Let them eat fish

Islam is not just a religion, creed or belief – it’s a complete, all-embracing way of life. In other words, it regulates every aspect of human existence: individual and social, spiritual and secular, material and moral, economic and political, cultural and legal. Accordingly, Islam has its own penal system, economic structures, and legal framework. It also includes laws about diet, as well as directions and guidance about which sex positions are permitted, and how one should use the toilet.

Every element of a muslim’s life is governed by Islam. However, the koran itself is not a complete legal code: it doesn’t explicitly deal with every single conceivable eventuality. In fact, the koran is silent on a vast number of issues. But though the scope of the koran is limited, it’s still possible for muslims to know how they should fully conduct themselves, because muslims maintain that, in addition to the koran, allah established Muhammad as the perfect model for the entire world.

Since Muhammad is seen as the perfect measure for all human activity, in effect this means that everything Muhammad said or did serves as a sort of paradigm. Consequently, if the koran doesn’t fully address a certain issue, Islam resolves the matter by studying what Muhammad is reported to have said or done. For instance, the koran insists that muslims must pray every day, but it doesn’t specify how this duty should be performed. And so muslims clarify the matter by looking at what Muhammad said about prayer, and by identifying the way that he prayed.

In another instance, the koran records (5:3) a general injunction that forbids the consumption of carrion. But it’s recorded elsewhere that Muhammad exempted fish. Muslims therefore respect the general koranic injunction which forbids the consumption of carrion, but as far as fish carrion is concerned they also respect Muhammad’s exemption. Thus, in Islam, it’s conventional practice to settle a whole range of questions by examining the life of Muhammad. It’s clear, then, that Muhammad’s life is a vital element of Islam.

The koran, of course, is the foundation of Islam: the primary source of Islam’s tenets of belief, wide-ranging principles, general injunctions and moral guidelines. But muslims contend that without the life of Muhammad it’s not always possible to correctly understand the koran, or rightfully implement its precepts. As they see it, Muhammad’s life is the living interpretation of the koran, and without the example set by Muhammad it’s difficult to see how anyone can even begin to be a muslim.