Islamic_Worksheet

Islam Worksheet Fizza Sikandar REL/134 January 18, 2011 Jim Davidson Islam Worksheet Meaning of the Name, Islam The meaning of the name “Islam” is original from the Arabic root, “Salema”. The Salema is stand of peace, purity, submission and obedience. As the religious sense all around the world, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to his law. Everything and every phenomenon in the world other than man is administered totally by God-made laws, ie. They are obedient to God and submissive to his laws, they are in the State of Islam. Man possesses the qualities of intelligence and choice, thus he is invited to submit to the good will of God and obey His law, ie, become a Muslim. Submission to the good will of God, together with obedience to His beneficial Law, ie, becoming a Muslim, is the best safeguard for man's peace and harmony. Islam dates back to the age of Adam and its message has been conveyed to man by God's prophets and messengers, including Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Islam's message has been restored and enforced in the last stage of the religious evolution by God's last prophet and messenger, Muhammad. The word Allah in the Arabic language means God, or more accurately, The One and Only Eternal God, Creator of the Universe, Lord of all lords, King of all kings, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. The word Allah to mean God is also used by Arabic speaking Jews and Christians. Basic Concepts of Islam The basic concepts of Islam include: 1. Allah (GOD) 2. Prophet hood a. Prophets i. Miracles b. Angels 3. Divine Books 4. The Qur’an 5. The Hadith or Sunnah 6. Pillars of Islam 7. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 8. Arabic Language 9. Clothing 10. Food 11. Calendar 12. Economic, Social, and Political System of Life Practices of Islam Fundamental to Islamic doctrine and practice are "The Five Pillars." These constitute the five basic responsibilities of every devout Muslim. They are as follows: • Confession (Shahada): "There is no god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is his final prophet" (the final, not the only). • Prayer (Salat): five times per day, facing the city of Mecca (early morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, bedtime). • Charity (Zakat): a systemic annual assessment of 1/40 (2.5%) of one's material assets for the benefit of the poor. Some sources place the amount at somewhere between 2.5% and 10%. • Fasting (Sawm/Sayam): during the month of Ramadan,* from sunrise to sunset; in addition to abstinence from food, drink and sexual relations, this also implies a "fasting" from harsh thoughts, practices, attitudes, etc. • Pilgrimage (Hajj): at least once in one's lifetime (if it is economically feasible), the trip to the Great Mosque at Mecca, during the month of Dhu al-Hijah (approximately two months after Ramadan). Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year, commemorates Muhammad's initial revelation from Allah. Goals of Islam The fundamental goals of Islam are: 1. Preservation of the religion of Islam. 2. Preservation of life. 3. Preservation of wealth. 4. Preservation of mind. 5. Preservation of the lineage. 6. Preservation of honor. 7. View of Authority in Islam The Qur’an serves as the primary source of information and authority for Muslims, much as the Bible does for Christians. With this in mind, evaluate Islam’s historical influences on law, philosophy, and the arts in the Muslim world. Write a 1- to 2-paragraph response for each of the following questions. Provide examples to illustrate your thinking. 1. What is the legal ideal in Islamic law' How does the Qur’an inform and guide Muslims in attaining this ideal' The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters and Suras has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad fourteen centuries ago. The Quran, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects who concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system. 2. What is the relationship between philosophy and theology within Islam' Is it acceptable for Muslims to hold separate philosophical and theological beliefs' Theology developed sooner than philosophy, and from very different roots, for theology developed in Islam before the impact of Greek philosophy and Islamic philosophy developed directly from the Greek. As one might imagine, the two different foundations produced massively different results, and it took centuries for theology and philosophy to merge in any sense. 3. What artistic themes are regularly expressed in Islamic art and architecture' How are these themes explored' How has the Qur’an influenced the development of art in the Islamic world' Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine - Islam calls for faith in only One God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Taj Mahal, India. Hui Shen Mosque, China, Built in the 7th Century. Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet, 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps. Shiite Islam: The Shia constitutes 10–20% of Islam and is its second-largest branch. They believe in the political and religious leadership of Imams from the progeny of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who according to most Shia are in a state of ismah, meaning infallibility. To most Shia, Imam rules by right of divine appointment and holds "absolute spiritual authority" among Muslims, having final say in matters of doctrine and revelation. Shia regards Ali as the prophet's true successor and believes that a caliph is appointed by divine will. Shia Islam has several branches, the largest of which is the Twelve’s (iṯnāʿašariyya). Sunni Islam: Sunni Muslims are the largest group in Islam, comprising the vast bulk (80-90%) of the world's 1.5 billion Muslims, hence the title Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah (people of the principle and majority). Sufism: Sufism is a mystical-ascetic approach to Islam that seeks to find divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. The similarities between all of these groups are same five rules of Islam. Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable. Muslims also believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed at many times and places before, including through the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Muslims maintain that previous messages and revelations have been partially changed or corrupted over time, but consider the Quran to be both unaltered and the final revelation from God.