Chapter 7: Islam "The Way of Submission"

Allah

is the Arabic term for God, also used by Arabic- speaking Christians and other theists.

Islam

is a tradition of Muslims "submitters "who give up their pride and achieve this-worldly and otherworldly success by bowing down to the one true God.

Mecca

or Makkah (as the Saudis spell it) is the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad and the place he was living when he received the revelations that became the Quran.

Haji

is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Six Articles of Faith

are the six key Islamic beliefs, namely one God; angels; holy books; prophets, including Muhammad; the Day of Judgement; and predestination.

Muslims

are strict monotheists who reject the Christian and Hindu notions that God can incarnate in human form.

Five Pillars of Islam

reciting the Shahada ("There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the prophet of God"), praying five daily prayers, giving alms to the poor, fasting during Ramadan, and going on the haji

Islam's Problem

pride

Islam's Solution

submission

Islam's Techniques

praying, fasting, almsgiving, pilgrimage, and affirming the unity of God and the prophethood of Muhammad

Islam's Exemplar

Muhammad, who in addition to being the final prophet is also the exemplary human being; also (for the Shia) Imams and (for Sufis) sheiks

Martyrs

those who die on the haji are recognized as martyrs, with all the afterlife rewards accorded to those who suffer and die defending their religion

Quran

the Arabic words of God brought into the world through the prophet Muhammad; a short book of 114 chapters, the Quran's key teachings include the unity of God, the prophethood of Muhammad, the Day of Judgement, and the afterlife rewards and punishments

Muhammad

the founder, lawmaker, jurist, politician, general, family man, the human exemplar of the Islamic way, the source of the sayings, and the actions in the Hadith, and the final prophet of Islam

Sharia

the Arabic word for Islamic law

What do people do to mark the crossing into the sacred condition of Ihram?

pilgrims cut their nails, comb their hair, and bathe. they put on a special haji clothing also known as ihram

What do pilgrims refrain from after moving into ihram?

sex, quarreling, killing animals, using perfume, shaving or cutting their hair, and (for men) covering the head and (for women) covering the face