Chapter 5: Muslim perspectives Flashcards
Define shahada
The Shahada is a Declaration of faith (a Muslim is someone who accepts the shahada). “There is no god but God [Allah], and Muhammad is the messenger of God”
Define qibla
When someone dies It is customary in some places to lay the body on its right side facing the qibla (direction of prayer)
Define hadith
Along with the Qur’an and its commentaries, Muslims also look for guidance to the sayings attributed to the Prophet that have been passed down through the generations by oral transmission; these are called hadith. The Hadith tradition (the goal of this tradition is to follow the sunna, exists as a way of preserving the guides to action) and the sunna of the prophet
Define Allah
Allah is the creator, the one and only god who can be worshipped.
Define ruh and nafs
Two words are used to speak of the non-physical aspects of a person – ruh (spirit) and nafs (soul). In general, ruh refers to the life breath, the divine spirit that enlivens the material body, and nafs refers to the self or soul, the ethical character of a person, the aspect which pertains to rationality and intelligence that can develop in noble or base ways, that can change and grow towards God or away from God. What exactly continues after death, however, has been debated by Islamic theologians over
the centuries and the debate is compounded by the fact that in many cases nafs and ruh are used interchangeably. The distinction between them is sometimes drawn on the basis of the difference between death and sleep.
Define Munkar and Nakir
On the first night in the grave the person is questioned by two angels called Munkar and Nakir. They are fearsome angels of death (Giants with smoke belowing from their nostrils)who question the dead (e.g., “who is your lord” “who is your prophet” “what is your religion”) and they asks questions of your knowledge (“what say you of your prophet). Depending on your answers the grave becomes a pleasant or unpleasant place to await the day of judgement.
Define barzakh
the period between individual death and collective resurrection, a conjunction of time and place that came to be known as barzakh, a word that literally means barrier or separation – the separation between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The soul exists in an intermediate place and state called barzakh which occurs after death and before resurrection.
Define the Traverse
Traverse: a narrow bridge between the human world and paradise, it is as sharp as a swords edge and thin as hair however, for the moral individuals it is a different experience they may pass over it like wind, gallop across it like a horse etc.
Explain Islamic views on death (in their historical and cultural context)
All is created, directed, and maintained by God who will eventually bring all of creation to an end. At that time, human beings, who have been endowed with reason and choice, who have been honored by God as his vicegerents on earth, having dominion over all other creatures, will be held accountable for their choices and
the way in which they lived their lives. Death is the end of this life, which is the arena for action; at the same time, it is the beginning of an eternal life, in which one experiences the results of this life of action
Explain the Muslim understanding of the final judgment
The day of judgement (an angel of death blows a trumpet to begin the day- everyone dies including the angels- thus, there is nothing in the universe except God. He then, resurrects everyone who has faith including the angels)
Explain Muslim funerary practices (in general and in their specific cultural contexts)
The practices of cremation, embalming and autopsy (except if legally required). The burial should take place as quickly as possible, ideally within 24 hours and the family should pay any debts owed by the deceased as quickly as possible. When they are close to death, verses from the Qu’ran are read and if possible the person near death is told to recite the shahadah or it is whispered in their ear. The body is to be washed, preferably by
relatives of the same sex, and shrouded in plain white cloths. Weeping and grieving for the deceased are natural, but excessive displays of grief such as ritual wailing or beating one’s breast, or lengthy periods of mourning, are discouraged. The body is taken to the mosque for the Funeral Prayer, which is usually said outside the mosque in a courtyard or special area. Only men are permitted to accompany the coffin to the gravesite, where the body is lowered into the grave, preferably without the coffin. Flowers, candles, or other
grave decorations are generally discouraged.
Consider: the ways that Sufi views of death challenged (but also reaffirmed) traditional Muslim perspectives
Sufi’s are Islamic mysticists. Tasawwuf means to become a sufi and purification. Began as an interiorization and intensification of existing Muslim teachings
Authority traced back to the example (sunna) of Muhammad
Early development: emphasis on loving devotion to Allah
Founding of various teachings lineages (tariqas). Importance in disseminating Islam throughout Africa and the Asia
Beliefs: Esotericism and Elaborated cosmologies
Practices: Dhikr (the practice of remembrance of god) Meditation (Fana/ Baqa)
