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Islam Muslim Practices Essentials of Islam • Islam means “surrender” or “submission” – Indicating wholehearted surrender to God • Muslim means “one who submits” to God (Allah) – Expressed during worship-prostration of the entire body during prayer indicates a belief in divine power and the believer’s submission to it Theology • • • • Islam worship the same God Jews and Christians worship Muslims refer to God as Allah The word is a contraction of al (“the”) and ilah (“God”) Muslims explain that the word Allah is not the name of God- it simply means “God” • It is said that God has 99 names – Merciful, just, compassionate • Even though God is referred as a male, God has no gender • Essentially good • People “forget” and that’s why they sin – Came from the fall in the Garden of Eden – Therefore pray 5 x daily in order to remember • Human destiny is dependent on the struggle (jihad) for goodness – Reward for goodness – Heaven – Punishment for forgetfulness – Hell VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE • • • • Umma Umma = Islamic community – The Umma bases its laws and lifestyle on the teachings from the Koran Sufism: Religious movement – Aka Sufis Sufism derives from the Arabic word suf= wool – Because early Sufis wore a simple robe made of common wool Sufi belief: – Believe that the highest experience a person can have is a direct experience of God – An individual can experience God face to face on earth – Sufis have spoken about the sense of loss of self that occurs in mystical experience through dance or meditation – This sense of loss of self is called fana or al-fana meaning extinction Sufis cont. • Sufi practice: – Deep regular breathing during meditation – Repetition of the 99 names of Allah • Sometimes counted on a rosary, to enable a constant remembrance of God – Dancing • Wear a special dress code • Sufi Shaykh – A teacher – Leads his disciples through a variety of spiritual disciplines to help them achieve union with God • Sufism video clip: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo5 HJ_voXxg Mosque • Mosque refers to a space for prostration • Its design is simple • Has one formal entry to the compound – where shoes are to be taken off and left outside • There is at least one fountain for purification • There is a high pulpit indoors or outdoors for sermons • worshipers stand and prostrate themselves in rows • Mihrab- is a special arched niche that indicates the direction of MeccaMuslims pray facing Mecca • The floor is usually covered with rugs or mats Mosque cont. • Outdoors there is usually a minaret – a tall tower or two towers at the corners of the mosque where prayer is called • a muezzin – calls out from the top of a tower for prayer – The muezzin’s call to prayer begins with Allahu akbar (“God is supreme”) – Nowadays, recordings of the call to prayer are often played over loudspeakers Marriage • Marriage – Arranged by parents and formalized by a written contract – The bridegroom’s family makes an offer of money or property to the family of the bride as a part of the contract – The marriage ceremony is held at home • It consists of signing the contract • A passage from the Qur’an might be read • There is usually a feast following the signing of the contract MARRIAGE, CONT. – Multiple wives (polygamy) – no more than 4 permitted • Must be treated equally • Not allowed in western countries with monogamous marriage laws Female roles • In some societies, a woman must be veiled when she goes out of the house • She allows only her husband and relatives to see her face – In most places it is a choice, not in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran • Women are expected to socialize only with female friends and relatives • Women may work as nurses, doctors, and teachers Female dress code: veiled options 1. Burqa- covers the entire body, with mesh over the eyes 2. Niqab- covers the entire body, with a thin slit for the eyes 3. Chador- covers the body and leaves the face bare 4. Hijab- covers the hair and neck Male dress code • Kufi cap- skull cap – Usually worn during prayer – Humility before God • Men’s Jeleba Circumcision • Male circumcision is required • Is the sign of the Covenant between God and Abraham • Ishmael and Isaac were circumcised – Boy are circumcised at the age of 7 or 8 years old – Muhammad was circumcised Prohibition: image making • The prohibition against the making of images has been observed in Islam, but there are at a few exceptions: • One: Muhammad’s Night Journey. However, Muhammad’s face often appears as a ghostly blank space. • Another exception: Pilgrims who return successfully from Mecca make a picture of their pilgrimage and place it outside the house, near the front door, where it cannot be missed. • Prayers from the Qur’an are recited for the dying person • After death, the body is buried in a plain white shroud – If the deceased is a male who has made the pilgrimage, he will wear the robe he wore in Mecca • The face of the decease is turned toward Mecca at the burial • The headstone is usually an undecorated stone markersignifies equality of all people in death Death rituals