Blog Post 27 - The Five Pillars of Islam

1. Why is the pronouncement of the shahada central to a Muslim’s identity and
practice of the Islamic faith?

The pronouncement of shahada is cental to a Muslim’s identity and practice of the Islamic faith because it is the affirmation of the belief of one God and His prophet. Such as the National Anthem unifies spectators along with opposing teams during a sporting event, the pronouncement in one true God does the same.
2. How does the practice of the salat both mentally and physically help Muslims to
live in obedience to the will of Allah?
The pronouncement of salat is central to a Muslim's identity and practice of the Islamic faith because slat(prayer) unifies Muslims all over the world. For example, during the five times Muslims pray during the day, they are to face the holy city of Mecca. This unifies all that pronounce salat. God commanded the prophet Muhammad to pray five times a day thus making prayer a central practice because Islam is submission to the will of God. Prayer mentally rests Muslims.


3. In what ways does the practice of zakat influence Muslims as a community of faith? In other words, what does this practice say about the Muslim community and its commitment to the poor and marginalized?

The practice of zakat shows that Muslims are a people of giving. Muslims have made a commitment to helping their fellow human beings by donating 1/40 of their total income to the poor. This may seem small but with millions of Muslims doing this the whole world can benefit from their example.

4. How does the practice of sawm both mentally and physically help a Muslim to live in obedience to the will of Allah?

I must say that the pillar of sawm is my favorite pillar because it is the one that I am most intrigued by. Sawm is fasting. I find especially admirable that Muslims fast during Ramadan to personally experience what it feels like to be hungry. This is both a mental and physical way Muslims live in obedience to the will of Allah.
5. Why do you think that the hajj is a pillar of the Islamic faith? How is this practice similar and different from other world religions?

I believe that the hajj is a pillar of Islamic faith because Muhammad performed a hajj known as the hijra. Also, Muslims pry to the kabba in Mecca everyday therefore it is only fitting to visit the center of their faith. This practice is similar to other world religions because all religions have holy sites and all world religions have pilgrims. It is different from other world religions because unlike Christians going to St. Peter's Basilica and walking around, Muslims go to Mecca for many days with specific events for each day and all rituals must be done correctly.

6. What do you think are some of the challenges of practicing a life in relationship to the Five Pillars?

Some challenges to living a life in relationship to the five pillars would be finding time to practice salat. In such a busy world where we barely have enough time to ourselves I believe that it would be hard to find time to pray five times a day at specific times. Another challenge would be taking the hajj because it is very expensive to travel to Saudi Arabia.

Blog Post 26 - 99 Names of God

The Vanquisher

                This name can be applied to God because God is the manipulator of all things in the universe therefor has the power to take it away. To vanquish something is to defeat an opponent or opposing army in a battle or fight. God has the power to defeat evil and He did just that when Jesus died on the cross to save us.

The Sustainer

                I chose this name to be a more masculine name of God because in today’s society there is a stereotype in which the man of a household is the one who is supposed to be the “breadwinner”. The man is the one who is supposed to provide for his family all of the things they need to survive and live a comfortable life. In a way, God gives us the power to be able to do this. God sustains on life in the universe and God is the ultimate provider for all human beings.

The Most Kind

                God is kind and does not discriminate against anyone. He is the ultimate epitome of kindness. I chose this to be a feminine name of God because females are stereotypically nicer than men. Women naturally have a more motherly approach to things and are usually nicer and are more emotional when it comes to decision-making. God has our greatest intentions in mind when he cares for us.

The Infinitely Patient

                God is incredibly patient with us. Just like most women are or mothers have to be incredibly patient when raising their children. Most women don’t have short tempers like men. God has to have a lot of patience to be able to listen to all of our prayers. God cannot be mad at us and forgives us whenever we sin.

                All four of these names can refer to the same God because God is everything. He has to have all of these attributes in order to truly love and be truly encompassed in each and everyone’s life. God is all-knowing and all powerful. He has to take on both masculine and feminine attributes to be who He is. He created the universe because he loves us and keeps us alive every day because he cares. Each of these names accurately describe God in every way because he embodies each attribute. 

Blog Post 24 - Islam Webquest

RESOURCES:

http://www.islamicpopulation.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ataglance/glance.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_by_country

http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa120298.htm

QUESTIONS:

1) What is highest estimate for the total number of Muslims that live in the world today?

2.1 Billion

2) List 10 countries who have a Muslim population of 86% or greater.

Algeria

Comoros

Djibouti

Egypt

Gambia

Libya

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Senegal

3) What country has the largest Muslim population?

Algeria

4) How many Muslims are there in the United States?

2.6 million

NICE JOB!!! Now that we know about how many Muslims there are in

our world and where many of them call home, we can now move ahead

to Task 2.

Task # 2: Key Beliefs of Islam

REOURCES:

http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-2.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/beliefs/six_articles.htm

QUESTIONS:

Summarize each of the key beliefs below in a COMPLETE sentence.

1) Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone.  He is the true God, and every other deity is false.  He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes.

2) Muslims believe in the existence of the angels and that they are honored creatures. 

3) Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them.

4) Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). 

5) Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.

6) Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill.

TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD

Go to the following website and put 3 of Muhammad’s sayings in your own

words.

1) The hardest struggle for God is within one’s self.

2)Truth and light will be the right path. It is wiser and holds the clearer message, it is the embodiment of true wisdom.

3)Among the greatest sins are injustice, oppression and tyranny.

Task #3 – The Quran (Koran)

RESOURCES:

http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/muhamd.htm

http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-7.htm

QUESTIONS:

1) What does the Quran provide?

The Quran, the last revealed word of God, is the primary source of every Muslim’s faith and practice.  It deals with all the subjects which concern human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, transactions, law, etc., but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures.  At the same time, it provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a just society, proper human conduct, and an equitable economic system.

2) In what language(s) does the Quran exist? Why?

Note that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad  in Arabic only.  So, any Quranic translation, either in English or any other language, is neither a Quran, nor a version of the Quran, but rather it is only a translation of the meaning of the Quran.  The Quran exists only in the Arabic in which it was revealed.

3) During which month was the Quran sent down from Heaven?

Muslims believe that during the ninth month of the Muslim calender, the month of Ramadan, the Holy Quran (Koran) "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation".

4) What did the angel Gabriel command Muhammad to do? What happened

next?

One day Muhammad was sitting alone in the wilderness near Mecca when the Angel Gabriel appeared to him. The Angel commanded Muhammad to read. Muhammad responded "I am not a reader." The Angel Gabriel then taught Muhammad some verses from the Quran, which Muhammad memorized.

Task #4 - Five Pillars of Faith

RESOURCES:

http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/pillars.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/fivepillars.shtml

QUESTIONS:

1) List and explain the 5 Pillars of Faith.

Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith

Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day

Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy

Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan

Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca

2) Why are they important?

The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam.

3) Why is cheating on the 5 Pillars impossible?

Carrying out these obligations provides the framework of a Muslim's life, and weaves their everyday activities and their beliefs into a single cloth of religious devotion.

4) Compare the 5 Pillars with similar activities in other religions.

Ten commandments

Task # 5 – Ramadan

RESOURCES:

http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/holidays/ramadan.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/ramadan_1.shtml

QUESTIONS:

1) What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is not a holy day but a holy month. It is the ninth month of the Muslim year, in which "the Qur'an was sent down as a guidance for the people" . Ramadan is similar to the Jewish Yom Kippur in that both constitute a period of atonement; Ramadan, however, is seen less as atonement and more as an obedient response to a command from God.

2) What restraints are placed on Muslims during Ramadan?

During Ramadan, those who are able must abstain from evil thoughts and deeds, food and drink (including water), and sexual intercourse from dawn until dusk for the entire month. Because the holiday cycles through the solar year, this fast can be much more difficult in some years than others. When Ramadan falls in the summer season, the days of fasting are longer and it is a greater hardship to do without water.

3) What can destroy the good acquired during Ramadan?

Eating food without fasting, smoking, doing evil things, drinking alcohol, saying bad words.

4) Why is the 27th day of Ramadan significant?

On the evening of the either the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th day* of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

5) What happens when Ramadan ends?

When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan

6) What are the 3 reasons Ramadan is important?

The beginning and end of Ramadan are announced when one trustworthy witness testifies before the authorities that the new moon has been sighted; a cloudy sky may, therefore, delay or prolong the fast. The end of the fast is celebrated with one of two Islamic festivals, 'Id al-Fitr.

7) Why is easier to do good during Ramadan?

Non-Muslims in Muslim countries during Ramadan must be careful not to eat, drink, or smoke in the presence of Muslims during the daytime hours of fasting, as the law requires adherence to the fast in public. The traditional greeting during Ramadan is "Ramadan Mubarak" ("May God give you a blessed month") and the reply is "Ramadan Karim" ("May God give you a generous month").

Excellent! You're almost done! Move to Task 6!!!

Task #6 – Fun Facts

You have done a great job researching Islam! Now you and your partner

can surf the web to learn more about Islam. Use the links below to make a

list of 10 different facts about Islam you think are especially interesting.

Take this opportunity to learn about other holidays, art, music, medicine –

whatever interests you about Islam.

Surfs up!

RESOURCES:

http://religionfacts.com/islam/index.htm

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/muslimlife/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/world_religions/islam.shtml

http://www.islamicity.com/education/understandingislamandmuslims/

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html (Click Islam in the list on the

left side)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/ (Click Major

Themes or Frequently Asked Questions)

List 5 interest facts you learned from the websites above.

1) Islam is a monotheistic religion based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, which were later recorded in the Qur'an (Koran), Islam's sacred text.

2) Unlike Christian art, Islamic art isn't restricted to religious work, but includes all the artistic traditions in Muslim culture. Its strong aesthetic appeal transcends time and space, as well as differences in language and culture.

3) Jalaluddin Rumi, better known simply as Rumi, was perhaps the finest Persian poet of all time and a great influence on Muslim writing and culture. His poetry is still well known throughout the modern world, and he is one of the best selling poets in America.

4) Architecture is one of the greatest Islamic art forms. An Islamic style is seen in mosques but also in Muslim houses and gardens.

5) The al-Burda, also called Qasida (hymn) Burda, is an Arabic poem honouring the Prophet Muhammad. The name means 'poem of the mantle' or 'of the cloak'.

CONCLUSION

CONGRATULATIONS! You have just explored and researched one of the

major religions of the world. In addition to learning about Islam, you have

learned that the Internet can be a valuable research tool. Isn’t it amazing?

Way to go!