Explain how Muslim teachings affect the Muslim attitudes towards the role of women

Explain how Muslim teachings affect Muslim attitudes to the role and status of women The Qur'an teaches that women and men have the same right to life and are equal in God's eyes. Qur'an 16:97 stated this very clearly: 'whoever performs good deeds, whether male or female, and is a believer, we shall surely make them lead a good life, and we will certainly reward them for the best of what they did.' Muhammad, in particular, has put great emphasis upon the importance of women, especially mothers, as shown in the following quotation from Qur'an' A typical example is when Muhammad was asked about whom to care for, Muhammad answered 'your mother' three times before saying 'your father'. The way the Qur'an is expressed and interpreted in a culture that affects the status of women in society more greatly than the Qur'an itself. Muslim teachings certainly encourage that women should be treated equally to men, but the historical, social and cultural influences could sometimes override the original message from the Qur'an. For example, Qur'an 4:12 states that: 'You shall inherit the half of your wives' estate if they die childless. Your wives shall inherit one quarter of your estate if you die childless.' Some Muslims in the Western world might believe that men have no more right to inheritance than women, and therefore might secretly disagree with it. If a Muslim was brought up

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Islamic ST. Mosques

Do you have to go to the Mosque to be a good Muslim? Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, Showing you have considered another point of view. Your answer should refer to Muslim teaching. To be a good Muslim you don't have to go to a mosque. A mosque is where Muslim go to pray and ask Allah for forgiveness and his blessings. A good Muslim is a person who reads the Quran prays 5 times a day (Fajr, Zuhar, Asr, Magrib, and Isha) and who teaches the children the Quran and also going to hajj, pilgrimage to Mekkah. It states In the Quran that "whosoever dose not believe in Allah and his messenger (pbuh) then verily we have prepared for disbelievers a blazing fire". A good Muslim will also follow the 5 pillars of Islam which are 1) SHAHADA, belief in Allah and the messenger 2) SALAH the five daily prayers 3)SAWM which is fasting in the month of Ramadan 4)ZAKAT paying charity taxes and 5) HAJJ pilgrimage to Mekkah The person who does all these things are considered as a good Muslims. A bad Muslim is one how doesn't pray doesn't follow the teaches the Quran doesn't pay zakat which is giving charity doesn't fast in the month of Ramadan doesn't go to the mosque and doesn't read the Quran. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) said to is nearest words that "if I didn't have fear of little children or the elderly I will burn down the houses of the that don't attend the mosque". Another

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Describe what happens at the fast of Ramadan

Describes what happens at the fast of Ramadan Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam and an obligatory Muslim principle. It occurs every ninth month of the Islamic Calendar and is the process where Muslims do not eat in daybreak for 29 or 30 days (depending on the lunar calendar). This means they are only permitted to eat before dawn or after sunset. Ramadan aims to teach Muslims many important things. It teaches them to be grateful for the food they receive and not to waste it. Ramadan is also a declaration of a Muslims love for Allah, as they are willing to give up something essential for a period of time, for their god. Fasting also teaches Muslims self control as they are able to resist the temptation of food from their friends and peers. Ramadan is a mainly spiritual time, as a Muslim must focus on Allah at all times. They must also refrain from talking ill of others, and are encouraged to read the Qu'ran. Ramadan is perceived as a time to repent sins and become closer to god. Only a few Muslims are exempt from Ramadan. These include people not of a sane mind, the sick, travelers, those too old and those too young to fast and pregnant women. Girls are also not allowed to fast on their period, because they are deemed as "unclean". Old people usually pay charity to a poor person for every day they do not fast, meaning god will bless them in a different

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Human Rights in Islam

A man named Ali once said: "May God have mercy upon the person who services a right and removes a wrong, or refutes an injustice and establishes justice" In this quote, Ali speaks of the rights of fellow Muslims, proving to us the importance of justice in Islam. Islam has outlined some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, irrespective of whether they belong to the Islamic community or not. So to begin with, let us first understand what exactly is meant by human rights in Islam. When we speak of these rights, we speak of the rights that have been granted by none other than Allah. They are a part of the Islamic faith, and every person who claims himself to be a Muslim will have to recognize them. As for those who fail to enforce them, Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter Maideh Verse 44, "Those who do not judge by what God has sent down are the disbelievers." Now that we have understood what is meant by human rights, let us go into more detail about these rights. Allah has created us all from clay, as equals, none more important than another...in fact; Allah mentions this in suratul Insan when he says, "there surely came over man a period of time when he was a thing not worth mentioning." Infact these rights are not only mentioned in Islam, but also in the Universal Declaration of Human rights which clearly states that "All human beings are born free and

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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The Festival of Ramadan

R.E Coursework 2306 a) Describe what happens at the fast of Ramadan For Muslims, Ramadan is a very special time of the year. Not only is it special, the ninth month is also drastically different to any other part of the Muslim calendar. The most obvious aspect of Ramadan, when viewed from outside, is the fasting undertaken by most Muslims. They are required to refrain from eating, drinking, sexual intercourse and smoking from just before dawn to after sunset every day. However, not all Muslims will abstain from eating and drinking during the daylight hours throughout the month of Ramadan, those who are young, (often below the age of 15,) old, ill or travelling are exempt. Extreme examples of fasting, rarely seen in non-Muslim countries even forbid the swallowing of saliva or phlegm. In strict Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, it is not uncommon to see Muslims carrying buckets with them in which to spit, preventing them from having to swallow their saliva, which would, in their eyes, invalidate their fast. Muslims will often eat one meal before dawn, "suhoor." This is often eaten very early, and some Muslims return to bed afterwards. The fast is ended with a small meal called "iftar," which is taken as soon as possible after the sun has set. Iftar often comprises of dates and a glass of water, following the example of Muhammad (pbuh). However, physical restraint is

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Islamiyat Notes. Surah al Anaam (Ch. 6 : Vs. 101-103)These verses of Surah al Anaam discuss the fundamental Quranic theme of Allah in Himself.

Surah al Anaam (Ch. 6 : Vs. 101-103): Main Theme: These verses of Surah al Anaam discuss the fundamental Quranic theme of Allah in Himself. We come to know about the absolute authority and unity of Allah. He does not have partners and the entire universe is the creation of His will and design. It further describes that God is beyond human comprehension. This is because of the great difference between the creator and the creatures. It tells us that God is the most powerful and He can decide the outcome of events even before they occur. Distinctive Theme: These verses distinctively highlight God's attributes and His sovereignty. Ayat al Kursi (the Verse of Throne) (Ch 2: Vs 255) also presents the same theme but this passage refers to God as the originator and the fashioner of the whole Universe with its vast and flawless system. It rejects polytheism and makes us realize that God is free from all physical relations. The Quran refers to it in Surah al Ikhlas, "He begets not nor is He begotten." (Ch 112: Vs 3) 'Latif' means as fine and subtle as to be invisible and imperceptible to the senses. It also means that God understands the finest mysteries. Surah Shura: Main Theme: This Quranic passage discusses the Main Theme: of God's power, majesty and His ultimate authority over all that exists in this Universe. It informs us that everything in the Universe acknowledges

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Five Pillars of Islam Essay

Five Pillars of Islam Essay 4. a) Describe the five pillars of Islam. (8 marks) The five pillars of Islam are five obligatory duties that a Muslim must perform. The pillars are acts of worship and show submission to Allah. The five pillars are Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj. Shahadah is the declaration of faith and is the fundamental belief of Islam. 'There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is the messenger of Allah'. This belief shows awareness of God as one. Salah is the ritual prayer. Muslims practice two types of prayer and they are Dua'a and Salah. Dua'a is the prayer of petition (asking) and invocation (pleading). This prayer can be said anywhere and at anytime. Salah is the prayer performed five times a day - dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night. This prayer can be performed anywhere that is clean, but it must be facing the direction of Mecca. Before Salah, Muslims must ritually wash and stand on clean ground or a prayer mat. Salah must be performed for the right intention or in Arabic niyyah. Salah is performed in a set pattern and there are movements that are performed called rakahs. Salah is obligatory for men, women and children from the age of 12. Zakah is almsgiving or giving money to the poor and needy. Muslims do not like it to be called charity as the money that it belongs to is Allah. It is a gift made to God. Zakah is a proportion of a

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Re- Muslim women should not have abortions, how far do you agree with this statement

A Muslim woman should never have an abortion How far do you agree? Give reasons for your answer showing that you have considered another point of view In this essay I will be discussing whether or not it is right for Muslim women to have abortions, there are arguments for and against this statement and this is what I will be exploring. Muslim women, Christian women, Hindu Women, There's definitely similarities, but what's the difference between Muslims. Is their religion stricter? Should they not be allowed themselves to choose whether or not they should keep their child? I will start by talking about whether I agree with this statement. Having an abortion is a choice between killing your child and keeping it but how do you no which one is the right one to do depending on your circumstances? Killing is wrong, It clearly states in the Surah the Qur'an and the Hadith. Muslims believe that Allah decides who dies at what time and to disobey this or to think that you can decide yourself is wrong. 'Do not take life - which Allah has made sacred except for just cause' This shows that if a Muslim was to abort their child it would be an act of shirk because they are taking death into their own hands, they are acting as god. When you have an abortion you are killing the foetus of the child that is inside the mother but some people may argue that the foetus is not yet a child

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Deeds, death and destination

Deeds, death and destination. It's universally acknowledged that all beings eventually die, or as some may prefer to say, leave this materialistic world for a spiritual one (Heaven/Jannat). In today's contemporary society, religion plays a minor part and some may even utter that it is the principal cause for the majority of conflicts. The human mind is an abstract object to define; people approach situations in very diverse ways. But many scholars on the issue of religion are prone to a single conclusion; that the human mind and consciousness can be parted into 3 main ideologies. The first one seeks a destination or more commonly known as the goal in life. The second seeks a path to reach the goal; this path is a way of living and the actions we take in the present materialistic world. The third and last is the mind of the individual seeking reassurance in form of proof that the path will without any doubt lead to the goal (heaven. It's this last factor that divides individuals in from of those who practice the religion and those who don't. Zaker Naik once spoke "Knowledge is a sign of doubt, but practice is a sign of faith". The unbelievers question this tertiary factor and ask god for some form of reassurance and proof that an afterlife actually exists. But they don't rely that the proof is already presented towards them in the form of a holy book. If this answer is not

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Can you be a muslim without going to the mosque? Discuss

"You can be a Muslim without going to the Mosque" Many Muslims believe that, to be a Muslim, you have to go to the mosque. In this essay I shall be looking at reasons which support this statement, and reasons which disagree with it. I shall then conclude with my own opinion. On the one hand, some Muslims believe that you can be a Muslim and not go to the mosque. A reason could be that, in western countries especially, Muslims may not get time off work to pray at the mosque. Furthermore, some Muslims believe that as long as the floor is clean, and that they face Mecca, they can worship anywhere. "Wherever the hour of prayer overtakes you, you shall perform it. That place is a mosque." (Hadith) Another reason is that, many Muslims believe that God is omniscient (all-knowing). So if God is all-knowing, do Muslims really need to worship in the mosque? Wouldn't God know that they are worshipping somewhere else? "Do you not see that God knows everything in the heavens and on earth? Three men cannot talk together in secret, but He is the fourth...Neither fewer than that or more, but He is with them, wherever they may be." (Surah 58.7) Some Muslims believe that as long as you have the correct intention (Niyyah) you can worship anywhere. Also, many women don't go to the mosque (this is because, traditionally, women used to stay at home and look after the kids etc. while

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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