Islam Religion

Drake Richmond

Comparative Religion 12, Period 6

Dr. Jackson

November 12, 2015

Islam

Before our study of Islam in class, I had very little knowledge of its practices and teachings; however, I was eager to learn more about a religion that was very similar to mine. I gained a newfound respect for the religion. I found many of the teachings in Islam very practical, ethical, and relatable. During our study of Islam, I learned about the prophet Muhammaed, The Five Pillars, and the mosque which I found all to be very interesting topics. Islam is a very sensible religion and after our in-depth study of the religion, I had a completely different outlook on the religion.

Muhammed is a prophet who exemplified great bravery and obedience during his life. He was born in Mecca and orphaned as a child. He was raised by his uncle and later by his grandfather. His occupation was a trader and he married a wealthy widow, Khadijah. He took on a practice of meditating on Mount Hira and in 610 he received the first of many revelations from God, given to him through the angel Gabriel. Alarmed and confused by Gabriel’s message, he accepted God’s task, and began to preach to the polytheistic people of Islam that there is only one God, but received a very tepid response. His controversial teachings on monotheism angered them, and they harassed him and his followers. Muhammed moved from Mecca to Medina which marks the start of the Islamic era. Muhammed continued to fight against the Muslims until 630, and as he became more powerful and revered more tribes started to accept Islam. I really admire Muhammed because he was obedient to God’s will and he continued to preach the word of God even when he was met with opposition.

The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, salat, giving zakat, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime. The first pillar is the testimony of faith which is saying with confidence “There is no true god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that nothing has the right to be worshipped but the one and only God. The testimony of faith is the most significant pillar. Protesting your faith is imperative for any follower of any religion because it verifies that one truly has confidence in the teachings and beliefs of his religion. The second pillar is salat. Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day.  Prayer in Islam is a direct connection between God and the worshipper.  In prayer, a person feels inner joy, tranquility, and comfort. Salat is my personal favorite pillar because the importance of prayer is greatly emphasized in my religion. Prayer is a way for one to a have a personal connection with God, so the more one prays the closer to God he becomes. The third pillar is giving zakat which means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people.’ Muslim’s wealth undergoes purification by setting aside a small amount for the poor and. Donating a portion of one’s possessions to the poor, forces Muslims to face their human tendencies toward greed, selfishness and materialism. God has blessed us with everything we have, so it should be our duty to help people who are less fortunate than we are. The fourth pillar is sawm.  Every year in the month of Ramadan all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, desisting from food, drink, and sexual relations. The fast is considered as the primary method of spiritual self-purification.  By abstaining from worldly pleasures a person is able to sympathize with those who are hungry, as well as grow in his or her spiritual life. I really like this practice because it humbles a person. It helps one to realize how blessed he really is and to never take anything for granted. The fifth pillar is The Hajj which is a pilgrimage to Mecca and a mandatory duty for every Muslim. It is a ritual that is designed to promote the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. I find The Five Pillars to be very ethical principles. Everyone can apply these doctrines in some way to his daily life and greatly benefit from them regardless of his religion.