...Suzette Beaudoin Professor J Latta HUM 1024 February 25, 2014 Transcendental Religion The Shia seems to be the most transcendental religion. It is one of two major denominations of Islam. About ten to twenty percent of the world’s Muslims are Shia’s. Majority of the Shia lives in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and a politically significant minority in Lebanon. Shia comes from the Arabic word meaning a supportive party of people, also known as followers of Ahl-al-Bayt.("Shia and Sunni Muslims ") During the prayer, the Shias places their forehead onto a piece of natural occurring material, something like a clay tablet, soil from Karbala; this was where Hussein ibn Ali was martyred. They pray with their hands open at their sides. They don’t use a prayer rug. Most of the Shia’s belong to the Twelver tradition, also known as the Ithna `Ashariya.("Who are the Shia? ~ Shia Sects ) This tradition seems to recognize a sequence of 12 imams. Imams are believed to have superhuman powers and were the descendants of Muhammad, and they were the sole interpreter of the Quran and Islamic faith. These descendants started with Ali and went to his sons and ended with Muhammad al-Mahdi. These imams can speak all languages, and they had knowledge of the future. Shia’s believe that Mahdi will return as the apocalyptic savor.(Halm 216) The Shia’s believe that the Imam is sinless by nature and that his authority is reliable since it comes directly from God. They think that Imams as saints so they perform...
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...Sunni and Sh’ia: The Branches of Islam By Kendra Craig March 5, 2010 Strayer University Abstract The paper is focused on Sunni and Sh’ia, which are two branches of Islam. The paper will compare the different religious belief that is practiced throughout Islam. It will also show the laws and the cultures of each religious branch. The paper will show the major dispute that caused separation of these religions in Islam. Sunni and Sh’ia Sunni and Sh’ia are two of the most dominate cultures in Islam. In my research, I learned that these two branches were among the worst enemies of the Islamic culture. In this paper I will show the differences in the belief of each religious group. I will also show the division within the Islamic community between these groups. Sunni Muslims are individuals that were firm believers in the prophet Muhammad. The words that were spoken through Muhammad influenced and provided them with strong religious belief. Sunni means “customary practices” (Macmillan Reference USA 2001-2006) which referred to the teaching and preaching of Muhammad. The Sh’ia Muslims are individuals that believe that the political leader position should have gone to Ali (Penay). Sh’ia means “group” or faction”. After the death of Muhammad is when things began to turn for the worst between these communities. The main belief of the Sunni Muslims was those that came after Muhammad were true believers of Muhammad teachings. This allowed them to become comfortable with...
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...Divisions of Islam, And Their Teachings And Functions By Shalonda Reddick HUM 400 0030016 Religion And Philosophy There are three Major divisions of Islam Sunni, Shi’ah, and Khawarij. The Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. The word Sunni comes from the word Sunnah, which means the teachings and actions or examples of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Therefore, the term “Sunni” refers to those who follow or maintain the Sunnah of the prophet Muhammad. The Sunnis believe that Muhammad did not specifically appoint a successor to lead the Muslim ummah (community) before his death, and after an initial period of confusion, a group of his most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr Siddique-Muhammad’s close friend and a father-in-law-as the first caliph(head of state or ruler in and Islamic community) of Islam Sunnis also believe that the position of caliph may be attained democratically, on gaining majority votes, but after the Rashidun, the position turned into a heredity dynastic rule because of the divisions that started by the Shias and others. The Sunnis believe in monotheism, prophethood/messengership, Holy books, Angels, Judgment Day, and Predestination. The Sunnis consist of five pillars- Declaration of Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and Pilgrimage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_schools_and_branches The Sunni emphasize the power and sovereignty of Allah and his right to do whatever he wants with his...
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...Understanding the Cultural Differences of Islam Muslims differ significantly in their evaluations of the importance of religion based on the region they are located. There are variations of views on such topics of education, prayer, worshiping and morality found in different regions. In this paper I will argue that many differences that exist between various Islamic communities can be explained by understanding the role of regionally specific political problems and cultural practices outside of the Islamic tradition. Though people around the world practice an allegedly unified Islam, their understandings of the tradition reflect the specific local contexts and circumstances of individuals, communities, and nations. The challenge of western colonialism caused Muslims to be against European imperialism as it threatened their political, religious and cultural identity. Their responses to colonialism varied from rejection and confrontation to admiration and imitation (PP Islam and the West 24). Showing how reactions to westernization can be specific to region. The country Turkey operates one example of a nonviolent revolution. In Turkey, Islam was showing a more dominant position is the social-economic and political life of society. With the acceptance of westernization, Turkey had been able to experience the power of religion in Muslim politics cordially. A little to the East, the Iranian revolution in Iran reinforced the belief that Muslims wanted to emulate the ideas of the...
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...not Iraq was the global centre for violent conflict between different Muslim sects. In 1947, British India was divided on religious lines and two nation-states India and Pakistan emerged. The British educated founding fathers of Pakistan perceived a united India as being detrimental to Muslims because as a minority Muslims would be not be recognized as equals by the Hindu majority state which would also suppress their rights so the concept of Pakistan was formulated as a nation-state where some aspects of liberal democracy would be implanted so that fairness and non-interference would be the norm. In the 1970s partly because of violent challenges to the state by ethno-nationalist movements partly inspired by uneven economic development and the upheavals in the international arena due to the Cold War, there was a major shift away from pluralistic politics and a move towards greater Islamisation beginning with the narrowing of the definition of a Muslim by the state in which the state gave up its neutrality. Additional government legislation imposing uniform religious taxes widen sectarian differences between the Sunni majority and Shia minority. By not initially accommodating Shia collective demands the state had alienated many of them. The subsequent and reluctant autonomy awarded to the Shias implied that the state recognized them which made Sunni militants fear that the Pakistani nation-state was not synonymous with Sunni Islam. Pakistan is probably the country which has the...
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...will discuss about the history of Islam, the importance of three elements Qur’an, Five pillars, and Ramadan. Lastly differences and similarities in how the branches of Islam (Sunni, Shiite, and Sufi) practice their traditions. Islam is a religion that was founded and based all in one faith God, Allah. In Arabic the word Islam means "submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship (Islam, 2016). Islam is not just a religion it is a way of life. A Muslim is someone who follows the religion of Islam. The relationship between these two words is that Islam is actually an Arabic word that means, "to submit, and Muslim is also Arabic for "one who submits (The root, 2010). Islam is a religion in which, like any other religion, has beliefs and traditions that have been passed down through different generations. History of Islam Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, with over 1 billion followers. The most divine statement or “Shahada” in Islam is (bibilical training, 2015). There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. Islam was established in Arabia and it follows all the rules given by God through Muhammad, the prophet. Islam is an Arabic term that signifies “surrender” in general terms (The root, 2010). However, it signifies giving up fully to God in its exact religious meaning. Muslims are those who practice this religion or those who give up themselves to God. For them, God is the ultimate creator who will honor the good and reject...
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...ISLAM AND BUDDIHSM There are many religions in the world among them we have three broad main religions namely: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Christianity is the most common religion all over the world. Here, I am going to discuss about the Buddhism and Islam. Buddhism is one of the leading world religions in terms of adherents, geographical distribution, and socio-cultural influence. While largely an “Eastern” religion, it is becoming increasingly popular and influential in the Western world. It is a unique world religion in its own right, though it has much in common with Hinduism in that both teach Karma (cause-and-effect ethics), Maya (the illusory nature of the world), and Samsara (the cycle of reincarnation). Buddhists believe that the ultimate goal in life is to achieve “enlightenment” as they perceive it. Buddhists believe that Siddhartha Gautama, who lived about 2,500 years ago in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, experienced a deep realization about life and became enlightened while meditating under a bodhi tree. He became known as "the Buddha" and taught that all human beings contain the seed of enlightenment, a deep understanding about life that can be achieved in a single lifetime Islam was founded in 622 by Mohamed, a prophet of Medina. Its is a faith that was taught by prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Noah and Jesus. Mohammed was the last prophet and his role was to formalize and clarify the faith and purify it by removing believes which...
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...Drugs are substances that cause chemical reactions in the body. Medical drugs relieve disease and illness, and are extensively tested before being used. Recreational drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, are taken by people because they like the effects they have on their bodies, but they are addictive. Other change-causing substances, both legal and illegal, include solvents, painkillers, sedatives and stimulants. Opiates (such as morphine) are useful for pain-relief in terminally ill patients, but they can be misused as illegal recreational drugs that are very addictive Cannabis Cannabis is an illegal drug that can be smoked, producing feelings of well-being. But like tobacco it can cause lung cancer and bronchitis. Unlike tobacco, it can cause permanent damage to the mental health of its users. Research has shown that cannabis has some useful painkilling properties, but it is illegal to prescribe it for this use. Caffeine Stimulants include caffeine - found in cola drinks and coffee, cannabis and amphetamines. They increase the transmission of signals from one nerve cell to the next. This increases alertness, heart rate and breathing rate. However, in the longer term, they can produce 'highs' and then extreme 'lows' or even depression. They can be addictive because the body needs a constant top-up to maintain the effect Heroine Painkillers or analgesics include paracetamol, aspirin, heroin and morphine. They block nerve impulses from the painful part of the body, or block...
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...father died in 1718.In 1724 Shah Wali Ullah went to Arabia to perform Hajj. He studied under famous scholar Sheikh Abu Tahir bin Ibrahim and returned to Delhi in 1732. Beliefs He belief that the Muslims were facing decline not because of weak leadership but because of Muslim community itself. He believed that many Muslims did not have complete knowledge of Quranic teachings. A major problem was that Muslims were divided into Shias and Sunnis and fought with themselves. It was necessary to follow Islamic teachings into every aspect of life. Work He worked hard to ensure that he was a role model for every Muslim. He translated Quran into Persian because many people were unfamiliar with Arabic. Later his sons, Shah Abdul Qader and Shah Rafi, translated Quran into Urdu so more and more people could gain Islamic knowledge. He wrote fifty one books in Persian and Arabic. Amongst the most famous were Hujjatullah-ul-Baligha and Izalat-Akhfa. He also wrote an account of the first four caliphs of Islam in a way that was acceptable to both Shias and Sunnis. In economics he emphasised the need for social justice and for peasants and craftsmen to be truly valued for their contribution to the economy. His most important contributions to the Muslim community was his organization of opposition to the Marathas, who were threatening to over-run the Mughal Empire from the south. It was to call together the divinities among Muslims and unite them for Jihad. He wrote a letter to Afghan King...
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...Title: Course Project – Islamic Religion. Name: Oluwatosin T. Ajibola Institution: DeVry University The only way one will be able to have much knowledge about the Muslims is through the researching from different sources, academic research, traveling, knowing what is going on around you, and reading – accepted books or journals that talks about Islam. Gale says the meaning of Islam as the submission to God. He also talks about the history of Islam that the founder/restorer of Islam is Prophet Muhammad. Newberg misconception of belief towards Islam is that Muhammad is God fearing but Muhammad did not know how to escape the future vengeance for the Muslims. Malik argues the Islam cultural diversity and thinks there is no democracy in Muslim societies, but still Islam societies are modernizing and developing economically and their literacy rates are increasing steadily which makes the democratic movements in Islam societies to be picking up at different speeds in different countries. Teachings about Muslims teaches by Gale when he said there are two main branches of Islam; Sunni and Shia, there will be further clarification of the two main branches. Islam is one of the types of religion that the worshippers are very good believers, very submissive, and there are some words in Islam that really means a lot to the worshippers of Islam. Islam means submission to God. Muslims express their submission to their God by following the five pillars of Islam. The five pillars of Islam...
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...ethnic groups” ( Michaels 2014). During the period of Iraq’s existence, tensions between all of these ethnic groups have emerged due...
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...Comparative Analysis: 1. Differences between Jewish denominations, which are more commonly known as "movements," reflect varying responses to changing times and cultures. The historical Jewish movements (Pharisses, Sadduccees, and Essenes) were responses to the Roman rule of Israel, while the major modern movements (Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative) are responses to the modern, secular culture of Europe and America. Jewish denominations differ from one another primarily with regard to practice. Orthodox Judaism is the most traditional expression of modern Judaism. Orthodox Jews believe the entire Torah - including "Written," the the Pentateuch, and "Oral," the Talmud) was given to Moses by God at Sinai and remains authoritative for modern life in its entirety. Reform Judaism is the most liberal expression of Judaism. In America, Reform Judaism is organized under the Union for Reform Judaism (known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations until 2003), whose mission is "to create and sustain vibrant Jewish congregations wherever Reform Jews live." About 1.5 million Jews in 900 synagogues are members of the Union for Reform Judaism. Conservative Judaism may be said to be a moderate position between Orthodox and Reform Judaism. It seeks to conserve the traditional elements of Judaism, while allowing for modernization to a less radical extent than Reform Judaism. The teachings of Zacharias Frankel (1801-75) form the foundation of Conservative Judaism. Hasidic...
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...the most powerful empire during the time is the Islamic-Based Ottoman Empire. Another Muslim empire that also built an empire around the same time is the Safavid Empire. Although both empires are Islamic-based empires, they still have many differences among them. Their section of religion, social structure, as well as economy has many similarities, as well as differences between the two empires. First of all, religiously the Ottomans and Safavids follow the same religion, though through different section of it. The Ottomans are Sunni Muslims, where they were more open minded, compared to the Safavid Shiite (Shia) Muslims. Ottoman Empire’s location was close to Constantinople, so there were lots of Christians around. As their empire slowly expanded, Christians slowly emerged into their empire. The Ottomans soon captured young Christian boys and converted them into Islam, making them to fight for the Ottoman Empire. These young Christians who became Muslims and were trained to fight as soldiers are called the Janissaries. Also, the Ottoman’s government started their military with the goal of conquering more places, protecting themselves from nearby threats such as people from Constantinople. After the Ottomans took over Constantinople and some other European countries, the empire is now full with Christians. For the Christians and Jews within their empire, the Ottomans are quite kind to them, tolerating their religion. Following the words of Qur’an, Christians and...
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...University of Phoenix Material Name: Tierney Kennedy Islam Worksheet When studying Islam, it is important to understand the essential elements of the faith, how they are practiced, and the distinctions among the three branches: Shiite Islam, Sunni Islam, and Sufism. Write a 1- to 2-paragraph response for each of the following directives and note where there are differences among the three branches of Islam. 1. Explain the meaning of the name, Islam. The word “Islam” is derived form the Arabic root “asalama” which literally means peace, purity and submission. Thus Islam means “surrender to the Almighty” and Muslim means “one who is in a state of submission”. It is understood that this submission is to the Will of God, as is laid down in the Quran. This tenet is unequivocally accepted by all sects of Islam be they Shia, Sunni or Sufis. 2. Explain the basic concepts of Islam. Islam is an unerringly monotheistic religion. It enjoins the existence of one God, his prophet Muhammad who is the Last Prophet in a long line of prophets sent throughout time and to every civilization, and the Quran as the Word of God revealed to Muhammad through the angel Jibrael. Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and the purpose of life is to worship him and to adhere to his word, as laid down in the Quran, and in Sunnah , as closely as possible. They believe that Islam is the final, completed and universal version of a faith revealed too many prophets before; most...
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...Ramadan. Equally important is knowing that, like other religions, Islam consists of different branches with similarities and differences in their traditions. Muhammad was the prophet of Islam, born around 570. He was a young orphan, raised by his uncle and worked as a merchant. He married a wealthy widow, Khadija, and had six children. Her status helped to raise Muhammad’s among Meccan society. It was said he began to have visions and hear voices. (PBS.org, n.d.). “Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth, Createth man from a clot. (96:1-2. The Clot.) We will call the guards of hell. Nay, Obey not thou him. But prostrate thyself, and draw near (unto Allah) (96:18-19. The Clot).” Muhammad was commanded to read these words three times by a presence that came to him during a religious retreat at Mount Hira. After much discrepancy, Muhammad decided these voices were not of evil, but from the angel Gabriel. As he continued to get revelations he shared them with family and friends. These were the first Muslims, meaning “people who submit” to God (Allah). (Molloy. 2013. p. 411). As could be guessed a man who claims to be seeing and hearing voices of angels was not well received. Muhammad was making claims that there was only one God and worship of any other was forbidden. Persecution became so intense that Muhammad and his followers left Mecca in 622 CE to Yathrib. (Molloy. 2013. p. 412). Muhammad built much of the Islam religions rules and practices while residing in Yathrib. He was...
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