that was undoubtedly the greatest work ever created by a man of intelligence…?. This work tells of the period of unrest in Ibn Khaldun?s life marked by political rivalries. It is during this turbulent period which provided him with the opportunity to write the Muqaddimah (or Prolegomena), earning him an immortal place among historians, sociologists and philosophe

Preservation of health (hifz al-sihhah) is the most important branch of Islamic medicine since it is primarily concerned with the prevention of illness rather than cure. This book represents one of the few attempts to introduce the role of Islamic medicine, although Chapter One provides information about a historical background of the preservation of helath in Islam, its aim is to provide fresh ant timely overview of the major aspects of legal, ritual and spiritual structures of teh Islamic law (shariah). These include the laws related to Ibadah, Islamic family laws, foods and drinks as well as environmental laws, for maintaning and preserving human health. Findings indicated that prevention of any diseases from Islamic medical law presentive cannot attain any real success unless it emanates from an Islamic fundamental teaching, namely: the pillars of Islam. Iman and observance of the Islamic rituals such as Salah, zakah, Sawm and Hajj, have played an important role in shaping the attitude, behavior and model personality of the Muslim, in boosting the spiritual motivation or attitude change, and in disseminating the message of prevention. This indicates that bodily and spiritual health goes hand in hand and that pyscho-spritual balance and health is a primary consideration whereas physical health is a secondary one.

In The Right to Education, Work and Welfare in Islam Professor M.H. Kamali develops an Islamic perspective on three connected and complementary areas of rights and liberties. He urges that education is often a necessary ingredient of professional work even more so now than in earlier times when the range and variety of specialised knowledge were relatively limited. A person who acquires education, whether generally or at advanced levels of specialisation, is more likely to stand in a better position to enter the workforce and thus to contribute to the welfare of the community.

The author commences his discussions on education, work and welfare in Islam by focusing on how each is treated in the Qur’an; and follows this by the example of the Prophet and, after him, the Pious Caliphs who gave prominence to the education and welfare needs of people at times both of scarcity and affluence. Professor Kamali then moves forward to our time and discusses the right to education, the education of children, institutionalisation of learning, academic freedom and the debate between science and religion.

The section on work elaborates on the value of work, work ethics, workers’ and employers’ rights and responsibilities, and the role and responsibility of governments.
Finally, the section on welfare focuses on the importance in Islam of caring for those who are in need and the different forms of provision that can be made available by individuals, the state and charities.