Help with Islam (1 Viewer)

[sidies]

Hey everybody
Im just studying for my SaC half yearly and im trying to find information about the customs and symbolism used in islam.

If anyone could help that would be great

 

[noir.]

Customs - Women and the Hijab; cultural issue, coercion of hijab?

Sharia and marriage:- women limited rights/roles?

Symbols - in the architecture of the Mosque look at the significance of : minbar, mihrab, kursee, minarets, the use of the main hall, the space allocated by gender and the arrangements for pray, the way mosques are decorated using calligraphy and the absence of images of people and animals.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

I really think it'd make you look pretty bad to mainly focus on somewhat negative issues like 'sharia law, marriage and the hijab'. I'd try to be a little more balanced and start off by doing a little wikipedia search.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_culture

 

[breaking]

rape, degradation of women, violence...

 

[diametric]

rape, degradation of women, violence...

racist much?

there are muslims on this board, y'know?

Have never done SaC.. but some help, if it does:

Hijab symbolises devotion to God - also suggests modesty.

Like stated above, halal and haram foods.

The custom, or rather, obligation of fasting in the month of ramadan, symbolic of devotion to God.

Prayer in its self. 5 times a day for God.

All simple stuff.

More: no sex before marriage/no drinking (falls under halal/haram)/curing of illnesses through the reading of Qur'an, etc/funeral customs such as the wrapping of the body in a single white sheet, the body must be washed in a certain manner before it is buried...etc.

Hope I've helped.

 

[Optophobia]

Discriminatory.

 

[diametric]

Discriminatory.

Thanks. Still, no reason to defend the other posters statements.

 

[lou_217]

You definitely have to discuss the 5 pillars of Islam in your essay.

1. Faith (Shahadah -"There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet")
2. Prayer - five times a day
3. Charity - Almsgiving (Zakat)
4. Fasting - Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)

These underpin the Islamic faith.

Symbols could be:

- The star and crescent
- The mosque (architecture counts as symbolism)

 

[Kulazzi]

Many forumers have mentioned some symbols and customs in Islam. Lou also made a very important points with regards to the five pillars of Islam (although it is in this order, only sawm and zakat are mixed up ): Shahadah, salat (prayer), sawm (fasting), zakat and hajj.

The Kab'ah is an important symbol itself as it is the direction to which we pray to - i.e. all Muslims pray towards the Kab'ah The Hijab is another as well as the type of skull caps which the men wear, especially during prayer. It is similar to the Jewish skull caps except it is more bigger. Something like this:

And usually brown, black or white is worn. It's not a major symbol but many of the faithful men wear it.

The crescent moon is much very a symbol in Islam as you see them on the top of the minarets of the mosque. Don't think the star is that much of a significance though.

The 'tasbeeh', which is similar to the rosemary beads, is also an important symbol in Islam. It is usually used/said after each prayer although some people carry it around just for continuous remembrence of Allah (SWT).

It is divided into three parts. If you look at the image, there's this little tower like thing which divides it into three parts. Each bead is equal to the amount of 'Subhan'Allah's, 'Alhumdulillah's' and 'Allah'Akbar' that is to be recited.

I think that's basically it

 

[aussiechica7]

which class is this for?