Ramadan Coursework GCSE Reliogious Studies Education
When the new moon is sighted to signal the start of the month of Ramadan, there is great excitement. People call Mecca as it is announced on the radio, or in some countries cannons are fired. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is very significant for Muslims. This essay will illustrate its importance and purpose as being the single most important month in Islam. One of the most noticeable things about the month of Ramadan is the fact that Muslims all embark on a customary fast (Saum). This not only means the refraining from food and drink for certain amounts of time, but also includes refraining from smoking, sex and all other types of comfort, and they must abstain from bad thoughts such as greed, lust, and anger. Muslims also use the time of Ramadan to read more of the Qur'an and to get a deeper understanding of its meaning. Some very devout Muslims will read the Qur'an from beginning to end. All Muslims must fast during the month of Ramadan, but there are exceptions for those who it would either be unwise to fast, or those for which fasting would have no benefit. These are the exceptions: • Women who are menstruating, pregnant or breast feeding • People who are ill • Children under 12 years of age • The aged • Those on a tiring journey • The insane Those who are excused are required to make up for it later. If they still are
Existance of God
Existence of God Many people over time have tried to prove the existence of God in many ways, from Religious Scholars to Philosophers, and even regular folks like you and I. In this essay, I hope to show why belief in the existence God is a reasonable position to hold and also show how people's belief about God varies. Muslims are theists and believe in one God, whom they believe to be the Creator. Islam is a monotheistic religion therefore Monotheists accept this concept. Other monotheistic religions include Judaism and Christianity. Polytheists reject this belief and believe in more than one God, where as atheists decline the existence of God completely. Monotheistic faiths, such as Islam and Christianity believe in one God. They are similar to each other in ways, but do still stand differently with their beliefs. The main differences between these two religions are their beliefs about God. One of these differences is that according to Christians even though they are known to be a Monotheistic faith, is that God can be found in three forms, more formally known to be the Trinity, God the spirit, God the son and God the Holy Ghost. Muslims totally disagree with this, and declare it wrong. Muslims believe that God can only be found in one state and God has no relatives what so ever. The Christian belief also states that Jesus was God's son (God the son) - Muslims accept
Islam and human relations
Islam and Human Relationships In Islam, life is centred on family. Relationships are very important to Muslims and religious teachings must be observed by all in all situations. The role of men and women within Islam is perhaps the most important issue within human relationships that the Quran provides advice and guidance for. Marriage is perhaps the most important stage in anyone's life - Muslim or not as it is about the joining of two people for the rest of their lives. Islam teaches that marriage is more than simply the joining of two people though, it teaches that it is the bringing together of two families. Muslims often have large close families with many relatives nearby to assist. It is common practice within Islam for the wife to go and live with the husband's family before the actual marriage. Family life in Islam is paramount. Traditionally the man works to support his family whilst the mother stays at home to tend to the children and to ensure everyone is well fed and looked after. The mother must be respected by her husband and children. Whilst the mother makes decisions in running the household, it is the man who makes the important decisions for his family. This hierarchy is the natural order as Allah intended humans to live. Though men and women have different roles, Islam teaches that men and women are equal and will only be judges by Allah by how they have
Explain the origins of the Quran and the importance with which it is regarded by Muslims
Islam coursework Explain the origins of the Quran and the importance with which it is regarded by Muslims Prophet Muhammad (peace is up on him) was born in 570 in the city of Mecca. His father Abdullah died before he was born, and his mother aminah died when he was six years old. Allah did this to him because he was testing him, how is he going to control his anger or he well do the opposite which is aggressively and he well disobey Allah but prophet Muhammad (peace be up on him) controlled his anger he was clam. He was raised by his grandfather Abu mutallib until age of eight and after his grandfather death by his uncle Abu talib, Muhammad then started to work with his uncle to earn living as a business and trader. When he was 25, Muhammad married a wealthy widow khadija; she was 15 years older than him. The prophet and his wife give birth to six children two sons who died in a childhood, and four daughters. Muhammad started preaching in Mecca in about 610. During that time Muhammad (peace be up on him) used to spend nights in a cave in mount hira to pray and meditate, he was praying in mount because in Mecca the people were worshipping different idols and people were doing bad things such as gambling etc. In year 610 in month of Ramadan when Muhammad was meditating he had a vision and angel Gabriel said to him iqraa which means recite. But Rasulullah (peace be up on him)
Muslim Views on Marriage in Modern Day Society
Muslim Views on Marriage in Modern Day Society This final section is about young Muslims attitudes towards arranged marriages in Britain and the problems faced by young Muslims. All Muslims are expected to marry; when they get married depends on the civil law of the country in which they are living. Muslims in British society are very different compared to Muslims living in Islamic countries such as Pakistan. They have undergone social, political and religious changes, resulting in high divorce rates, separation, single parent families and relationships outside marriage. In British society members of the opposite sex have freedom to mix, so some Muslims living in Britain, in order to fit in, go against their faith by having relationships before marriage. Some Muslims also have love marriages, which in Islam is not advised because; love is believed to be an intoxicating state of mind. In Islam divorce is a very important issue and should be the last resort for a couple but, young married couples choose separation or divorce, rather than work through differences and disagreements when there are problems in their marriage. Young Muslims face most problems, as in modernised countries such as Britain, it is normal for people to date. However Muslims are not permitted to date and so when they live in these countries it is hard for them to resist as every one around them does
Essay on Muhammed
Muhammed - GCSE Essay 2. a) Give an account of how Muhammed (pbuh) was called to be the prophet of Islam. (8 marks) Muhammed was the final prophet of Islam and was the messenger of Allah. Muhammed's early life was very hard, he was born in the year 570 CE and parents died when he was young. He was well known in Mecca as Al-Amin which means trustworthy. When Muhammed was 40 years of age he had a very strange religious experience whilst he was meditating on Mount Hira during the month of Ramadhan. Muhammed was meditating in the mountains because he knew that their was more to life than worshipping stone idols. Muhammed saw a vision of the Angel Jibreal. The angel held out a piece of silk cloth with words written on it in Arabic. The angel passed on Allah's first command to Muhammed which was to 'read', but Muhammed could not read because he was illiterate and had not learned to read or write when he was young. Angel Jibreal repeated the command three times and Muhammed repeated the passage on the silk after the angel. The angel then said to Muhammed, 'Muhammed you are the messenger of Allah and I am Jibreal'. The Angel Jibreal then left Muhammed. After the angel had left, Muhammed was scared and left the mountains to tell his wife, Khadijah, about the incredible miracle that had just happened, she then went to see her Christian cousin, Waraqa, who confirmed that Muhammed
Islamic Bioethics
Describe and explain Islamic ethical teachings in bioethics. Bioethics is the ethical reasoning around issues of human biology. A Muslim would approach an ethical issue to seek ethical reasoning through the process of the Islamic ethical system. This is based upon Tawhid (the submission to the will of the transcendent; Allah. Humans were created with the ability to recognize goodness and reciprocity as the "best composition" willed by Allah. Humans are created with freedom and are naturally good, however 'nafs' like pride and greed interfere with the egotistical soul. When describing and explaining the Islamic ethical teaching on a bioethical issue like abortion, euthanasia and organ transplantation the Muslim belief in Allah as one true God who created human beings to live freely but in accordance with his will is crucial. To understand Islamic ethical teachings one must also understand Islamic Jurisprudence. Muslims believe that a human needs external sources for ethical guidelines. When an issue is presented to a Muslim their first/greatest authority is the Qur'an - words of Allah. Then Shari'ah law, the law binding on Muslims is also drawn from the Qur'an. When the Qur'an is not explicit enough the next source a Muslim turns to is the Sunnah or Hadith which are the words and actions of Mohammad the Prophet. Where the Shi'a Muslims would only source the Sunnah or the
Select, describe and explain the important features of a Mosque
Religious Studies GCSE Coursework - The Mosque . Select describe and explain the important feature of the mosque Fig.1 Plan of a Mosque A Mosque, also known as a masjid in Arabic, is the centre of a Muslim community. It is a place of postration, which literally means it's a place to lie down, but mosques can also serve as community centres, schools and a law courts. In Fig.1, the more essential features of a typical modern mosque are shown and labelled, and some will be introduced in the following paragraphs. However, mosques can contrast from a small room with a prayer mat to the elegant and grand Mosque of Istanbul, as shown in Fig.2. The quotation below from the Hadith recognizes the importance of the mosque as a place for prayer. 'Whenever the hour of prayer overtakes you, you shall perform it. That place is a mosque.' Fig.2 Mosque of Istanbul Fig.3 External features of a mosque The features of the Mosque can essentially be divided into two categories: the external and internal features. The external features are what can be seen from outside the mosque, mainly the dome and the minarets, as shown above in Fig.3. The dome is an essential part of a mosque. The exterior of the dome is often golden, while the interior is decorated with delicate patterns, as shown in Fig.4 below. It is often built directly above the main prayer hall and one of its main uses is to
Did Allah create the universe?
Do you think Allah created the universe? I think Allah created the universe as I am a Muslim, which means I believe in the creativity of Allah. This follows from the belief that Allah is one and nothing compares to Allah .The 'idea' of the universe comes from Allah. As he is the one who makes it run smoothly, of course, only the creator would know how to run it smoothly, and know how to control everything. Furthermore a s a Muslim I believe only Allah can control and run the universe no other being is so might and powerful, it is Allah who determines everything and only Allah will know what happens. This shows that Allah has such power as he is able to know everything, and only the creator is greater than the creation. In addition everything has a creator nothing can just pop-up from thin air. In the same way the universe didn't get made by a few particles accidently banging into each other. It has to have a cause .the only cause big enough, powerful and creative enough is Allah. Also a human being is part of the creation and the wishes of Allah, therefore they're limited in their thinking and views of life and things, especially as their lives ,thoughts are confined to time and space and in general have a limited mind e.g. he concept of forever is so broad and big that we can't imagine it ,put it into proportion or numbers ,it's just infinity .However time and
Christian and Muslim teachings on wealth and poverty
Christian and Muslim teachings on wealth and poverty Christians believe that wealth is something that can be used for both good (such as feeding the starving) and bad such as (buying weapons for terrorists) so in itself money is not a bad thing, but the ways in which you use it can then be bad. There are many biblical teachings which show that if people have the wrong attitude to money, that wealth can lead them away from God. In the parable of the Rich fool a farmer had a splendid harvest and decided to build several huge barns to store everything in and once he had done this he thought to himself, and said, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many year. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry,' that night he died and had no chance of enjoying his wealth. On a number of occasions Jesus taught that people should not pursue wealth but should try to make themselves richer in spiritual things - 'Do not store up for yourself for treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.' Matthew 6:19-20. The Christian church has always taught that Christians have a duty to make money to provide for the poor. Christians should work honestly and fairly and never try to cheat customers. Islam teaches that wealth is something given by God for the benefit of humanity and is therefore something to be shared. Islam has always taught that a Muslim has a duty to make