With the Islamic awakening in the Middle East, the "Principles of Islamic Sociology" illustrates the nuts and bolts of Islamic society with a contemporay vision that is possible within the realm of Islamic law and thinking. According to Muslim scholars, the beauty of Islamic law is that it is not stagnant. The Qur'an applies to all ages and periods. Dr Younos succefully demonstrates not only the principles of Islamic sociology as an academic discpline, but also a new thinking and vision for a Muslim society in the contemporary world. This book answers a compelling question: In what way should Muslims decide on their social exsitence in the age of globalization? Reforms within Muslim soieties is a must. The only solution is reform their socio-political system by impleminting Islamic vlaues based upon a new interpretation of Islam. "Principles of Islamic Sociology" has managed to achieve that goal. Principles of Islamic Sociology By Farid Younos AuthorHouse Copyright © 2011 Farid Younos All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4670-3133-2 Contents Acknowledgment......................................................xiIntroduction........................................................xiiiChapter 1: Tawhid (Oneness of God).................................1Chapter 2: Medina, The First Muslim Society........................7Chapter 3: The Foundation of a Muslim Society......................15Chapter 4: The concept of Ummah....................................31Chapter 5: Islamic Socialization...................................35Chapter 6: Social Classes..........................................51Chapter 7: Race Relations..........................................57Chapter 8: Gender Issues...........................................65Chapter 9: Political Sociology in Islam............................75Chapter 10: Islamic Economic System................................101Chapter 11: Social Deviance as Viewed by Islam.....................109Chapter 12: Sociology of Education in Islam........................127Chapter 13: Health and Diet........................................139Chapter 14: Social Dynamics and Social Change......................145Conclusion..........................................................153References..........................................................157Index...............................................................161 Chapter One Tawhid (Oneness of God) All Muslims, including the Islamic scholars, in all branches of science, strongly believe that God is one, He is Absolute, He is the Creator and that He is the lawgiver of the universe and of mankind. He is the first causal principle, the beginning and the end, as well as the Unique One; He does not resemble anyone (Qur'an, 42:11), because He does not exist in human form. God is all knowing, all wise and He has given the world an order wherein which He keeps that order. Muslim scholars believe in the theory of occasionalism, which states "at every moment of time, God recreates the world and thus makes happen all that happens therein." This means that God is not an idle being. He constantly watches His creations and He recreates His creation as He deems necessary for ecological survival. The `Oneness' of God has a vast meaning in Islamic sociology, including that He is the core principle of all vital existence on earth. Belief in God is what makes a Muslim a Muslim. If s/he believes in God, s/he must believe in Him in totality, not partiality, and must listen to His laws as an exercise of free choice. Man resorts to God for guidance when and where the human understanding fails, because God is the lawgiver and has the final say on all matters. The holy Qur'an is not a manual of sociology. However, many of its verses as we shall see, are the declarations of sociological principles. The Oneness of God, which is the principle of Tawhid , views the universe as one, mankind as one, and knowledge as one. These all originate from the one God alone. According to renowned sociologist of the 20th century, Ali Shari'ati, explains Tawhid as, "regarding the whole cosmos as a unity, instead of dividing it into this world and the Hereafter, the natural and the supernatural, substance and meaning, spirit and body. It means regarding the whole of existence as a single form, a single living and a conscience organism, possessing will, intelligence, feeling and purpose." Tawhid is a world-view. It gives a person a direction for living, achievement and purpose. It creates his/ her goal and objective. Tawhid gives hope, because the ultimate hope of success and achievement is to return to Allah. Human responsibility towards Tawhid is to align all of his actions to achieve and to reach Allah. Because of this principle, Islam is a complete way of life and encompasses all aspects of life. Therefore, a Muslim cannot be detached from politics, economics, civic life, and social life in the study of Islam. Tawhid is totali