Study Guide 16: The Law of God

STUDY GUIDE 16
THE LAW OF GOD

The Law of God

READING ASSIGNMENT

Holy Qur'an
Surah 58: "The Pleading Woman" (Read entire Surah)
Surah 45 "The Kneeling" (Read entire Surah)
Surah 6: "The Cattle", Section 19:
"Guiding Rules of Life"

INTRODUCTION
The Law of Allah (God) is the Ladder by which we climb up into Oneness with Him, becoming possessors of His Spirit.
"La ilaha illa Allah" - "There is no God but Allah"
"This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." 1 John 5:3
"You are the best nation raised up for men: you enjoin good and forbid evil and you believe in Allah." Holy Qur'an:109
"And know that this is My path, the right one, so follow it and follow not other ways, for they will lead you away from His Way. This He enjoins on you that you may keep your duty ... Again, We gave the Book to Moses to complete Our blessings on him who would do good and making plain all things and a Guidance and a Mercy, so that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord." Holy Qur'an 6:154,155

QUESTION
Why did Allah (God) give us Law?

GLOSSARY
The Arabic word for 'Divine Law' is "al-Shari'ah". By "al-Shari'ah" is meant everything legislated by Allah (God) for ordering man's life; it includes principles of belief, principles of administration and justice, principles of morality and human relationships and principles of knowledge.
The root meaning of the word "Islam" is to "enter into peace" and a "Muslim" is "one who makes his peace with God" through complete submission to His Will and makes peace with his fellow man by refraining from evil or injury to another and also by doing good to him.
1. LAW OF GOD
A. The body of commandments which express the Will of God with regard to the conduct of His intelligent creatures. Also, any of His specific commandments.
B. The Will of God as expressed through Revelation, including the Scriptures, Messengers and Prophets.
C. The Will of God as implanted by nature in the human mind, or as
capable of being demonstrated by Reason.
D. A system of Divine commands and the penalties imposed for disobedience. A religious system, including Christian, Jewish or Islamic faith.
E. That which the Deity (God) imposed upon matter. e.g., the Law of Motion:
(1) A body at rest will remain at rest or, if in motion, will continue in the direction it started in, unless acted upon by some external force;
(2) A change of motion takes place in the direction of the impressed force and is proportional to it;
(3) Action and reaction are equal and in contrary directions.
II. LAW OF MEN
A. That which is established and has binding force.
B. What is considered just, right or proper.

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C. A rule of action or procedure.
D. A manner of life.
(Sources of preceding definitions include Milestones, by Sayed Qutb, The Religion of Islam, by Maulana Muhammad Ali, The Oxford Dictionary and Black's Law Dictionary

DISCUSSION
1. Why Allah (God) Gave Us, Law
"I will write My Law in their hearts. I will put My Fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me." (Jeremiah 31:33)
Allah spoke to the angels, "I am going to place a ruler in the Earth.' The angels asked, "That will create mischief and cause the shedding of blood?" He replied, "I know what you know not."
Allah (God) knew that placing a certain type of ruler in the Earth would result in disorder. He knew that His Divine Presence would not be felt as much under such a ruler, because the people would obey that ruler by His Permission. Allah's Rule is based upon the Spirit, while this ruler would base his world on the flesh, the carnal (material).
Out of His Mercy, Allah (God) determined to send prophets who would be examples of His Law and they would give His Law to those who still wished to obey Allah (God). Those who obeyed God, even while the world was under the rule of the carnal, would receive the Fruit of the Spirit.
There is no way a savage who has lost the way of civilization can be civilized, except by law and just and equitable law enforcement. There is no way we can produce Love for one another in our present condition, except by law and just and equitable law enforcement.
The nature of Law is such that it must be applied with equity and fairness; otherwise, in its misapplication, it produces rebellion.
When the Law is given and a reason for the Law is given with it, there is more longevity in the obedience of the people to the Law because they understand it. Understanding gives the people the Will to obey, the Power to obey, because they are informed why they should do what they are ordered to do.

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II. History of the Use of Divine Law
"Let the history of Israel serve as an example for us."
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
"I spake not unto your fathers concerning sacrifices: but this thing I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice and I will be your God." Jeremiah 7:22,23
There is no way for a savage people to learn love until that people sees Love demonstrated through the proper administration of the Law. This is consistent in the history of His methods in dealing with those who have deviated from His path.
In the Bible, as early as Genesis 2:16, there is Divine Law and obedience to that Law in order for Adam (man) to remain in the Garden of Eden (state of peace). -it is disobedience to the Will of Allah (God) that causes Adam to fall.
At the close of the Bible, in Revelations 22, we read, "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life."
In the Old Testament, Israel is made an exalted nation through obedience to Divine Law and ultimately destroyed through rebellion to Divine Law. All communications to the people of Israel are in the form of Divine Commands.
"If you will obey My voice indeed...you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people." Exodus 19:5.
In the last 3 chapters of Exodus, the following expression appears 19 times:
"According to all the Lord commanded Moses, so did he." Exodus 40
"I set before you blessing, if you obey, and a curse if you will not obey." Deut. 1 1:26
There is no way that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) could have brought about such a complete change in the lives and conduct of a whole people within his own lifetime without the revelation of Divine Law (contained in the Holy Qur'an) and obedience to that which was revealed.
In less than 25 years, a people who were ignorant, immoral, worshippers of idols had been transformed from the lowest depths to the highest pinnacle of civilization.
The transformation of the people of Arabia 1400 years ago was a sign of the force and power of Divine Law, which has the ultimate goal of bringing man to perfection through submission to the Will of Allah (God).
Yakub set up a Law. The reason for his success and the success of his followers was obedience to his law. Obedience to his law facilitated the process of grafting the

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brown, yellow and white out of Black. Obedience to the Restrictive Laws of Islam will facilitate the process of grafting us back to ourselves.
Ill. The Ultimate Goal
The Essence of Divine Law is Love. The goal to which the Law leads, if properly applied, is Love.
The apparent harshness of the Law is actually the greater Love for the preservation of peace in the community rather than to secure the individuals in wrong. individuals are never greater than the Nation and individual sacrifice their lives for the preservation and defense of their Nation. The execution of Just Law is for the preservation of the Nation.
Jesus appeared to be at variance with Moses, but he was not. Jesus was the Fulfiller of the Law and the Fulfillment of the Law is Love. When one gains Love for Allah (God), and for His Creation, then in that Love is contained the Law. One willingly obeys Divine Law out of Love.
We need Love, but not without Law. Again, we need to see Love demonstrated through the proper administration of the Law.
A savage can only be restrained from savage actions by good law enforcement. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad gave us a Law that forbid us from even quarrelling with each other (Holy Qur'an). He taught us we should not break our word; we should not invade our brother's home; we should not disturb our brother's property; our brother's life is sacred.
Once we learn to respect the Law and carry it into practice, this will cause us to grow into love for one another.
We have not yet grown sufficiently to act in the Spirit of Love, therefore we must walk up the Ladder of Law to reach that goal.
Many Muslims, under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, felt oppressed; but what they felt was not oppression. What they felt was the pain of the struggle to restrict the low desires by means of the Law. Oppression does not emanate from Law; it emanates- from improper administration of the Law.
When the Honorable Elijah Muhammad departed, Imam Warith Deen Muhammad literally cast the Law aside and Love went with it, because without the Law, we lost the Power of Unity essential to the life of the Nation.
"Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is thereafter good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Matthew 5:13

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In our fall, many of us thought it was the Law that was our enemy, while in reality, the Law was our best friend. Our enemy was in fact our unwillingness to live by the Law and our rebelliousness against the Law.
In my effort to rebuild the Nation of Islam, I had to come to the people in a way that would attract and not frighten them by holding the Law in front of them. I gradually taught the people and to a degree we have done well. From teaching alone, most people straightened up to a degree. However, teaching is not enough. Along with teaching, there must be the Ladder of Law to reach the Love that will produce the Unity and the Power to liberate ourselves and our people completely from the grip of our enemies.
When we grow up in the Law, then we will no longer need the ladder of the Law, as it is written, "Love God with all of your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."
On these two (2) commandments hang the Law and the Prophets; on these two (2) commandments we are above Law and have Power in the Spirit to bring about a New World Order. The Spirit of God is Love. When we are in the Spirit of Love, we will no longer have any use for the ladder we had to climb up to reach the goal. There will be no more need for Law or Prophets, for Love has answered it all.
There is a song, "Love lift us up where we belong..." It is His Law that will lift us up where we belong. And it is Love that will keep us there that we will never fall from Grace.
"And now abideth Faith, Hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love." 1 Corinthians 13:13.

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Part 28
CHAPTER 58
Al-Mujadilah:The Pleading Woman
(REVEALED AT MAD�NAH:3 sections ;22 verses )

SECTION 1: Safeguarding Women�s Rights

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1 Allah indeed has heard the plea of her who pleads with thee about her husband and complains to Allah; and Allah hears the contentions of both of you. Surely Allah is Hearing, Seeing.

2 Those of you who put away their wives by calling them their mothers a�they are not their mothers. None are their mothers save those who gave them birth, and they utter indeed a hateful word and a lie. And surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.

3 And those who put away their wives by calling them their mothers, then go back on that which they said, must free a captive before they touch one another. To this you are exhorted; and Allah is Aware of what you do.

4 But he who has not the means, should fast for two months successively before they touch one another, and he who is unable to do so should feed sixty needy ones. That is in order that you may have faith in Allah and His Messenger. And these are Allah� slimits. And for the disbelievers is a painful chastisement.

5 Surely those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be humbled as those before them were humbled; and indeed We have revealed clear messages. And for the disbelievers is an abasing chastisement.

6 On the day when Allah will raise them all together, then inform them of what they did. Allah records it, while they forget it. And Allah is Witness over all things.

SECTION 2: Secret Counsels condemned

7 Seest thou not that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth? There is no secret counsel between three but He is the fourth of them, nor between five but He is the sixth of them, nor between less than that nor more but He is with them whosesoever they are; then He will inform them of what they did on the day of Resurrection. Surely Allah is Knower of all things.

8 Seest thou not those who are forbidden secret counsels, then they return to that which they are forbidden, and hold secret counsels for sin and revolt and disobedience to the Messenger. And when they come to thee they greet thee with a greeting with which Allah greets thee not, and say within themselves: Why does not Allah punish us for what we say? Hell is enough for them; they will burn in it, and evil is the resort!

9 O you who believe, when you confer together in private, give not to each other counsel of sin and revolt and disobedience to the Messenger, but give to each other counsel of goodness and observance of duty. And keep your duty to Allah, to Whom you will be gathered together.

10 Secret counsels are only of the devil that he may cause to grieve those who believe, and he can hurt them naught except with Allah�s permission. And on Allah let the believers rely.

11 O you who believe, when it is said to you, Make room in assemblies, make room. Allah will give you ample. And when it is said, Rise up, rise up. Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, to high ranks. And Allah is Aware of what you do.

12 O you who believe, when you consult the Messenger, offer something in charity before your consultation. That is better for you and purer. But if you have not (the means), then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

13 Do you fear that you will not (be able to) give in charity before your consultation? So when you do it not, and All�h has turned to you (mercifully), keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah is Aware of what you do.

SECTION 3:Internal Enemy to be guarded against

14 Hast thou not seen those who take for friends a people with whom Allah is wroth? They are neither of you nor of them, and they swear falsely, while they know.

15 Allah has prepared for them a severe chastisement. Evil indeed is that which they do!

16 They take shelter under their oaths, so they turn (men) from Allah�s way; for them is an abasing chastisement.

17 Of no avail against Allah, will be to them their wealth or their children. They are the companions of the Fire; therein they will abide.

18 On the day when Allah will raise them all up, they will swear to Him as they swear to you, and they think that they have some (excuse). Now surely they are the liars.

19 The devil has gained the mastery over them, so he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the devil�s party. Now surely the devil�s party are the losers.

20 Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, they shall be among the most abased.

21 Allah has written down: I shall certainly prevail, I and My messengers. Surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.

22 Thou wilt not find a people who believe in Allah and the latter day a loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kinsfolk. These are they into whose hearts He has impressed faith, and strengthened them with a Spirit from Himself, and He will cause them to enter Gardens wherein flow rivers, abiding therein. Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. These are Allah�s party. Now surely it is Allah�s party who are the successful!

CHAPTER 45
Al-Jathiyah:The Kneeling
(REVEALED AT MAKKAH:4 sections ;37 verses )

SECTION 1: Denial of Revelation

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1 Beneficent God!

2 The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

3 Surely in the heavens and the earth are signs for believers.

4 And in your creation and in the animals He spreads abroad are signs for a people who are sure;

5 And (in) the variation of the night and the day and (in) the sustenance which Allah sends down from the heaven, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and (in) the changing of the winds, are signs for a people who understand.

6 These are the messages of Allah, which We recite to thee with truth. In what announcement will they then believe after Allah and His signs?

7 Woe to every sinful liar!

8 Who hears the messages of Allah recited to him then persists in haughtiness, as though he had not heard them. So announce to him a painful chastisement.

9 And when he comes to know of any of Our messages, he takes them for a jest. For such is an abasing chastisement.

10 In front of them is hell, and that which they have earned will avail them naught, nor those whom they take for protectors besides Allah, and for them is a grievous chastisement.

11 This is guidance; and those who disbelieve in the messages of their Lord, for them is a painful chastisement of an evil (kind).

SECTION 2:Truth of the Revelation

12 Allah is He Who made subservient to you the sea that the ships may glide therein by His command, and that you may seek of His grace, and that you may give thanks.

13 And He has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, all, from Himself. Surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.

14 Tell those who believe to forgive those who fear not the days of Allah a that He may reward a people for what they earn.

15 Whoever does good it is for himself, and whoever does evil, it is against himself; then to your Lord you will be brought back.

16 And certainly We gave the Children of Israel the Book and judgment and prophet hood and provided them with good things, and made them excel the nations.

17 And We gave them clear arguments in the Affair. So they differed not until after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves. Surely thy Lord will judge between them on the day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they differed.

18 Then We made thee follow a course in the Affair, so follow it, and follow not the low desires of those who know not.

19 Surely they can avail thee naught against Allah. And surely the wrongdoers are friends of each other, and Allah is the Friend of the dutiful.

20 These are clear proofs for men, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who are sure.

21 Or do those who do evil deeds think that We shall make them as those who believe and do good �their life and their death being equal? Evil is what they judge!

SECTION 3: Denial of Judgment

22 And Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth, and that every soul may be rewarded for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.

23 Seest thou him who takes his desire for his god, and Allah leaves him in error knowingly, and seals his hearing and his heart and puts a covering on his sight? Who can then guide him after Allah? Will you not mind?

24 And they say: There is naught but our life of the world; we die and we live and nothing destroys us but time, and they have no knowledge of that; they only conjecture.

25 And when Our clear messages are recited to them, their only argument is that they say: Bring (back) our fathers, if you are truthful.

26 Say: Allah gives you life, then makes you die, then will He gather you to the day of Resurrection, wherein is no doubt, but most people know not.

SECTION 4:The Doom

27 And Allah�s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And on the day when the Hour comes to pass, on that day will the followers of falsehood perish.

28 And thou wilt see every nation kneeling down. Every nation will be called to its record. This day you are requited for what you did.

29 This is Our record that speaks against you with truth. Surely We wrote what you did.

30 Then as to those who believed and did good, their Lord will admit them to His mercy. That is the manifest achievement.

31 And as to those who disbelieved�were not My messages recited to you? But you were proud and you were a guilty people.

32 And when it was said, Surely the promise of Allah is true and the Hour�there is no doubt about it, you said: We know not what the Hour is. We think (it) only a conjecture and we are not at all sure.

33 And the evil of what they did will become manifest to them, and that at which they mocked will encompass them.

34 And it will be said: This day We forsake you as you neglected the meeting of this day of yours, and your abode is the Fire, and you have no helpers.

35 That is because you made the messages of Allah a jest and the life of this world deceived you. So on that day they shall not be taken out of it, nor shall they be granted goodwill.

36 So praise be to Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, the Lord of the worlds!

37 And to Him belongs greatness in the heavens and the earth; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

SECTION 19:Guiding Rules of Life

151 Say: Come! I will recite what your Lord has forbidden to you: Associate naught with Him and do good to parents and slay not your children for (fear of) poverty �We provide for you and for them � and draw not nigh to indecencies, open or secret, and kill not the soul which Allah has made sacred except in the course of justice. This He enjoins upon you that you may understand.

152 And approach not the property of the orphan except in the best manner, until he attains his maturity. And give full measure and weight with equity � We impose not on any soul a duty except to the extent of its ability. And when you speak, be just, though it be (against) a relative. And fulfill Allah�s covenant. This He enjoins on you that you may be mindful;

153 And (know) that this is My path, the right one, so follow it, and follow not (other) ways, for they will lead you away from His way. This He enjoins on you that you may keep your duty.

154 Again, We gave the Book to Moses to complete (Our blessings) on him who would do good, and making plain all things a and a guidance and a mercy, so that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord.