Islam Part III

Ritual:

-Lifetime: Funerals- Janazah are prayers for the dead at gravesite. The burial takes place within 24 hours of death.

Shahadada: The marking of a young Muslim’s entry to Islam.

-Artifacts: Qur’an

-Rites of Passage: (See lifetime/shahadada)

-Worship: Muslims are required to pray 5 times daily at certain times, no matter what they are doing.

-Festivals/Holidays:

-Ramadan: Is a time of repentance and fasting, takes place in the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar.

-Al-Isra Wal Miraj: Marks Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina.

-Lilat Ul-Qadur: The final 10 days of Ramadan. Celebrate Muhammad’s first revelation from Allah.

-Gender Issues: Women do not have the same rights as men. They cannot make independent decisions about divorce, custody of children, etc.

Text:

Muslim Call to Prayer: “Allah is most great (4x). I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah (2x). I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah (2x). Come to prayer (2x). Come to Success (2x). Allah is most great (2x). There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.

Composition of Qur’an: Has 114 chapters/sections, organized from longest verse/section in the beginning, to the shortest at the end.

Doctrines/Beliefs:

Shahadada: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.” (Summary of most creeds in one!

Eschatology: There is the Judgement Day (yawmuddin), which occurs after all humanity dies, and Allah judges each and every Muslim on his/her good and bad deeds, those who do well according to Allah proceed to Jannah, to live eternally with Allah. Each person has a “book of deeds” which holds all of a person’s actions.

Cosmogony/Cosmology: Allah created the universe so that he is noticed and recognized, because before the universe creation, no one knew of him. There is the judged universe (those who live with Allah in Jannah, eternally) and the Test universe, (imperfect).

Religious Experience:

-Group experience: Prayer in unison, at Mecca, at the Ka’bah.

-Individual Experience: Hajj: Each Muslim is required to (if able) travel/migrate to Mecca to pray once in a lifetime.

Ethics and Moral Conduct:

-Beliefs: See gender issues, as well as women are required to wear a Burqwah/Hijab, in order to cover their bodies to prevent temptation for the men. Jihad is the only form of warfare allowed by Islamic law, yet most Muslims view Jihad as only a defensive form.

-Shari’a Law: “Is the expression of the Divine will.” It covers all aspects of life, giving guidance and rules. The duties that Allah places on the Muslim community, (Ummah).

-Qanun Law: These are laws publicized by Muslim sovereignty, the opposite of Shari’a in a way. Laws laid down by humans, not Allah.

Huston Smith Section II (231-242)

The Standing Miracle
-Qu'ran is what' is known as the "standing miracle." Why? It's the sacred text, delivered directly from Allah, through Muhammad by means of voice of Gabriel, to the people. Muhammad's followers recorded the messages in any way possible.

-Uncreated Qu'ran and "Real" Qu'ran: Uncreated is the divine reality, while the written one is the earthly reality.

-The bible testaments have two things (bad) the Qu'ran does not: partially corrupted in transmission (Qu'ran was directly from Allah, and written under His supervision in a way), and it only records partial truth.

-The Bible is less about God's direct pronouncements.


Basic Theological Concepts
Similar to those of Christianity and Judaism.

Creation: an act of Allah's will, important.

Fitrah: Human nature. Muslims must surrender to Allah is an obligation.

God: monotheistic, got rid of idolatry. His nature is powerful, unrecognizable.

Judgement Day: Main idea: each soul will be held responsible for actions. Qu'ran puts the stress all on the individual.

Huston Smith Section I (221-231)

The Seal of the Prophets/Background
Why is Muhammad called "the seal of the prophets?" and how was Muhammad raised, how did he become the prophet he is best known for being, and what were the initial reactions to the rise of Islam?

-Muhammad is referenced to as the seal of the prophets because he was the last "valid" prophet. There were prophets before him, but none had as much influence.

-Muhammad was brought up in a tumultuous time, the prevailing polytheistic religion focusing mostly on spirits and demons known as jinn. As he grew he frequently visited a cave on Mount Hira, where he began to realize the truth about Allah: that he was the God, the only God, etc. One night he was confronted by an angel where he was told to "proclaim!" meaning, acknowledge and praise Allah. He became his prophet to the people, yet only produced a few followers over the years.

-The initial reactions to the uprise of Islam were not friendly. Muhammad and his followers were severely persecuted, by being ignored, beaten, and out-casted.


The Migration That Led to Victory
What was Muhammad's "migration" all about? What victory came from it?

-Muhammad traveled to Medina (Yathrib) because he had a strong group of followers there. Once there, he became a sort of politician, controlling government, etc, and bringing together the 5 tribes in the area, an unheard of feat.

-The Meccans came to Medina multiple times and tried to force all the Muslims out, and get rid of Muhammad, but failed each time. Muhammad's empire of Muslims had expanded throughout all of Arabia and into North Africa and parts of Europe. In short, where he was once persecuted, he then controlled.

Islam Reading

Muhammad and the founding of Islam:
Muhammad born around 570, orphan

Arabia prior to Islam:
-Tribes organized raids, to gain supplies they needed, such as food, animals, women, etc.
-Leaders of tribes (shaykh's) were important, but poets were just as important, if not more.
-Poets, supposedly possessed by jinn, spirits in the natural world.
-Religion differed. Some focused on pleasing the jinn. Others revered gods and goddesses, but all believed in at least Allah, the creator of the universe.

The Town of Mecca:
-There existed the pilgrimage (hajj). Process to Mecca and do ceremonies around the sacred shrine
-With Muhammad's birth, the influence and prevalence of tribes died down, and a class distinction rose up.

Muhammad's early life:
-People became acquainted with the practices of christianity and judaism.
-But these beliefs were not to penetrate the city of Mecca.
-Muhammad became used to the ideas of monotheistic religions.
-Met and married Khadijah and became a member of the merchant class.
-Muhammad had many influences from his young life that carriedd through to his death and the teachings of Islam, like the poor, and monotheistic ideas.

The Coming of Revelation:
-Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel
-Constantly visited.
-He began to preach a little openly to the Meccans
-Took on the name "Prophet/Messenger of God"
-Muhammad preached of ONLY one god: Allah, and of his power
-But the leaders of Mecca didn't want him to succeed

The Opposition of Muhammad:
-He and followers were forced to leave Mecca.
-Had most famous revelation: he was taken to Jerusalem by Gabriel and ascended to heaven, where he met with prophets such as Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and supposedly stood before God.
-Fled to Medina.
-His followers......followed to Medina.

Muhammad: Politics and Prophethood:
-The first mosque was built, and he continued to receive revelations from God.
-Continued to teach his followers.
-Muslims and Jews used to pray together, but once Muhammad was told in a revelation to pray towards Mecca, and not Jerusalem, they split.
-Muhammad taught followers how to raid, not farm.

The Clash of Arms:
-Meccans outraged.
-Couple of fights happened between Muslims and Meccans, they traded off winning and losing.
-When the Muslims won, they gave credit to "divine guidance," when they lost, it was "represented as a test for the true believer."
-Eventually, there was no more opposition to Muhammad.
-So, Muhammad went to go take out old enemies, and succeeds.
-Mecca then belonged to all of Islam, Muhammad, and his followers.
-"Allahu Akbar!"

Victory and the Final Pilgrimage:
-Muhammad expands Islam even more, down the Arabian Peninsula.
-He participates in the annual pilgrimage in 632.
-Previously all faiths could make pilgrimage, but this time, it was only Muslims, and from then on out.
-Last great sermon.
-Farewell pilgrimage, back to Medina.
-"It was up to the community to find a successor."

Here is the "hell wheel" I discussed earlier. It's actually quite interesting and detailed. I cannot believe that I didn't just assume all of the information here, considering Buddhism seems to be all about "suffering, desire, hatred, etc"

For September 22nd

For a research question, I would really like to focus/narrow in my research question more so I can have a more focused overall argument.

What are the ideas of hell in Buddhism and Christianity, how do they differ in how they are described, and in how you reach hell? Is kind of the one I am going for. But if I need to broaden the question and research (again), I can. But that's my goal.

Rationale:
Question for Josh: Would it be OK to discuss how I wrote this IA last year, my interest grew as I found more resources, and decided to focus in more and try to find a real answer this year?

If so, then i will expand off of my old rationale, (shorten it, make it less sappy) then include how my interest grew this year and what i will focus on now.

Resources:
I have found HUGE databases on Buddhist beliefs (specifically about hell as well) and will try to find someone to interview a.s.a.p.

I am already scheduling a session with my mother's EFM class, where I will sit and listen to what they have to say, and ask them, perhaps, specific questions relating to hell, how one reaches hell, what it is like in their opinion, etc... anything I can ask to satisfy my research.

Plan For Study:
I'll answer my research question to the best of my ability by using the specific opinions from the interviews I will obtain (both Buddhist and Christian) and combining them with the general information I found last year, and references to the scriptures of both religions (already have buddhist, just need christian right now) I will find a more focused and detailed description of hell for each religion.

THOUGHT:
I just realized that I will probably have to focus in on a certain Christian denomination, such as episcopalian (since that's what the EFM group is) and also a Buddhist denomination. I'll do some more research and see if this is necessary.

Research

Surprisingly, within just a few minutes of investigation, i found huge resources, and databases of Buddhist doctrines and information.

1.) The first discusses the "Wheel of Rebirth", which is a representation of karma.

http://www.khandro.net/doctrine_rebirth.htm

It describes the 6 realms that i have previously researched, but in more detail. The hell realm is included. It states that there is both an extreme cold and heat component of the Buddhist hell.
It also references a Buddhist Sutra known as the "Sutra of the Remembrance of the True Law," which describes hell in more detail, as, actually 8 hells, that are merely the cause of our own minds. I have yet to find this Sutra, I have found a description of it, I would like to read the actual Sutra, but it is still helpful.

Also this wheel of life includes three central emotions that cause the cycle of samsara, and subsequently could lead one to hell. These three are: Delusion, Desire, and Hatred. (Surprise!)

Outside this Wheel of Rebirth are 12 "Links of Casualty," which refer to actions that can determine the consequences of karma. (Ignorance, Dispositions, Consciousness, Name and Form, Six Sense Fields, Contact, Feeling, Desire, Appropriation, Becoming, Rebirth, Aging and Dying.) And they are described as images that people can relate to.


2.) http://www.khandro.net/doctrine_Hells.htm

This is the source that describes the "Sutra of the Remembrance of the True Law." It describes the 8 hells, as "a creation of the mind, filled with self deception and egocentrism."

The hells are seperated into catergories, such as, those who abuse intoxicants, those who kill, steal, commit other crimes, improper attitudes for love, etc. Really, anything that anyone could do that could be considered even a little bit wrong.

But then it goes into the type of buddhism and states that hells could range from 8 to 136... Look, more confusion for me to define. Anyways, it also includes other quotes from Sutras that include references to hell. Very useful.