Download Islam rignt of passage

Rites of Passage in Islam
Life Cycle Rituals
Birth
• Muslim Women tend to
prefer all-female attendants
at the birth, whether they
be doctors, nurses,
midwives, or female
relatives. However, it is
permitted in Islam for male
doctors to attend to a
pregnant woman. There is
no Islamic teaching that
prohibits fathers from
attending the birth of their
child; this is left up to
personal choice.
Birth
• The Muslim call to
prayer or adhaan
("God is great,
there is no God
but Allah.
Muhammad is the
messenger of
Allah. Come to
prayer.") are the
first words a
newborn Muslim
baby should hear.
They are
whispered into the
right ear of the
child by his or her The baby's first taste should be something sweet, so parents
may chew a piece of date and rub the juice along the baby's
father.
gums. It was a practice carried out by Muhammad and is
believed to help the tiny digestive system kick in.
The seventh day of life
• There are a number of
events that take place on
or after the seventh day
of life.
• After seven days the
baby's head is shaved.
This is to show that the
child is the servant of
Allah. The hair is
weighed and it worth in
weight is given to the
poor in the form of silver.
The seventh day of life
• Ideally, Muslim baby boys
are circumcised when they
are seven days old although
it can take place up to
anytime before puberty.
• At his time the baby boy or
girl is given a Muslim name.
This can also be done for
converts to the Islamic faith.
The “aqeeqah”
• The aqeeqah is also
traditionally carried
out on the seventh
day. This is a
celebration which
involves the slaughter
of sheep. The sheep is
slaughtered and the
meet is distributed to
family and friends.
The Muslim Upbringing
• Muslim children are taught
about their faith from a early
age. Starting at birth.
• There is no specific coming of
age ceremony, but several
significant stages on the way
to adult faith are marked.
The Muslim Upbringing
• In some countries around
age four, a ceremony
called the Bismillah takes
place. The child reads the
first verses of the Qur’an.
• Another important
stages is when a child
participates in their first
fast during Ramadan
Islamic Wedding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPtH-Gaz6Q
Marriage
• While some marriage practices
can be traced to the actions and
sayings of Muhammad, Many
traditions are a product of local
culture.
• Some ceremonies last for days,
while others can be very short.
The colour of the brides dress
varies, the nature of the feast
and celebration also vary.
• Muslim weddings are not based
on the values that the Western
world holds.
• Weddings are social contracts which bring rights
and obligations to both parties, and can only be
successful when these are mutually respected
and cherished.
• In Islam marriages are a deep bond between
families of bride and groom for this reason many
marriages are arranged.
• Although the Qur’an allows men to practice
polygamy, Most Muslim Males do not in the
world of today.
The Ceremony
• There is one thing that is common to all
Muslim weddings –All Muslim weddings have
to be declared in public.
• The actual Muslim wedding is known as a
nikah. The drafting of the marriage contract. It
is a simple ceremony, at which the bride does
not have to be present so long as she sends
two witnesses to the drawn-up agreement.
The Ceremony: The Basics
• Usually there are readings from the Qur’an and the
vows are exchanged in front of witnesses from both
families.
• There does not have to be a religious official present
but usually the local Imam will conduct the ceremony.
• The couple kneel hand in hand before the imam. They
each confirm that they are willing to marry and are
marrying with understanding of responsiblites.
• Sometimes the bride and groom are situated in
different rooms and sign the contract separately.
Marriage Contracts
• Marriage contracts vary but typically include
details of:
•
•
•
•
Polygamy
Divorce
Where the couple will live
Responsibilities
Death
• Just as at birth the first thing a baby hears is,
the call to prayer, it is the last words on the
lips of the dying.
• After a person dies, the corpse is washed and
covered and buried as soon after death as
possible. Muslims are always buried, never
cremated.
• The body is buried with the head facing Mecca
imitating the direction of Prayer.
40 days of Mourning.
• In some countries, the dead persons family
observes a 40 day period of Mourning.
• Family does not: Cook
• They read the Qur’an from beginning to end.
• On the one year anniversary of the death the
Qur’an is read in memory of the person.