Islam: The Five Pillars of Faith
explanatory Essay
1286 words
In the Middle East around the seventh century, a new religion was founded. This religion, Islam, according to Patheos.com, has since then earned a very prestigious place in the world as it accounts for over 1,500,000 followers (Islam Origins, Islam History, Islam Beliefs). It is the second largest monotheistic religion in the world, right after Christianity. The Prophet Muhammad is said to be the creator of this practice after claiming that Allah, the creator of the world, had spoken to him. There is no other Prophet, and, therefore, teachings of Muhammad the Prophet, whom acquired his teachings from revelations he received from Allah. Islam later fragmented into two branches called the Sunnis and the Shias. Each has their own beliefs on how Allah would want for them to carry out their lives. These branches are divided mainly by geographical factors.
However, Islam has certain factors that seem harsh and rigid towards the viewpoints of the West. Islam is a very strict monotheistic religion because it requires its followers to practice the Five Pillars of Faith, it requires Muslims to perform rigorous rituals, and it imposes a set of radical laws call Sharia. Even though it is strict, Islam is not practiced the same way in all Muslim countries. Some Muslim countries are secular, which are not strict at all. However the countries that have theocracies are the ones that are extremist and rigid.
All Muslims must practice the Five Pillars of Faith. The five pillars are Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj. Shahadah translates directly to profession of faith, and it consists of the complete surrender to Islam. While praying, Muslims have to repeat “There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” This statement is...
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...ast Africa, Egypt, Yemen, and Indonesia. This is done to females so that they won’t experience pleasure when having sexual intercourse.
As can be seen, Islam asks a lot from its followers. This religion contains a lot of restrictions and regulations that the West views as rigid. The harsh laws of Sharia are only one factor that adds to the severity of the fact that Islam is a strict way of living life. Women are mistreated since birth, the punishments for crimes are bestial, and Muslims must pray five times a day. These are just a few factors that add to the strictness of this religion. Compared to a Westerner’s way of life, Islam seems like an unfair religion. The people who practice Islam are so much less developed then other major religions that they continue to live the way they did decades ago just to conform to Allah’s writings.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that even if they seemed harsh to islamic society, they cannot be considered harsh.
- Explains that islam is the second largest monotheistic religion in the world, right after christianity.
- Explains that the hajj is considered to be the peak of a muslim's religious life.
- Explains that sharia divides the world into two houses, the house of islam (dar-al islam) and the 'house of war'.
- Opines that islam demands a lot from its followers. the harsh laws of sharia add to the strictness of islam.
Related
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- Five Pillars Of Islam Essayexplanatory essayWhat is Islam, and where did it come from? What is this religion all about? Islam is not the new kid on the block in regards to religion. Islam is in fact an old, ancient religion. It is not that unlike of the Christian faith either; in fact, Islamic beliefs are in the Torah, which is Jewish, and also in the bible, which is Christian. The book that Islam goes by is called the Qur’an, which is the story of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad, Who is the founder of the Islamic faith and is believed to be the last of the prophets of God. Practitioners of Islam are referred to as Muslims, and their place of worship is a mosque, which is similar to the Christians place of worship which is the church. These days Islam has become a very common and widely practiced religion throughout the world. Islam has become very misunderstood, especially within western culture. Today, many Americans and Europeans see Islam as a serious threat to their way of life. Though there have been some very serious and unfortunate events in the news that have transpired to fuel this misunderstanding,
In this essay, the author
- Explains that islam is not the new kid on the block in regards to religion; it is an old, ancient religion.
- Explains the three pillars of islam: charity, fasting, and pilgrimage. some extremists view western culture as greedy and materialistic.
- Explains that islam is based on the five pillars of islam, which are what muslims base their life decisions and actions around.
- Explains the six articles of faith in islam, which include the oneness of god, the power of angels, and the supremacy of allah.
1439 wordsRead More - Inside Islamexplanatory essayReligion is an important factor in many lives in today’s society. A particular western religion that is taken very seriously by many is known as Islam. Essentially, Islam means “submission”, or in other words a person is to abide by God and peace will follow. In order to comprehend the Islamic religion, it is consequential to view the major themes associated with this religion. By going through the central themes of Islam it could help others comprehend what is involved with this specific religion.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that religion is an important factor in many lives in today's society. islam is a western religion that is taken very seriously by many.
- Explains that islam began in arabia around 570 c.e. when a prophet was born in makkah, or mecca.
- Explains that the qur’an is an essential piece of the islamic religion as it is the word of god, and the hadith is a collection of sayings of muhammad.
- Explains the belief in judgment day, which is also called yawm al-qiyama, is the day that people are judged for their actions within life. the divine decree refers to the idea that good and bad things will happen in life, but it all depends on the choices that we make.
- Explains the six core beliefs of islamic religion and the pillars of islam, which are also called arkan.
- Explains that muhammad united many areas in arabia and established a religious community. the prophet migrated to makkah and forgave all of his enemies.
- Explains that jihad refers to three different kinds of struggle, which are best described as the struggle with the muslim faith, the issue of trying to establish a muslim community and the process of defending islam.
1558 wordsRead More - Islam: Its History, Sects, and Pillarsexplanatory essayIslam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion alongside Judaism and Christianity. It is currently the second largest religion in the world today. Its beliefs come from the Qur'an which literally means "the recitation" which is believed to be a literal transcription of the word of God. Its main prophet is named Muhammad who began Islam by speaking with the angel Gabriel in a cave during his meditation and then acting as an instrument of God to help write the Qur’an. Muhammad then spread Islam to the scattered tribes of Arabia by becoming the leader of Yathrib and using his wonderful leadership abilities to then grow his influence over virtually all of Arabia. Muhammad is known by Muslims to be the seal of the profits because no profits after Muhammad should be considered legitimate. Muhammad also left behind the Hadith or “tradition” which is a collection of writings compiled of reports of Muhammad’s actions as leader of Yathrib. These reports are used as a more specific code of ethics in day to day life and from these reports the 5 Pillars of Islam are derived (Smith 160). Although Islam shares many similarities to Judaism and Christianity it is often viewed in the US with hate derived from preconceived notions following the attack on September 11th 2001. This paper seeks to provide an overview of Islam’s history as well as its two major sects and 5 main pillars to remove preconceived notions and provide a glance into the minds of the Islamic people.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that islam is a monotheistic and abrahamic religion alongside judaism and christianity. muhammad spread islam to the scattered tribes of arabia by becoming the leader of yathrib.
- Explains that islam has a deep history, beginning with ideas originating before muhammad and spanning to the present day.
- Explains how muhammad's visions led to the completion of the qur'an with 114 surahs. muhammad was brought to medina by the angel gabriel to pray with the other profits of islam.
- Explains that sunni muslims believe that abu bakr, the father of muhammad’s wife aisha, was the rightful successor to muhammad because of his successful election by shura.
- Explains that the hanafi school is the most accepted school in the west but is opposed by more traditionalist schools. the hanbali is a fundamentalist school that abandons the use of ijma and only uses the hadith when the qur’an does not provide answers.
- Explains that shia muslims believe that ali, muhammad's cousin, and his lineage were divinely ordained to be muhammad’s successors.
- Explains that when the twelfth imam returns, he will lead the righteous into battle against evil and rule over the world in a period of peace.
- Explains the five pillars of islam, which are to testify and truly believe that there is no god but allah and muhammad is his prophet.
- Explains the second pillar of islam, which is canonical prayer. muslims are expected to pray when they awake, when the sun is overhead, at sunset, and before going to bed.
- Explains that the qur'an emphasizes helping the poor in addition to keeping this help discreet as to not draw attention to the giver.
- Explains that ramadan is a moving target due to the way that the muslim calendar is structured. they cannot eat, drink, smoke, or have sex until the sun sets.
- Explains that the qur'an permits muslims a special large breakfast called suhur to be eaten before sunrise to help them last through the day. the fast was adopted from christianity and judaism and was done to show that muslims were just as god-fearing
- Explains that the hajj is a pilgrimage every muslim must take to mecca at least once during their lifetime if they are able during the twelfth month of the muslim calendar.
- Explains that the muslims assemble on the mount of mercy, where a prayer ritual is performed, and then move back to mina and the stone pillar that represents satan. ceremonies culminate in the feast of the sacrifices.
- Explains smith, huston, the illustrated world's religions: a guide to our wisdom traditions.
- Explains that burns, thomas j. "islam." religion and society. ou campus' dale hall, norman.
- Explains the difference between shia and sunni muslims.
2993 wordsRead More - Muslims and the Religion of Islamexplanatory essayFor my paper I decided to choose the religion of Islam. I decided to pick this religion because of its fast growing rate. It is also different from what I am used to growing up with, so I was interested in learning more. I had learned some basic facts after the 9/11 event, but the Muslim religion and culture was still a mystery to me. Picking this topic has helped me learn more about Muslims and will help me better relate to them in my future work.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that they chose the religion of islam for their paper because of its fast-growing rate and because it is different from what they are used to growing up with.
- Explains that islam is the religion for about a fifth of the world's population. it is full of peace, mercy, and forgiveness.
- Explains the five pillars of islam: shahada, salat, giving, swam, pilgrimage, and hajj.
- Opines that learning about islam has made them learn a lot about muslims and their lifestyle. they expect that they will encounter muslims in their working experience.
- Explains that muslims believe in one unique god, who they call allah. they believe that allah created angels who then delivered allah’s revelations to the prophets.
- Explains that prayer is one of the most basic and important parts of a muslim's daily life.
- Explains that some public schools are having a difficult time deciding whether or not to make accommodations because of the separation of church and state issue.
1063 wordsRead More - Islam Essayexplanatory essayIslam is a monotheistic religion and has been world’s fastest spreading religion. The religion Islam is originated in the seventeenth century by an Arabian prophet called Muhammad in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Seventeenth century was period of slavery and cold war. Islam is an Arabic word which means submission and it basically means submission to god and realizing his power. The followers of Islam is called Muslims. The meaning of Muslim is to surrender and it basically means surrender themselves to Prophet Muhammad and by obeying his instruction they can surrender to Allah. The scared text of Islam is Quran. Major Islamic branches include Shiite Islam (Shia) and Sunni Islam. They belief that to achieve heaven they need to fulfill five pillars of Islam which include creed (shahadha), prayer (salah), almsgiving (Zakat), fasting (sawm) and pilgrimage (hajj). The various aspects of Islam can be further discussed through Muhammad life, Quran, hijrah, core beliefs of Muslim, contributions of Islam, and by discussing how it is related to western civilization.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that islam originated in the seventeenth century by an arabian prophet called muhammad in mecca, saudi arabia.
- Explains that muhammad is known as the praised one. his mother heard an angelic voice while pregnant and he was born covered in light.
- Explains that quran is the uncreated word of god which is given through muhammad.
- Describes the contributions that islam gave to the world in educational basis, including geometry, algebra, geography, physics, trigonometry, sine and tangent, and camera obscura.
- Explains that islam and western civilizations are related with the feature of human rights. they believe that all humans are created by god and all are equal.
- Explains that muhammad's fiftieth year was the year of sorrows due to the loss of his wife khadijah and his caring uncle.
- Explains that the changes brought by the modern islam have taken the privilege and prestige of the old islam.
1417 wordsRead More - The Core Tenets of Islamexplanatory essayThe Core Tenets of Islam The religion of Islam dates back to the 7th century CE and the life of its founder, Muhammad of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. Islam is an Arabic word meaning: making something safe and secure, making something sound and whole, entering into peace and tranquility, and surrendering to something other than oneself. A follower of Islam is called a Muslim. In the religion of Islam, it requires the belief in certain core tenets, which include the articles of faith and the five pillars of worship.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the religion of islam dates back to the 7th century ce and the life of its founder, muhammad of mecca, in saudi arabia.
- Explains that the belief of life after death and in the resurrection of the dead on the day of judgment is an essential part of islamic faith.
- Explains the hajj, the journey of a lifetime. calliope, vol. 7 issue 3. jan. 1997.
- Explains the noble qur'an: translation in roman script with arabic text and english translation. al-hilali, taqi-ud-din, and khan, muhsin.
- Explains that monotheism is significant to islam, meaning a belief in only one god. islam rejects the human points that the christians and jews added to their doctrines.
- Explains islam's first form of worship, or pillar, is the declaration of one’s faith with a pure intention, through affirmation of the shahada, which asserts the unity of god and muhammad as the messenger (prophet).
- Explains the three pillars of worship: zakat, charity, almsgiving, and fasting during ramadan.
- Explains that the hajj consists of two parts, the first of which is umra, and the second is actual. the core islamic faith (iman) lies in affirming five tenets.
1855 wordsRead More - The Spread of Islamexplanatory essayIslam is a major world religion. Its origin can be traced back to 610 CE in Arabia. The basis of this religion is the revelations to the prophet Mohammad. Dissatisfied with his life, he traveled to deserts, hills, and the wilderness surrounding Mecca, where he lived, to meditate and reflect. He became a new man through his revelations, which many of his followers believe Allah transmitted to him through his angel Gabriel. Islam was originally an Arab religion, but many different beliefs and practices were added to it, making it extremely popular and aiding in its rapid spread. This new religion spread to many different areas surrounding Arabia, both under Mohammad and after his death. The Muslim Empire grew to encompass Spain and the Eastern Roman Empire as well Persia and Africa. Many different practices and methods were used to spread Islam. The religion itself was appealing to, in addition to the inhabitants of Arabia, other people in the surrounding areas because of its distinct religious beliefs and practices, such as the five pillars, as well as the humility and prayerfulness of the Islamic people. They fought cruel, vicious wars with their enemies. Many different things motivated the warriors to expand, but above all, the riches they would gain from the people of the Fertile Crescent encouraged them to expand.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that islam is a major world religion and its origin can be traced back to 610 ce in arabia.
- Explains that islamic civilization began in arabia, but spread to many areas in the proximity of the peninsula. the muslim warriors were extremely courageous, and their religious zeal aided in conquests of many empires surrounding arabia.
- Explains that mohammed offered alternatives to leaders of christian tribes. if they obeyed the lord and mohammed, the muslim armies would defend them.
- Explains that the quran offers specific instructions for its followers which pertain to conversions of others and the results of believing in it.
- Explains that the quran and mohammed's example encouraged expansion and battles with people of other faiths. the motivation for expansion was the desire for the riches of civilized regions of the fertile crescent
- Explains that the islamic religion contained many beliefs and practices that were appealing to others. the five pillars provided the basis for religious unity.
813 wordsRead More - Islam: A Religion and Cultureexplanatory essayIslam: A Religion and Culture Islam is one of the oldest religions in history dating back to about 600 AD. It began when a man named Muhammad heard a voice from the heavens instructing him to proclaim the word of god. Currently there are over 800 million followers of the Muslim religion. The main text of the religion is the Quran which is said to be the word of God, or Allah as called in Muslim. Within the Quran, The five pillars of Islam are proclaimed along with many other concepts very unique to the Muslim religion.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that islam is one of the oldest religions in history dating back to about 600 ad. it began when muhammad heard a voice from the heavens instructing him to proclaim the word of god
- Explains that muhammad was born into one of many feuding arabian clans. he experienced a vision of the angel gabriel who told him to proclaim the word of allah.
- Describes how muhammad was casted out of mecca, where his followers formed the first collection of followers of islam.
- Explains that the quran is a compilation of rules, poetry, beliefs, and meanings of islam. righteousness is explained as taking verses to heart rather than empty readings and routine.
- Explains that islam proclaims there is only one true religion and that no other is right. the concept of original sin is not prevalent in islam.
- Explains that the five pillars of islam are the main concept of faith within the quran and are followed by all true muslim followers.
- Explains the three pillars of islam: fasting during ramadan, giving alms to the poor, and redistributing wealth. each muslim must make a pilgrimage to mecca.
- Explains that islam has existed one of the most powerful empires of domination in all of history, sought with imperialism, innovation, and culture.
- Explains that the taj mahal is one of the most famous islamic palaces constructed in india by the mogul emperor shah jahan.
- Explains that islam has been divided into a few different schools of islam based on certain translations, rules, and interpretation of the quran.
- Argues that peace will never fully come to the middle east. the mogul empire was a perfect example of one of the most powerful empires in history.
1620 wordsRead More - Islamic Faith and Cultureanalytical essayIslam In recent modern times, the Islamic faith and culture has been scarred by bad publicity and criticism worldwide concerning terrorism, fanaticism, and the treatment of women. All these issues have existed in most religions throughout time, but the treatment of women is different in which most other cultures and religions have minimized the issues and Islam, under its attempts to also end it, has failed to create a society in which the treatment of women is equal to that of men. The treatment of women, beginning from the time when they are born, to the time of their marriage, to the moment of their death, has not been equal to that of men despite the actions taken to end the injustice. The Islamic faith rose during the life of Muhammad the Prophet (570 - 632 C.E.) who was born in Mecca, an area that was mostly Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian. At the age of 40, during a religious retreat at Mount Hira, he had a revelation in which the angel Gabriel spoke to him.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how muhammad taught about equality in marriage and everyday life. he wanted women and men to treat themselves equally without being considered more or less.
- Analyzes how the islamic faith and culture has been scarred by bad publicity and criticism regarding terrorism, fanaticism, and the treatment of women.
- Analyzes how muhammad's teachings may have led to men thinking that it was right for them to mistreat women and oppress them. arabs practiced female infanticide before the writing of the qur'an.
- Explains that the killing of female children is comparable to that in other eastern cultures such as china where the governments regulations led to it.
- Opines that polygamy is a good practice because it allows men to be committed to all his wives and children.
892 wordsRead More - The Five Pillars of Islamexplanatory essayThe worship of Allah is principal in a Muslim’s mind at all time. There are also five formal acts of worship which help strengthen a the faith and obedience of a Muslim. They are frequently called the “Five Pillars of Islam”. The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework and guidelines of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, supporting the needy, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the once in a lifetime trip to Makkah for those who are able to do so. These Five Pillars are the thing Muslim’s do to please God and to keep themselves well and happy in this lifetime and for the future ones to come. It was Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, who was reported to have said, “Islam is based upon five pillars”.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the worship of allah is principal in a muslim's mind at all times. the five pillars of islam are the framework and guidelines of the muslim life.
- Explains that shahadataan or kalima is the declaration or testimony of faith. islam is based on faith and the unity of god.
- Explains that salat is the name for the mandatory prayers which are to be performed five times a day.
441 wordsRead More