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.