Reaction: Social Work and The House of Islam This paper will be a personal reflection on the fact, credibility, reaction to, and application of David Hodge’s article, Social Work and the House of Islam: Orienting Practitioners to the Beliefs and Values of Muslims in the United States.
Fact
This article began by describing the different branches of Islam. The Sunni Muslims are the most common sect, followed by the Shiites. The author drew a comparison to help understand the difference between the two main sects of the faith. Sunni Muslims generally consider their relationship with their god to be personal, like that of the Protestant. Most Shiite Muslims relate more to the hierarchy of authority described by Catholics. There is a third branch,
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They are shahada, zakat, shalat, sawm, and hajj. Shahada refers to the belief in a single omnipotent God whose messenger is Mohammed. Zakat is their daily prayers. Shalat is charity and giving to the community. Sawm is fasting through the month of Ramadan. Hajj is a pilgrimage to the holy city. Other important values are modesty and community. Family and God are the center of everything.
Credibility
Overall, the article seems to be credible. The author is a professor at a university and has written several other works. His sources are easily identifiable and the bibliography is thorough. The comparisons, practice suggestions, and explanations all seem clear and relevant. The article does not seem to have been written with any agenda or goal other than social work
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This was very helpful, especially when talking about the role of women in society. To know that women in both cultures can see the other as oppressed helped to challenge any ethnocentric views that may have influenced me. It is so easy to have a gut reaction based on stories of extremism, but the article said that often veils are often seen as a sort of freedom. It talked about a woman who saw it as a way to be valued for her work instead of her image. Another area I greatly appreciated was the discussion of community. The family unit is important and roles of marriage are to complement each other. The husband (or oldest man present) is the head of household. There is a great emphasis on success of extended family and larger groups. In practice settings, this could mean a lot of work to integrate other people into the therapeutic process. The Islamic Society of North America is a resource that I did not know about. I also didn’t know that Imams are Muslim spiritual leaders available for consultation. This knowledge has a lot of practice implications.
Popple, P. R, & L. Leighninger. (2011). Social Work, Social Welfare, and American Society. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Morales, A., Sheafor, B. W., & Scott, M. E. (2012). Social work: a profession of many faces. (12th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
For some women wearing a veil is not something that is forced on them but rather a choice of their own. Martha Nussbaum and Maysan Haydar are both authors that try to explain their reasoning that veiling isn't an oppressive tool used against women. Martha Nussbaum's article “Veiled Threats”, is a political and philosophical take on why banning the burqa is a violation of human rights. On the other hand Maysan Haydar’s article “Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering”, is a more humorous and personal take on why veiling shouldn't be as judged or stereotyped. Though Nussbaum and Haydar have equal goals this essay is being used to understand the main argument, claims and whether or not each article has any weaknesses.
Burns, Thomas J. "Islam." Religion and Society. OU Campus' Dale Hall, Norman. 14 Apr. 2014. Lecture.
The Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam have been feuding for hundreds of years dating back to the beginning of the Islamic religion. The deity or god of the Sunnis is Allah. The Sunni branch of Islam is the larger of the two branches with over 80% of the Muslim population. The Sunni are the majority in most of the countries that have Islamic followers. There are a few different translations of what Sunna stands for, one of which is “Habitual Practice.” The differences between the two branches can be traced all the back to the 7th century CE when the disagreements as to who should succeed Muhammad. Sunnis believe that the Muslim community should maintain the right to select who the successor to Muhammad is going to be. The Shiite branch maintains the belief that Muhammad has selected his son-in-law to be the successor. Even though the two branches agree on most matters, the Sunni put more power behind god and his determination of fate, and are more inclusive about their definition of being Muslim. The Sunni place heavy belief in the role of religion in some aspects of life and a lot of weight is put on the Islamic law known as Shariah as the standard for a vast range of social issues including marriage and divorce. (Patheos.com)
Islam, a religion of people submitting to one God, seeking peace and a way of life without sin, is always misunderstood throughout the world. What some consider act of bigotry, others believe it to be the lack of education and wrong portrayal of events in media; however, one cannot not justify the so little knowledge that America and Americans have about Islam and Muslims. Historically there are have been myths, many attacks on Islam and much confusion between Islam as a religion and Middle Easter culture that is always associated with it. This paper is meant to dispel, or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas and this will only be touching the surface.
Professor Leila Ahmed, active Islamic feminist, in her article “Reinventing the veil” published in the Financial Times assumes that there is a connection between “advancement” and veiling, which means that unveiled women are advanced and vice versa. In addition, she supports that it led to increasing rate of violence. She questions why women wear veil, that is considered as “symbol of patriarchy and women’s oppression”. However, research changed her position towards wearing veil. Firstly, she states that wearing veil was essential for women, because it could be beneficial and influence to how people treat women, in terms of job, marriage and free movement in public. Secondly, her assumption was explained while interviewing women, who stated
Islam: A monotheistic religion characterized by the adoption of principles of submission to God; and believing in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as the last messenger of God. Accordingly, my role in this life is to worship Allah (SWT). In Islam, people should express verbally and believe in the heart that there is no God but Allah (Tawheed), as well as to practice Islam as much as Muslims might be able. In the Quran, Allah (SWT) says, "And I have neither created the Jinn nor humans except to worship Me." Az Zâriyât (51:56). My impression is based around the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam are; declaring that there is no God but Allah known as (Shahada), praying five times a day (Salah), fasting the holy month of Ramadan (Sawm), the giving of charity (Zakat), and pilgrimage or visiting the holy city of Mecca (Hajj) at least at once in ones life time. Here, I would consider putting strong emphasis on the Five Pillars in Islam. As Islam instructs its followers, Muslims should use the Five Pillars into every facet of their everyday life activities. As a Muslim, you have to understand the Pillars of Islam as well as the Sunnah or the way of the Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH.) During his last fare farewell speech, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you”. In accordance with, Christianity also says, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). Based on the relationship between Christianity and Islam, there are principles commonly shared by both religions. Despite all of the different religious and ethnic backgrounds, social status, and regardless of its believers or not, it is paramount to treat everyone with the same way he or she expects ...
The Much common ground is shared in attempt to provide approaches to finding answers to some of the deepest questions of life. I will discuss these significant similarities focusing on human dignity, identity, difference, and guardianship. “Islam is similar to Christianity in respect to human dignity and identity in that both acknowledge creation and that God is the creator of heaven and earth”. The aspect of both subscribes to the role of prophets who were venerated in both Islam and Christianity. Due to this fact, they both are traced to the times of Abraham (Ipgrave and Marshall 14-77). The goal of each faiths’ ethos is to love God by way of obeying His commandments on guidance from their respective Holy Books. They both do broadly consist of individuals that owe their allegiance to a metaphysical deity. Owing to the fact that the two are considered Abrahamic religions. They do both captures in the strictest sense the aspect of guardianship in respect to both having belief in only one God. A belief is impliedly preaching the existence of heaven and hell. Goes on to affirm the existence of the belief of the second coming of the Savior, which affirms the faiths’ ethos towards the attainment of the religions’ goals. Aimed at promoting and achieving a holistic understanding of religion, as the flexibility to accommodate diverse backgrounds of its adherents that is always prone to abuse. Christianity and Islam’s
Wilson, K. et. al., 2011. Social Work ' Introduction to Contemporary Practice'. 2nd ed. Essex, England.: Pearson Education Ltd .
299). The study consisted of having in-depth personal interviews to share their experiences of being a Muslim American woman (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 300). Veiling to these women was a way of freedom while also having a Muslim identity (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 301). It was also a source of behavior control, to not be sexually objectified, a way of commanding respect from others and even a source of checking their own behavior (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 301). One of the women interviewed said, veiling to her was a way to feel connected to other Muslim woman who veil (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 302). Veiling can be a way to feel connected to your religion and God as well as being connected to those who practice the same faith, it can be considered an act of membership. Many of the women interviewed noted they have been removed from planes, been treated unfairly, and have had strangers shout at them all for just being Muslim and being more visibly recognized from veiling (Anderson Droogsma, 2007, p. 303). This is an example of how media can affect the general population. When the media only shows radicals and compares all Muslims to being terrorist or dangerous they are actually putting Muslim people at risk of being assaulted in public. Muslim woman in particular are more at risk for being assaulted as they are more identifiable. So while veiling can be a source of empowerment and freedom for women it is a double-edged sword because it also puts them at further risk of being
At the first glance, Islam and Christianity appear to have nothing in common, however; as you go beyond the surface, they appear to have many similarities such as their beliefs of God, their beliefs of life after death, their holy scriptures, and their prayers. These religions, although are two entirely different beliefs, share a similar origin. Like many other religions, they both claim to be the one and only true way to God. In order to truly see and understand their similarities, one must date back to the rise and birth of Christianity and Islam. Throughout the course of this essay, I will compare the many facets that show the alikeness between these two growing religions.
In the Islamic faith there are five pillars that they must follow to their best ability. The Salaht, the Hajj, they must give to the poor, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and repetition of the creed, "There is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." These pillars are more like obligations in the Islamic religion.
Muslims have five pillars of practice and must apply their best effort towards these in order to be considered a true Muslim. First, is Shahadah, the declaration that they believe God is one and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. Secondly, they have their formal prayer five times a day. Thirdly, Muslims practice fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. Fourthly, They must give 2.5% of their savings to the needy at the end of each year. Fifthly, they must pilgrim to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, assuming they are both physically and financially able. The Islam religion governs all areas of life, including moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etcetera (30 Facts).
There are many similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. There are also many differences that separate the three major religions of the world. This paper will delve into all three of them.