RS 2- Islam

Who was the founder of islam?

muhammad was the founder of islam.

although muhammad was the founder of islam, what do muslims believe?

muslims believe that, strictly speaking, islam was the original true religion that had been forgotten, and that allah revealed it to muhammad and commanded him to restore true worship.

muhammads experience on mount hira

Muhammad was a deep thinker. although his own family was happy, several problems worried him. muhammad often wandered by the mountains outside makkah and here, in a cave in mount hira, he used to sit and think in peace. he had long been troubled by the situation that existed in makkah.

what was the situation in makkah?

people were greedy, violent, selfish, and worshipped idols.

how old was Muhammad when the angel appeared before him in the cave on mount hira?

muhammad was forty years old

what was the angels name?

the name of the angel was jibril (gabriel)

what did jibril say to muhammed?

“read in the name of your lord who has created everything, who has created man from a clot of blood.”

what did muhammad protest?

muhammad protested that he could not read ( which was common in those days)

what did the angel insist three times?

three times the angel insisted that he read, and the angel hugged muhammad.

after the angel insisted muhammad read, what did muhammad find?

muhammad found that he was miraculously able to recite the words the angel was revealing to him, which he understood to be allahs instructions for how people should live.

after his experience on the mountain, how did muhammad feel?

at first muhammad was so scared of going back to makkah ad telling people of his experience and what was contained in allahs revelations, that he considered throwing himself off the mountain.

when muhammad was scared, what did the angel persuade him?

the angel persuaded him to be strong and fulfil the commission he had been given.

what happened over a long period of time?

over a long period of time, muhammad continued to receive revelations from jibril, and his words were written down to form the holy book of islam, the qur’an.

how is muhammads importance shown in islam?

muhammads importance is shown in islam in several ways

-The first pillar of islam, the shahadah, refers to him stating that he is allahs prophet- he is special because allah trusted him enough to choose him as his prophet.

-many muslim parents name their child muhammad- it is an honour for a boy to have this name.

-he is a role model: muhammad is not divine- he is an ordinary human being, but lived a very exemplary life. he was obedient to gods rules. muslims read stories about his actions for inspiration and guidance about how to live their lives.

-his importance is shown by the fact that muslims say the words “peace be upon him” whenever they say his name.

what are the five pillars of islam?

the five pillars of islam are the five beliefs and practises that all muslims are expected to perform.

how often are the pillars performed?

some are done everyday, some once a year and one is done one in a persons lfetime.

what is the first pilar of slam?

the first pillar of islam is shahadah.

what is the shahadah?

the confession of faith- the most fundamental belief in islam. although muslims disagree on some things, all share the central beliefs stated in the shahadah.

what are the words of the shahadah?

“there s no god but allah, and muhammad is his prophet.”

what are some uses of the shahadah?

-a person can become a muslim by saying the shahadah in front of really meaning it.

-the shahadah is said frequently throughout the day as a reminder of presence.

-it is whispered into the ear of a newborn baby because it should be the first thing a baby hears.

-it is said frequently by a person when they are about to die because it should be the last thing a muslim says in their life.

what is the second pilar of islam?

salah

what is salah?

praying 5 times every day:

-at set times

-carry out the prayers facing towards makkah

-set words

-set movements (rak’ahs)

-before each set of prayers, a washing ritual (wudu) is completed.

what is the 3rd pillar of islam?

zakah

what is zakah?

compulsory almsgiving (charity)

-2.5% of savings given to charity

-zakah means “purity”- muslims see it as a way of purifying their lives.

what is the fourth pillar of islam?

sawm

What is sawm?

fasting during daylight hours during ramadan:

-to acknowledge the fact that during ramadan, muhammad received the revelation of the qur’an

-fasting: no eating or drinking

-a way of resisting temptation so they will be stronger in spirit.

what is the 5th pillar of islam?

hajj

what is hajj?

pilgrimage to makkah, the holy city where islam started- done once in a persons lifetime:

-to be completed by all who are healthy and wealthy enough.

-if you can’t go, someone else can go on your behalf.

what is one of the main problems for muslims living in the west?

one of the main problems for muslims living in the west is that some people see islam as a religion that treats women unfairly.

as we have seen, muslims see equality as one of the centre principles of islam. why is there this difference of opinion?

one of the key issues is that muslim women often wear a head covering known as hijab. the qur’an states that all muslims should dress modestly, but the difficulty comes in trying to decide what this means.

arguments for the hijab:

-muslim women who wear the hijab usually choose to do so- they are not forced.

-hijab and other dress rules are there to protect women from unwanted sexual attention

-men are also expected to dress modestly.

-many women day they feel safer or more comfortable in hijab.

arguments against the hijab:

-in some parts of the world, women are punished severely for not conforming to the rules about hijab.

-no one should be told by their religion what to wear- they should decide for themselves.

-hijab, along with the whole idea of strict modesty in dress, often goes against current western trends in fashion- this makes it difficult for people to accept.

when deciding what to wear, (and indeed, when taking many decisions about their actions and lifestyle, what do religious people like to do?

religious people like to look at what their holy book says.

what is the challenge about the qur’ans teachings?

the challenge is that the qur’ans teachings on the matter are not entirely clear and need interpreting.

Qur’an 24:30

“tell the faithful men to lower their gaze and be modest”

Qur’an 24:31

“tell the faithful women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their scarf to cover their bosom.”

Qur’an 33:58-59

“enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they may be distinguished and not be harassed..”

What do the verses from the qur’an about muslim dress mean?

-many feel that this does not require anything more than what most people would consider an appropriate way of dressing

-others feel the hijab is the garment that reflects these instructions best

-some feel that a garment that covers more of the body is required, such as the niqab or the burqa.

burqa:

-full veil traditionally worn by pashtuns in afghanistan

-covers the head and the body and has a grill which hides the eyes.

-enforced by the talibans fighting US forces in afghanistan

niqab:

-a veil that entirely covers a person including the mouth and the nose

-it has a small opening for the eyes

-its use is widespread through the influence of wasabi islam, especially in urban environments.

Hijab:

-a hijab is a headscarf, not a veil

-hides the hair, ears and neck. only the oval shape of the face is visible

-widespread use in the muslim world. championed by the muslim brotherhood.

Chador:

-traditional garment worn by women in iran and afghanistan

-full cloak that covers the body and the hair, open at the front.

-not obligatory in islamic countries, unlike the veil.