CSU Islam Salah Offering Prayers & American Muslims Article Analysis Discussion

Please answer the question and response to the response part

Question 1-

Islam is a very ethical religion and its ethics are based on actions. The Five Pillars of Islam are foundational to all Muslim belief and practice. In essence, if one is “submitting” to Allah, one automatically takes up the practices proscribed by the Five Pillars. This is similar to the Protestant Christian understanding that a person who has faith in God is compelled to behave ethically. All of the Five Pillars are important, but two, Prayer and Pilgrimage (Hajj) are very interesting and important to Muslims. What role does Prayer play in a Muslim’s life? How is prayer conducted? Why is it one of the Five Pillars? Likewise, what is the Hajj and why is it so important? Many elements of the Hajj have symbolic (almost sacramental) meaning. What are the symbolic elements of the Hajj and what do they represent?

Response 1

Prayer plays a big role in the life of a Muslim. Prayer is seen as a time to praise, worship, converse, and with Allah. Prayer is to be done 5 times a day and the Faithful should be facing Mecca. Prayer can be done anywhere and is expected to be done while sick or traveling; one can also pray out loud or in silence. Before prayer starts one is to wash them selves, hands, face and feet, this called wudu (“purification”). During the faithful change positions, bowing, kneeling, prostrating themselves before Allah. It is important and one of the 5 Pillars, because it is meant to keep one close to Allah by talking to Allah 5 times a day everyday. The Hajj meaning Pilgrimage is also a very important part of the Muslim Religion. The Pilgrimage occurs in the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar year, if done any other time it’s called Umrah. The Hajj is only expected to be done by one who is able to. Everyone wears the same thing, men wear 2 white sheets and women a simple white dress. This symbolizes the unimportance of class in mattering in the eyes of Allah. When in Mecca Muslims are to preform several symbolic tasks of which one of the most important is visiting the Kaaba and walking around it seven times. Another is pilgrims stop in Mina, where they throw 7 stones at stone pillars that represent Satan as to express their hatred for Shaitan (Satan). There are Several other important symbolic task that Muslims preform while in Mecca. The reason for this journey is to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, hoping to gain enlightenment as Muhammad did when he was in the presence of Allah. After a Muslim makes the trip to Mecca, he/she is known as a hajj/hajja (one who made the pilgrimage to Mecca).

Question 2-

After reading the article, “American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?” please consider the place of Muslims in American culture. What are the issues that leave American Muslims asking this question? What must it feel like to be a Muslim in America? Not all American’s are Christians, but how can Islam and Christianity co-exist given that each believes it is God’s final Word?

response 2

Reading the article “American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?”, you get a clear picture on how Muslims in America do not feel safe and feel they have to worry about if they will ever be considered as equals in this country. To be a Muslim in America has to be a challenge and feel like they live in fear. They worry will there be retaliation at there Mosques from people on 9/11, or will they be safe? I also found it interesting that they talked about feeling less safe with President Obama, not because of him, but due to the fact that he seemed warmer to Muslims. Adding to that, there was a false perception that President Obama was Muslim, that inflamed the situation even more. I wonder would those thoughts would with todays political climate? Everything now seems to be inflamed and I wonder if the American Muslims are feeling any different sorts of hatred or racial tensions.

It would seem to me, that it should be easy for American Christians to accept Muslim people. Christianity should be living off the word of God to treat everyone neighborly. If this was truly the case, then there should not be an issue of coexisting. I understand that there is certainly a feeling of judgement and against Muslims, especially after 9/11. This led to the perception that all Muslims are this way. While that is obviously not the case, it just seems to be how some sections of people will always view them. I’m not sure what it will take for some people to come over to the acceptance side. Hopefully over time this will improve. It looked to me the article was a bit dated and I’d be interested to see what the feeling is for Muslims now? Has it gotten better or is there still the stigma associated with 9/11?

Chapter 12, Chapter 12 RELG3: World YouTube Channel, Chapter 12

4. The Concept of Islam: Prayer

2. Chapter 12, Chapter 12 RELG3: World YouTube Channel, Chapter 12

Guide to the Hajj pilgrimmage (2009)

3. Chapter 12, article, “American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?”:

Muslims ask will we ever belong.pdf