Marking Time

1
Marking Time Central beliefs

• Ch. 6 3

2
The five pillars festivals

• The 5 pillars guide Muslims on how to order their
  time
• Shahada permeates all daily life
• Salat ritual prayer ? rhythm of daily life
• Fast of Ramadan
• Pilgrimage in a particular lunar month

3
Life-cycle rituals

• At birth
• 1st sound heard in babys right ear the call to
  prayer
• Naming ceremony
• Hair cut from head, or shaved
• Weight of baby amount of silver ? poor
• Muslims believe males should be circumcised

4
marriage

• Some marriage practices are traced back to
  Muhammad
• Many the product of local cultures
• Quran allows polygamy, most Muslim males do not
  practice it
• Marriage bond between families of bride groom,
  as well as between spouses

5
marriage

• Islamic law sets rights responsibilities
  between husband wife and their families
• Divorce is permitted, but strongly discouraged
• Wedding ceremony is simple
• Quran is read, vows exchanged in front of
  witnesses, performed by leader of mosque

6
death

• Last words the Shahada
• After death corpse washed, covered, buried as
  soon as possible
• Buried facing Mecca, imitating direction of prayer

7
The muslim Community Umma

• The Worldwide Community of Islam
• The Five Pillars help Muslims to express their
  membership in the umma
• Islam no central authority, hierarchy, or
  priests imam is not a priest
• Salvation achieved through community
• Regardless of where 5 Pillars draw Muslims
  together

8
mosque

• Where Muslims gather to pray
• 1st mosque built by M. at end of hijra from Mecca
  to Medina
• Mosques are built wherever there is a Muslim
  community that gathers

9
Friday prayer

• Men gather at mosque after midday
• Women may join them or pray at home
• After call to prayer, imam leads prayer, gives a
  sermon
• Many employers give Muslims time on Friday to pray

10
Features of mosques

• Mosques have common features routines
• Muslims called to pray 5X daily from minaret
• Shoes removed, ritual washing
• Prayer hall large open area, usually carpeted
• Sometimes hall divided male/female section
• Prayer facing Mecca, (alcove or recessed area)

11
The quran

• The voice of Allah spoken to the Prophet Muhammad
  by the Angel Gabriel
• Gives guidance worship, morality, worldview
• The Quran wrapped to keep it clean, placed on
  highest piece of furniture
• One who memorizes the whole Quran hafiz or
  memorizer

12
Organization of quran

• Divided into 114 Suras, (chapters)
• Each sura has a name (e.g., The Star, The Cow,
  the Resurrection) divided into verses
• Most begin with in the name of Allah, the
  Compassionate, the Merciful
• Not written in a sequential pattern, more like a
  piece of classical music, with repetitive themes
  and dramatic movements