RE SAC part 2 Islam

Question 0

Ethical principles and oral/written codes of behaviour

Answer 0

The ‘Five Pillars’ of Islam are the foundation of Muslim life. Soon after the Prophet Muhammad dies, five basic religious duties were chosen from his teachings as necessary for Muslims. The five pillars consist of:

1. The Profession of Faith (Shahadah)
   
   • ‘There is no God but God and Muhummad is his prophet.
2. Worship of Allah (Salah)
   
   • Praying five times a day
3. The giving of alms (Zakah)
   
   • Giving a percentage of your earnings to the needy
4. Fasting (Sawn) during Ramadan
   
   • No food or drink from dawn till dusk
5. The Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a life time for those whose health and financial situation allow.

Question 1

Beliefs

Answer 1

•Muslim belief is often summarised in Six Articles of Faith. According to this list, to be a Muslim one must believe in:
1. one God (Allah)
2. the Angels of Allah
3. the Books of Allah, especially the Quar’an
4. the Prophets of Allah, especially Muhammad
5. the Day of Judgement (afterlife) and the
supremacy of Allah’s will
6. reciting the Shahada, ‘There is no God but God,

Question 2

Rituals

Answer 2

There are three main rituals in Islam. They are….

1. Fasting during Ramadan (Sawn)
2. Praying five times a day at specific times so they are mindful of God throughout their day
3. Attending Friday Mosque services (compulsory for men and encouraged for women)

Question 3

Symbols

Answer 3

•The star and cresent symbol is also used to represent Islam.

Question 4

Sacred texts and other religious writings

Answer 4

The two main sacred texts in Islam are the Quar’an and the Hadith.

The most sacred text of these is the Quar’an as it is believed to be the literal word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad. The Quar’an is composed of 114 chapters (or surahs) and deals with a variety of subjects. It emphasises the oneness of God and gives guidance for behaviour. It explains beliefs about the creation of the world and humanity and provides explanations for evil and good. It asserts that people are responsible for their actions and will receive rewards and punishments. The Quar’an also contains rules regarding worship, marriage and behaviour in the life of the community. It must be read by Muslims in Arabic.

The Hadith records sayings of Muhammad and his followers, and stories about their lives. Together the Quar’an and Hadith make up the Sunnah which is the foundation of Islamic theology, practice and Sharia (Islamic law).

Question 5

Myths and other sacred stories

Answer 5

Because Muslims take what is written in the Quar’an as the literal word of God there aren’t myths in Islam the same way there are in Christianity. In Islam there is are many sacred stories about the prophets, the most important being that of the prophet Muhammad.

-The story of Muhammad life and
call to be the messenger of God

-The story of Muhammad’s escape
from Mecca to Medina which signals
The beginning of the Islamic era
(Hegira)

Question 6

Social Structure

Answer 6

• Unlike Christianity, Islam has no central authorities, clerics or priesthood.
• There are religious scholars called Imams who exercise spiritual leadership in prayer and preaching.
• In a Mosque, the Imam’s main duty is to lead the community in prayer just as prophet Muhammad did in Medina and Kaaba.
• Other than the Imam’s role, there is no set organisational structure within Islam. It is the individual’s responsibility to maintain and strengthen their relationship with Allah and to follow the guidelines outlined in the Sunnah.

Question 7

Religious Experience and Spirituality

Answer 7

The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the important elements of the Islamic faith. Muslims take this pilgrimage very seriously not only because it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam but also because Mecca is a very sacred place. When pilgrims make their journey to Mecca they are submitting (Islam) to the will of God and announcing that Allah is the one God and Muhummad his prophet. Performing Hajj also leads to even richer religious and spiritual experience if, upon returning from Mecca, the worshipper is filled with more compassion and sympathy for the needy and is able to strengthen their relationship with their family members. Therefore, it is also a journey to change hearts and minds.