Islamic Law: Handbook of Islamic rulings on Muslim’s duties and practices

Islam is a complete way of life, and as such it addresses every aspect of the human life ranging from personal and family matters to social, economic, political, and spiritual issues. The teachings of Islam are devised to enable mankind attain prosperity in this life and in the hereafter. As part of the measures to attain that prosperity, an adult Muslim needs to conduct his or her affairs, behave and respond according to the teachings of Islam in all aspects of life. These issues range from matters concerning acts of worship to other matters such as family, culture, current affairs, financial transactions, etiquettes, and ethics. An adult Muslim therefore has a duty to learn the teachings of Islam on those issues that he or she might come across in life. Some of those teachings may be readily available and if not, he or she must learn or seek the answers to one s queries. Although every conduct that an adult Muslim does according to the teachings of Islam constitutes an act of worship, no matter what aspect of life it may concern, traditionally by acts of worship it is meant issues such as ritual cleanliness, daily prayers, fasting, hajj, and zakah. Acts of Worship or ibadat, as referred to in Arabic, regulate the individual s association with his Creator, while mu amalat, which is the term used to refer to such issues as contracts, deals, or mutual agreements such as trade, lease, loan, marriage, regulate the individual s relationship with others in the human community.