The Importance of Sufism and Attractiveness of Mysticism - Assignment Example

Islam Explain the importance of Sufism. Why is mysticism attractive? Sufism shaped a large part of Islam. Orthodox Muslims disagree with various aspects of Sufism, such as the visiting of tombs, saint worship, adaptation of un-Islamic and non-Islamic customs, belief in miracles, musical performances, as well as monastic Islamic interpretation. The importance that Sufism gives to the master figure is also accused of negative results. The shaykh, viewed as most infallible among his admirers and disciples, has the ability to gain dangerous political influence and authority, especially for those in the rural areas who are illiterate who are very reliant on the saint. Other masters have also taken on social inequality, whereas sometimes putting their own lives on the line in their attempts to change political and social conditions for spiritual revival and improved living conditions. Sufism’s missionary activities have led to an increased number of their faithful. It is impossible to overstate the importance the spiritual education, as well as inculcation of such virtues as veneration of the prophet, faith in the love of God, piety, and trust in God. Sufism’s dhikr formulas are still preservative of their quieting and consoling power that it has on the illiterate. Persian literature and literature that influenced Persian literature is permeated by mysticism. This literature has aided millions by being a source of happiness. However, several modernists have argued against this literature because of its narcotic-like influence on the thoughts of Muslims. However, modern life and the effects of industrialization have caused a constant decline in Sufism’s influence in many states. People who attempt to show that mysticism and modern science conform have preserved the order’s spiritual heritage. This is because mysticism is central to the beliefs of the order. 2. Explain in detail the five pillars of Islam The five pillars of Islam are the most important Islamic pillars. These are five obligations that all Muslims are required to satisfy so as to live a responsible and good Islamic life. The first pillar is “Shahadah”, which is a basic statement that states that there is no God, but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. This statement is the basic one in Islam with those who cannot recite the statement wholeheartedly considered as non-Muslims. Muslims who recite this statement proclaim that they will obey all Islamic commitments in their life; Allah is the only God, and Muhammad is his prophet; and that they accept the statement to be true. The second pillar of Islam is “Salat”, which are the obligatory prayers said by Muslims five times a day. Allah ordered that Muslims pray every day at five set times. These are; Salat al-fair, which is at dawn, Salat al-zhur, which is at midday, Salat al-‘asr, which is just before the sun sets, Salat-al-maghrib, which is said just following sunset, and Salat al-‘isha, which is said between midnight and sunset. Every Muslim tries to abide by the set times with even children encouraged to pray. The third pillar of Islam, Zakat, refers to the compulsory giving to charity of a particular proportion of a person’s wealth. Muslims as a form of self-purification and worship regard Zakat. It is not referent to charitable gifts from Muslims given out of generosity or even kindness; however, it refers to systematic offering of 2.5% of a Muslim person’s wealth every year for the benefit of poor people. Sawm is the fourth pillar of Islam with a requirement for all Muslims to fast on Ramadan. During the entire period of Ramadan, every adult Muslim is required to give up various things, including sexual activity, smoking of any kind, as well as food and drink. The fifth and final pillar of Islam is Hajj. Once every year, there is a gathering in Mecca of diverse groups of Muslims praising Allah together in front of the Kaaba. It is meant for the promotion of sisterhood and brotherhood among Muslims to show that they are all equal before Allah, particularly by stripping away all markers of pride, wealth, and social status. 3. Contrast contemporary Sunni and Shiite Muslims The split between Sunnis and Shiites can be traced to Muhammad’s death and the period after it. It centered on the person who would succeed Muhammad to be the Caliph. Abu Bakr, a close friend of the prophet, was chosen to become Caliph. Those who accepted are referred to as Sunni, and they take a more traditional form of Islam. However, there were those who, instead, chose to follow the prophet’s son-in-law, as Caliph and they are referred to as the Shia. There are various other differences between the two groups. Majority of Muslims in the world today are Sunni with Shiites only comprising of 10-20%. The Shiites are the majority in only two countries, namely Iran and Iraq. Another difference is in religious leadership with Shiites believing that God; who ensures that they are politically powerful with cross-border authority directly chooses Imams. On the other hand, Sunni leaders are not accorded any special authority or power. Instead, they take on localized teaching roles. Another difference is in modern day practices. The two sects are summoned to daily prayer by different calls, whereas also practicing some rituals differently. There are also differences in Hadith that they accept with Shiites only accepting those that can be attributed to the prophet’s immediate family. Sunnis, on the other hand, validate all Hadith. Shiites also submit to physical pain in sympathy to martyred Imams and combine the five prayers in Salat into three or four. Sunnis, however, disagree with the two practices. Shiites also allow for temporary marriages for men, which was abolished for Sunnis. Finally, the two sects also have political and cultural divisions. As Islam spread across the world, some countries embraced the sects to become a national identity, for example, Iran has a Shiite identity, whereas Saudi Arabia has a Sunni identity. These have caused political tensions externally and internally due to oppression of the other sect. 4. What is the difference between the Quran and the Hadith? What is the contention about Hadith? The biggest difference between Hadith and the Qur’an has to do with divine intervention. While the Qur’an is understood as God’s direct words recited by Muhammad’s believers to early Muslim communities, the Hadith are collections of admonitions, sayings, and stories of Muhammad collected following his death. The latter is understood to possess no more power than the prophet’s authority. There are also differences in style between the Hadith and the Qur’an. While the Qur’an speaks as God directly and is in rhythmic verse in high Arabic style, the Hadith is written in formulaic and easy Arabic marked by such set phrases as “it was acceptable” and “it was good”. In the Qur’an, according to the traditions of Islam, the community knew when a new prophecy was about to be given to Muhammad as he would be seized, in the night, to write new verses. The contention about the Hadith is that it is difficult to establish if all narrators on the narrative chain were infallible. Allah never tested their infallibility, and they were humans whose actions were liable to limitations from nature on the ability on humans. It is not established if these narrators were messengers of God or prophets, whether they received divine decrees, or whether the narrators in the narrative chain met in their lifetime. For this reason, it is contentious to accept the Hadith unconditionally. 5. Pick one ritual listed under "Practices" in the web site. Describe it and explain why it is important Ramadan is the month during which Muslims fast when it is daylight. It is the ninth month of their calendar, and there are several reasons why Muslims consider it important. The Qur’an was revealed for the first time in this month while the gates of heaven were also opened on this month. This month also involved the closing of hell’s gates and the chaining of the devil in hell. This month is also referred to as the month of the Qur’an and Muslims recite the Qur’an as often as they can in the month of Ramadan. Muslims believe that any good actions done in the month of Ramadan will be greatly rewarded than those done at other times of the year since Allah blessed this month. Muslims are also of the belief that one will find it easier to do good during the month of Ramadan because the devil is chained in hell. In addition, all Muslims attempt to leave their bad habits behind in this month through reading the Qur’an and praying more. Read More