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Islam: A Total Way of Life
Q: In what ways do people view life as a series of rites of passage?
Brief introduction on Islam:
Islam literally means “self-surrender to the will of god,” or “Submission to Allah.” In this literal
definition of the name, Islam refers to the submission to the will of the only true god that should be
worshipped, Allah.
Basic Concepts:
 Purpose of life is to worship and obey the command of Allah
 A series of trials are given by the god throughout Muslims' lifetimes, and enduring these trials
successfully following the law of Allah, will result in rewards from the god that will be a
better life next time. On the other hand, if they fail or refuse to get over the trials, their actions
may lead to severe consequences, resulting in deep regrets in the next life.
 Virtues: respectful, kind, the importance of morality and faith in the god.
 Equality and unification. Everyone is equal regardless the color, race and lineage to Allah.
The only thing that can distinguish the people in Allah's sight is their pure minds of worship.
 The 5 Pillars
1. Affirmation of faith in Allah - No God but Allah
http://www.ottomansouvenir.com/img/Calligraphy/Calligraphy
0001.JPG
2. Prayers - 5 prayers a day facing Mecca
http://heavenawaits.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/islam_prayer.jpg
3. Giving Alms - Giving to the poor and the ones in need
http://www.ezsoftech.com/ramadan/i/zakat.jpg
4. Fast during Ramadan - A set date for the Muslims abstrain from food, drink, and
entertainment from dawn to sundown
http://www.ezsoftech.com/ramadan/i/ramadan_fasting.jpg
5. The Hajj -Piligrimage to Mecca (each Muslim has to at least once in a life time)
Rites of Passage:
The Rites of Passage are ceremonies commemorating major events in one’s life. In the Islamic religion,
the four major Rites of Passage are Birth, Marriage, Pregnancy, and Death.
Birth: Muslims welcome the birth of a child with hopes and faith for the Mercy of god that is believed
to support their family. The first stage they go through to celebrate one’s birth is the ‘Call to prayer,’ this
is whispered through the baby’s right ear. Muslims strongly believe that by doing so it can symbolically
bring the baby into an awareness of Allah, and can live a happy life under the care and guidance of the
god.
Call to Prayer: God is Great
I bear witness that there is no God but God
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Prophet of God
Come to prayer
Come to success
God is great
There is no God but God
Once the first step has been taken place, there is one more process the baby needs to go through, the
naming ceremony. This continues for about a few days, it can be up to a seven-day-long ceremony in
some parts of the world inhabited with Muslims. The ceremony happens with family and friends
attending to bliss the kid and the child is formally given a name; this ceremony is also considered as an
entrance of a Muslim’s life. The naming ceremony can be accompanied with other rituals reflecting Islam
beliefs, for instance, reading from Koran, the sacred text thought to be composed of Allah and transmitted
by an angel.
In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command)
[Holy Quran: Luqman: 31:14]
When she delivers her baby she will have a reward which is so great that it is incomprehensible. [Bihar
al-Anwar, v.101, p.106-107]
Call to prayer URLs: http://re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/re/passage/images/Birth_Muslim.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_P3KBTY-37hI/R6IxQzq8hoI/AAAAAAAAAEc/kXRGoMIDtNs/IMG_1534.JPG
http://pof.reonline.org.uk
http://www.indiancultureonline.com/uploaded/gallery/prsd-mystica/gruh-pravesh.jpg
Marriage: Islamic society accentuates the importance of marriage and highly encourages it. Almost all
of the Islam marriages are arranged by one’s parents with consent, meaning that in a way, the marriage is
forced. However, there is still a concept ingrained in Muslims that their marriage is not just a marriage
between a couple but also represents the emergence and reinforcement of the relationships between
families.
“Love grows from the marriage” reflects the concept of arranged marriages.
Polygamy is allowed.
Families usually preferred to have a male child. This is because the sons would stay with the family and
take care of the parents. Daughters usually left home to move in with the husband's family. So the birth of
a son, especially, is cause for a great celebration.
1 -The Prophet (Pbuh) said:
God’s Mercy and attention will be bestowed upon man in four situations: when it rains; when a child
kindly looks at his/her father; when the door of the Ka'aba (House of God) is opened and when a
marriage contract is drawn up and two join each other in a new life.[Marriage in Islam, p.17]
2 -The Prophet (Pbuh) said:
You must marry and marry off your single sons and daughters. The sign of a Muslim's prosperity is to
pay the expenses for a woman to get married. And nothing is better approved by God than a Muslim
home enriched by marriage. [Marriage in Islam, p.7]
4 -The Holy Prophet of God (Pbuh) said:
Marriage is my practice and whoever turns away from it does not belong to my nation. [Bihar alAnwar, v.103, p.222.]
5 -The Prophet (Pbuh) said: Whoever gets married has actually attained half of his/her religion and for
the other half he/she should be pious. [Bihar al-Anwar, v.103, p.219.]
8 -The Prophet (Pbuh) said:
No contract in Islam is more approved by God than marriage. [Bihar al-Anwar, v.103, p.222]
URLs: http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/muslim_wedding_hands.jpg
http://www.hilalplaza.com/images/wedding_iran.jpg
http://www.sos-arsenic.net/images/quilt3.jpg
http://www.views.pk/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/walimah-in-islam.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/2411983208_88b04efe80.jpg
Men vs Women
 To prevent the case of males neglecting some or a particular wife due to polygamy, Muslims have
made a law to protect women’s human rights, such as forbidding the allowance of divorce wanted by
one of the couples only, but the efficiency of this law is still in question.
 Adultery is forbidden and abhorred by Muslims (especially more hated when a woman cheats on her
husband than it is when a man cheats on his wife)
 Women should obey and stay devoted to her family and husband.
 Men are the ones to maintain the family; taking up the responsibility of managing the education of
children is often assigned to the husband.
 Men pay women the money needed for the marriage; leftover can still be kept by women even if they
divorce.
Pregnancy:
Pregnancy is considered as a form of worship with reward in the Islamic society. Muslims believe that
pregnancy is a period of anxiety combined with mental and physical stress for women. Therefore the
husband, other family members and friends should help and take care of her at all times. Anything that
may disturb the pregnant woman is to be avoided, since it would not only hurt the woman but also
harmful to the child. The parents of both sides of the married couple are not to interfere with the couple’s
life and should never be picky on either the husband or wife because they would be responsible for the
couple if anything happens to the unborn child. Muslims believe that if they harm the pregnant woman’s
fetus, they shall be severely punished for their oppressions by God. Furthermore, pregnant women are
encouraged to eat food without refusing, considering the health of her child. A pregnant Muslim woman
still needs to pay attention to her religious duties, if not it will be regarded that she is neglecting the god,
and severe punishments will follow, such as her baby’s mental and spiritual growth would be negatively
affected.
When a woman becomes pregnant, she is similar to one who fasts, stays up at night to worship God, and
fights for God with her wealth and life. [Bihar al-Anwar, v.101, p.106]
I swear by my Majesty, Grandeur, Nobility and Highness that if a woman eats dates on the day of
childbirth, then the child shall be patient whether it is a boy or a girl. [Bihar al-Anwar, v.101, p.116]
In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command)
[Holy Quran: Luqman: 31:14]
Therefore, by the Lord, we will, of a surety, call them to account, for all their deeds. [Holy Quran: Hijr:
15:92-93]
Islam pregnancy:
Men vs. women:
The main and only difference between men and women during pregnancy rituals is that men
cannot get pregnant,
Death:
Within 24 hours of time after the death, the process of burying should take place.
1. The Islamic burial ritual begins with the washing of the dead, most of the time the body is washed
by close family relatives and friends rather than hospital staffs, the washing should be done by
someone of the same gender as the dead. The only exception is when the dead person is a kid, and
a husband washing for his wife or vice versa.
2. After the washing, the body is wrapped in a funeral shroud.
3. The funeral prayers are said over the body at the house of the deceased, and at the ceremony.
Rows are formed by the mourners, facing the direction of Mecca.
4. The ceremony is then carried on from the mosque to the gravesite, and the rows of mourners
would walk with, in front of or beside the body. This ceremony should be held in silence. Then,
the grave of the body should be aligned on a northwest to southwest axis to face Mecca, and at
this point only men have the privilege to attend the graveside service.
5. It is believed that two angels will come down to the grave right after the funeral ceremony has
taken place to question the life of the dead, and those who are present at the ceremony should pray
to ask the angels forgive the dead person’s sins.
http://www.duas.org/family/21.htm#157
http://www.almuminfunerals.co.uk/images/masjid_nabwi.jpg
Prayers:
Subhanakallhumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa jalla sana'ukawala
ilaha ghairuk.
God! Thou art pure and Supreme.
High praise and Thanksgiving is due to Thee.
Thy Name is the Most Blessed one and the Bestower of Good.
Thy Exaltedness and Glory art Most High.
Thy Praise is Great and there is deity except Thee.
"We created you from it, and return you into it, and from it we will raise you a second time", surah 20:55
from the Qur'an.
"After the death of a person, his actions stop, except for three things that he leaves behind.
First, continuous charity. Second, knowledge from which some benefit may be obtained.
Third, a virtous child who prays for him."
--The Messenger of Allah
Men vs. Women
Differences:
Ritual washing process:
Men should wash Men’s body
Women should wash Women Body
Both genders can wash a child’s body
A married couple may wash each other’s corpse.
Funeral prayers:
Should be led by a man
Grave-side service:
Only men are allowed to attend the actual grave-side service
Women not allowed, therefore they are excluded during the last half process of the burial ritual.
Answer to Main Q:
Muslims view Islam not only as a religion, but also as a total way of life. Their rites of passage are
influenced and follow the general beliefs, social and ethical principles of Islam. Birth, marriage,
pregnancy and death are the key components the major rites of passage in Islam are consisted of. How
Muslims follow their rituals related to the rites of passage reflect their both fundamental and essential
beliefs.
Interactive Activity – Hajj
Being a good Muslim requires following the Five Pillars correctly. The Five Pillars are the major beliefs
that hold up the religion, and they are;
1. Faith (shahada in Arabic): This is a strong belief that Allah is the only god, and Muhammad is
the prophet/messenger of the god.
2. Prayer five times a day (salat in Arabic): Muslims have to pray five times a day facing Mecca.
3. Gifts of money to poor people and orphans (zakat in Arabic): Muslims believe they have to
share, and help each other out, these are done by charity for the poor or by giving to mosques,
hospitals, etc.
4. Fast during Ramadan (sawm in Arabic): During the holy month of Ramadan from sunrise to
sunset, Muslims are required to fast.
5. Pilgrimage (hajj in Arabic): Muslims have to make a trip to Mecca if possible, at least once in a
lifetime. Hajj takes place in the Month of Pilgrimages, this is the last month of the Muslim lunar
calendar, beginning on the eighth day of that month.
How is Hajj related to the Rites of Passage of Islam?
Going on a Hajj, in other words, going on a trip to Mecca is a religious part of rites of passage. In Islam
society, the person who came back from the hajj successfully is more respected than before, and this
person would even add to his name “al haji” which means he has made the hajj. The family will be proud
of having the person as one of their family members, and will feast to celebrate the success of becoming a
true Muslim.
Now, you are Muslim and do the Hajj!!!! 
Steps to follow (The route of the Hajj, adjusted to fit in this activity ):
1.
2.
3.
4.
Walk seven times around the Ka’aba in a counterclockwise direction.
Pray facing the Mecca (carpet and Islamic prayer music will be provided)
Throw stones at the pillar
Walk seven times around the Ka’aba in a counter counterclockwise direction, again, t
o complete the Hajj.
(*Note that some steps of the ritual ceremonies are taken away or adjusted in this
activity because they are not possible to be practiced here. )
Additional:
Gol Mohammadi: Golab (Rose-Water)
(flower of Islam, used to wash the Kaaba. Renamed from Golab (Rose-Water) into Gole Mohammadi.
(after Mohammed)
(the Islamic color)