BeliefsAllahAt the heart of Islam is a belief in an all-powerful, transcendent God who has created the universe and who controls it down to the smallest detail. According to Islamic belief, God speaks to human beings through prophets, in which they reveal his mind and will. The word "Allah" is a contraction of al meaning "the" and ilah meaning "God." It is said that Allah is has 99 names, among which are "the Merciful," the Just," and "the Compassionate." In the Qur'an, Allah describes himself as person and caring, as well as all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful. Although Allah is associated with power and a personal nature, and is sometimes referred as male, Allah has no gender.
-p430 Six ArticlesMuslim doctrine is often summarized in "Six Articles of Faith." According to this list, to be a Muslim one must believe in:
AfterlifeIslam teaches the continued existence of the soul and a transformed physical existence after death. Muslims believe there will be a day of judgment when all humans will be divided between the eternal destinations of Paradise and Hell.
Other Islamic Religious PracticesAdditional Islamic religious practices aims at providing patterns for ideal living. Controls and prohibitions are imposed not to signify a love of suffering but rather to increase social order and happiness.
Dietary RestrictionsThe Qur'an does not allow Muslims to consume pork and wine. Both Judaism and Islam view the pig as a scavenger animal, in which their meat can carry disease. Wine is not allowed because of its association with violence and addiction.
Prohibition Against Usury & GamblingAnother religious practice is the prohibition against usury and gambling. Charging interest on loans is not allowed because in Muhammad's day money was lent at high interest rates, that impoverished the person borrowing money. Gambling is forbidden because it is considered a waste of time and money, as well as a financial risk for gamblers and their families.
MarriageIn Islam, marriage is treated as a civil contract. Traditionally marriage is arranged by the parents and formalized by a written contract. Usually 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 then held at home, where the witnessing and signing of the contact takes place. During this ceremony, a passage from the Qur'an may be read, and usually a feast follows. Marriages are allowed annulment for serious reasons and divorce initiated by the wife or the husband is also allowed. Although, both don't occur very often.
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PracticesFive Pillars of Islam1. Creed (Shahadah): "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger." When recited with belief, the person is a Muslim. It is the first sentence whispered into the ears of a newborn infant, it is recited daily in prayer, and it is also written in Arabic everywhere inside the domes of mosques and over their doors. With the simplicity of this Creed, it rejects Christian beliefs of the Trinity. It specifically does not see Muhammad as a divine or supernatural figure but rather a prophet and messenger.
2. Prayer (Salat): Devout Muslims are called on to pray five times a day: before damn, midday, midafternoon, sunset, and nighttime. Times for prayer are announced by a muezzin, who calls out from the top of a tower called a minaret. Today, recordings of the call to prayer are often played over loud speakers. Before prayer, the individual is normally expected to perform a ritual purification with water, washing the hands, arms, face, neck, and feet. If water in unavailable at the moment, purification may be done with sand. 3. Charity to the Poor (Zakat): Muhammad was troubled by injustice, inequality, and poverty. Islamic practice demands that believers donate certain percentages of their total income, herds, and produce from fields and orchards each year to the poor. This is not a tax on a yearly income, but rather a tax on all that someone owns. The percentages vary, depending on what is taxed, but are commonly about 2.5%. In addition to established yearly donations, a good Muslim is expected to perform isolated acts of generosity and charity for the poor when such acts are called for in everyday life. 4. Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm): To fast means to abstain from food for a specified period of time. The purpose of fasting is to discipline oneself in order to develop sympathy for the poor and hungry. It also encourages one to give to others what one would have eaten. It is considered to be good for an individual's spiritual growth, and it is also an important bond that unites Muslims during the period of shared fasting known as Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar in which Muhammad first received his revelations. During this month, fasting is followed by a feast of celebration at the end of the month as a way to remember this special event. 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj): A pilgrimage is a religious journey by a believer to a sacred city or site. Not only does the individual get to travel and experience new sights, but the journey also becomes a powerful symbol of an interior journey to the spiritual goals of new understanding and personal transformation. All Muslims, both men and women, unless prevented by poverty or sickness, are expected to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Since Islam is central to the nature of Mecca, only Muslims may visit the city. Pilgrimage to Mecca, also known as Hajj, was already a practice before Muhammad was born. -p431-435 CircumcisionMale circumcision is a religious requirement in Islam despite it is not actually found in the Qur'an. In circumcision, a small amount of loose skin (called the foreskin) is cut off from the end of a boy's penis. There are various explanations for the practice of circumcision. One says that the practice shows submission to the role of God in human procreation. Another associates it with hygiene. However, in Islam, it is also done to imitate Muhammad, who was circumcised.
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