After losing his mother at the age of two, Mohammed was raised by his grandfather until he passed away. He then went to live with his son. Despite being an orphan, Mohammed searched for truth and eventually converted to Islam - a religion that emphasizes five duties known as pillars. These include praying five times a day and attending Friday worship at the Mosque, where Allah is worshipped as the one true deity. As a prophet, Mohammed taught from the holy Koran in order to guide people towards spiritual enlightenment.
As per the interview, Mohammed was a peaceful truth-seeker. It's important to note that not all Muslims are bad; only extremists en
...gage in acts of terror. Mohammed went to great lengths to gain followers for his faith. His life carries immense importance for Islam practitioners as he conveyed God's message and his teachings are chronicled in Hadith. Individuals must adhere to the Five Pillars of Islam- Shahada (declaration), Salat (prayer), fasting Sawm (Ramadan), Zakat (charity) and Hajj (journeying to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they're healthy enough and can afford it) -to be recognized as Muslim.
Both Shia and Sunni sects adhere to strict rules and requirements mandatory for their followers. The majority of Muslims, over 90%, belong to the Sunni denomination while only 10% follow Shia. Shia adherents follow Ali, whereas those belonging to the Sunni sect adhere to the caliphate custom (Bates, 2008).
Hakim (2009) suggests that Islam's history portrays it as a faith promoting
peaceful submission to God. "Deen," the Arabic term for Islam, means a way of life. This implies that being Muslim involves embracing not only a religion but also a manner of living.
The prophets who communicated the word of God had a unified mission. Arabia's culture was barbaric and brutal, and its people followed multiple Gods and Goddesses before Mohammed arrived. Because they were nomadic, they relied on cattle as their main means of survival. In the past, they engaged in needless warfare with other clans over water and minor disputes, frequently leading to the unnecessary slaughter of many innocent individuals.
Initially, Mohammed was recognized as a prophet for the Arab people. However, his teachings gained popularity among various communities and resulted in him being acknowledged as a prophet for a vast nation. According to Phil, who is Muslim, adherence to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is crucial to being considered Muslim. Muslims regard Jesus as a prophet rather than the son of God and hold monotheistic beliefs while worshipping Allah. Additionally, they acknowledge Gabriel as the messenger who conveyed Allah's word to Mohammed (PBUH). The Five Pillars of Faith are essential religious obligations for Muslims. They reject any deities besides Allah and strongly believe in one God.
Islam's core belief is the acceptance of monotheism as stated in the Koran. The religion acknowledges only one God, who has no descendants, and recognizes Jesus solely as a prophet. Although Islam affirms Jesus' capability to perform miracles, it attributes them solely to divine intervention.
When asked if Islam is being effectively taught today, the response was that among Islamic people, the message of God is being spread through teachings from
prophet Mohammed. Regarding whether the Muslim community is doing enough to counter negative stereotypes about violence within the religion, it was acknowledged that the media plays a significant role in portraying Islam negatively and more Muslims need to speak out against these accusations. As for why there is a perception that Islam is sexist, it was stated that this statement has been widely misunderstood.
Despite limitations on marriage, Islam affords women greater rights than men. Women can work and keep their earnings without sharing with their spouse. Meanwhile, men may marry non-Muslim women who believe in Allah, but the woman must retain her maiden name and children must take their father's surname.
In discussing Islam, the speaker covers a range of topics, such as the husband's duty towards the household and family and the custom of a wife choosing her own dowry. The speaker confronts commonly held stereotypes about Muslims being terrorists and asserts that it is unjust to generalize any religious group based on a few bad individuals. The speaker stresses that violence does not serve to justify or benefit any religion; rather, it only breeds more conflict and war. Furthermore, the speaker draws comparisons between Islam and Buddhism by contrasting their respective beliefs: while Islam acknowledges God as its deity, Buddhism venerates nature and idols - practices forbidden in Islamic tradition.
Despite being misunderstood, people of the Islam religion believe in Jesus, but not as the divine son of God. Meanwhile, Buddhism, the third largest religion globally, originated in Northeast India. It was founded by Siddartha Guatama who aimed to end suffering and achieve spiritual enlightenment for all humans. Buddhism does not believe in a
personal God as creator, and its founder achieved enlightenment under a tree called the Bodhi Tree while still having a family.
As Siddartha ventured beyond his home, he encountered three sights that compelled him to seek enlightenment: suffering, sickness, and death. In his quest for truth, he delved into study of various religions and ultimately became a monk, renouncing his family and possessions and even denying himself sustenance.
Despite being a prominent humanitarian, the Buddha is not considered a Prophet. His life and works are commemorated through various statues and symbols. Buddhists practice their faith in temples known as Pagodas (for Chinese or Japanese Buddhists) or Stupas (for all Buddhists), which contain icons of the Buddha. The holy books of Buddhism, known as Tripitaka, are integral to personal worship both at home and in temples. The Sutra Pitaka chronicles the deeds of Siddhartha, while the Abhidhamma Pitaka delves into the Buddha's teachings as recounted in the Sutras. (Barrow, 2008).
Buddhism's central beliefs center around Buddha's journey to alleviate suffering, faith in the teachings of Buddha (Dharma), the Buddhist community (Sangha) and reincarnation. The four noble truths, which consist of the identification and cause of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path to achieving it, are the foundations of Siddartha Guatama's teachings.
The Buddha realized that human beings experience some form of suffering due to their worldly desires. Therefore, it is essential not to crave material possessions (Public Broadcasting Service, 1995-2010). Despite being religions, the distinction between Islam and Buddhism is significant. While Islam's foundation lies in belief in one God, Allah; devotion towards Allah; and respect for prophet Mohammed who descended from Abraham; Buddhism concentrates on discovering
truth and enlightenment to eradicate sufferings for all humans without any mention of a deity. Each religion has its unique sacred texts that followers learn from and study.
Both the Muslim and Buddhist religions are emerging in the world. The former does not idolize, whereas the latter worships symbols and The Buddha's statue. The two religions were established through their respective founders, with Mohammed the Prophet leading numerous followers. His teachings and divine interventions were recorded by his followers after his demise at 63 years of age, despite vagueness around the circumstances of his death.
