Islamic+Practices

__Islamic Practices __

The community of all Muslims is called the Umma

Sunna – ideal behaviors of a perfect Muslim Sufism Sunni Islam Shi'a Islam
 * morality, purity, prayer and worship
 * also matters of social and familial relations
 * attempts to seek Allah in a more personal way
 * do this by replacing their human characteristics with more divine characteristics
 * 85% of Muslims
 * Civil and political authority
 * Sunnis believe that there is not a specific religious leader
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Religious authority given to all believers
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Caliph: the community leader
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">15% of Muslims
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Political and religious authority in one individual is called Imam
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Imam: continues Mohammed’s spiritual leadership, inspired by Allah the “leader”
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%; text-align: left;">"Twelvers" - believe in twelve Imams,
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Twelfth Imam acts as a messiah that comes back to restore a perfect society
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">found mostly in Iran and Iraq


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">"The Seveners" - Ismailis, only seven Imams
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">The seventh went into spiritual hiding and came back as the Mahdi.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Nizaris most known group: they believe that the Imams will never disappear.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Imam title: Agha Khan, he remains active up to today.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Promote health and education

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">Five Pillars of Islam
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">5 obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Origin of Islam = Arabia
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Religion weaves everyday activities and their beliefs into a single cloth of religious devotion
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Revealed by Prophet Muhammad
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Polytheistic religion
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Arabic word for God = Allah


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">__Shahadah__: reciting the Muslim profession of faith
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">“There is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is his messenger.”
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">* Anyone who cannot recite this wholeheartedly is not a Muslim!!!!!!**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">That they personally accept this as true
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">That they will obey all the commitments of Islam in their life


 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; text-align: left;">__Salat__: performing prayers 5x a day
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">//Salat al-fajr// – dawn before sunrise
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">//Salat al-zuhr// – midday, after the sun pasts its highest
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">//Salat al//-‘asr – late part of the afternoon
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">//Salat al-maghrib// – right after sunset
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">//Salat al//-‘//isha// – between sunset and midnight
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">__Zakat__: paying an alms to benefit the poor and the needy
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Systematic 2.5% of one’s wealth each year to benefit the poor
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Aside from helping the unfortunate :
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Obeying god
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Learning self-discipline
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Freeing oneself from:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">The love of possessions & greed
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">The love of money
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Love of oneself
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Behaving honestly
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Acknowledging it’s God’s choice whether you are rich or poor
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Helping a person acknowledge that everything comes from God and no one really owns anything
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">2.5% rates only apply to silver, gold, money and commercial items
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Other items such as animals, mining and farm produce have separate rates
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">__Sawm__: fasting during the month of Ramadan (ninth month of the calendar)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">29/30 days all adult Muslims must give up one of the following during the hours of daylight:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Food or drink of any sort
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Smoking, including passive smoking
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Sexual activity
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Those who are mentally and physically unwell may be excused such as children under 12 years old, the elderly, pregnant, breast- feeding, menstruating, or traveling
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">__Hajj__: pilgrimage to Mecca
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Occurs during month of Dhul Hijjah Mecca is the holy place for ALL Muslims and is so holy non-muslims are not allowed to enter
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Twelfth month of Islamic lunar calendar
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Stand before the Kaaba and praise Allah together
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Every sane adult must go to Mecca at least once in their lives if they can afford it are physically able
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Hajjis or pilgrims wear Ihram which is simple all white clothing
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Pilgrims renew their sense of purpose in the world and perform acts of worships

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">Ramadan <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">Muslim Weddings
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Mainly important because :
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">The gates of Heaven are open
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">The gates of hell are closed and the devil is chained up
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">First month the Qur’an was revelead
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">ceremonies vary according to the location and branch of Islam
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">a Gazi or Madhun oversee the ceremony
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">some ceremonies the bride is not present
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">women are expected to be virgins prior to marriage
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">women also will usually be covered with henna
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">arranged marriage
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">the parents of young adults set it
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Meher
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">the bride's gift from her husband allowing her to be free within the marriage
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Nikah
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">the engagement ceremony
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">an Imam may be present during the ceremony
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">the man will propose in fornt of at least two witnesses
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">reading from the Qur'an, and the exchange of vows in front of witnesses is done
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">marriage is completed at this ceremony
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Walimah
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">a dinner party that announces the couples marriage

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">Children
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">it is believed that babies should first hear a adheen or prayer to Allah
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">the seventh day
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">recieve a name
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">baby boys are circumcised
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">a sheep is also sacrifised in honor of the babys life
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">some of the sheep meat is given to family and the poor

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Connections to The Kite Runner __
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">"Like Ali, She was a Shi'a Muslim and an ehtnic Hazara." (p. 8)
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">"The book said part of the reason Pashtuns had oppressed the Hazaras was that the Pashtuns were Sunni Muslims, while Hazaras were Shi'a." (p.9)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">“He lectured us about the virtues of zakat and the duty of hadj; he taught us the intracicies of performing the five daily namaz prayers, and made us memorize verses from the Koran…” (p. 15)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">"Baba has handpicked the sheep again this year, a powder white one with crooked black ears." (p.76)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">"In the name of Allah the most beneficent, the most merciful." (p. 215)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">"I found Rahim Khan praying namaz in the corner of the room." (p. 227)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">"According to tradition, Soraya's family would have thrown the engagement party." (p. 169)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">"I remember our nika." (p. 170)

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">__Discussion Questions__


 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">In the story, Baba doesn’t seem as religious as most Muslims would be, why do you think he is that way?
 * 2) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">How can Baba be so close to Ali and Hassan even though they come from different Muslim backgrounds?
 * 3) Why do you think Baba has not remarried after his wife died?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Works Cited


 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">(2012). Retrieved March 22, 2012, from: []
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//BBC News//. (2012). Retrieved March 22, 2012, from: []
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Flesher, P. (1996). Retrieved March 22, 2012, from: []