Prelim Exam - Religion - Past Paper

Students learn about: Nature of religion and beliefs ============================== ***Define the supernatural dimension:*** Religion usually defies to answer this by its nature, although [this is a central belief and a commonality with all world religions]. but essentially [the supernatural dimen...

Students learn about: Nature of religion and beliefs ============================== ***Define the supernatural dimension:*** Religion usually defies to answer this by its nature, although [this is a central belief and a commonality with all world religions]. but essentially [the supernatural dimension is a transcendent place for a divine being of power to reside], which is [more significant than human and the natural world]. This power they possess is [the power which is believed to be the origin and creation of the world for providing a framework for human life.] ***Discuss Transcendent & Immanent Worldviews and provide examples of each:*** *[Transcendent religion]* -\> Islam Judaism, Christianity -\> belief in a God with supernatural powers that transcends human understanding and exists outside of the human world. *[Immanent religion]* -\> Buddhism, Hinduism -\> belief in power that dwells within the human world, the belief of inner self. *[Extra notes:]* - - - - - - - - ***Define the Characteristics of Religion & provide examples for each characteristic from the 5 major world religions, including Sacred Texts, beliefs & Believers, Ethics and Rituals & Ceremonies*** 1. \* Sacred Texts: The Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) \* Beliefs: Belief in one God, the importance of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the love and caring for others \* Believers: Christians \* Ethics: Love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, kindness \* Rituals and ceremonies: Prayer, worship, communion, confession, baptism \* Sacred symbols and figures: Cross, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Saints \* The religion often influenced the laws, culture, and art and literature in history and present days 2. \* Sacred Texts: Quran, Hadith \* Beliefs: Belief in one God, the importance of prayer and charity, the day of judgment \* Believers: Muslims \* Ethics: Respect, compassion, humility, honesty, fairness \* Rituals and ceremonies: Prayer, prayer 5 times a day, fasting, pilgrimage to Mecca \* Sacred symbols and figures: Quran, Kaaba, Prophet Mohammad \* The religion has influenced the laws, culture, and art and literature in history and present days 3. \* Sacred Texts: Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas \* Beliefs: Belief in karma, dharma, reincarnation, the importance of rituals \* Believers: Hindus \* Ethics: Compassion, self-inquiry, honesty, humility \* Rituals and ceremonies: Puja, Yoga, Vratas, Samskaras, Nirmaasas \* Sacred symbols and figures: Deity(s) such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga and Kali, the lotus flower \* The religion has influenced the laws, culture, and art and literature in history and present days 4. \* Sacred Texts: Dhammapada, Samyutta, Vinaya, Mahayana Sutras \* Beliefs: Belief in dependent origination, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, no self, impermanence \* Believers: Now and past practitioners of Buddhism \* Ethics: Compassion, wisdom, right understanding, right action \* Rituals and ceremonies: Prostration, breath meditation, parasnana \* Sacred symbols and figures: The Buddha, Bodhisattvas \* The religion has influenced the laws, culture, and art and literature in history and present days 5. \* Sacred Texts: Torah, Talmud, Talmudic Commentaries \* Beliefs: Belief in one God, the importance of the study of the Torah, the concept of \"mitzvot\" (commandments) \* Believers: Jews \* Ethics: Respect, compassion, empathy, righteousness, justice \* Rituals and ceremonies: Bassumim (Talmudic sayings), prayers, Shabbat, Yom Kippur \* Sacred symbols and figures: The shofar, the Torah, the rabbis \* The religion has influenced the laws, *[Beliefs and believers]* -\> beliefs are the key messages, doctrines or values of a religion. These beliefs underline the religious practises of a particular religion for believers. Examples include Belief in God and Demographic Groups, belief in a single god or multiple, belief in the afterlife etc. *[Sacred texts]* -\> the most important beliefs for religions are contained in their sacred texts. Usually, these texts were in discussion with the people before being written. These texts contain stories that contain many different values and beliefs, and different traditions and give insight into the religion itself. All characteristics stem from sacred texts. Examples include the bible, the Quran, the Torah, Hebrew scripture etc. *[Ethics]* -\> the reasoning behind moral decision-making. The ethics of a religion are the laws that embody the key values of a religion and allow the application of that religion. Ethics provide a standard that regulates decision-making in religion. Examples include Hinduism, This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Christianity on everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. etc. *[Rituals and ceremonies]* -\> the practical expression of the aspects of a religion. Rituals and ceremonies help believers express their religion in praise or worship, these traditions help religious people live out their religion, this also allows them to reflect on their religion which can help lead to a greater understanding of their religion. In Christianity, baptism, Mikveh in Judaism, a custom of purification, the Muslim ritual ablution or Wudu before prayer etc. ***Explore the ways in which the Characteristics of Religion interact to create a Living & Dynamic Religion*** ***Understand the Contributions of Religion (using examples) in reference to: Individuals, Society*** *[Religion has made a significant contribution to the lives of individuals and society in areas of their lives such as meaning, ethical guidance, sense of belonging and ritual meaning.]* *[Individuals]*: *[A personal search for meaning:]* human life is usually characterised by a search for our understanding of the question of life. Those questions include questions of origin 'where do we come from?', purpose 'why are we here?', and destiny 'what happens when we die?' Religion can pose as an answer and sort of closure for individuals, which can turn their life to this, especially in times of personal crisis. *[Ethical guidance:]* ethics are the moral reasoning behind our actions. Religion has been searched by individuals for guidance in this field, this allows humans and individuals to act out in the 'right way', in the proper way their religion has guided them to. This can help individuals do the good which also allows them to freely live out their religion in their day-to-day life. *[Sense of belonging:]* one of humanity\'s strongest desires is to feel like they belong, and religion can be the answer to that. The nature of religion is structured so that it provides a good sense of belonging for individuals. This can also bring people together and provide a community of shared beliefs and values, which allow people to freely express themselves, some examples of this can be youth groups and religious study groups. *[Ritual meaning:]* rituals and traditions can mark an important event that takes place in an individual\'s life. This could be, for example, baptism and a secondary baptism which could indicate a new life. Such events allow individuals to differentiate the importance of these to normal traditions, and allow individuals to appreciate the religion and in doing this, this also allows individuals to live out their religion. *[Society:]* there is a close relationship between the areas of religion and the culture, religion is significantly influenced by its cultural context because religion itself cannot be expressed other than through a particular cultural context. For example, the fact that the Theravadan Sangha in Thailand, does not allow women to become abbessesis a reflection of how men have been culturally conditioned to accept restricted roles for women in this form of Buddhism. ***Outline the Nature of the Dreaming (with examples) in relation to: Origins of the Universe, sacred Sites, Stories of the Dreaming and Symbolism & Art*** *[Sacred sites]*: the dreaming is very much connected to the land and their sacred sites, the land to them acts as a medium through which dreaming is lived and communicated. While all land is important, there are certain land which different aboriginal communities are in charge of, these are saced sites. They have a special significance as they are connected with different traditions, stories, and different events. These sites differ due to their stories and connected events to them. *[Origins of the universe:]* the dreaming explains all about the origins of the universe, how the world came into existence and which ancestral spirit beings did it, also about the creation of all the animals and plants. The dreaming however is not regarded as myths by the Aborignal people, the dreaming is a concept which incorporates past, present and future as a complete present reality. They believe time as a one flow, with no past, present or future.  *[Summary points for the nature of the Dreaming:]* - - - - - - ***Some sample responses and info on answering 5 markers*** *[Identify and discuss how two key characteristics of religion interact to contribute to a dynamic living religion. ]* Characteristics of religion including Sacred Texts and Rituals and Ceremonies interact to contribute to a dynamic, living religion. In the Christian faith, the Bible serves as the primary text, which includes the Gospels that inform believers about the life and model of Jesus. Christians are called to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19), in accordance with the example of Christ. The vital ritual of Baptism emerges from the Gospel accounts of Jesus' own Baptism and supports adherents in physically expressing their faith in a manner that is authentic and considerate of the ancient traditions. Furthermore, the Bible instructs believers on the use of water within the ritual "I baptise you with water" (Luke 3:16), while allowing for modern developments such as the presence of witnesses (believers) and the Baptism of infants to be accepted across denominations of Christianity. The relationship between sacred texts and rituals and ceremonies is inextricable and contributes significantly in making a religion dynamic and living. *[Compare and contrast a transcendent and immanent religious worldview.]* Transcendent and immanent worldviews are two distinct ways of understanding the nature of reality. A transcendent worldview posits the existence of a reality beyond the physical world, such as a divine or spiritual realm, while an immanent worldview views reality as solely contained within the physical world. Islam, as a monotheistic religion, holds a transcendent worldview. In Islam, Allah is viewed as the creator of the physical world and is believed to exist beyond it. This transcendent reality is seen as the source of all meaning, purpose, and morality, and is considered to be the ultimate source of guidance for human beings. In Islam, the physical world is secondary in importance to the transcendent realm and is seen as a reflection of Allah\'s will and power.In contrast, Buddhism holds an immanent worldview. Buddhism views reality as being composed solely of impermanent and interdependent phenomena, with no permanent or unchanging self or soul. In Buddhism, the physical world is seen as the ultimate reality, with no need to postulate a separate, spiritual realm. The goal of Buddhist practice is to understand the nature of reality as it truly is and to end suffering by freeing oneself from attachment to the illusory self. Despite these differences, both Islam and Buddhism offer their followers a path to find meaning and life within their existence. Christianity ============ Historical and Cultural context in which Christianity began: - - - - - - - - - Jesus Christ Summary of life: Whilst Jesus is typically known as the founder of Christianity, he did not seek to establish a new religion. Rather he intended to reform the tradition in the spirit of the prophets - - Development of early Christian Communities: The Gospels (Matthews, Mark, Luke and John) recount the life and events of Jesus' life. The books that follow the Gospels recount the vents of the development of the early Christian Communities. - The Gospels and Acts recount that there are 2 early Chrsitians leaders/figures: - - Four major stages: Stage 1 → Jesus' death and resurrections is announced to the Jews and others at Pentecost (see Acts 2-4) Stage 2 → The Church learns its first lesson about expansion. The first break - the gospel message is not tied to Jerusalem. Stage 3 → The Church learns a 2nd valuable lesson. Expansion & disagreement - you need not be a jew to be Jesus' disciple. Stage 4 → The Church expands through Paul's missionary journeys +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Peter (Simon) | Paul (Saul) | +===================================+===================================+ | Leader of the 12 disciples | - - - - - | | | | | - - - - - | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ Variants of Christianity: Anglicanism: - history, it was the largest religious denomination. - Unique Features: → The Anglican Curch of Australia is part of the One Holy Catholic Apostlic Church in Christ → The Church regards all the conocial scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being the ultimate rule and standard of faith given by inspiration of God and containing all things necessary for salvation. → Obeys the commands of Christ and administers the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion and preserve the orders of bishops, deacons and sacred ministry. → Divided into the - - Catholicism: - - Unique Features: → The teachings are drawn from the scriptures and tradition → The authority is structured under the Pope → Recognises 7 sacrament: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy orders, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick. → Divided into a number of different rites: Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian, Chaldean, Maronite, Roman and West Syrian. → An increased focus on Mary and the Saints. Furthermore, Catholics believe that during Eucharist, transubstantiation occurs. Orthodoxy: - - Unique Features: → Only men are Priests. Celibacy is the norm but they can marry. → The Holy Scriptures are highly regarded. → The decisions of 7 Ecumenial Councuils are highly respected → The Divine Liturgy ( celebration of the Eucharist) play a central role in the lives of Orthodox Christians. Celebration is sung. Pentecostalism: - - - Unique Features: → Pentecostals have emphasises what they often call "encounter" with God, a direct experience of God's presence. They believe that they've driven by the power of God moving within them. → This experience, which is central to Pentecoastal worship, is understood to be the empowerments for divine healing. Speaking in tongues and even exorcism. → Pentecostals are very active in evangelism. → Pentecostalism is a movement that includes many different Churches, rather than a Church in itself. It is also a movement of revival or renewal within other denominations. → Pentecostals base their theology on the text of the Bible which they believe to be the word of God without error. → Over the last three decades, Pentecoastalism has grown around the world. There are now over 250 million Pentecostals worldwide. Protestantism: - - Unique Features: → Emphasis on the authority of the Bible → The importance of faith as opposed to the idea of earning salvation through good works → The recognition of two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. → Clergy may marry → Lutheran Churches have maintained liturgical rituals similar to the Roman Catholic Church, whereas other denominations such as Baptists and Presbyterians have developed less liturgical forms of worship. Principal Beliefs: Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ: Christianity affirms the full divinity and complete humanity of Jesus Christ. It is the Christian doctrine of the incarnation that Jesus was God yet became a full human. - - - "The world become flesh and made his dwelling amongst us, we have seen his glory of the One and Only who came from the father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14). "But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons" (Galatians 4:4-5) Example: In the Catholic denomination, Christians express this belief through the consecration of the Eucharist: during mass, adherents, celebrate the ritual of the consecration of bread and wine into the boyd and blood of Christ. Catholics are reminded of the fully divine and fully human nature that is represented by the transformation. The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ: The tradition of Christianity is based on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. - - - - - "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believed in me, though he were dead, yet shall live" (John 11:25) "Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." ( 1 Peter 1:21) Example: Christianity expresses this belief through Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important Christian festival and is celebrated with great joy. Churches are filled with flowers and there are special hymns and songs. The Nature of God and the Trinity: Christians believe that God is one and the Creator of all things. This same God is also known as three persons: Father or Creator of all, Jesus the son of God, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith. - - "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the lore of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14) "Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) Example: Some Christian denominations express this belief in the sign of the cross, a Trinitarian gesture which acknowledges the simultaneous presence of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a significant practice in Christianity; during the ritual the adherent is baptised "in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Revelation: Revelation refers to the disclosure by God of what was previously unknown. Revelation is knowledge given by God to human beings about persons, events and things previously hidden or only partly known. - - - - "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the spirit without limit." (John 3:34) Example: Christians live out this belief through hearing the Bible read during mass and liturgies each week, hearing the details of the events as to how God has revealed himself to humanity. Salvation: Salvation is the term for being delivered from personal or collective suffering or evil. People may ask God for grace to help in their spiritual endeavours and so assist their Salvation. For Christians, salvation has 3 main features: - - - "He will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) Example: Christians reconciliation offers individuals the opportunity to repents and therefore be saved from their sins. The Christians belief in Christs's resurrection is central to the belief that after death, resurrection to heaven is possible for those who are forgiven. Sacred Texts and Writings: Bible: The Bible is the sacred book of Christianity consisting of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. It is a written record of God's revelation. Books of the Bible which are considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious tradition. The Bible is not just one book but a collection of books which include stories, songs, poetry, letters and history. The Christian Bible has two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the original Hebrew Bible and sacred scriptures of the Jewish faith. The Hebrew Bible has 39 books, written over a long period of time. The Christian Bible contains 27 works: the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Letters of the early followers of Jesus and the book of Revelation. Why is the Bible important to Christianity? All variants of Christianity view the Bible as the basic source of belief and practice. The Bible is the central sacred text for Christians, especially because of its role in the everyday life of believers. The Bible is the basis for many Christian beliefs: it is used in the liturgy of Christianity, it is the basis for prayer, and it provides the guidelines for the behaviour of Christians. How does the Bible demonstrate the principal beliefs of Christianity? +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Divinity and Humanity of Jesus | John 1: 14 | | Christ | | | | 'the word became flesh and made | | | his dwelling amongst us, We have | | | seen his glory of the One and | | | Only who came from the Father, | | | full of grace and truth' | +===================================+===================================+ | The death and resurrection of | Luke 24: 6-8 | | Jesus Christ | | | | He is not here; he has risen! | | | Remember how he told you, while | | | he was still with you in Galilee: | | | 'The Son of Man must be delivered | | | over to the hands of sinners, be | | | crucified and on the third day be | | | raised again.' | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | The nature of God and the Trinity | Matthew 28:19 | | | | | | 'Therefore go and make disciples | | | of all nations, baptising them in | | | the name of the Father and of the | | | Son and of the Holy Spirit' | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Revelation | John 3:34 | | | | | | 'For the one whom God has sent | | | speaks the words of God, for God | | | gives the Spirit without limit' | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Salvation | Matthew 1:21 | | | | | | 'he will save his people from | | | their sins' | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ Core Ethical Teachings: The Ten Commandments: Recorded in the books of Exodus (20:1-17) and Deuteronomy (5:6-21), the commandments (decalogue statements) are among more than 600 rules (mitzvot) for living that the Hebrews received from God through Moses. The first three commandments deal with the way in which the people should conduct their relationship with God. The next seven are about one's obligations to other people. For Christians the Ten Commandments are about respect and observance. The principles they set down should be taken to heart as a way of living rather than a set of boundaries. The Beatitudes: The Beatitudes are a collection of teachings attributed to Jesus. The teachings praise a set of virtues which reflect a Christian way of living. The virtues that are esteemed by the Beatitudes, including poverty of spirit and a desire to see justice done, are underpinned by a base of love. Christians view the Beatitudes and the decalogue not as a competing set of values but as complementary pathways to God. Jesus' Commandment of Love: Within the Gospel stories Jesus proffers this agape love, challenging all people to repent of their sinfulness and selfishness and return to God. This 'Great Commandment,' as it is referred to, requires a faithful Christian to offer one's whole self to God through unconditional love and respect for all people. It is a call to adopt the principles of the decalogue and the beatitudes and follow Jesus to the cross. Personal Devotion: Prayer: Prayer is an important way in which Christans acknowledge the existence of a relationship between God and humanity.Prayer in Christanity is divided in to two types Personal and Public prayer, but often overlapping (eg. Personal prayer is performed during public prayer). Different types of personal prayer: - - - - Purposes for prayer: - - - - - +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | | Baptis | Confir | Euchar | Reconc | Anoint | Marria | Holy | | | m | mation | ist | iliati | ing | ge | orders | | | | | | on | of | | | | | 6/7 | | Last | | sick | | | | | Jesus | | supper | | | | | | | baptis | | | | | | | | | ed | | | | | | | +========+========+========+========+========+========+========+========+ | Cathol | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | ic | | | | | | | | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | Angeli | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | | cam | | | | | | | Ordina | | | | | | Confes | | | tion | | | | | | sion | | | | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | Protes | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | | tant | | | | | | | | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | Luther | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | | an | | | | | | | | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | Orthod | Y | Chrisn | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | ox | | ation | | | | | | | | | Y | | | | | | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | Baptis | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | | t | | | | | | | | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | Quaker | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | | s | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (Belie | | | | | | | | | f | | | | | | | | | in god | | | | | | | | | is | | | | | | | | | enough | | | | | | | | | , | | | | | | | | | sacram | | | | | | | | | ents | | | | | | | | | not | | | | | | | | | needed | | | | | | | | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ Islam ===== Glossary: **Prophet** -- An inspired teacher, guide sent by God **Muhammad** -- the prophet of Islam **Mecca** -- City in modern Saudi Arabia where Muhammad lived and received his revelations. Spiritual centre of Muslim world and focus of the Hajj. **Medina** -- City of the prophet' a few hundred km north of Mecca: the prophet migrated there in 622CE. **Rightly Guided Caliphs** -- title given to the four leaders of Islam immediately following Muhammad. **Qur'an** -- sacred text of Islam **Hadith** -- collection of the traditions of Muhammad's word and actions. **Bedouin** -- Arab desert nomad **Clan** -- a small group of families **Tribe** -- A group of clans **Ka'bah** -- sacred shrine in the city of Mecca **Sunnah** -- the practice of the Prophet pbuh -- second to the Quran **Ummah** -- Muslim community **Aqida** -- meaning Islamic doctrine and refers to the 6 basic articles of faith in the Qur'an **Allah** - Allah is seen as God and is almighty **Hajj** - the annual Islamic pilgrimage to mecca, Saudi Arabia **Imam** - the one who leads Muslim worshippers in prayer **Salat** - also known as Hamas, is a form of worship performed by Muslims **Sawm** - to abstain from drink and food, as well as smoking and intercourse **Shahada** - "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God" **Sheik** - a specific head of a tribe or family, or a leader in a Muslim community **Shi'a** - this means 'adherents' or 'collective' referring first Muslims who became followers of Ali Ibn Abi Talib **Sunni** - a member of one of the two major branches of islam **Zakat** - a donation that Muslims regard as a mandatory act within their faith **outline the social conditions and religious practices that existed in pre-Islamic Arabia**  **Principal events in Muhammad's life** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 570 CE: Birth of Prophet Muhammad | - - - | +===================================+===================================+ | 595 CE: Marriage | - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 610 CE: First Vision | - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 619 CE: Leave Mecca | - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 622 CE: Settled in Medina | - - - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 624 CE & 625 CE: Battles that | - - - | | result in the formation of Jihad | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 630 CE: Mecca conquered | - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 632 CE: Death of Muhammad | - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 652 CE: Written Qur'an appears | - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **explain why the Prophet Muhammad as the final messenger is the model for Muslim life** Muhammad as a role model: "Get you down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." Quran 2:38 He expected his followers to live according to the Qu'ran "Muhammad is no the father of (any) one of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah and Seal (last) of the prophets. And Allah is over all things, Knowing." Quran 33:40 God spoke to Muhammad in Arabic words through the angel Gabriel God told Muhammad: o His uniqueness and unicity o The laws of human beings were to live by o The service they are to give to God and the values they are to aspire to o The coming of the day of physical resurrection o The day of judgement o He told the prophet what to say when the people challenged him, how to answer their questions and how to resolve his problems/dilemmas Muhammad was honest in the extreme, caring and loving, and was a very careful the administrator of the early Islamic community o Muhammad stands out as the model of ideal personhood for Muslims After the death of Muhammad, it was considered important to have people appointed as his political successors and continue to spread Islam and manage new Muslim community Maintained contact with Allah at all times -- as he woke up, before and after he ate, sleeping, leaving the house, and before doing any action shows all his actions were according to good intentions and all his other actions were acceptable "... Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and chosen Islam as your Din (way of life)" -- Allah saying that the religion is perfect and complete and the revelation will come to an end with the demise of the Last Prophet "There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day (who) remembers Allah often." Quran 33:21 Main themes of Muhammad's teachings: o The coming of judgement day o The unity of God o Denouncing dishonest practices of merchants o Denouncing the abandonment of widows and orphans Muhammad prohibits: o Idol worship o Sexual immortality o Drunkenness o Gambling o Disadvantageous marriage and inheritance laws Hadith: "When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, then look to those who have been given less." "Whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the path to Paradise." "The pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim" Sunna: "The Prophet (saw) said, Straighten you rows as the straightening of rows is essential for a perfect correct prayer.": "How perfect Allah is and I praise Him." "Rasulullah (saw) said, My companions are like stars, whichever of them you use as a guide, you will be rightly guided." **describe the development of Islam after the death of Muhammad under the leadership of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, accounting for the emergence of the Sunni and the Shi'a** Caliphate: a political-religious state made up of the Muslim community and any lands and peoples conquered by it Caliph: the political and religious leader of the caliphate and is considered a successor to the Prophet Muhammad - +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Abu Bakr (632-634) | - - - - - | | | | | | Muhammad's bloodline elected | | | | | | - - | +===================================+===================================+ | Umar (634-644) | - - - - - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Uthman (644-656) | - - - - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Ali (656-661) | - | | | | | | | | | | | | - - - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Sunni | Shi'a | +===================================+===================================+ | - - - | - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Principal Beliefs** The articles of faith are explained in the Aqida: - Quote: "He is Allah, the one, Allah is eternal and absolute. None is born of Him, he is unborn. There is none like unto him" - Quote: "All praise is due to Allah, the originator of the heavens and the earth, the Maker of angels, messengers flying on wings, two, and three, and four; He increases in creation what he pleases; surely Allah has power over all things." - -\> Scrolls - revealed to Abraham -\> Tawrah - the Torah of Moses -\> Zabur - the Psalms of David -\> Injeel - the Gospel of Jesus -\> Qur'an - revealed to Muhammad Quote: "Believe in what has been sent down to thee Muhammad and what has been sent down before thee" - Quote: "Allah chooses for himself whoever he pleases, and guides to himself those who turn to him" - Quote: "your good actions will benefit only you, while evil harms only the person who does it" - Quote: "If Allah lay the touch of trouble on you, no one can deliver you from it save Allah alone; and if he wills good for you, no one can prevent his blessing. He confers them on his servants as he chooses" **Sacred Texts and Writings** - Qur'an: monotheism, justice and fairness, compassion and mercy, honesty and truthfulness, humility and modesty, respect for parents and family, charity and generosity, forgiveness and forbearance Hadith: respect for knowledge and scholars, upholding justice and fairness, kindness and compassion towards others, honesty and truthfulness, humility and modesty, respect for parents and family, encouragement of charity and generosity, emphasis on forgiveness and forbearance. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Qur'an | What is it? | | | | | | - - | | | | | | encounter with the Angel Gabriel | | | until he died in Medina in 632CE | | | | | | - - - | | | | | | What does it contain? | | | | | | - - - | | | | | | Uthman- | | | | | | - - - | | | | | | Recitations- | | | | | | - - - - | | | | | | Ablution- | | | | | | - - - - - | | | | | | "He who recites the Qur'an well | | | and is equal in rank to Angels." | | | (Hadith of Bukhari | +===================================+===================================+ | Hadith | Hadith is the recorded sayings, | | | actions and approvals of the | | | Prophet | | | | | | Muhammad | | | | | | - - | | | | | | The Sunnah- | | | | | | - - - | | | | | | authority- | | | | | | - - | | | | | | Consists of: | | | | | | - - - - - - | | | | | | "Anyone who believes in God and | | | the Last Day should not harm his | | | neighbour. Anyone who believes in | | | God and the Last Day should | | | entertain his guest generously. | | | Anyone who believes in God and | | | the Last Day should say what is | | | good or keep quiet." Sahih | | | Al-Bukhari, | | | | | | Volume 8, Book 73, Number 47 | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ - -- the Qur'an: for Muslims, the principal source to guide them in ethical matters is the Qur'an. it is the foundational source for all teaching in Islam, it is the most important authority for Muslims followed by the... -- the Sunna and Hadith: Prophets as found in the officially accepted written accounts of what he said, did and approved, called the hadith. The sunna confirmed the rulings of the Qur'an and detailed some of the concepts, laws and practical matters that are briefly stated in the Qur'an. -- ijma' -- consensus among religious leaders: consensus of Muslim scholars is used to make rulings about things not explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an or hadith. If there is consensus over a ruling, chances are it is right as it is impossible for every scholar to agree over a wrong interpretation. The primary benefit of ijma' is that it allows Muslim scholars to make legal rulings that guide a variety of modern issues. -- qiyas -- comparison with teachings of the Qur'an or Hadith: Legal precedent or qiyas is a legal ruling arrived at through a process of deductive reasoning or analogy (qiyas: comparative analogy - a source of law or legal tool where existing rulings are extended to cover new situations when there is no specific mention in the Qur'an or hadith). It may refer to individual judgments known as 'ijtihad' or to the judgement of recognised scholars which is known as 'ijma'. The process of Islamic Jurisprudence Primary Sources: Quran: Considered the ultimate and unalterable source of Islamic law. Verses addressing legal matters are studied and interpreted. Sunnah: Comprises the actions, sayings, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad. Hadith collections are scrutinized to derive legal principles. Secondary Sources: Ijma: Consensus among recognized scholars on a particular issue, seen as a source of law. Qiyas: Analogical reasoning where rulings for new issues are derived by analogy from existing principles. Derivation of Legal Rulings: Jurists (Mujtahids) study primary and secondary sources to derive legal rulings (Ahkam) on various issues. Different schools of jurisprudence (Madhhab) have developed their methodologies of deriving these rulings. Legal Opinions: Jurists issue legal opinions (Fatwas) based on their interpretation of the sources and their understanding of the prevailing circumstances. Application in Practice: The derived legal rulings are applied to regulate various aspects of individual and communal life, including worship, family matters, commerce, and criminal law. Expression of Faith - Five pillars: Shahada (profession of faith): The Shada says "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is his messenger. This has to be said by Muslims, in a state of conviction or true meaning. It is the profession of faith that you have to believe in, in order to be Muslim." Salat: to pray 5 times daily, prayer is an expression of faith and helps prevent worldly desires, this helps to rid of sins, and inclines to bring Muslims closer to Allah. Zakat: Charity and almsgiving are considered mandatory, and the payment is considered praise and worship. Sawm: Fasting, is essential and mandatory, by abstaining from food and water, this allows Muslims to focus on spiritual reflection and self-restraint. The purpose of Sawm is to develop self-control, empathy for those in need, and a stronger connection with Allah. Hajj: A mandatory pilgrimage in which Muslims go to the Kaaba to preform prayer and rituals around it. - The role of the Books of Allah and prophecy in Islam: Books of Allah in Islam: \- Quran is holy book, literal word of God. \- Revealed to Prophet Muhammad through Angel Gabriel over 23 years. \- Complete guide for Muslims in faith, morality, ethics, law. \- Central authority in Islam, unaltered and perfect text. \- Encourages study, reflection, and practice of its teachings. Prophethood in Islam: \- God sent prophets throughout history. \- Prophets receive revelations from God. \- Tasked with guiding communities towards right path. \- Prophet Muhammad is the last messenger in Islam. \- Belief in all prophets mentioned in the Quran. Role in Islam: \- Guides beliefs, practices and ethics in Islam. \- Sources of divine guidance, moral teachings, inspiration. \- Essential for understanding Islamic faith and practice. Extracts from the Qur'an and Hadith which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Islam - - - - - - 8 - - - - [Halal:] permissible, for example, prayer six times a day [Haram:] forbidden, for example, alcohol, drugs Ethical teachings: Shari'ah law: path to Sunni and a Waterhole Shia Muslims can interpret differently OR The straight path -\> -commerce, etiquette, ritual, hygiene, morality, inheritance Jurisprudence: a system of laws applied in a certain country/nation -\> Islamic jurisprudence: surrendering to the will of Allah as a key Islamic value (submission to Allah) -\> sources of 1.5 1. 2. 3. 4. [Jihad]: to struggle within -\> Muslims should strive to be the best adherent -\> struggle with ego [Makrah]: advised against, not forbidden, for example, divorce [Fard]: obligatory behaviour, for example, the 5 pillars [Mustahab]: recommended but not needed [Mubah]: left to the consciousness of the individual, for example, contraception