Investigating Islam- int 244 PDF

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1 Investigating Islam

Investigating Islam

Rose Winters GCU INT 244- World Religion Prof. Adams January 16, 2022

2 Investigating Islam Between Christianity and Islam there are a few similarities, but their beliefs are a bit different. Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and Islam means ‘Submission to the will of God’, God in Islam is Allah (BBC, 2009). Muslims, which are what the followers of Islam are known as, worship with the five pillars. “The five pillars represent the central worship obligations of Muslims, but they are not the only ones” (Corduan, 2012). The five pillars are important to Islam, but they could be beneficial to the organization Frontier Mission to understand their core beliefs instead of changing them. The five pillars are confession, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage. The first pillar to discuss is confession, otherwise known as Shahada. This is all about their faith, “There is no God, but God and Muhammad are the apostle of God” (Corduan, 2012). This is important because Islam is a monotheistic religion and Muhammad is the teacher, or leader. Confession was the first in a Muslims Road to salvation (Corduan, 2012). In Christianity, Christians ask for fogivness and that is what they consider salvation when there are baptized. When it comes to being Muslim, the first thing a baby hears and the last thing a person hears when dying is the Shahada, all one has to do is repeat the confession and mean it (Corduan, 2012). The next pillar is prayer or Salat, it is almost unheard of a religion not to pray. Christians pray to God, just not as much as Islam does. Islam takes Friday for prayer but also Muslims pray five times a day, sunrise, noon, midafternoon, sunset, and one hour after sunset (Corduan, 2012). Muslim’s prayers are not as simple as stopping before you eat and thanking the Lord for your food. Muslims go through the act of washing their hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, and moth three times (Corduan, 2012). A Muslim is able to pray where ever, but if it is possible it is best to pray at a mosque.

3 Investigating Islam Another pillar is fasting, or sawm, Muslims are not the only religion to fast, and it is not a form of punishment, but to understand how it feels when someone goes hungry. Fasting helps correlate to be more giving. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Muslims fast because it is a celebration which Muhammad, received from God, the initial revelations of what became the Quran (History.com, 2010). Fasting is not at the same time everywhere, but Muslims do fast from before sunrise to after sunset. There are certain circumstances that one may not have to fast, like being a young child or an ill adult. But those who are not able to fast for other reasons may find themselves donating to a charity (Corduan, 2012). While fasting Muslims are supposed to stay away from eating any type of food, drinking, or any bad thoughts. The fourth pillar is considered charity, almsgiving (zakat). Most religions it is important to give an offering, but for Islam, they are to make donations to the less fortunate. “The Qur’an commands all believer s to practice regular charity” (Corduan, 2012). Like fasting, where it gives the option to feel hungry as you have no food, it is important for them to help the less fortunate. And to end with the fifth pillar, pilgrimage (Hajj) which is a trip to Mecca. Mecca is where it all started so it is important for Muslims to get there once in their lifetime. This happens the last month of the Islamic calendar, called al-hajj (Films Media Group, 2007). There are different stages of pilgrimage where Muslims hold different rituals such as walking around Ka’bah un an anti-clockwise direction seven times, or traveling to Arafat (BBC, n.d.). Men are to wear two sheets a certain way and woman are to wear tradition clothing with covering their head and not their face to show equality in front of Allah (BBC, n.d.). This did not happen for all Muslims, but it is important if one could afford it.

4 Investigating Islam Frontier Missions goal is to teach Muslims about Jesus Christ, almost instead of Muhammad, or God instead of Allah. It would mean that these Muslims were not that committed to their religion if they were able to convert. With the five pillars, they must be dedicated in what they believe in. The confession alone is the first step of the commitment, the Frontier Mission wants them to be committed but not to Allah and Muhmmad, and to Jesus and God. Frontier Missions could benefit in confession, even though their beliefs are a tad different it is the dedication in what they believe in that makes it so special. There is not much difference to believe that Jesus is God’s son as Muhammad is Allah’s teacher. If they could understand that they made the commitment for their religion, maybe they could respect what Islam believes and why they believe it. The five pillars are important to Islam because it is what their religion is based off if. Without the five pillars there would be a lot less structure. Understanding the five pillars helps other religions understand what it means to be Muslim.

5 Investigating Islam BBC. (2009, June 30). Religions - islam: Islam at a glance. BBC. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ataglance/glance.shtml

Corduan, W. (2012). Neighboring faiths: A Christian introduction to world religions (2nd ed.). IVP Academic. ISBN-13: 9780830839704

Films Media Group. (2007). Islam. Films On Demand. Retrieved January 16, 2022, from https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=96349&xtid=39041.

BBC. (n.d.). What is the Hajj pilgrimage? - CBBC newsround. BBC News. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/24566691

History.com Editors. (2010, October 28). Ramadan. History.com. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/ramadan...