A formal or ceremonial observance of the religious context rites - Essay Example

A formal or ceremonial observance of the religious context rites In the religious context rites refer to a formal or ceremonial observance that adheres to the rules of the religion in question. They may be classified as rites of passage, personal devotion and public worship. Religious rites are essential and are of profound significance in that they serve as a means of religious expression, enhanced spirituality and as a means of transcending the mundane realities of everyday life. The purpose of the essay is to examine the nature, role and significance of religious rites by comparing and contrasting the rites and rituals peculiar to Islam and Christianity. Funeral rites in Islam as well as Christianity serve to provide solace and comfort to help cope with the loss of a loved one while simultaneously reinforcing belief in the almighty by driving home the frailty of human existence. They are rites of passage. Both religions share some common beliefs pertaining to death. Islam and Christianity believe in life after death (akhirah and resurrection respectively), the existence of heaven and hell, the immortality of the soul, that life on earth is merely a test to be followed by a day of reckoning or Judgment day where one will be punished or rewarded. However they differ in ritualistic practice. Funeral rites in Islam honor the dead. The dying person tries to die with the Shahada or declaration of faith on the lips. This prayer reaffirms the belief that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet. The body is cleansed thoroughly as instructed in the Hadith by the prophet Muhammad following the death of his daughter “…wash her three times, or more than that if you feel it necessary with water”. This process is called ghusl. Particular attention is given to the parts of the body that are cleansed before prayers. The body is anointed with camphor then shrouded in clean white cloth (Kahn) that symbolizes purity. If a person has performed hajj his ihram is used to wrap the body. Funeral prayers called Salatul Janazah are recited. It is here that the Shia and Sunni Muslim practices differ. Differences arise in their use of Hadith material, as the Sunni Muslims recognize six books of the Hadith while the Shias recognize only four that give importance to Ali who is believed to be the rightful successor to the prophet. Wailing at funerals is prohibited by the Sunni Muslims while the Shias have no such restrictions. Salatul Janazah is significant as it provides solace to the mourners and reiterates the belief that the soul of the deceased has gone on to a better place. The dead are given instructions on how best to answer the interrogation by the angels Munkar and Nakir The body is then carried away to be buried. The coffin is ahead of the mourners in the funeral procession as it is believed that the Angel of Death leads in front of the bier. The body is lowered into the earth without the coffin, which indicates that there is nothing inhibiting the body as it begins the ascent heavenwards. The arms are folded to give the appearance of prayer (salat), as a gesture of reverence. The body is buried facing the direction of the Ka’ba at Mecca, which signifies the umbilical- cord like connection that exists between God and his followers. Christian funeral rites mirror their belief in resurrection. The Bible attests that Jesus’ death as atonement for the sins of mankind and his ultimate resurrection has enabled man to gain ascendancy over death. By way of preparation for the last journey, the body is cleansed physically as well as spiritually by washing and then anointing the body with sacred oil. In the Bible the process of anointing is described as follows, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of the faithful shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him”(James 5:14-15). Anointing the body is believed to give the body courage and to prepare for the journey heavenward. Following the elaborate preparation stage, which includes making the body presentable with aesthetic touches, a wake is held. The body is placed in an open casket with the head facing the altar. A ritual ceremony takes place where prayers are said for the dead. This is followed by the eulogy which is a tribute to the dead person. In most funerals psalm 23 is recited which says that the Lord is a shepherd who will lead and comfort the dead person as he makes the journey towards everlasting life. The funeral rites emphasize resurrection, “Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and I am the life; He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11: 25- 26). Thus this particular rite of passage is of profound significance for Christians as their faith in God is reinforced as the faithful feel that while God is with them they need not fear even death. The body is cremated or buried and it is here that variants of the Christian faith manifest themselves. The Eastern Orthodox Church forbids cremation as it is believed that the body must be returned to the earth from which it came. However Catholics and Protestants are not against cremation. Before burial a handful of dirt is thrown on top of the coffin. Flowers are also placed to symbolize love for the deceased. The funeral is therefore an extremely significant rite of passage for Muslims and Christians. Their sorrow draws them closer to God as they seek comfort from the fact that the departed are united with God and that their faith has not been in vain. They feel that they have been initiated into the mysteries of the universe and the divine will. Rites of personal devotion involve undertaking pilgrimages in both religions. A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place. By visiting places deemed sacred by their religion, the faithful are able to retrace the footsteps of their ancestors and go back to the very roots of their religion all the while feeling closer than ever to God. There is a feeling of unity among fellow devotees and there is an intimate feeling of belonging to a close-knit family. For Muslims the pilgrimage to Mecca or Hajj at least once in a lifetime is one of the five pillars of their faith. It qualifies as an act of personal devotion as well as a form of public worship. There are rituals prescribed that are to be strictly adhered to before embarking on the holy journey. They should not shave, engage in sexual intercourse, harbor impure thoughts, cut their hair or wear jewelry. They must purify themselves completely before undertaking the journey. This preparatory process serves to cut off worldly ties and attachments and to devote one’s entire being to God. The realms of a mundane world are transcended to come closer to the divine. Two pieces of white cloth called ihram are worn on the pilgrimage and the emphasis is on simplicity and frugality. This is to remind the devotees that they are all equal in the eyes of God irrespective of wealth or status. The journey includes prayer and a visit to all the holy places on which the events which shaped their lives unfolded. The pilgrimage is believed to be a life altering experience and the pilgrim is considered truly blessed and is allowed to add the title Hajji after his name. If a pilgrim dies while undertaking this journey, he will be assured of a place in heaven. Pilgrims preserve the ihram they wore on the journey so that they may be wrapped up in it after their death. Mecca is the site of the pilgrimage but Shia Muslims also visit the tombs of revered saints as they see them as intermediaries between themselves and God and seek the blessing of the saints unlike the Sunni who consider such reverence for the saints as misplaced and as a deviation from the single-minded worship of the true God. The tombs of Husayn at Karbala and Ali are considered holy sites by the Shia. The pilgrims believe they are answering the call of God. The pilgrimage is supposed to cleanse them of all their sins and rejuvenate their spirit, thus giving them a new lease of life. For Christians, making a pilgrimage is not mandatory but many derive intense satisfaction by visiting the holy places mentioned in the Bible. It serves to bring the history of their religion to life for them. They visit the holy land, Rome with its catacombs were the martyrs held secret prayer services to keep alive their faith in the light of persecution, monasteries in Egypt, Lourdes where the saint Bernadette was visited by Mary and they also retrace the footsteps of Jesus as he carried the cross in the events leading up to his death and resurrection. Pilgrims sing devotional songs, conduct Bible discussions and reflections and become closely attuned to the tenets of their religion. It deepens their faith and enhances communication with the Lord. As they reconstruct the events outlined in the Bible in the course of their travels, they acquire a spiritual education that is edifying and illuminating and the experience serves as a beacon of light on the path to righteousness. Thus the pilgrimage has immense value for the Christian faith as well. The sacred writings of Islam and Christianity are particularly significant as they constitute the very foundation on which their faith is built. The sacred texts of both are believed to be inspired by God and intend to teach the principles of the faith, while instructing the followers on right living and appropriate rituals. Both fill the followers with a sense of purpose and make them feel like a part of the universal scheme of things. For Muslims the Koran is the word of God as compiled by his messenger, the prophet Mohammad. The work is in pure Arabic and it consists of 114 chapters called suras. It is believed that the Koran has the power to provide solutions for all problems and to acquaint one with the mysteries of the divine. According to Schimmel (1992, p. 29), “To recite the Koran is the most sublime and edifying occupation for the Muslim”. The Bible is the sacred book of the Christians and it consists of the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures) and the New Testament. The Bible imbues the pious Christian with the essence of the religion and serves as a guide in their everyday life. Unlike the Koran it lends itself to translation in order to spread the word. The Koran is significant in undertaking the Hajj as it serves to guide the devotee on how best to go about this sacred enterprise. The Bible does not say anything specific about pilgrimages but the holy places it mentions are visited by pilgrims. There are symbolic elements inspired by the Koran evident in Hajj as the pilgrims re-enact events that take place. The circling of the Ka’bah is done in memory of the shrine built by Ibrahim and Ismail. Pilgrims throw pebbles at the pillars of Mina which represent the site where Ibrahim faced temptation and run to and fro in order to emulate Hajar, who searched frantically for water between Safa and Marwah. Zamzam well is a holy site where pilgrims gather water like Hajar who was rescued from the torment of thirst by the angel Jibril. This symbolizes the belief that when all seems lost God will not forsake the faithful. The plain of Arafat is visited in the end, where Ibrahim entrusted Hajar and Ismail to God’s care. Similarly in Christianity pilgrims visit the places where Jesus lived, Bethlehem – the place of his birth, Jerusalem – where one can see the Via Dolorosa, the Stations of the cross, the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was betrayed, the place of his execution, Nazareth, Galilee and Capernaum – all places where he lived and preached. Thus the pilgrimage reminds Christians of the suffering undergone by Jesus and other martyrs for their sake. Thus a pilgrimage is symbolic of life itself with its ups and downs and ultimate redemption for the faithful. Bibliography Aiken, L. (2000) Dying, death and bereavement. 4th ed. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Bainton, R. (2000) Christianity. New York: American Heritage Press. Bradley, R.and Segles, F. (2006) Christian worship: its theology and practice. 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