Essay on Islam Culture and Beliefs - 1418 Words

Islam is one of the worlds greatest monotheistic religions. The followers of Islam are known as Muslims, and they believe in God, Allah. The word Islam is an Arabic word that means submitting and surrendering your will to Almighty God.† The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word salam† which means peace. Islam is the religion of about one and half billion people in the world. It is the second largest in the number of followers after Christianity. I chose this religion as a topic of my research paper because at high school in my world history class I read few things about this religion like God is one, men can have four wives, etc and those sound interesting to me, so I want to learn more about this religion. The history of†¦show more content†¦This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty Allah and of mans obligations towards him. Muslims consider everything they do in life to be an act of worship, if it is done according to Allahs guidance (Mahmoud 16). A long time ago, at work, my coworkers were talking about Islam and suddenly that discussion turned into a serious dispute. Some people were in favor of religion and some were not. Different people have different views about Islam; that’s another reason why I chose this religion as my topic. I read many things about Islam online. Some of their rituals really sound interesting, and I wanted to view them in person. To do my future research, I went to a mosque with my friend who is a true Muslim. A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims, who often refer to it by its Arabic name, masjid. The word mosque in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated to Islamic worship. For many Muslim people, a mosque is more than a place of worship. Muslims worship, study and discuss Islam, and do many other things in a mosque and its surrounding buildings. Usually, the mosques are very interesting, decorated buildings with lots of design and have minarets. Minarets are tall towers; they are at one of the corners of the mosque. The top of the minaret is the highest point in the mosque, and usually the highest point in the area around the mosque, but here the mosque building wasn’t the same asShow MoreRelatedCulture Within The Islamic Religion1290 Words   |  6 Pages Culture within the Islamic Religion Culture is the common uniting factors that a community shares. It includes values, customs, habits, thoughts that guide members of the society. Culture can also be defined as practices and knowledge that is transmitted to the generation by social interactions between members of a social community (Pohlong 1). It differs from community to community. The purpose of the essay is to relate and differentiate culture from religion, especiallyRead MoreThe Rise and Spread of Islam1129 Words   |  5 PagesThe Rise and Spread of Islam The world you once knew is falling to ashes and food is become such a scarcity that people are fighting over a few pieces of bread. The political class is too busy fighting among themselves to care for anyone else. Children are roaming the streets and begging for work to feed their dying, hungry stomachs. This is not a scene from a horror movie, but rather the reality of the beginning of post classical era. In these times of hardship the people turned to a higher powerRead MoreIslamic State And Boko Haram1664 Words   |  7 Pagesthe religion of Islam as well as the groups that perpetrated these events. Often referring to the beliefs held by groups—such as the Islamic State and Boko Haram—as a radical and medieval version of Islam, these individuals are not wrong in a sense, but rather they are failing to notice that no ancient religion is peaceful or nonviolent. It is true that the beliefs that are held by members of terrorist groups are archaic, but it isn’t b ecause the culture and system of modern Islam is medieval in itselfRead MoreEssay on Islam: A Religion and Culture1630 Words   |  7 PagesIslam: A Religion and Culture Islam is one of the oldest religions in history dating back to about 600 AD. It began when a man named Muhammad heard a voice from the heavens instructing him to proclaim the word of god. Currently there are over 800 million followers of the Muslim religion. The main text of the religion is the Quran which is said to be the word of God, or Allah as called in Muslim. 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While on the other hand, the Mosuo people of China are one of the few remaining societies that don’t consider a gender superior over the other but their women are seen as being more prestigious than their men and that may make the Mosuo a matriarch. Without a doubt, the differences between Hindu, Islamic, and Mosuo vi ews on a superior gender are impacted by their different religions, and cultural beliefs. According to theRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Three Pillars Of Islam1157 Words   |  5 PagesPillars of Islam Compared to Christian Beliefs In Islam and Christianity, there are similar and different beliefs and practices. In Islam, the five pillars form the core of the religion. Muslims go about their lives abiding by these pillars (â€Å"Islam†). In Christianity, there are not necessarily pillars, but there are commandments that one should live their life by (â€Å"Christianity†). The three pillars of Islam that will be identified resemble some of the beliefs in Christianity. The declaration of faithRead MoreUniversity of Phoenix: Islam Worksheet1148 Words   |  5 PagesUniversity of Phoenix Material 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. Explain the meaning of the name, Islam. The Islamic religion is a Middle Eastern, Arabic Peninsula,Read MoreThe Between Islam And Middle Eastern Countries1124 Words   |  5 Pagesraces, it is important that we learn their customs and culture. Muslims most commonly originate from Africa, and Middle Eastern countries. The religion of this group of people, Islam, developed in the seventh century. Islam helps put life into perspective and gives hope to the hopeless . The beliefs of Islam revolve around the Quran, which was written by the prophet Mohammad (Rippin, 2012 p. 5). As stated by Armstrong (2012), the formation of Islam can be summarized as, â€Å"a narrative that tells of theRead MoreThe Horror Of X And 11 : The Black Skin Of The Boston Bombers915 Words   |  4 Pagesleaving a listener with negative feelings toward the Islam religion and its followers, Muslims. Muslims bear the brunt of social construction because the United States continues to identify the Islamic religion as a whole verses excepting the different sects. Century after century religions have contained sects, experienced trials and tribulations (some bigger than others), and continue to recruit, but most of all religions have offered culture, belief systems, status, and customs within the religious