Determine the degree to which the Five Pillars create communal identity.
The five pillars of Islam, Shahadah, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage, all work to create sense of community within Muslim areas. This community, called Umma, comes from each of the five pillars unifying the people through common action and belief. The first pillar, Shahadah, is stating one's belief in God and holding Him above all else. This establishes a commonality among all Muslims and begins the creation of a community. Secondly, a major factor in the ritual of prayer is praying at certain times of day, whether at a mosque or elsewhere. This becomes part of the culture of a place to have a call to prayer and for almost everything to stop for prayer. In doing so, this creates a culture of the locale that is inherently Muslim. Furthermore, the requirement of tithing to the community aides the less fortunate in the community as a direct result of Islam, reinforcing Umma's identity. Lastly, pilgrimage makes the Muslim people all unite together in their journey to the Kaaba.
Theme: How does ritual shape daily life?
Discuss how a Muslim lives his or her daily life according to rituals, eg prayer.
"In our modern times, the term ‘jihad’ has come to imply violence, holy wars, and terrorism, particularly in the western world. However, its original, intended meaning – and usage to a great extent in the Muslim world – continues to hark to a larger, more encompassing root word ‘j-h-d’ which means ‘to strive.’
In fact, a tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, differentiates between the ‘greater jihad’ and the ‘lesser jihad.’ Contrary to popular understanding, the greater jihad in Islam is the inner struggle, both spiritual and mundane, Muslims engage in daily in order to lead a righteous life, one which does not only include being mindful of one’s prayers, fasts, and charity, but also kind and just behavior with others, fulfilling duties towards kith, kin, and neighbors, and earning and eating of lawful means, among many other elements."(http://www.whyislam.org/jihad-2/jihad/)
God has ordered Muslims to pray at five set times of day:
Dawn, before sunrise: Fajr.
Midday, after the sun passes its highest point: Dhuhr.
The late part of the afternoon: Asr.
Just after sunset: Maghrib.
Late evening: Isha.
Midday, after the sun passes its highest point: Dhuhr.
The late part of the afternoon: Asr.
Just after sunset: Maghrib.
Late evening: Isha.
A Muslim is instructed to pray for their benefit, as God has no needs, and to be in the right frame of mind while praying. (http://www.whyislam.org/submission/five-pillars-of-islam-2/prayer/)
These all shape the Muslim's life around the schedule of prayer, and reciting the Quran keeps them to remember what it means to follow Islam.
Theme: To what extent are rituals affected by social, cultural, and political contexts?
Discuss examples in which Islam is challenged
by extremism.
"Perhaps the greatest misunderstanding about Islam today is that it is an inherently violent religion whose followers condone acts of terrorism. In reality, terrorism and indiscriminate violence completely contradict the teachings of Islam. Islam is a religion of mercy and ethics. It encourages people to beautify their relationship with God and with those around them through good character and deeds.
The Quran, the divinely revealed scripture of Islam, displays an extraordinary respect for human life: “…if anyone kills a person – unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land – it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind” (5:32). At another point, the Quran states, “…do not take the life God has made sacred, except by right. This is what He commands you to do: Perhaps you will use your reason” (6:151)." (http://www.whyislam.org/jihad-2/what-does-islam-say-about-terrorism/).
Islam is challenged by extremism as it creates a negative connotation, especially in areas where the religion isn't understood as well. This comes as a contradiction to Islam however, as it is strictly against he religion to kill one another.
Theme: What are the purposes of specific rituals?
Explore the relationship between the Five Pillars of Islam and the key concepts.
Iman (faith in God), Islam (submission to the will of Allah), Tawhid (oneness of Allah—an Islamic
expression of monotheism), Shirk (polytheism), and Risalah (the message of God as revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad) all relate to the first pillar of Islam, Shahadah which is confirming ones belief in God as one and all powerful. The second pillar, prayer, relates to the key concept of Ibadah, which is worship. Lastly, Jihad is struggle, and relates to the pillar of alms giving, in which Muslims help those in need in their community.
Theme: How are specific rituals linked to a foundational figure?
Discuss the way that rituals are carried out
in imitation of the practice and teaching of
Muhammad, for example, in relation to prayer.
Fasting (sawm) is a ritual that is derived from a the primary foundational figure in Islam, Muhammad. During Ramadan, he would take his family into the countryside to meditate and also to fast. This ritual of his became wide spread, and now Muslims everywhere practice fasting from sun up to sun down during Ramadan in order to become closer to Allah.
