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HL 2008 Unit 1: Section A | A1 Sample answer
Outline how two religious practices are influenced by the
understanding of divine revelation found in one major
world religion you have studied.
To transcend means to go beyond or extend the normal boundaries of reality. God is
transcendent because He extends to the spiritual and unknowable dimensions of reality. The
three major world religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism all believe in the existence of on
Divine being, although their perceptions of this sacred being differ due to the different ways
each faith believed God has revealed himself to humanity. In my essay I will discuss the way in
which divine revelation has influenced the two religious practices of Salat (Prayer) and (Fasting)
in Islam.
Muslims hold the belief that the last of God’s will was made to the Prophet Muhammad in
610CE on Mount Hira. On the so-called ‘The Night of Power and Excellence’ God revealed
himself to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril) and declared that there was no God
but Allah and Muhammad is his chosen messenger – now the first pillar of Islam (Shahada). A
series of further divine revelations influenced the other four pillars.
Salat is the second pillar of Islam. Muslims pray 5 times a day. Before Salat a Muslim must
perform ablution (Wudu) by washing their arms, hands, head and feet in a certain way in order
to have Taharah (purification). This practice was influenced when Surah Al-Maidah was
revealed to Muhammad in Madina "when you rise to observe the Salat, you shall wash your
faces and your arms to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles."
(5:6). Rak’ah is the unit of ritual actions performed during prayer. How many Rak’ahs
performed depends on the time of day. Each position performed as a part of the Rak’ah has a
special meaning. A person standing is a sign of listening to God, bowing is respect for God,
touching the forehead off the ground is a sign of obedience to the will of God. At the end of
HL 2008 Unit 1: Section A | Sample answer
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Salat the Shahada is said. On Friday men are obligated to pray in the Mosque. This practice is
influenced by Surah Al-Juma revealed to Muhammad also in Madina “When the call is
proclaimed for the Salat on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah” (62:9).
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is obligated that every Muslim makes the pilgrimage to Mecca
at least once in their lifetime. Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad and the Ka’ba is located
there. All Muslims also pray towards the Ka’ba. Upon arrival, Muslims perform ablution, change
into white robes and begin Hajj. They circle the Ka’ba and drink water from the Zamzam (Holy
Well). Pilgrims walk between the Hills of Safa and Marwa, travel the plain of Arafat for a day of
prayer and throw stones at three large pillars at Mina. At the end of Hajj Eid-ul-Adha is
celebrated and animals are sacrificed. If Hajj is undertaken in the right spirit God will forgive
them for everything they have done wrong in their lives. The sick, disabled and poor aren’t
obligated to perform Hajj.
In Islam God revealed himself one way or another to each Prophet, however it is the
revelations to Muhammad that the Qu’ran was compiled upon. The Qu’ran is the direct word
of God and the eternal will of God. There are many practices in Islam influenced by the Qu’ran
but the obligatory five are Shahada (belief), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting) and
Hajj (pilgrimage).
HL 2008 Unit 1: Section A | Sample answer
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