The Philosophy of Islam - Essay Example

The five pillars of Islam are Shahada (the Islamic creed), Salah (the formal prayer), Zakat (giving some possessions to people in need), Saum (prohibition to eat and drink and have sexual relations from dawn to dusk during Ramadan holidays) and The Hajj (an obligatory travel to Mecca). The Holy Quran is, thus, more than a religious book – it is a philosophical work providing people with information as for how they should live to find peace with the outside world and their own souls. The cause of schism is conflict over the leadership of two groups of followers: followers of Abu (the father of the Prophets wife) and followers of Ali (the husband of Prophets daughter).

The goal was to constrain the rising conflict among the various communities; its ultimate aim was to develop a national identity by reconciling divisive issues and establishing a minimum level of consensus as a prelude to full national integration. In their politics, Sunnis are more liberal while Shiites are conservative. The failure to the unit was in the boundaries of the communities and the fact that they refused to use the religion as a platform to cooperate and develop cross-cutting interests.

The strength of religious loyalties and identities eclipsed the integrative potential inherent.