Islamic Practice

Islamic Practice and First Person Action Research

First person action research involves fostering an inquiring approach to one’s own life, acting deliberately and with awareness of one’s actions and assessing the effects of these actions on others. Various aspects of Islamic practice can be understood to actively encourage and support first person action research among observant Muslims, including the traditions and rituals surrounding the month of fasting, Ramadhan.

During Ramadhan, practicing Muslims refrain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset. Those who are able to also strive to spend additional time focused on reading the Qur’an, with its guidance on matters both spiritual and practical, and engaging in additional voluntary prayers at home and/or in congregation. This month is generally seen as a time of personal purification, with a focus on reflecting on one’s own spiritual state and improvement.

Numerous exhortations in the Qur’an describe people who are ultimately successful as those who ‘believe and do good works’ (mun amana wa ‘amila salihan). A time of heightened spiritual awareness demands critical awareness aimed at improving oneself and one’s actions. Many Muslims consider Ramadhan a month in which good deeds hold even greater value; this encourages believers to translate reflection and internal inquiry into action.

At the end of Ramadhan, all financially able Muslims are required to give a small amount of staple food items in charity (zakat ul-fitr), thus ensuring that all members of the community have enough food to celebrate the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr without worry. In this way, the month of fasting ends in personal action focused on caring for one’s community.

Islamic Practice and Second Person Action Research

Second person inquiry and practice revolves around working directly with others on issues of mutual concern. A thought-provoking example of this in Islamic governance is the traditional practice and development of sharia. There are various definitions of sharia; this entry will present two more common explanations.

The most common definition of sharia is typically ‘Islamic law’. Sharia literally translates as ‘a way’. It can also be understood as ‘that which is legislated’. Muslims have some texts which legislate, most notably the Qur’an; however, the question of what each text means then arises. The Qur’an itself is the subject of many interpretive or explanatory studies under the sciences of tafseer (roughly translated as ‘exegesis’) and fiqh (‘Islamic jurisprudence’). Understanding the texts can result in multiple voices and perspectives; most traditionally trained scholars recognize the possibility of multiple interpretations as well as their own fallibility in developing an interpretation. This plurality directly controverts the common (mis)understanding of Islamic law as a single set of rigid rules.

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