Exam #3 essay questions-islam

The basic spiritual practices incumbent on all Muslims are known as the Five Pillars of Islam. A Muslim must do his or her best to fulfill the Five pillars because they are considered God's commandments. The heart of Islam is not the Prophet but the revelations he received, the Qur'an. Teachings of Islam- The Oneness of God and of Humanity, Prophet-hood and the Compass of Islam-Muslims feel that Islam encompasses all religions, Human Relationship to the Divine- Humans will find peace only if know the laws of God and live by them, The Unseen Life- Muslims believe in the angels of God, the non-physical beings of light who serve and praise God day and night, and The Last Judgment

God is the focus of Islam, the sole authority, not Muhammad. But, Muhammad's life story is important to Muslims for his character is considered a model of the teaching in the Qur'an.

The heart of Islam is not the Prophet but the revelations he received. Collectively they are called the Qur'an (\"reading\" or \"reciting\")He received the messages over a period of twenty-three years, with some later messages replacing earlier ones. The verses of the Qur'an are tense, but are thought to have multiple levels of meaning. The mystical early passages are often three layers: 1) A reference to a particular person or situation 2) A spiritual lesson 3) A deeper mystical significance

A Messenger is a prophet who is also an authority figure who exercises leadership in a community. A messenger hears God's revelation and leads people to hear it. (Mohammed, Jesus, Moses, Abraham). A Prophet is an individual who hears and receives revelations from God and helps people adjust themselves to God's teachings. (44 prophets, Noah, Lot, Ishmael, Elijah)

After a period of repose in the grave, all humans will be bodily resurrected and assembled for a final accounting of their deeds. At that unknown time of the Final Judgment, the world will end cataclysmically. Hell is a grievous destiny of unrepentant non-believers. Islam says that what we experience in the afterlife is a revealing of our tendencies in this life. Our thoughts, actions, and moral qualities are turned into our outer reality.

Angels are non-physical beings of light who serve and praise God day and night. They are numerous, and each has a specific responsibility. For instance, certain angels are always with each of us, recording our good and bad deeds. Archangels, including Gabriel, are the highest of the angelic beings, whose main responsibility is to bring revelation to the prophets from God. No angels are worshipped, for the utterly submissive servants of God. There is a non-submissive being called Satan, originally one of the jinn (immaterial beings of fire) who refused to bow before Adam and was cursed to live by tempting Adam's descendants- all of humanity.

Islam means peace. Greater jihad- Of the heart, personal, spiritual, internal-primary. Lesser jihad- Of the sword, social, collective, political, public, self-defense. You have an obligation to defend yourself. \"Just War\" Theory-1. Must be a just cause 2. Legitimate authority 3. Limited to combat- no innocent bystanders

Belief and witness- believing and professing the unity of God and the messengership of Muhammad. Daily prayers- the performance of a continual round of prayers (salaat) five times a day with water or sand, face Mecca, and recite a series of prayers and passages form the Qur'an while bowing and kneeling. Zakat- charity or almsgiving. Fasting- Frequent fasts are recommended, but the only one that is obligatory is during Ramadan, commemorating the first revelations of the Qur'an to Muhammad. Hajj- the pilgrimage to Mecca; All able are expected to make the pilgrimage once in their lives.