RELI 448N Discussion Islamic Belief and Practice
RELI 448N Discussion Islamic Belief and Practice
RELI 448N Discussion Islamic Belief and Practice
I chose option 1 for the discussion of week 7 because I did my interview on the Muslim Religion and I wanted to learn more about the five pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars are the core beliefs and practices of Islam starting with “1. The Profession of Faith (Shahada), which is the belief that “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God”. 2. Prayer (Salat), Muslims pray facing Mecca five times a day: at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after dark, on a mat. 3. Alms/Charity to the poor (Zakat), In accordance with Islamic law, Muslims donate a fixed portion of their income to community members in need. 4. Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), During the daylight hours of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, all healthy adult Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink to renew awareness of and gratitude for everything God has provided in their lives. 5. Pilgrimage (Hajj), Every Muslim whose health and finances permit it must make at least one visit to the holy city of Mecca, in present-day Saudi Arabia. They gather around the Ka’ba in Mecca on the eighth and twelfth days of the final month of the Islamic calendar”(The Met, 2000-2020).
I have chosen the fourth Pillar primarily because I would notice at work that during certain days, my coworker Maria would not eat all day but she would drink water. I always loved to share my lunch with her but when she would refuse, I knew that it was time for her fasting. I as a Catholic did fast in Lent on Wednesday and Friday of every week during the 40 days of Lent and definitely no meat on Friday’s. Of course there were always those exceptions, for example if you are working in a very physical job, you did not have to fast and you could eat all of the meat that your body needed. The Muslim’s on the other hand are extremely devout and therefore, avoid all food, liquid, tobacco, and sex from dawn until dusk. “The purpose of fasting is to discipline yourself, to develop sympathy for the poor and hungry, and to give to others what you would have eaten”(Molloy, 2020, p. 400). I do believe that everybody should be allowed to practice all of their teachings anywhere and at any time whether it has to do with the Five Pillars or the Ten Commandments. Freedom of religion.
How do Sufis differ from other Muslims? “Sufis are distinguished from other Muslims by their fervent seeking of dhawq, a “tasting” that leads to an illumination beyond standard forms of learning. However, the insight gained by such experience is not valid if it contradicts the Qur’an”(Religion Facts, 2017). The Sufis believe that they have no need for the Five Pillars because they have outgrown them, except for Fasting because they still believe that fasting is considered one of the most important preparations for the spiritual life. They practice having little sleep, food, and conversation. Therefore, I will have to say that they express the Fasting Pillar the same way as the other Muslims. They have strict obedience to Islamic law as well.
References:
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (8th
ed.). McGraw-Hill.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2000–2020. The Five Pillars of Islam.
world/unit-one/the-five-pillars-of-Islam
“Sufi Practices.” ReligionFacts.com. 18 Feb. 2017. Web. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
http://www.religionfacts.com/sufism/practicesLinks to an external site..
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I have always found fasting to be interesting to learn about and have always thought it was too difficult to try. I eat/snack every hour because my stomch tells me to lol I am also immunoscompomised so I would probably never try it. I have tried juicing, though, about years ago and that was also very difficult for me. I asked my friend, Hannef, the one I wrote my religion interview essay on more about this ritual and he says it is hard at first, you can feel a bit dizzy/lightheaded but then your body gets used to it. If I was healthier, I might have tried it one day to be able to say I experienced it but I’m sure it is more dangerous for and the faith allows for the sickly, pregnant and elderly to be excused from this ritual.
The lesson of ours says this week that Islam way to publish yourself of surrender yourself to Allah, who guides the faithful id a straight path, and also the religious practice of theirs consists of the day obedience to the instructions of God as told in the Qur’an (CCON,2017). I don’t believe the tension in between the universal and also the specific will be totally solved. Right now there are regularly gonna be disputes among cultures that are different and the beliefs of theirs (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2020). That’s the reason why the planet of ours exclusive is that everybody is who they would like, learn what etc. is wanted by them, and simply since I don’t trust in another person’s beliefs or maybe practices doesn’t make me wrong or right, it’s a choice we make. Every religion has its’ own “set of rules” of adopting the correct path to God, certainly various values and like Islam they don’t take the Christian belief, but that does not imply they’re wrong (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2020). Most individuals might not love how certain religions treat females, therefore conflict is available. Conflicts occur with the Muslims due to the terrorist attacks against the US. The terrorists thought they had been doing what Allah needed, but after hearing the video clip that pointed out Islam is tranquil, I believe their thinking wasn’t in the proper path of Islam. I believe that anybody is able to perform whatever religion which they wish to. It’s as much as anyone what they will quit from their very own heritage being a component of the opposite religion beliefs. Right after learning the various religions, I look for elements of each which are intriguing. I really discover the Islamic methods of attention since I didn’t completely understand the beliefs of theirs and exactly why they perform the manner they actually do until now.
Reference Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2020). RELI-448 Week seven, (Online lesson). Downers Grove, IL: DeVry Education Group.
There are Five Pillars of Islam that must be practiced as a Muslim which includes, Creed, Prayer, Charity to the Poor, Fasting during Ramadan, and Pilgrimage to Mecca. Creed or Shahadah means “there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger”, Prayer or Salat must be done five times throughout the day starting before dawn and ending at nighttime, Charity to the Poor or Zakat practiced that one must donate a percentage of their income to the poor each year, Fasting during Ramadan or Sawm is a period where one should abstain from food for a period of time to increase spiritual growth, this is usually done at the ninth month of the year, Pilgrimage to Mecca or Hajj is a religious journey to Mecca to have your sins forgiven and grow closer to God (Molloy, 2020 p. 399-401). The Pillar that I chose is Prayer. Muslims should pray before dawn, midday, midafternoon, sunset, and at nighttime. Muslims are taught to pray for the result of great benefits. Also, Muslims must purify themselves before each prayer by washing their hands, arms, face, neck, and feet. Multiple passages are recited from the Qur’an in prayer. While other days of the week, prayer is done privately, on Fridays, prayer must be done publicly only by men and women must continue to pray privately at home. “Sufism, mysticalLinks to an external site. IslamicLinks to an external site. belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God” (Schimmel, 2019). Sufis have some differences from the Islamic culture; however, their prayer life is the same which is five times daily and they must also visit Mecca once in their lifetime. Sufis believes that all things exist within God (the spirit) while Muslims believe that there is no God but Allah. Sufis does follow the same five pillars that Muslims follow. I chose prayer as my pillar because as a Christian, prayer is important; although not followed daily and throughout the day. I love prayer because I feel renewed, I feel that God has listened to my struggles, my praises, and forgave me for my sins, as I thank him throughout my prayer. Once, I end my prayer, I end it in Jesus name and Amen, because it’s final and it is believed that God will answer your prayers in his time. As I mentioned in one of the past discussions, prayer must be done before attempting anything in life as a Christian. For an example: If I’m buying a car, I must pray before buying the car so that God can bless the experience, even if I’m traveling to a local store, my prayer will be to provide me with traveling mercy. Also, praying for others and not just yourself is important and God will bless you in return. Overall, prayer is important for many people, including patients. It is important to allow your patients to pray based on their beliefs, which is providing one with respect.
Fatimah Williams-Terry
References
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill
Schimmel, Annemarie (2019). Sufism. Encyclopædia Britannica
Thank you for your excellent post. It was very educational and I really enjoyed reading it.
Muslims fasting accords during Ramadan the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar (Molloy, 2020). Muslims fast between dawn to dusk and make tarawih salah (extra prayers) at night. Fasting involves worship, as well as medication and spiritual self-discipline (Cho Cho Zaw, R. & Myat Min, O. 2018). The belief and the practice of fasting during Ramadan brings Muslims closer to Allah. Muslims also believe that fasting values the blessing of Allah and brings their hearts closer to other that are in need and provides their hearts with understanding and empathy for them. Beside the spiritual benefits of fasting, it supplies physical benefits too. It eliminates harmful fatty substances from the blood, weight loss, and renewal of body tissue. Allah does not want his devoted followers to unnecessarily harm themselves. Fasting can be done some other time if a Muslim is sick, elderly, mentally ill, children below the age of puberty or other medical condition.
References
Cho Cho Zaw, R., & Myat Min, O., (2018). Five pillars of Islam in relation to physical, health, and spiritual health and nursing implications. International Medical Journal Malaysia. 17, p 105-108 https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/eds/results?vid=5&sid=dfea5ecc-3425-4903-a13d-8c5f17caee69%40pdc-v-sessmgr01&bquery=five+pillars+of+Islam&bdata=JmNsaTA9RlQmY2x2MD1ZJnR5cGU9MCZzZWFyY2hNb2RlPUFuZCZzaXRlPWVkcy1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
The Five Pillars of Islam are creed, prayer, charity to the poor, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca. They are called pillars because they support one’s faith (Molloy, 2020). The creed simply states that there is only one God and one messenger, Muhammad. It emphasizes there are no other divine figures except God and rejects those by other religions, such as the Holy Spirit and Jesus. Prayer is to be done five times throughout the day, each with their own expectations and bodily postures. Prayer should be done towards the direction of Mecca. Friday is the day of public prayer, usually done at midday. While men typically pray in a mosque during public prayer, women pray at home. The concept of giving to the poor is based off Muhammad’s image of a fair society. He was originally troubled when he saw poverty and injustice in the world. This pillar attracts my attention the most. It succinctly states what is to be done and why it is done. While the concept of dictating seems odd, I like the idea of giving up worldly goods to help those less fortunate. And it bonds you with others; not only with the poor but with those you share in the giving experience with. I do believe that we need to think of the greater good and give in an almost socialist sense, but what becomes of a society that does not take care of its less fortunate ones? As a nurse, I feel it is apparent as to why I am attracted to this pillar. We are giving of ourselves to strangers, but also brothers and sisters. We can be there for those that need clinical or holistic help, and possibly for those that do not have loved ones in their life. Zaw and Omar state the five pillars has physical, mental, social, spiritual, and other benefits. Following them can lead to the betterment of society. They add that preserving health and long life is also part of a Muslims’ responsibility while helping and assisting others achieve that is part of a nurse’s responsibility. Performing these duties can help achieve both spiritual enhancement and physical well-being (2018).
The practice of Islam dictates that its followers donate percentages of what they own to the poor. Additionally, believers are expected to perform acts of generosity and charity for the poor. During Ramadan, which signifies the period when Muhammad received his revelations, Islamic followers observe fasting. They abstain from food, liquid, sex, and tobacco from dawn to dusk. This practice is meant to bestow discipline, “to develop sympathy for the poor and hungry, and to give to others what you would have eaten,” (Molloy, 2020). Lastly, the pilgrimage to Mecca is exactly that. All Muslims are expected to visit Mecca at least once in their life, either during the greater pilgrimage or the special month of pilgrimage or during the lesser pilgrimage which consists of any other time of the year. There, various rituals and celebrations are observed, followed, and adhered to.
Sufis believe “that the highest experience a person can have is a direct experience with God” and the purpose of life is experiencing God (Molloy, 2020). Whereas other Muslims emphasize religious practice in any aspect, big or small, of life and that to be a proper Muslim is to adhere to the rules of the religion. They do believe in helping the poor and they have a connection with the common people. And Molloy mentions that there is a warmth of Sufism and their ability to comfort those is distress that helped Islam spread from its origin to other countries. Sufis believed Muhammad himself was a mystic, who lived a simple life yet sought and found God. There is some contention as Islamic authorities’ fear the Sufi message takes away from the specific commands of the traditional practice and that worship to other Sufi masters distracts from the reverence that should be given to God and God alone.
References
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill
Zaw, C. & Omar, M. (2018). Five pillars of Islam in relation to physical health, spiritual health, and nursing implications. International Medical Journal Malaysia; 17(4); 105-108.
When it comes to the practice of Zakat, one of the principles that I believe is very important, is that the tax paid is to remain and be distributed within the same community as the giver. So many times, people give to charity and they hope that their money is going to a worthwhile cause. But, if they never have an opportunity to actually see their money at work, it may always be something in that back of their mind that concerns them.
If the principle that determines that the money is to be distributed in the local community is followed, then those who contribute can be a first-hand witness to see that what they have given is being used to make a difference in people’s lives.
The wonder of giving to charity in the modern world! Unless you do the research and find the credibility of a charity, you never really know how the money donated is being used. What is scary, is that some charities are very top heavy with management and high salaries allowing only a fraction of what we donated going towards its intended purpose. It would be of great comfort knowing the money and goodwill is helping those in need. It is unfortunate that without extensive oversight can we be sure we are helping our intended purposes and ensure the proper help and resources are being offered as intended.
The five pillars of Islam are Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj. Shahadah is as stated by Molloy (2019), “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.” This statement is the core of the Islamic belief. Salat is prayer, and more specifically it’s the requirement to engage in prayer 5 times a day facing the mecca (Khan Academy, 2020, p. 399). Zakat is the giving of wealth to those who are impoverished. The practice of fasting during Ramadan is Sawm. To fast one must not eat between dawn and dusk during the Muslim calendars ninth month (Molloy, 2019, p. 399). When Muslims make the pilgrimage to the Mecca, this is considered Hajj.
The pillar of Zakat is the standard by which charity should be given. This is not simply just donating whatever amount you would like. The religion has a specific amount that is expected to be donated based on each individual. The amount that is to be donated is an income tax of approximately 2.5%. And this is not on the amount that you bring in each year, but rather 2.5% of all that an individual owns (Molly, 2019, p. 399).
Sufis differ from other Muslims in that they believe in the ability to have a direct experience with God. And that this can happen in life before death (Molloy, 2019, p. 417). Sufis also believe that there is a requirement to give charity to those in need.
I chose this pillar because it was the one that I felt I could relate the most to my own life and worldview. I personally choose to give what I can to charitable organizations in order to help those in need. The difference is though that it is not something that I view as my duty. I do it because I enjoy being able to help others. After learning about Zakat, I can’t help but wonder if there would be an improvement in the world if everyone was required to give a specific amount to those less fortunate.
References
The Five Pillars of Islam (article) | Islam. (2020). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/introduction-cultures-religions-apah/islam-apah/a/the-five-pillars-of-islamLinks to an external site.
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
The Five Pillars of Islam
- Shahada, declaration of faith. The Shahada is the basic statement of the Muslim belief. The creed goes: “there is no God but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
- Salat, obligatory prayer. Prayer consists of defined movements and recitations of passages of the Qur’an. Before a cycle of prayer begins, a Muslim must orient himself or herself towards Mecca.
- Sawm, fasting in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year in which the fast takes place. According to Islamic custom, every able-bodied Muslim is required to fast during the daylight hours for a month.
- Zakat, compulsory giving. Zakat (almsgiving), generally involves giving away a certain percentage of one’s income and savings to the poor. Selflessly sharing God’s blessings with those who need it the most is regarded as a form of worship and an expression of sympathy.
- Hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca. Each Muslim who is financially and physically able is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca during the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. (“Muslim Beliefs and Practices,” 2019)
Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.
Physically and financially able Muslims are expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. It is celebrated during the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. In Mecca, they participate in religious rites at certain specific places in the holy city. The celebration ends with a ritual known as the Feast of Sacrifice, in which pilgrims sacrifice sheep and give the meat to the needy (“Muslim Beliefs and Practices,” 2019).
Sufis differ from other Muslims in that they believe they can become closer to God through inner purification and introspection. Sufis follow the five pillars of Islam just as other practicing Muslims. They declare faith to the same God (Allah), pray five times a day, practice almsgiving, fast, and perform the Hajj.
I chose this pillar because it is considered a spiritual, deeply personal experience. Most people that have made this journey claim that it was the most powerful experience of their lives. Thousands of people gather together responding to God’s call, to realize there’s no difference between rich and poor, black and white (“Muslim Beliefs and Practices,” 2019). This sense of equality represents my worldview, and this is the kind of experience I expect to live at some point in my life.
References
Hays, J. (2019). Muslim Beliefs and Practices. Retrieved December 06, 2020, from http://factsanddetails.com/world/cat55/sub358Links to an external site.
Muller, S. (Director), & Muller, S. (Producer). (2012). Islam, the Quran, and the five pillars all without a flamewar [Video]. PBS Crash Course. Academic Video Online.
Public Broadcasting Service (Producer). (2009). Seven wonders of the Muslim world [Video]. Academic Video Online.