Simple Guide to Attending Muslim Ceremonies

Simple Guide to Attending Muslim Ceremonies

by Akasha Lonsdale
Simple Guide to Attending Muslim Ceremonies

Simple Guide to Attending Muslim Ceremonies

by Akasha Lonsdale

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Overview

In today's multicultural society we are increasingly likely to meet and become friends with people from different religious backgrounds, and to find ourselves attending an unfamiliar ceremony. When this happens, there can be few of us who know exactly what to expect, or are confident about how to behave. This chapter from Do I Kneel or Do I Bow? will tell you everything you need to understand and take part in a Muslim ceremony. Armed with this basic information, you will feel relaxed enough to enjoy the occasion, and perhaps inspired to discover more about the spiritual world view of another cultural tradition.

Access the world's religions with Simple Guides: Religion a series of concise, accessible introductions to faiths around the world. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs, and practices of different faiths. Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world's great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs, and beliefs of different societies, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781857336498
Publisher: Kuperard
Publication date: 09/01/2011
Series: Simple Guides
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 50
File size: 4 MB

About the Author

Akasha Lonsdale is an Interfaith Minister. Her two-year seminary training in London included instruction in the major religions and sacred traditions of the world, and her vocation brings her into frequent contact with people of every faith and none. She has practiced as a psychotherapist, both privately and within Britain's National Health Service. Her corporate background was in senior human resource management. She is an effective and experienced executive coach, trainer, seminar speaker, and EAP counsellor, specializing in Emotional Intelligence and Stress Management. She has written for a variety of publications, and her book How to Do Life–Powerful Pointers for Powerful Living became one of the most popular self-help titles in the United Kingdom. Akasha Lonsdale brings to Do I Kneel or Do I Bow? an informed, sensitive, and enlightened approach born of wide knowledge, personal experience, and psychological insight.

Read an Excerpt

The Simple Guide to Attending Muslim Ceremonies


By Akasha Lonsdale

Bravo Ltd

Copyright © 2011 Kuperard
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-85733-649-8



CHAPTER 1

WHAT MUSLIMS BELIEVE


Muslim belief is shaped by the Islamic Creed, which consists of six Articles of Faith: in the unity of God (Allah); in Angels (the Prophet Muhammad is said to have received his revelations through the Angel Gabriel); in Prophets; in books of Revelation (including the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospels); in an afterlife (the Day of Resurrection and Judgement); and in Divine Providence, or Destiny.

Islam means 'the peace that comes through surrender to God', and the Arabic word from which this comes also gives the universal Muslim greeting, 'Assalamu 'alaikum' ('Peace be with you'). Allah is considered 'the formless one', and the beauty of Islam is reflected through intricate carvings, weaving and architecture. A true Muslim is defined as 'one who lives in peace', the belief being that peace is achieved through total focus and surrender to the will of Allah, who, as in other religions, has the key qualities of compassion, love, wisdom, justice and mercy. Ibrahim (the biblical patriarch Abraham, with whom Christianity, Judaism and Islam are all linked) is much revered in Islam because by being willing to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, he showed total surrender to the will of Allah. A common expression used by Muslims is 'Insh'Allah' ('If Allah wills it').

Islam evolved in the seventh century in the Arabian Peninsula, against a backdrop of political, social and religious unrest. Although often referred to as a 'new' religion, it considers itself to be a final restatement of earlier revelations to the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and they and the holy books of Christianity and Judaism are all respected.

The Prophet Muhammad, who was born in Mecca (Makkah), on a central trading route between two warring empires, is said to have received the definitive word of Allah over a twenty-three-year period, thus correcting the distortions believed to have occurred in the earlier revelations and returning to the true word of God.

In the year 624, in the face of increasing hostility from his pagan compatriots, Muhammad migrated with his followers from Mecca to the city of Medina and became a respected and just leader, implementing many social reforms, including new and positive rulings about the rights and treatment of women. This migration is commemorated as Al-Hijra, the start of the Islamic New Year. Finally, in 630, after its peaceful surrender, Muhammad returned to Mecca, and Islam, the 'purified religion of Abraham', really took root. Muslims pray facing Mecca, and it is the place to which they are expected to make Hajj, a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage.


SACRED WRITINGS

The revelations to Muhammad were both recorded by scribes and memorised through recitation by his loyal followers, and Islam's holy book, the Koran (Qur'an), consists of 114 suras (short chapters). The Hadith is a separate collection of the Prophet's wise sayings. Both are written in Arabic, the sacred language of Islam. All Muslims, whatever their mother tongue, pray in Arabic, and are encouraged to learn the Koran by heart from a young age. Those who do so are known as hafiz.


SHARIA

Islamic Law (Sharia), where the emphasis is on ethical living, compassion to fellow humans and fairness to all, is based upon the Koran and Sunna (the living example by Muhammad of the revelations in the Koran). It governs all aspects of a Muslim's life, and deals with moral and personal issues as well as civil and criminal justice, although there are some disagreements between the different branches of Islam about the interpretation and application of the law.


BRANCHES OF ISLAM

The majority of the world's Muslims are Sunni (those who follow the traditions of the Prophet), and a smaller percentage, who have a large representation in Iran and the surrounding areas, are Shi'ites, or Shia. The difference between the two lies in disagreement about leadership of the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad. While he had not appointed a Caliph (successor), the Prophet had subtly implied that his chief supporter, Abu Bakr, should succeed him, and after his death Abu Bakr was chosen. Others felt that the succession should have passed to the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, Ali. The name 'Shi'ite' is derived from Shiat Ali, which means Party of Ali.

Shia Muslims believe that the direct descendants of Ali, known as the imams, provide the necessary guidance for people to live in accordance with the precepts of Allah. The twelfth and final imam, the Mahdi, is believed not to have died in the tenth century, but to be concealed by Allah from the physical world. Shi'ites believe in and wish for his return, which will herald a new age of divine justice.

The devotional and mystical strand within Islam is Sufism, in which individuals seek proximity to Allah. Drawing on the simple, ascetic lifestyle of the Prophet, believers experience Allah in the present through song, dance, trance and poetry, which take them to an inner world of ecstasy, love and intuition.

The revolving dance of the 'whirling dervishes', with their distinctive conical hats and long, flared, white skirts, is associated with the Mevlevi order of Turkish Sufis. The order is directly descended from two major Sufi poets of the twelfth century, Hafez and Rumi. Many Muslims do not acknowledge or agree with their mystical approach.

CHAPTER 2

PLACE OF WORSHIP


The mosque (masjid) is the main place of worship, but Muslims may pray anywhere as long as they face the direction of Mecca's holy Ka'bah. Originally an ancient stone structure believed to have been built by Adam and later purified by Abraham, the Ka'bah later became the focal point of idol worship and was rededicated by Muhammad when he conquered Mecca and reinstated the worship of Allah.

Architecturally, many forms of mosque have been built, ranging from areas of open space and simple shelters to great domes and towering minarets, with variations in all the different areas of the Islamic world.


INSIDE A MOSQUE

A mosque is a simple house of prayer, where the focus of devotion is Allah. You will not see paintings, candles, icons or statues, but in rare cases there may be a display of flowers and there is sometimes a chandelier. The only decoration on the walls might be a symbol of the moon and a star and/or geometrical designs of scriptural text, usually carved in wood and sometimes coloured green, blue or yellow. The floor will usually be laid with plain carpet, but some carpets are woven with a prayer section for each worshipper. In some countries, floors are marble or tiled. Muslims praying anywhere other than in the mosque have their own prayer mats, which traditionally incorporate in their design a mihrab (the niche in a mosque that shows the direction of Mecca). In using the mat during prayer, this niche is pointed towards Mecca.

Men and women pray in separate areas, so that their attention is not distracted from devotion to Allah. Women more frequently pray at home, however; they are excused salat (ritual prayers) during any kind of bleeding, but still continue to offer prayers of some form.

Some Muslim men wear traditional clothing, which will vary according to their country of origin, but others will be wearing Western clothing, with a brimless, knitted cap known as a kufi. As part of everyday life, many Muslim women choose to wear a headscarf, variously known as a hijab, khimar, buknuk or niqab, depending on the design and length. The guidance for modesty is often interpreted according to local traditions and customs, with some women choosing to wear an abaya (a full-length garment), or in more extreme cases but mainly in Afghanistan, a burqa, with total head and body coverage, leaving only a meshed area around the eyes. The idea for both men and women is that their body shape is not seen. The wearing of the hijab is controversial in certain secular countries that want to keep religion and state separate.

Wudu is the ritual washing that precedes prayers, and is the time of setting the intention for the prayer cycle that will follow. There will be a place for washing near the entrance to the mosque. The body parts that are washed a maximum of three times are the hands, the mouth, the nose (water is breathed in and out), the face, and the arms from wrist to elbow. Wet hands are then passed over the head and back before washing the ears inside and out. Washing both feet and ankles completes the cycle.

The key person in a mosque is the imam, a religiously educated scholar, who is fully versed in the Koran and Islamic Law. For Shia Muslims, the title of Ayatollah (the sign of Allah) is bestowed on a scholar with exemplary knowledge and understanding. For a small number of Shi'ites, the title of Imam has a different meaning, in that they believe an imam to be in direct contact with Allah, and therefore able to offer alternative interpretations of sacred text. As Islam considers that all have equal access to Allah, there are no ordained priests or ministers.


SERVICES

Islam is a devotional religion, and one of the Five Pillars of Islam is the call for Muslims to pray five times a day. In strong Muslim communities, the adhan (call to prayer) is chanted across the locality by a muezzin, or muathan (official) from the minaret of the mosque, but in smaller or mixed communities the call will be contained within the mosque. The call starts with the takbir (declaration) 'Allahu Akbar'. Often said to mean 'Allah is greatest', the nearest translation from Arabic is 'Allah is greater', that is, greater than you or I. The imam leads all prayers. Prayer times are governed by the position of the sun, and the number of rakahs (cycles of prayer) is determined by the time of day.

Fajr, with two rakahs, takes place before sunrise so as to start the day remembering Allah.

Zhur, with four rakahs, is said at mid-day.

Asr, with four rakahs, is said in the late afternoon and before sunset; both Zhur and Asr ask for Allah's guidance and greater meaning in life.

Maghrib, with three rakahs, is said just after the closing of the day at nightfall.

Isha, with four rakahs, takes place sometime before midnight, to remember Allah's presence in all ways.

Friday prayers may start at 1:30 p.m., and replace Zhur and Asr. The meeting starts with the imam's sermon from the minbar (seat on a raised platform facing the congregation). This is followed by two rakahs of special prayers. While on other days of the week worshippers will tend to say their prayers and leave, Friday is an opportunity to spend time with fellow Muslims in reading and understanding the Koran more fully.

Daily times are available on Islamic websites.


CHAPTER 3

FESTIVALS AND HOLY DAYS


THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR

The Islamic year has twelve lunar months, which begin at sunset on the first day. This means that there can be considerable variation in the dates, according to the Western calendar, when certain religious observances and festivals occur. For example, Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, might be in October, November, December or January, so accurate dates and times in any year are best obtained from Islamic Internet sites or relevant publications.

Muharram, the first month, is one of the four holy months during which it is forbidden to fight. The second holy month is Rajab, when it is said that the Prophet Muhammad came into the presence of Allah. Ramadan is a month of fasting. The third holy month is Dhul-Qi'dah, and the fourth is Dhul-Hijjah – the month of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to the holy Ka'bah at Mecca.

Essentially in Islamic law, there are only two major religious festivals: Eid ul-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast), celebrating the end of Ramadan, and Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). However, other days of historical note for Islam are acknowledged throughout the year.


AL-HIJRA

Muharram)

The Islamic New Year starts by marking the migration from Mecca to Medina by the Prophet Muhammad and his followers. This event is regarded as the true start of Islam as a community, and also of the Islamic calendar, which is why we may see dates ending with AH, or H, representing 'After Hijra'. The New Year is not a high-profile celebration but, because of its nature as a new beginning, is considered a good time for resolutions.


YAUM ASHURA

(10 Muharram)

This day has different meanings for Sunni and Shia Muslims. For Sunnis it is a day of optional fasting introduced by the Prophet Muhammad to honour the Prophet Moses in leading the Exodus from Egypt.

For Shia Muslims this is a solemn day of mourning and remembrance of the violent death, in battle against the ruling Caliph Yazid I in 680, of Hussein, grandson of the deceased Prophet and the third Shia imam. It has deep significance because they believe that a direct descendant of Muhammad should have been appointed Caliph upon the Prophet's death. The day is often marked with re- enactments of 'Passion Plays', and some Shia Muslims flog themselves in processions in memory of the pain suffered by Hussein (akin to some of the traditions of Good Friday in the Catholic Church). In Britain, large groups of Shia, distinguished by their red headbands, process through London for speeches at Marble Arch.


MILAD UN-NABI (BIRTH OF THE PROPHET)

(12 Rabia Awal)

Ways of marking this occasion vary, with many communities gathering to tell the story of the Prophet's life, giving emphasis to his bravery, wisdom and compassion. Food is prepared and shared with the needy, who might also receive a charitable donation. Others will be more subdued in their remembrance because it also marks the anniversary of the Prophet's death, and there are those who frown on any form of acknowledgement, because birthdays focus on the individual and not on Allah. Shia Muslims mark this date five days later than Sunnis.


LAILAT UL-MIRAJ, OR MIRAJ UN-NABI (THE NIGHT OF ASCENT)

(27 Rajab)

This falls in the second holy month, and is said to be the time when Muhammad, after a visit from the Archangel Gabriel, went on an extraordinary night journey on a wonderful winged creature, a Buraq. He ascended through the layers of heaven, discussing previous revelations with past Prophets, before coming into the presence of Allah, who told him that Muslims must pray fifty times a day. Through negotiation this was reduced to fives times daily and became Salat, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Homes and mosques may be decorated with lights, and parents take their children to the mosque to pray and hear the miraculous story before celebrating with food and treats. A meal with neighbours, family and friends might be arranged, at which there would be more prayers. More devout Muslims may stay up all night to pray and read the Koran.


LAILAT UL-BARA'T (THE NIGHT OF FORGIVENESS)

(15 Sha'ban)

This is believed to be the night when, from sunset to sunrise, Allah is offering the seeker salvation, nourishment and healing. Some Sunni Muslims will spend their time praying and fasting through the night at home and in the mosques, asking for Allah's forgiveness and to be shown the way to lead good lives. They believe that this night shapes their fate for the coming year, and in respect for the endless generosity and mercy of Allah, money is often given to charity.

For Shia Muslims, this is also the night that their twelfth and final imam, Muhammad-al Mahdi, was born. However, it is said that he disappeared at around the age of five, and it is believed that he will reappear at the 'appointed' time. This would seem to mirror Jewish and Christian beliefs in the coming of the Messiah.


RAMADAN

This is the Islamic month of obligatory fasting (Sawm), which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Fasting strengthens our will and teaches us to endure rather than give in to the usual human desire for instant gratification. It is a spiritual discipline, a time of physical purification, a reminder of how those less fortunate often feel and a time to give thanks to Allah for the blessings of life.

Fasting Muslims (those past puberty) will eat a protein-rich meal (suhoor) before fasting from dawn until adhan is heard at sunset. The fast is broken with iftar, a meal that starts with the tradition of eating a date and drinking water or milk. Other traditional foods might be honey, nuts, milk, olives and figs. The general idea is just to 'break the fast' and keep the focus on Allah, so many communities eat this meal together and use the occasion to share food with those in need.

The last ten nights of Ramadan (i'tikaf, or retreat) are particularly important, with more devout Muslims actually residing in the mosque. Special prayers (Tarawih) lasting up to two hours are said and, while they are not obligatory, they are highly recommended for those who can participate. On the twenty-seventh of the month, during this time, is Lailat ul-Qadr (the Night of Power), when it is believed that Allah revealed the first verses of the Koran to Muhammad. Some Muslims spend the whole night in prayer and recitation of the Koran, because it is said that as the angels descend to earth, praying at this time is especially powerful.


(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Simple Guide to Attending Muslim Ceremonies by Akasha Lonsdale. Copyright © 2011 Kuperard. Excerpted by permission of Bravo Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Contents

Cover,
Title Page,
Copyright,
About the Author,
WHAT MUSLIMS BELIEVE,
• Sacred Writings,
• Sharia,
• Branches of Islam,
PLACE OF WORSHIP,
• Inside a Mosque,
• Services,
FESTIVALS AND HOLY DAYS,
• The Islamic Calendar,
• Al-Hijra,
• Yaum Ashura,
• Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet),
• Lailat-ul Miraj, or Miraj-un Nabi (The Night of Ascent),
• Lailat-ul Bara't (The Night of Forgiveness),
• Ramadan,
• Eid ul-Fitr,
• Hajj,
• Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice),
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES,
• Birth,
• Marriage,
• Death and Mourning,
SOME USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES,

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