Muhammad Ali. On January 17, 1942 - at about six thirty p.m. - the biggest sporting legend of the twentieth century was born in Louisville, Kentucky.

Muhammad Ali On January 17, 1942 - at about six thirty p.m. - the biggest sporting legend of the twentieth century was born in Louisville, Kentucky. When Odessa Clay and her husband Cassius Marcellus looked proudly at their tiny son on this winter day in Louisville they didn't dare to dream that the six and one half pound human being they held in their arms would one day be the heavyweight champion and one of the most popular men of the world. At a closer look, one can date the first boxing activity of Cassius Marcellus junior to the same year. His mother used to tell people that his first K.o.-punch was aimed at her face when the six-month-old infant hit her so hard that she had to have two teeth pulled out. Cassius grew up in West End Louisville, a black area, together with his younger brother Rudolph who later changed his name into Rahaman. Their father painted religious and commercial plates while Odessa Clay worked as a cleaning woman and cook in white upper-class families. Although the Clays were not wealthy, young Cassius and Rudolph always had something to eat and to wear. Contrary to most of his later foes, Ali had a carefree childhood. At the age of twelve, Cassius got into boxing rather by chance. His new Schwinn bike had been stolen and this way he met police officer Joe Martin who besides ran a boxing gym. The furious lad told Martin that he would whip

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  • Subject: Religious Studies & Philosophy
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Islamic Studies

Islamic Studies The Fundamentals of Haj Tamattui The sequence of events done in Haj Tammatui (which counts for Haj and Umrah) is as follows: . Entering into Ihram from Miqat Before wearing the Ihram, one should take the opportunity to shower and clean one's self. One must then wear the Ihram, which consists of a loincloth and an apparel, with the head uncovered for men, whereas women are to wear their Islamic custom, wearing neither face cover nor gloves. However, a woman may cover her face with a slight veil only if her beauty is tempting enough to cause seduction. Then the intention is declared which is: "Labbayka-Allahumma-Hajjan" After taking these steps it is prohibited for the pilgrims to wear sewn clothes, remove or pluck hairs, clip nails, cover their heads, use perfume, hunt, enter into marriage contracts, have sexual intercourse, or cut the trees of the Sacred Precinct. When the sacred precinct (miqat) is reached the talbiyah should be chanted by men rasing their voice and saying: "Labbayka-Allahumma-Labbayk. Labbayka La Sharika Laka Labbayk. Inna Al-Hamda Wan-Ni`mata Laka Wal-Mulk. Laa Sharika Lak." However women should let their voice be audible only to themselves. 2. Arrival Tawaf Stop chanting Labbayk and go around the Ka`bah for seven circles. Begin the Tawaf from the Black Stone. One must hasten during the first three rounds of Tawaf and walk during

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Explain How Muhammad Established Islam As A Major Political And Religious Force In The World.

DIVINITY COURSEWORK TASK 1 Explain How Muhammad Established Islam As A Major Political And Religious Force In The World. While Muhammad was living with his wife Khadija, he often went to a cave outside Makkah called Hira, where he would reflect and pray. During one night in 610CE, when Muhammad was 40, he was in a cave on Mount Hira. God revealed himself to Muhammad. This was called the night of power, and it relates in Surah 95 of the Qur'an, which is entitled The Blood Clot. When Muhammad returned home, Khadija became his first believer. Then his cousin Ali, a freed slave called Zayd, and one of his closest friends, Abu Bakr, all became followers. There started one of the great religions of the world. Muhammad had a strong belief that there was only one God, the creator. He believed that all humans should be equal in their relationship with this creator. This undermined the tribes of Makkah who, especially the Quarish, rose up against Muhammad and his followers. All through his life, Muhammad fought to establish Islam, to gather followers, and to create a substantial political force. In the 22 years after the first revelation, until Muhammad died in 632CE, God delivered the Qu'ran to Muhammad, his messenger. By the time that God had finished revealing the Qu'ran, Muhammad had moved to Madinah. Hence we get Makkan and Medinan verses. The Makkan verses are usually

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  • Subject: Religious Studies & Philosophy
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sufism is the heart of islam

Sufism is the heart of Islam- Sufism (tasawuf in Arabic) represents the mystical dimension of Islamic religious life. The phrase 'mystical' itself can be problematic in the sense that it can sometimes be used to depict the occult or the quasimagical quackery of new age thinking or new religious movements. It may also at times be used to express the sense of the mysterious felt by those who assert some class of spirituality, yet Sufism has little, if anything to do with these. Through following a series of devotional practises, which lead to higher levels of ecstatic state, Sufis aspire to realise a condition in which they are in direct communion with God. Sufism itself has been defined in many ways, some view it as a continuous striving to cleanse ones self of all that is bad or evil in order to acquire virtue, others view it as the path followed by an individual who is seeking to free himself or herself from human vices and weaknesses in order to acquire angelic qualities and conduct pleasing to God. Sufism has been criticised heavily by Muslims as well as non-Muslims, while some have argued from the perspective that Sufism is the ultimate heart of Islam. If Sufism despite having differences from conventional Islam, is actually the heart of Islam, then if so, why can't the other sects of Islam such as the Shiite or the Wahabi also be seen as

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The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.).

Chapter 1 HOW IT ALL BEGAN Nearly four thousand years ago, in the Sumerian town of Ur in the valley of the river Euphrates, lived a young man named Abraham. The people of Ur had once worshipped Allah but as time passed they forgot the true religion and started praying to idols, statues made of wood or clay and sometimes even of precious stones. Even as a small child Abraham could not understand how his people, and especially his father, could make these images with their own hands, call them gods, and then worship them. He had always refused to join his people when they paid respect to these statues. Instead he would leave the town and sit alone, thinking about the heavens and the world about him. He was sure his people were doing wrong and so alone he searched for the right way. One clear night as he sat staring at the sky he saw a beautiful shining star, so beautiful that he cried out: 'This must be Allah!' He looked at it in awe for some time, until suddenly it began to fade and then it disappeared. He turned away in disappointment saying: I love not things that set. (Koran vi.77) On another night Abraham was again looking at the sky and he saw the rising moon, so big and bright that he felt he could almost touch it. He thought to himself: This is my Lord. (Koran vi.78) But it was not long before the moon set as well. Then he said, Unless my Lord guide me, I

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  • Subject: Religious Studies & Philosophy
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Islam - The Life of Muhammad

Nikesh Karunanithy 11KN Islam The Life of Muhammad A prophet is someone through whom Allah speaks. The Qur'an names 25 prophets, but tradition says there have been 124,000 in all. For Muslims, Muhammad in Allah's last prophet, known as the 'seal of the Prophets.' The exact date of Muhammad's birth in Mecca is unknown, but it is thought to have been no later than 570 AD. His father was called Abdullah, which means 'servant of God' and his mother Aminah- 'peaceful'. Both were members of the Hashim clan, a sub-division of the Quraysh tribe which had lately abandoned its nomadic life as desert Bedouins and risen to dominate the trading city of Mecca. Muhammad had a sorrowful early childhood. The name Muhammad is said to have been given to him as a result of a dream his grandfather had. He is also said to have had other names, such as Abul-Qasim, Ahmad, and Mustafa. There were many legends about Muhammad. One said that before his birth his mother Aminah heard a voice telling her the child would be a great leader. Another told of a heavy shower of rain, a blessing that ended a long drought. Yet another legend was that two angels removed Muhammad's heart, washed it clean, then weighed it against first one man, then ten, then a hundred , then a thousand. Finally they said 'Let it be. Even if you set the whole community in the scale, he would still

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  • Subject: Religious Studies & Philosophy
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The Islamic idea of jihad

This word has been in frequent use in the Western press over the past several years, explained directly or subtlety, to mean holy war. As a matter of fact the term "holy war" was coined in Europe during the Crusades, meaning the war against Muslims. It does not have a counterpart in Islamic glossary, and Jihad is certainly not its equivalent. The Islamic idea of jihad, which is derived from the Arabic root meaning "to strive" or "to make an effort," has a wide range of meanings, from an inward spiritual struggle to purify the soul of satanic influence, both subtle and overt, cleanse one's spirit of sin, to attain perfect faith, to an outward material struggle to promote justice and overthrow oppression. The former meaning was emphasised by Sufis (Muslim mystics), who devote themselves to the inner jihad (Jihadul-Nafs), the greater jihad of the two. When used in the latter sense, jihad is closely identified with the statement in the Qur'an, "command the right and forbid the wrong" (3:104, 110). The close connection of jihad with the struggle for justice is reinforced in the hadith, the sayings and actions attributed to the prophet Muhammad (). Muslims must strive to avert injustice first by words and if that is not possible, by violence, qital (fighting or warfare) as a last resort. Chapter 2, verse 190: Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not

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This is regarded by many as the foundation pillar, because if this is not accepted it is not possible for the other pillars to be followed.

Pillar 1 Shahadah This is regarded by many as the foundation pillar, because if this is not accepted it is not possible for the other pillars to be followed. The bearing of witness or declaration of faith. It is a creed of Islam and outlines some of the beliefs, "I believe that there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of god". It is repeated as the first thing a new-born baby hears, repeated first thing in the morning upon waking, repeated last thing before sleeping and are the last words uttered to or by the dying. It has important values such as people showing their belief in Allah and accepting to submit to his will. And secondly to value Muhammad as the final prophet (the seal of the prophets), to follow his example (Sunnah), and to follow his sayings (hadith). Pillar 2 Salah This is praying 5 times a day. First of all the Muezzin gives the first call to prayer from the Minaret. The first call is the adhan and the second is from inside the prayer hall and is called the iqamah, this shows how important Muslims place praying as they make sure that everyone knows about it. The 5 set prayers and prayer calls have special names, the 1st is between the first light of day and sunrise, Salat-ul-Fajr. The 2nd the Salat-ul-zuhr is after the sun has left the midst of the sky. The 3rd the Salat-ul-Asr is between mid afternoon and sunset. The 4th the Salat-ul-maghrib

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  • Subject: Religious Studies & Philosophy
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What is the role of the person of Muhammad in Islamic thought?

What is the role of the person of Muhammad in Islamic thought? Word Count; 1680 Islam came into existence when the Sharia (Laws) of God needed redelivering one final time through a worthy Prophet's Hadith (Stories of him) making up his Sunna (example of Muhammad we should follow) and the Qur'an's Sharia. Though the Qur'an is a valuable source for the laws and opinions of Allah to a certain extent it is unable to substantially cover all the possible moral contingencies and thus by understanding Allah's perfect man one can gain the appropriate knowledge so that on the day of Judgement Allah might accept them into Heaven. The source of Muhammad's life and times, up to and including his revelations at the age of 40 in 610CE, is found in these Hadiths which in turn must be validated by substantial Isnads (tracing of sources for validity purposes). It is God's will that we follow this sinless man (Isma) as well as the scripture he has been entrusted to bring. With in the scheme of time of the monotheistic religions which all start at the word of the first prophet Adam, Muhammad delivers by way of the Qur'an and his Sunna to the Muslims the last in the essential Articles of Faith and messages from God. The Articles of Faith are; Suhoof(pages) of Ibrahim(Abraham), Taurat (Torah) as revealed to Prophet Moses, Zuboor (Psalms) as revealed to Prophet David, and Ingieel (Evangel) as

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  • Subject: Religious Studies & Philosophy
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Islam - considering Hajj, the status of women, and the possibility of being a Muslim without going to the Mosque.

ISLAM ) Why do Muslims go on Hajj? 2) Select, describe and explain those rituals of the Hajj which will be of spiritual value to the pilgrim. 3) How is Muslim behaviour directed by Islamic teaching on the role and status of women? 4) Do you think it is possible to be a Muslim without going to a mosque? (Consider more than one point of view) Introduction The name of this religion is Islam, the root of which is Silm and Salaam which means peace. Salaam may also mean greeting one another with peace. One of the beautiful names of God is that He is 'The Peace'. Islam means submission to The One God, and to live in peace with the Creator, within one's self, with other people and with the environment. Islam is a total system of living. A Muslim is supposed to live in peace and harmony with all these segments. A Muslim is any person anywhere in the world whose loyalty is to God, the Lord of the Universe. Allah is the name of the One and Only God. Allah has ninety-nine beautiful names, such as: The Gracious, The Merciful, The Beneficent, The Creator, The All-Knowing, The All-Wise, The Lord of the Universe, The First, The Last, and others. He is the Creator of all human beings. He is the God for the Christians, the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Hindus, the Atheists and others. Muslims worship God whose name is Allah. They put their trust in Him and they seek His

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  • Subject: Religious Studies & Philosophy
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