أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ اللّهُ مَثَلاً كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاء
Are you not aware how God sets forth the parable of a good word? [It is] like a good tree, firmly rooted, [reaching out] with its branches towards the sky. (Qur’an 14:24)
The articles in this series answer hypothetical questions related to Muslim practice and belief, with a special focus on those things that affect our social lives. Our intention is to provide a clear Islamic alternative to the individualistic worldview held by much of society today. The Q&A’s in this series have both a theoretical and practical element. They help us see the historical and intellectual reasons for why basic Islamic teachings—particularly those related to relationships and society—seem foreign to us today. Along with providing this theoretical awareness, the Q&A’s also give practical advice on how we as contemporary Muslims can still adopt a balanced and beautiful attitude of godly submission despite modern calls to unbridled freedom.