Perceptions Of Law
What's the difference between law and Islamic law?
In my opinion, the law is a set of rules which is imposed by a structure like a state. These rules have specific obvious purposes, and are usually for the good of society. If you cross the street while the traffic light is red, you might have an accident and lose your own life and maybe others would lose theirs as well.
On the other hand, Islamic law is related to personal matters. By following it, no one clearly benefits. Islamic laws tell how to perform prayers, with which leg you should walk into the bathroom, what to say when you sneeze, or how the dead should be washed and buried, etc. Not following these rules doesn't make you a bad person. You simply don't hurt anyone including yourself; however, some Muslims would judge you accordingly.
I myself used to follow these laws strictly but I stopped. I wondered why I should put on the right shoe first if it didn't have a significant meaning or benefit to me? For example, I started to reduce the amount of sugar I consumed when I learned how bad it is for health and teeth.
Some Muslims would argue that you would get benefits in heaven and the other life, while others try to invent benefits that are ridiculous. For example, it's Ramadan this month. Muslims usually break their fasting by eating dates first. It's common to eat an odd number of dates. Their explanation is in this case, glucose is converted into carbohydrates, whereas if you ate an even number, glucose would change into potassium and bad glucose. This is not based on any scientific evidence, but many Muslims follow it blindly. If someone tries to deny it, they will be called an unbeliever or heretic.
While in other cases, following these laws could cause disturbance for others. Another example is when mosques are full of prayer performers, some Muslims sometimes put carpets outside the mosque so more people can pray which makes streets crowded and as a result, this disturbs the passers-by.
For most Muslims, Islamic law is like a package either you accept it as a whole or you reject it all. You cannot pick and choose.
In my opinion, the law is a set of rules which is imposed by a structure like a state. These rules have specific obvious purposes, and are usually for the good of society. If you cross the street while the traffic light is red, you might have an accident and lose your own life and maybe others would lose theirs as well.
On the other hand, Islamic law is related to personal matters. By following it, no one clearly benefits. Islamic laws tell how to perform prayers, with which leg you should walk into the bathroom, what to say when you sneeze, or how the dead should be washed and buried, etc. Not following these rules doesn't make you a bad person. You simply don't hurt anyone including yourself; however, some Muslims would judge you accordingly.
I myself used to follow these laws strictly but I stopped. I wondered why I should put on the right shoe first if it didn't have a significant meaning or benefit to me? For example, I started to reduce the amount of sugar I consumed when I learned how bad it is for health and teeth.
Some Muslims would argue that you would get benefits in heaven and the other life, while others try to invent benefits that are ridiculous. For example, it's Ramadan this month. Muslims usually break their fasting by eating dates first. It's common to eat an odd number of dates. Their explanation is in this case, glucose is converted into carbohydrates, whereas if you ate an even number, glucose would change into potassium and bad glucose. This is not based on any scientific evidence, but many Muslims follow it blindly. If someone tries to deny it, they will be called an unbeliever or heretic.
While in other cases, following these laws could cause disturbance for others. Another example is when mosques are full of prayer performers, some Muslims sometimes put carpets outside the mosque so more people can pray which makes streets crowded and as a result, this disturbs the passers-by.
For most Muslims, Islamic law is like a package either you accept it as a whole or you reject it all. You cannot pick and choose.
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