Islamic studies:

Faith & Moral Code

Prof. Awadh Amir Binhazim

Is there an Islamic world view?
 The Islamic world view

• The faith of Islam is centered on two important

paradigms; matters of belief (eeman) and
moral code (akhlaaq). These paradigms form
the matrix of Islam and shape the world view of
Muslims across the globe.
• The course will examine the foundations of the
Islamic creed relative to the morals of a Muslim
and how these two teachings are intertwined to
fulfill what is obligatory upon the believer.
 Just ask yourself
¾ Do I know what Muslims
believe in?
¾ Our understanding maybe
based on assumptions
 Have you heard?
„ Muslim submit to the mullah
„ They believe in the moon god “Allah”
„ The terror 5 Pillars of Islam include….
„ Allegiance to Islam forbids him to make
friends with Christians…
„ They marry 4 women!
• There women are not allowed
to speak
Lifesaving patrol in Sydney Australia

• swimsuit dubbed the Burqini (as in burqa plus bikini) hit

the international market in January 2007, devout Muslim
women have been snapping them up
Is the dress driven by what the
faith mandates?
 Faith (Aqeedah)

„What do people mean by

the word FAITH?
A world of faith……
A world of faith in Asia

• Indonesia/Malaysia
A survey taken by Shanghai University declared
dramatically 300 million Muslims!

Niujie Mosque, Beijing, 950 CE

 Study plan
„ Islamic Creed known as Aqeedah
„ Moral Code of Islam known as Akhlaaq
„ Based on the 2 sources of Islam
„ The Quran which is the book of Allah
„ The Sunnah - practice and teachings of the Prophet
Muhammad (to whom be peace)
AQEEDAH: definition and explanation
„ Aqeedah – singular / Aqaaid – plural
„ The things which people’s hearts affirm and
believe in, the things they accept (as true)
„ These are matters which are held as certain
beliefs with no doubt
„ Linguistically - derived from the word A Q D
„ Means adherence, certainty, and affirmation

‫ﻋﻘﻴﺪة‬
‫عقد‬
 The Term
„ In Arabic, one states,"Aqada the rope“(Aqada Alhabl)
- when the rope is tied firmly. "Aqada the sale" or "He
settled the sale" when the person ratifies and contracts
a sale or agreement.
„ The Quranic verse: "But He will take you to task for
the oaths which you swear in earnest (Arabic -
aqadtum) [5:89] which means asserted and adhered to.
….. َ‫…ﻋَﻘﱠﺪﺗﱡ ُﻢ اﻷَﻳْﻤَﺎن‬.
„ If one says, "Aqadtu such and such," it means his heart
is firm upon such and such.
„It means - The firm
creed that one's heart is
fixed upon without any
wavering or doubt.
„ What are the general concepts that the
heart of the believer must be firm
about?
 The answer
„ These are the "pillars" of the faith.
„ One will not be called a believer just by
knowing and understanding these pillars
but he must come to the level where
he/she submits and implements what is
described.
„ The theologians call this great subject
„ "the root of the religion"
Aqeedah is a matter of knowledge of
the heart
„ Not a practical matter

„ Known from knowledge of what Allah

(God ) has informed us
„ Basic principles of Aqeedah – Allah
commands us to believe what He has told
us in the Quran
 The verse of Aqeedah
„ The Messenger believes in what has been sent
down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the
believers. Each one believes in Allah, His
Angels, His books, and His messengers. (They
say), “we make no distinction between one
another of His messengers” and they say, “We
hear, and we obey. (We seek) your forgiveness,
our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)
[Quran 2:285]
 Aqeedah can have no doubt
„ Only those are the believers who have believed
in Allah and his messenger, and afterwards
doubt not…. (Quran 49:15)
„ This is the Book (the Qur’an) whereof there is
no doubt (Quran 2:2)
„ “Our Lord! Verily, it is You who will gather
mankind together on the day about which there
is no doubt…. (Quran 3:9)
 Issues of Aqeedah are invisible
„ Muslims are required to believe in
„ Unseen matters
„ Not visible, not tangible things
„ E.g. choosing messengers and revelation – unseen
matters
„ Allah praises the believers in the Quran
„ Who believe in the unseen (Ghayb) ….
„ Ghayb means a thing not seen not only about beliefs but also
news of the past, the future, about creation, heavens & earth .
 Correct Aqeedah
„ The Aqeedah was the same throughout time

„ All messengers brought the same teachings

„ Islamic world view: false Aqeedah or belief is a

product of human thought and intellect
 Relationship between
Aqeedah and faith (eeman)
„ Aqeedah is the foundation and basis of eeman
„ Once it takes firm roots – actions must conform
to the dictates of the Aqeedah
„ Eeman is 2 parts:
„ Acknowledge that Allah exists
„ Adheres to the ways laid down by Allah
 Aqeedah and Actions

„Inseparable and go hand

in hand
„ It is incumbent upon a believer
to pay attention to the deeds
that Allah has enjoined upon
 First belief

„The first principle of

Aqeedah is belief in Allah
 Q & A session

„ Remember to visit our website

„ www.olivetreeeducation.org