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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 1 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 2