Islam - Explain the importance of Ramadan to Muslims and ways in which it may affect their lives
Section B Explain the importance of Ramadan to Muslims and ways in which it may affect their lives Sawm is the 4th pillar of Islam and is a religious duty for all Muslims. Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual intercourse from dawn (fajr) to sunset (Maghrib). Fasting is a mean of seeking nearness to Allah. One of the aims of fasting is to sympathize with those who are less fortunate and the ones who do not always have food and drink available. Also Muslims must try to avoid cursing and thinking evil and bad thoughts. Fasting is viewed as a way of controlling your desires (of hunger, thirst, sexuality, anger) and focusing more on Allah. Fasting gives Muslims a chance to feel what a hungry and needy person feels when he or she does not have any food to eat and also teaches Muslims self control because fasting controls his or her desire or need to drink or eat during the fasting period. People who learn self control can resist wrong doing or temptation to do bad things. During fasting Muslims have to have both physical self control- keep from eating, and mental self control-don't give into temptation. For a fast to be valid, intention (Niyyah) must be made beforehand; this is type of oath. If this is not said then you're fast is not valid. Fasting has many benefits to Muslims. Fasting will make the person stronger as a believer, closer
Assess the view that Hadith are not useful " Muslims only need the Qur(TM)an.
Assess the view that Hadith are not useful - Muslims only need the Qur'an. The verses from the Qur'an were sent from Allah via Angel Gabriel via Muhammad(saw) to mankind. A hadith is a book that has recorded quotes of Muhammad , and the people who knew him about Muhammad. The majority of the Muslims in the world, use both these books as guidance on how to live their lives so they can please Allah and ultimately enter heaven in the hereafter. There is only one book that is the word of God the Qur'an, and around 7000 hadiths. Although there is only one book that is the word of God some Muslims believe it is enough and there is no need for others, as the basics on what is required of Muslims in the Qur'an e.g. The need to pray 5 times a day, the importance of fasting in Ramadan, to believe in heaven and hell, judgement day etc. However it doesn't go into detail on things such as how to pray, the benefits of Ramadan where the Hadith do. If didn't have the hadith there would be confusion about the verses in the Qur'an that are ambiguous. For an example it is mentioned in the Qur'an a number of times that God is most forgiving, but a quote from a hadith here gives advice on what to do exactly and how forgiving God really is "Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will
Islam as a living religious tradition
Assess Islam as a living religious tradition in the life of its adherents Islam the complete 'surrender to Allah' is a living religious tradition with the principal belief in one God - Allah. Islam has remained the same in its principle beliefs of Allah, His Angels, His Prophets, His Books, The Last Day and his complete authority over destiny and has also changed over time to ensure that Islam remains a living religious tradition. Over its history Islam has had many significant people including Al Ghazali and Aisha Bint Abu Bakr who have ensured that Islam remains living in the hearts and minds of its adherents. In addition to significant individuals participation in the Five Pillars e.g. the Hajj ensure that Islam will continue to be the living religious tradition that it is. From Muhammad in the 7th century, Islam initially grew and expanded and interpreted principal beliefs and teachings to enable it to continue to today as a living religious tradition. Over time religious traditions must be interpreted and lived out in the context of time. In the Middle Ages tensions grew between the sciences and religion which impacted significantly on Islam. There was vast social upheaval for the Muslim's which led to religious and social crisis. Without Al Ghazali (1058) a Muslim theologian, philosopher and mystic the development and expansion of Islam wouldn't have continued and
''You can be a Muslim unless you attend a mosque.'' Do you agree?
'You can't be a Muslim unless you go to a Mosque'' Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer and show that you have looked at more than on point of view. The Shahadah, the first pillar of Islam, is the Muslim's declaration of faith in the oneness of God and the acceptance of Muhammad as his prophet. Reciting the Shahadah in Arabic and believing in it would make one a Muslim. It bears no mention that a Muslim has to go to a mosque. Therefore, one does not necessarily have to go to the mosque to become a Muslim. Men are encouraged to go whenever possible; as men have 27 times more spiritual credits praying in a mosque than at home, while women are encouraged to pray at home, as Qur'an 28 states. ''A woman is closest to God's face, if she is found in the core of her house. And the prayer of the woman in the house is better than her prayer in the mosque.''(Qur'an 28) Muslims who have difficulties going to a mosque are freed from the duty to attend a mosque. The niyyah, which is the intention, is considered to be far more important. If a Muslim willing to attend the mosque cannot do so because of a valid reason, he would still gain the full spiritual credit by praying at home. As the Hadith states, 'Wherever the hour of prayer overtakes you, you shall perform it. That place is a mosque.' The place of prayer is not too important, as long as the niyyah is correct. Although it
Festivals, Fasts and Special Days Essay
Zainab Abed Festivals, Fasts and Special Days Essay 2. a) Describe how Muslims celebrate Eid ul Fitr. (8) Eid ul Fitr is the festival of fast breaking and is celebrated at the end of Ramadhan, in the month of Shawwal. The festival begins with the sighting of the new moon and is usually announced on the radio and on TV. Eid ul Fitr is a very joyous occasion for all Muslims and they celebrate the festival in many ways. Muslims usually clean the house as a sign of purity and decorate it. Many Muslim women prepare special foods, for example, samosas. Cards are usually sent, amongst gifts and sweets for children. Also, on the day, Muslims bathe, shower and put on new clothes. They attend a congregational prayer in the mosque, and a special sermon is given to Muslims that attend. The Imam talks about the importance of giving to the poor. Families and friends gather together and share a meal. They also exchange gifts and cards and wish each other a happy Eid Mubarak. Many Muslims also visit the graves of relatives that have died and this unites the ummah, the brotherhood of Islam, and reminds them of their preparation towards the Day of Judgment. In Islamic countries, Eid ul Fitr is a 3 day holiday. b) Explain why Muslims keep Ramadhan. (7) Ramadhan is the fourth pillar of Islam and is an obligatory duty, an act of worship and shows submission to Allah. It is the ninth month
Islamic Fundamentalism
Islamic Fundamentalism is a religious ideology which advocates literalistic interpretations of the sacred Islamic text, the Quran. This ideology is founded on the conviction that Islamic law, the sharia, is the only valid system for regulating human life; and the conviction that an ideal Muslim society can only be achieved through an Islamic state. Often glorified as martyrs, Islamic Fundamentalists are 'jihadists', holy warriors who believe that violence is imperative to the global superiority of Islam. They fight for Allah, or God. This Muslim minority promotes dehumanization and justifies terrorism. Islamic fundamentalists reject both secularization and democracy. In accordance with the Quran, many reject the equality of men and women in society. Throughout the Muslim world, fundamentalists continually aim to keep women out of the job market, to force women to remain fully veiled in pubic, and to keep wives in strict submission and virtual bondage, to their husbands. Such efforts take the form of seeking to enforce strict implementation of Islamic law in terms of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession. Islamic fundamentalists view the strict suppression of women's rights as vital to the revitalization and purification of Islamic society. Islamic Fundamentalists believe in acts of "purifying" violence against sinful institutions, including nightclubs and movie
Essay on the mosque
Essay on the mosque 2. a) Describe the main features of a mosque. (8 marks) The mosque is the holy place of worship for Muslims. In Arabic, it is called masjid, which means place of prostration. The main features are split into external features and internal features. The external features consist of the dome shaped roof. The dome shaped roof amplifies the voice of the Imam (prayer leader) and allows the sir to circulate inside the mosque. It also encourages a calm and powerful atmosphere and it represents the universe and how only Allah has control because he is the creator. The minaret is a tower where the muezzin gives the call to prayer (adhan) from. Many mosques have more than one minaret and in the past it was used as a landmark to guide travelers and is symbolic because Allah is guiding his people to him. The final feature outside is the star and crescent. The star and crescent is usually situated above the dome and the minaret. It is the symbol of Islam. The five pointed star symbolises the five pillars and the crescent and star symbolise the greatness of Allah. It is also a symbol of Allah's guidance throughout life. The internal features of a mosque consist of the prayer hall. The prayer hall is a large hall with no seats. There are no seats because everyone is believed to be equal before God and that there is space needed for prayer movement. Muslims sit side
Islam Coursework
Islam Coursework: Ramadan: In this piece of coursework I am going to describe what happens at Ramadan and what fasting is. I am also going to explain the importance of the special month and the ways in which it affects their lives in terms of what Ramadan teaches them. Finally I am going to give my opinion on whether I think that Ramadan has advantages and disadvantages. I will also show that I have considered others points of view and understood them. a) Describe what happens at the fast of Ramadan. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar year. This month changes every year. It is a special time of the year when all Muslims across the globe have to fast to fulfil one of their five pillars which is known as Sawm. This special month lasts 29/30 days depending on the moon sighting. Fasting is about not eating from sunrise up and till sunset and is obligatory as it is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. It is also about thinking about the poor and needy and what they have to go through each and every day without food. It is about learning to sacrifice your ordinary life in order to fulfil Allah's (saw) commands. A typical day for an average secondary school child during the month of Ramadan can become very difficult and exhausting. The first thing they do is wake up a couple of hours before sunrise and eat an energizing meal which keeps them alive through out the day,
What is a mosque?
WHAT IS A MOSQUE? Mosques buildings that are reserved for Islamic worship. Any place where Muslims gather for prayer is a mosque; it does not have to be a special building. In Arabic, the proper word for mosque is 'Masjid'. The root word is 'sajd', which basically means the place where someone bows down to Allah. Mosques play vital roles in the lives of Muslims. The primary function of the mosque is to provide a place where Muslims may perform the five obligatory prayers. A mosque is a place that is specifically dedicated as a place of prayer. However, women can also pray in the mosques, many mosques provide a separate section where the women can pray independently. There is no verse in the Qur'an that prohibits women from entering a masjid, and there is no Hadith, in which the Prophet (saw) is reported to have made a statement preventing or forbidding women from going to the mosque. However, the prophet (saw) did say: "The prayer of the women is better in their house than in the mosque and the prayer of the women is better in their rooms than in their house." This essentially means that the prayer of the women is best when it is done in complete privacy. The mosque I have chosen for my coursework is Manchester Central Mosque, Victoria Park. MAIN FEATURES OF VICTORIA PARK MOSQUE > Dome > Minarets > Carpets > Mihrab > Mimbar > Quran racks and stands > Wudhu
Biblical teachings on Euthanasia
Haylee Kelly Friday 14th march 08 Biblical Teachings on Euthanasia The Bible doesn't specifically mention euthanasia. However, when considering whether euthanasia is acceptable or not, some biblical teachings are relevant. Christians believe life is a sacred gift from God. This is because in Genesis chapter one in The Bible the Creation Story teaches that God made all of life and said 'It is good.' Because life is described as God's gift, some Christians believe that Genesis chapter 1 can be used to say that euthanasia is wrong as it is playing God by destroying God's gift. However, some Christians believe that not all types of euthanasia are playing God. For example, passive euthanasia in particular can be sometimes seen as letting nature take it's course. Some Christians believe keeping someone alive by the use of medical treatments, life support machines for example, is playing God by not letting things happen naturally. To fully understand this view we must consider what Christians believe the purpose of life is. As the following diagram shows, Christians believe that life is a test to determine whether a person's soul goes to Heaven or Hell when they die. Some Christians agree with passive euthanasia as they see it as simply allowing a person who has completed god's test to go to Heaven. Many Christians interpretations of The sixth Commandment- 'Thou