Spirituality
Islam
quick ideas about Islam. What are the basics of Islam? What are the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Sharia? How does Islam treat women?
Español1. What does Islam mean?
Islam means submission to God. According to this, a Muslim is someone who surrenders or submits to God.
2. What are the basics of Islam?
Islam rests on five great pillars:
- The profession of faith. This is the very brief formula for becoming a Muslim, recognizing Allah and Muhammad his prophet. It is frequently repeated in Islam.
- Prayer, public — on Fridays — or individual, five times a day. It is a formal rite lasting five to ten minutes, preceded by washings or ablutions.
- Almsgiving or obligatory charity.
- The annual fast of the month of Ramadan, during which all food, drink, and sex are forbidden from dawn to dusk. It has a great social sense since everyone makes the same effort.
- The pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a lifetime if possible.
3. Where is Islamic doctrine found?
The sources of Islam are:
- The Quran, the sacred book.
- The Sunnah or tradition, which collects the sayings of the prophet. This is why most Muslims are called Sunnis.
- The Sharia, Islamic law. Elaborated by jurists from the 8th to the 10th century.
4. What is the origin of the Quran?
For Muslims, the Quran was delivered by the angel Gabriel to Muhammad's mind and communicated by him to his disciples, who tried to memorize it. Uthman, the third caliph, ordered the elaboration of the text that would unify the different oral or written versions that had been transmitted. Subsequently the text of the Quran underwent other adjustments.
5. Some characteristics of the Quran?
Let us say something, although for Muslims the Quran is above any commentary.
- Literarily it is a heavy and not very clear book, with some beautiful pages. Its chanted recitation in Arabic is pleasant because of the sonority of the text.
- The Quran contains abundant influences from Jews and Christians. We should note that one of Muhammad's wives was Jewish and another had been baptized.
- For many Muslims, the Quran is a book descended from on high and it is not acceptable to depart from its letter, not even in aspects clearly proper to a region and an era. This leads to a rather tragic immobilism for Islam.
6. The Sunnah or tradition
- It collects the hadith, accounts of the sayings and deeds of Muhammad. They are the customs of Islam and have a value similar to the Quran. In the 9th century the six great compilations of hadith accepted by Sunnis were written down. The Shiites do not accept texts coming from enemies of Ali, the fourth caliph and origin of Shiism.
7. How does Islam view God?
8. How is religion practiced in Islam?
In general, Islamic religion has these characteristics:
- It is rather ritual and formalistic, legalistic (not always). For example, prayer will be correctly performed if the prescribed rite and ablutions have been followed. Likewise, the fast of Ramadan is correct if what is established is fulfilled, even if one then eats a great deal after sundown.
- Islam is a more communal than individual religion. Easy to practice in its countries because of the strong social support. (It is good that society helps in prayer.) In Islamic countries the practice of another religion is not accepted. (This should be improved.)
9. How does Islam treat women?
In practice, the situation varies by country. In general Islam respects women, but holds the superiority of men over women, falling into forms of machismo.
- The Muslim woman usually lives apart from social life and education (70% are illiterate). For Islam a woman should not be a judge or a ruler. In a trial, the testimony of a man is equivalent to that of two women. The same happens when dividing an inheritance: men take double what their sisters receive.
- In Islam a man can have up to four legitimate wives in addition to concubines. The Muslim tends to consider his wife as his property. If he has means, he can acquire another wife. A Muslim can easily repudiate his wife without having to justify himself. Repudiation or divorce is interpreted as meaning that the woman causes problems. A man may beat his wife to make her obey (this does not mean they do so).
- In Islam the woman's body is respected and protected from the gaze of anyone other than her husband. (Good; although sometimes there are extremes.)
10. Are there divisions in Islam?
The main divisions are three: Sunnis are the great majority; Shia or Shiites are the rest (10%). There are also Sufis who seek a greater spirituality. Besides, there are several subdivisions.
11. Is there radicalism in Islam?
We can say that among Muslims there are three currents:
- Moderates admit a modern interpretation of the Quran, without rigorism.
- Others place the center in the Sharia, the Islamic law of the 10th century.
- The most radical want to impose Islam through violence.
12. Is it better to be an atheist than a Muslim?
No, no. A religion is better than atheism. Religions honor God with more or less success and have behavioral norms that usually improve man. In contrast, it is unknown by what rules an atheist plays; and they do not treat God well.
13. And Islamic radicals?
Radicals exist everywhere: for power, for money, for football, etc. The violent ones are not good Muslims and should not be taken as an example of Islam, which is a respectable religion.