The Cultural Values Of This Group Revolve Around The Islamic Religion

(Dickson, 2004, 207) Salat provides believers with a direct communion with Allah five times a day, helping to keep one from creating attachments to non-essential things. Another of the Arkan al-Islam is Zakat, the act of giving. Muslims that are economically well-off must give a minimum of 2.5% of excess personal wealth to the less fortunate once a year (Morrissey, 2010,110). Muslims adults must also perform the act of Sawm, which is the act of fasting from dawn to sunset in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar(Hayward,2003,1.), the month when Muhammad was sent the message of the Quran by the angel Jibril. The exceptions for those not able to fast are those who are too old, sick, on a long journey and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating. During Sawm Muslims should not eat, drink, smoke or have sexual intercourse during the hours of daylight. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj is the pilgrimage to the ka’ba in Mecca, all Muslims that are financially and physically able are expected to complete the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The Quran states ‘perform the visit and

The on-going Sunni and Shiite split has influenced not only the Middle East where it originated but also impacted the rest of the world. The divide between the the Sunni and Shiite which has existed for centuries is one of the most prevalent aspects of Islam. Members of the two sects have co-existed for centuries and share many fundamental beliefs and practices. However, they differ in doctrine, ritual, law, and religious organization. Their leaders also often seem to be at odds; from Lebanon and Syria to Iraq and Pakistan, many recent conflicts have emphasized the sectarian divide which began with the death of Muhammad.

Islam is a religion where the people follow major beliefs. They follow the Kuran and the five pillars. The five pilars that they follow are declaring faith, giving to the poor, praying five times day, fasting during the month of ramaadan,and the pilgrimage to Mecca. When they declare faith it means they are giving faith and trusting that there is only one god (Allah). The meaning of giving to the poor is pretty obvious but it means to give to people who aren't doing as well as you are. When they pray five times a day its to worship God and to ask him the guidance through the "straight path" ( the way that God wants you to live). Next the reason they fast during the month of Ramaadan which is when people dont eat or drink anything while the

The differentiation in ideology of the leading factions within Islam, ironically, has introduced a unifying political philosophy into the region, Islamism. The concept of Islamism defines the governing body’s political claim as a biased interpretation of Koran and its employment of force to vindicate revolutionary violence in the name of Islam (Arjomand Web). The political theory inadvertently ferments political tension by dividing Islam itself within a categorized system (Armojand Web). A similar form of classification was experienced by Iran during the 1970’s and the 1980’s which led to religious factions such as Sunni and the Shia resolving to violence in order to solve long-lasting cultural differences (Tibi Web). The facts assert that even minuscule neighborhoods were divided into Sunni and Shia territories with frequent emigration of a minority group to claim the region (Gosh Web). The historical trend of violent resolution is also eluded to by Khaled Hosseini in his literary works via repeated instances of horrendous domestic strife by the male members of the family in order assert superiority through violence (Hosseini, Thousand 89). The “…sociopolitical and economic…” stances of independent Islamic state induce religious vows into such chaotic instances through Sharia law in order to accomplish personal gains of a political movement through military actions against the alleged enemies (Tibi Web). The regional tensions mentioned have additionally been directly

Ramadan is a holiday celebrated by Muslims of the Islamic faith. It is month long fast that symbolizes the Quran revealing itself to the prophet Muhammad. Ramadan is observed in accordance with the moon phase of the crescent. The fast is from dawn to sunset each day. It is a fasting of food, beverages, sexual activity, smoking, cursing and overall engaging in what the Quran deems as sinful behavior. During this there is more praying and recitation of the Quran in Muslim communities. A unique feature of Ramadan is that in relation to the Five Pillars of Islam, many individuals giving more to charity, the less fortunate and back to their community. They are practicing Zakat or alms as it is known in laymen’s. Ramadan can be explained using the terms “sacred time and space” coined by Mircea Eliade in his novel “The Sacred and the Profane”.

Every religion has its foundations, and Islam is not different. For Muslims, the Pillars of Faith establish the core beliefs of the religion, and all who follow the path of Islam should abide to it. These obligations reveal a Muslim's true dedication towards enlightenment, and one of the greatest tests of faith is the fourth pillar Sawm, which is fasting during the month of Ramadan. Fasting teaches the virtue of self-restraint, and it's believed to improve one's will and spiritual connection with god (Words of Wisdom). Once the moon is spotted, the fasting will typically begin with a meal before dawn and then ends with a meal after sunset for every day in Ramadan. As difficult as it might be for some people, the fasting is not something where people despair on being hungry and thirsty, but a belief that it "teaches empathy and sympathy" (Words of Wisdom). Not all people are blessed with an abundance of food, so it those with leftovers give it those who cannot feed themselves. As Sawm teaches a mix of physical and mental strength, the fifth pillar Hajj, is one of spiritual strength. It is one of the most important beliefs of Islam as it is the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one the most holiest places annually visited by over 15 million Muslims each year. It is the pinnacle of spiritual uprising as it is where one will

Culture is the common uniting factors that a community shares. It includes values, customs, habits, thoughts that guide members of the society. Culture can also be defined as practices and knowledge that is transmitted to the generation by social interactions between members of a social community (Pohlong 1). It differs from community to community. The purpose of the essay is to relate and differentiate culture from religion, especially the Islamism and identify the reasons this particular religion is prone to stereotyping.

The central beliefs of Islam, and the central acts of Muslim worship, can be summarized in the Five Pillars of Islam: shahada (bearing witness), which usually manifests itself in reciting “there is no god but God, and Muhammad is God’s messenger; salah (praying five times a day facing Mecca); zakah (giving to the needy); sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan); hajj (a

Islam is divided into two branches: Sunni and Shi’a. A large majority of the Iranians, approximately 90%, practice Shi’a Islam. The division emerged when early Muslims were conflicted about who their rightful religious leader (caliph) should be. Moreover, they were torn between Muhammad’s son in law, Ali, and a leader elected by the community’s elders. Shi’a Muslims are those who chose Ali because they believed that the leadership should be maintained within Muhammad’s lineage. This caused tensions between the two factions for centuries that have been carried forward to date between Iran and other Muslim countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States. However, the rifts seem to be subsiding in recent times due to economic benefits of trade between Iran and Sunni Muslim countries (Strausscenter, 2015). Improved trade relations between Iran and the Gulf States may encourage better political relations.

“The strong person is not the good wrestler. Rather the strong person is the one who controls himself when he is angry.”-Unknown. Islam in America has gotten a bad rep because of the terrorist group known as “Isis”. Isis claims they pursue the faith of Islam and always take the “Credit” when an attack happens on the peoples, or a country. In the following paragraphs I plan on separating Islam into three defining categories that are the following “Devotion, Peace, and Balance.”

In Islam, there is something called the Five Pillars of Islam that are a central and crucial part of Islam. First, In source 3 paragraph 8 it says “There are five important actions that Muslims must do to worship God. They are known as the Five Pillars of Islam. A pillar is a supportive column. One pillar is shahada, or a declaration of faith. Muslims must say that There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his Messenger. The next pillar is prayer. Muslims pray five times a day. Another pillar is zakat, or giving to charity. The last two are pillars are fasting and pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a trip to a holy place. Muslims are supposed to make a trip, or hajj, to the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. They must go there at least once in a lifetime if they are able to.” This relates to the topic because it proves that the pillars are important to the lives of Muslims because the pillars are the things that guide some of their lives and it also tells them

However, the Quran lays on all believers five duties, known as the Five Pillars of Islam. First, the duty of reciting the creed, “there is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God.” Second, the duty of worship and prayer after ritual washing and while facing in the direction of Mecca, five times daily and in the mosque on Fridays. Third is the duty of almsgiving. Fourth, complete abstinence from food, drink, and any sexual activity from dawn to dusk during Ramadan which is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Ramadan is sacred as the month in which Muhammad received the first of his revelations from God. Fifth is the duty of the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim should undertake before he dies. In addition, the Quran forbids the Muslim to eat pork, drink liquor, or gamble(Five Pillars of

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

Continuing, Islam’s view of life is an ending to an eternal life after death and they abide by their own version of the bible, the Koran, created from a collection of prophet’s revaluations from previous Muslim leaders. According to the scholastic article of Islam the Koran is the main source for Islamic law that includes five “pillars”, rules they are to live by. The five guides are Shahadah the profession of faith which they must believe there is only one god, Salat meaning prayer in which they must pray five times every day, Zakat or almsgiving where they are to give their wealth to the needy, Sawk is fasting that is to take place each day during the month of Ramadan, and Hajj is pilgrimage that state if Muslims can travel they are to visit the city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime. All three religions have the knowledge that there is only one God, conduct their life around the set rules, and have belief that their destiny is in heaven or hell.

The first pillar is called the Shahadah, which is the fundamental act upon all Islamic activity depends. “It is to acknowledge verbally that one accepts the reality of God and the prophecy of Muhammad.” Sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith is essential and considered a duty for Muslims. The second pillar is called the Salat, which means performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day. Salat is essential for muslims because prayer involves uniting mind, soul, and body in worship. The third one is called Zakat, which is defined as “a certain percentage of one’s acquired property for the year that is paid to the needy.” Paying a charity tax with the purpose of benefiting the poor in society is viewed as a responsibility for Muslims and a service to God. It is regarded as a type of worship and of self-purification. The fourth pillar is called the Sawm which means fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the fifth one known as Hajj is pilgrimage to Mecca, since the hajj is a set of rituals that take place in and around Mecca every year. Carrying out these obligations provides the framework of a Muslim 's life, and weaves their everyday activities and their beliefs into a single unit of religious devotion. No matter how sincerely a person may believe, Islam regards it as pointless to live life without putting that faith into action and practice.