islam impact on society, moral values in islam, muslim society summary, importance of moral values in islam, morality in islam, good morals in islam, Equality and Justice, Status of Women in islam, thoughts,

Importance of Morality in Islam

 The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that religion is about how one treats others, not just about following rituals. A moral society depends on everyone following the same principles of equality, justice, compassion, etc. Leaders have a higher responsibility and accountability. In Islam, individuals must fulfill their responsibilities before claiming rights and the ultimate goal is to be morally responsible in all circumstances.

Equality and Justice

The Qur'an emphasizes equality among Muslims, without an ordained clergy, as each individual has a direct relationship with God. While there are differences in rights and privileges between men and women in Islam, and between Muslims and non-Muslims, social practices in some Muslim countries may not reflect Islamic teachings. Islam stresses individual responsibility and accountability to God for actions, with a focus on seeking justice and doing good to others. The belief in accountability in the afterlife means that a Muslim's oath is considered valid evidence. The Prophet's Hadith emphasizes the importance of treating others as one wishes to be treated.

Responsibility and Accountability

In Islam, a person is held responsible for their actions and inactions, both in accordance with the letter and spirit of the law. However, the principles of forbearance and forgiveness are also important in Islam, with emphasis on genuine repentance and recognition of one's wrongdoings. Muslims are encouraged to forgive others and Allah is described as Forgiving and Merciful. The only thing that cannot be forgiven by Allah is Shirk, the denial of the existence of a singular and unique creator. Despite this, Allah's mercy is infinite and even in cases of despair and anger towards God, the Prophet showed mercy and forgiveness.

The Status of Women

The status of women in pre-Islamic Arabia was low, but Islam accorded them equal status and made them pillars of early Muslim society. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ's relationship with his first wife Khadijah set an example for the treatment of women in marriage, and the Qur'an set out women's rights and obligations. Women had the same religious obligations as men and the same right to own property but also had some restrictions such as dress codes and separate prayer. These restrictions served to protect a woman's integrity and dignity.

The Islamic Calendar: Lunar vs Solar Year

The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar year and consists of 12 lunar months, each lasting 29 or 30 days. This results in a year with 354 or 355 days, which is shorter than the astronomical solar year. As a result, the months in the Islamic calendar do not align with the seasons and the calendar advances by 10-11 days each year relative to the solar year. Converting dates from the Islamic calendar to the Gregorian calendar can be challenging due to the difference in the length of the years. A formula can be used to calculate the corresponding Hijrah year for a given Gregorian year.

Read: The Geopolitics of the Muslim World

Read: How is the Muslim Community in Sweden Growing?

The Muslim Months:

Muharram

Jumada al-Awwal

Ramadan

Safar

Jumada al-Thani

Shawwal

Rabi' al-Awwal

Rajab

Dhu al-Qi'dah

Rabi' al-Thani

Sha'ban

Dhu al-Hijjah