1b.) Explain what is meant by the Phrase ‘Prophet of God’ (10marks)
A Prophet is a messenger of God who is called upon to act as tool of God to deliver his message when he feels things are going wrong in the world. Prophets are instruments of divine will used to deliver Gods Message. Prophets have special signs of prophecy and supernatural powers such as miracle performing, visions and the ability to know all secrets. God chooses Prophets they cannot reject their call to Prophecy, it is their divine will to follow God. Prophets are usually rejected by their communities and sometimes killed and tortured, but they protected so that they can complete their task – sacrosanct.
There are 25 named Prophets in the Qu’ran in a line of transmission starting from Adam and Abraham to the Seal of the Prophets Mohammad, but Muslim traditions suggest there have been over 124, 000 Prophets. Some of the Prophets delivered teachings which where recorded, for example the Qur’an to Mohammad, the Torah to Moses and the Gospel to Jesus.
1c) Mohammad has been called the ‘Seal of the Prophets’ Explain what this reveals about Mohammad’s place in Islam. (10marks)
Mohammad was the Seal of the Prophets because he was the seal of Gods message, which has been preserved for all time in the Qur’an. Mohammad came to direct society towards an understanding of true monotheism. In Islam Mohammad is widely respected because he was the Seal of the Prophets and so therefore they believe that it is the final example of how a true Muslim should live. A Muslim also respects Mohammad because for what he went through and suffered for Muslims and for Allah; this respect is reflected in his title the Al-Amin – the trustworthy and Al-Sadiq – the truthful and also in the book known as the Hadith. The Hadith is the sayings and comments on the Qur’an by the Prophet Mohammad; it is viewed as a guide to life and is a basis for the Shariah, the Islamic Law. Muslims also follow the life of Mohammad, which is known as the Sunnah. The Sunnah is the life example of the Prophet Mohammad and an example of perfect obedience to Allah’s commands.
Muslims have many laws and practice they have to abide by for example Mohammad said to eat with their right hand and to wash their hands before and after meals and so Muslims try to follow this because they belief it is for their own benefit. Also because Mohammad had a bearded Muslim men have a bearded and because Mohammad veiled his wife to protect her from being starred at, Muslims men do the same because they believe it is a symbol of modesty.
Consider the significance of the practice of Saum for Muslims today (20marks)
Saum refers to one of the 5 Pillars of Islam, the 5 Pillars of Islam are the framework of a Muslims life and they cut a Muslim off from a non-Muslim. The 5 Pillars of Islam are Shahadah (Statement of Faith), Salah (Prayer), Saum (Fasting), Zakat (2.5% of a Muslims salary to charity) and Hajj (the pilgrimage to Makkah).
The Pillar Saum requires a Muslim to fast during the Month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk. They have to refrain from drink, smoking and sexual activity. Though not every Muslim has to take part the old, the young, a pregnant women and travellers or the sick, but the sick and the travellers are expected to make up the days lost.
Saum is a very intense and personal struggle an example of Greater Jihad, the struggle of each individual Muslim to perform the 5 Pillars properly and follow the Shariah.
The aim of fasting is to experience brotherhood through shared ordeals to develop self-control and Muslims believe it is meant to prepare you for any real sufferings the may happen in later life. Fasting also show that the person is submitting to the Will of Allah. During the Month of Ramadan every Muslim must recite the Qur’an and the whole of the Qur’an should have been read because this is what Mohammad did.
Fasting also gives Muslims an opportunity to identify with the poor because they are able to sympathise what it is like to be starving and fasting brings Muslims closer to God because they are concentrating on God instead of the ordinary things in life.
So as you can see the significance of Saum today for Muslims is important because they are learning self-discipline, sympathising with the poor and submitting to the Will of Allah.