Religious Interview:

Examining the Religious Experience

Name: Dawne Law

Due Date: Monday, February 20, 2006

Teacher: Ms. Chong

Background Research

Origins

Islam originated from Arabia, which was where Muhammad came to be known as a prophet for Allah (God), playing a large role in the development of Islam. In the sixth and seventh century, people in Arabia had a religious system where they worshipped idols, which could be in the form of paintings or sculptures, and believed in more than one god, which is known as polytheism. The idols that Muslims worshiped were heavily relied on, and they believed that the idols would grant favours to them, ward away disasters, and bless them with luck in battles.

Muhammad guided the people of Arabia away from worshipping idols and preached to them about monotheism, which he strongly believed in. From Arabia, Islam has grown dramatically over time, and is now the second largest religion in the world.

Beliefs

Muslims do not feel that it is necessary to try and urge other people to convert to Islam. Their creed, which is called the Shahadah, sums up Muslim belief in this quotation, “There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” The name that is used for God in Islam is Allah. “Submission to God” or “surrender to God’s will” is the meaning that is used for the word ‘Islam’. All believers are equals, as stated in the Aur’an, and the only superior being would be Allah. In Islam, Muslims believe that humans have a limited knowledge and that only Allah is all-knowing, so that he is able to guide them through a life of satisfaction. In the afterlife, they believe that Allah will judge them on what they have done and both the well-being of their body and spirit. It is then decided whether or not the person’s soul will be sent to Hell or Paradise. They believe that, at the end, Allah judges people on their intentions and what motivates them.

Practices and Rituals

The foundation of Muslims’ belief is based on the Five Pillars of Islam. The first pillar is called Shahadah, which is declaration of faith. The Shahadah shows that Muslims uphold the teachings of the Qur’an, that there is no other god but God, and that the true prophet of God is Muhammad.

The second pillar, Salat, meaning that is compulsory to pray five times a day, occurs before dawn, during the mid-day, in late afternoon, after sunset and after dark. During the Salat, Muslims would recite prayers, as well as performing a series of movements. Before salat prayers, one must ensure that the entire body is “pure”, and perform a cleansing which is known as wudu.

The third pillar, Zakat (the giving of alms), means “to purify or increase.” In the name of God, the law of Islam requires that over the time period of one year, each Muslim should contribute alms that contain the same value as 2.5% of their capital

The fourth pillar is Sawn. Muslims are not allowed to eat, smoke, drink and are expected to refrain from sexual relations from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan. This month of fasting is an act of worship towards God and helps them to grow in their spiritual purity. For the old and sick, as well as young children, exceptions during this fasting month can be made. Eid al-Fitr is a festival that is held at the end of Ramadan.

The last pillar is Hajj. Those who are healthy and wealthy enough would go on this journey to Makkah. The Ka’bah in Makkah is worshipped as the House of God, and that is where their daily prayers would be directed. The day on which God had asked Abraham to sacrifice Ismael, his son, to him, is the last day Hajj. People would have partaken on this journey would go up the “Satan”, which is represented by 3 tall stone pillars and throw 7 pebbles or stones at them.

The Muslim place of worship is called the mosque. No shoes are allowed within the mosque, and this helps keep the mosque clean. Muslims pray on the floor as is required; there are no seats in the mosque. The different genders are kept separate so that they may pray without any distractions and pay more attention to Allah.

Symbols

Not many symbols are used in the religion of Islam because Muhammad had said that Muslims should not worship pictures or sculptures. However, some Muslim countries do have symbols and the most common of those is the star and the crescent moon. Turkey and Pakistan are both Muslim countries and the star and the crescent moon is present in their national flags. The crescent moon got its inspiration from the Roman Period, where it was a symbol that represented a tribute to Diana, who was the goddess of the hunt. The star was in honour of the mother of Jesus, who was Mary. However, there are some who feel that the national flag of Saudi Arabia serves as a better representation of their faith. The Shahadah is written in white on a green background on the Saudi Arabia flag.

Sacred Writings

The Qur’an, meaning recitation is known as the holiest book in the religion of Islam. The Qur’an, to Muslims, is thought to be the actual words of Allah. The Qur’an was not told to the Prophet Muhammad in one session but in many sessions, according to Muslim belief.

The Hadith consists of three types. Sayings that are directly associated with Muhammad, Muhammad’s actions, and the silent approval of someone else’s practice are the three kinds of Hadith. The Hadith is used to clarify the things that are stated in the Qur’an, for instance, prayer and other religious practices.

Holy Places

• Ka’bah in Makkah
• Prophet’s Mosque
• Dome of the Rock

Religious Holidays

• The Ramadan Fast – During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast in order to draw them closer to God, and to enhance their spirituality, patience and perseverance.
• Eid al-Fitr – This is the festival that is held when the month of Ramadan has ended. It is held on the first day of the tenth month of the Islamic year.
• Eid-al-Adha – This festival is called the Great Festival of Sacrifice and marks the occasion of Abraham submitting to the will of God and agreeing to sacrifice his son.
• Milad ul-Nabi – this is the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Mi’raj – this is known as the “night Journey”, and this is when Muhammad had been taken to Heaven.

Source: Henderson, Patti. Exploring World Religions: The Canadian Perspective.

Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2001.

The Interview

I decided to interview a Muslim because I felt that it was time for me to learn more about a religion that I had been surrounded by when growing up. I felt that it would be interesting to discover more about Islam because it would be a change from what I am usually used to hearing about, which is Christianity.

1. What do you think is the most fundamental aspect(s) of your religion?

There are five pillars of Islam. Although all are important, the most important is the first pillar, which essentially is the main belief of Islam. In my personal opinion this pillar is fundamental and more important than the other four pillars because it declares a Muslim’s devotion to one god, and all his prophets with Prophet Muhammad being the last. The belief of one god and the prophet Muhammad is paramount, with it anyone who fails to uphold the other four pillars of prayer, charity, fasting and the pilgrimage to hajj is still considered Muslim although not as religious as someone who obeys all five pillars.

2. What do you want others to know about your religion?

There are a lot of misconceptions about Islam currently, the negative attitudes towards Islam are there and I think they need to be addressed. As a Muslim it’s bothering that radical, uneducated Muslims have almost hijacked the religion of Islam. It’s important to remember Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, and its members also claim title to the most illiterate. People that have not read and understood the Qur'an (the Muslim holy book) can be seen marching throughout capitals across the world. The images we see of violent protests are those staged by people that have no understanding of the Qur’an. They are Muslims, but being uneducated both in Islam and any thing else for that matter their attitudes cannot possibly represent Islam. Instead, if you look at protests held by Muslims in educated regions they are peaceful expressions of frustration over the cartoons published last year. It needs to be highlighted that Muslims, those who have read and understood Islam are as normal in their habits as members of other religions. There are exceptions, but every religion has exceptions where well versed Muslims, Christians or Jews commit crimes. The problem with Islam is that it has an unbelievable knowledge gap. The majority of Muslims are clueless as to what their religion is, but sadly it’s this majority that cast negative perceptions on Islam.

3. What do you think is the most unique aspect of your religion?

I believe the unique aspect of my religion is the history behind it. Islam accepts Christianity and Judaism, embracing both religions and their prophets. In the first pillar of Islam, belief, a Muslim must acknowledge that the prophets and religions of Judaism and Christianity were religions of the same god as Islam. There are similarities between all three religions, but Islam draws on Judaism very closely. What is rejected of Christianity is the belief in the trinity, Islam like Judaism believes in one sole god, in one form. There are no components to god, but rather there is one all mighty god. Islam and Judaism differ very little as the first Muslims lived alongside Jews. The difference though is important, where Judaism originates from a historical event where god presented Moses’ people with a covenant to save them– Islam’s origins are prophetic where a prophet claimed to come directly from god to fix a society and convinced others to believe him. I believe Islam’s acceptance of other religions makes it compatible today in north America, but as I said before there is a growing force of people that have yet to understand Islam that are sabotaging this bond because of their radicalism and willingness to use unnecessary violence.

4. What makes you a strong believer in your faith?

I'm a strong believer in my fate because of my religion’s flexibility. I’m considered a Muslim regardless of my personal beliefs. I can contribute to Canadian society as a Muslim and not find myself jeopardizing my beliefs as a result. Because the five fundamental pillars of Islam are focused on an individual level I find myself practicing my religion at my own comfort. I believe in one god and all the prophets, I pray to god, I fast for a month every year, I donate money to the poor and I plan on performing my hajj as a spiritual journey. All pillars revolve around me; they are neither restrictive nor collective. Because of this emphasis put on the pillars of Islam, I’m given the freedom of interpretation the texts of Islam. No one is to say I am not a Muslim, and nor am I to say someone is not a Muslim because by reading the Qur’an everyone is justified in their interpretation. If they have not read it, that is another story. Each person has chosen a religion through their own reasoning and as a Muslim I am not justified in disrupting their reasoning. This same mentality of religion says that it is forbidden to convert someone to Islam. A Muslim cannot cast doubt over someone else’s religion; instead they can demonstrate an Islamic lifestyle which might impress the other person enough so they take an interest in Islam.

5. What are some of your religious traditions, rituals?

Most of the traditions Muslim families practice are not religious but rather cultural. Unlike other religions, Islam is not both a culture and religion. Islam instead is a religion that is compatible with other cultures. For instance where Judaism is both a religion and culture Islam is not. A universal ritual is a pilgrimage, which is part of the five pillars of Islam. The pilgrimage of hajj involves visiting holy sites with literally millions of other Muslims from throughout the world. Once every year millions of Muslims join together regardless of sex, ethnicity or wealth to worship together. It’s compulsory for every Muslim to complete a pilgrimage at least once if they can find a way to afford it and are physically able. For people that are unable to afford the pilgrimage, another pillar of Islam – charity, allows them to perform the pilgrimage.

6. How does observing or performing these rituals affect your daily life?

The pilgrimage of hajj essentially is a bonding experience as Muslims gather to pray together and mark Prophet Abraham’s dedication to god by obeying god’s order to sacrifice his son. God would eventually replace Abraham’s son with a goat and have it killed instead. At the end of the hajj, to remember this sacrifice, millions of animals are killed and their meat donated to the poor. This journey is largely symbolic; it shows the dedication of a lifetime as a Muslim.

7. What are some of the symbols of your religion, and what do they symbolize?

There are no religious symbols really, although some Islamic countries use the crescent to symbolize Islam. Its origins though are entirely non religious but rather historical. The symbol itself predates Islam, Muslim countries originally used colours to represent themselves. It was the Ottoman Empire that began using the famous crescent and star symbol to represent the empire. Because the Ottoman Empire would later rule over Muslim lands for hundreds of years, the flag’s crescent and stars were adopted as a religious symbol.

8. Does your religion provide a guide for your future path?

Muslims believe in a heaven and hell. The concept doesn’t limit itself to Muslims though; Christians and Jews are granted access to heaven if they obey the teachings of their respective prophets. The concept goes on to other religions with the condition the person be righteous towards others. Essentially access to heaven is granted on the basis of righteousness. Each religion, regardless it be Buddhism, Christianity or Taoism aims for good. Muslims also believe Islam is the clearest to righteousness, but the Qur’an does not discriminate against people who do not accept Islam. Non believers and believers might spend some time in hell, but depending on their righteousness they’ll eventually be granted access to heaven.

9. Does your community of faith always stand behind you in a time of need? How?

There are programs in place for Muslims to seek help from, and because charity is a fundamental pillar of Islam there is plenty of help available to those that require it. With welfare centres for Muslims now operating in most large cities in north America, immigrant families that need a helping hand can find tremendous support from their local Muslim community - if they choose to utilize them. Although the religious community does stand by these new immigrants, in reality it's the cultural community that has any impact among immigrants because that is where the least amount of barriers needs to be broken. What I mean by this is Muslims, because of their diversity and different cultures they turn to their own cultures for a sense of familiarity and understanding first. As they grow more comfortable within the different cultures around them they eventually turn to religious organizations as well.

10. How does your faith handle societal issues such as premarital sex, intermarriage, teen pregnancy and divorce?

The mentioning of premarital sex, intermarriage, teen pregnancy and divorce are found in the Qur’an. To understand the issue of sex and teenage pregnancy the Qur’an restricts sex to married couples only. Saying this, premarital sex is forbidden, but teenage pregnancies may be allowed if the mother and father of the child are married. Intermarriage and divorce are strictly personal decisions, based on compatibility. There are suggestions in the Qur’an that a marriage between people of “the books” or Judaism, Christianity and Islam are allowed, but in other passages the Qur’an states a couple has to make the decision to marry based on their personal compatibility and in such a manner that their personal beliefs don’t diminish as a result of marrying. Divorce too is a personal decision, and much like Judaism it’s a last resort for any couple facing troubles. The Qur’an requires a couple have dialogue and seek mediation before they decide a divorce is necessary. In the event of a divorce, which can be requested by either husband or wife, the division of their property is to be shared between both.

11. What do you believe about deity/ies?

We believe that there’s one god, who’s almighty. There is no incarnation of god, there is just one. Islam doesn’t give god a sex because god is not human, to give him the title of male or female would be giving him human characteristics. God also has no offspring; his role is solely as the master of his universe. Because of this belief Muslims reject the Christian trinity, but they do not reject Jesus’ prophecy. Muslims believe Jesus, like all prophets are ordinary people god has chosen as messengers.

12. Describe your feelings about your relationship with deity/ies?

My relationship with the prophet is essentially nonexistent. The prophet for Muslims is not someone to be worshipped, but rather simply admired as any other human may be admired. To mourn the death of the prophet is marked in some Muslim circles, but on the whole Muslims do not mark the death of the prophet. Because Muslims believe there is only one almighty god we worship him but do not fear him, God is believed to be compassionate and understanding.

13. Do you have any type of scripture or literature that you read and follow? When were they written?

Muslims use the Qur’an as their holy book, it was written by throughout the life of the prophet as a way to document the revelations god sent through him. Because the prophet could not read or write himself, his friends documented these revelations until just before the prophet’s death. Because the Qur’an was compiled throughout the life of the prophet it can be concluded the Qur’an was written between 570AD and 630AD.

14. Do you pray? If so, how do you pray?

I’m supposed to pray five times a day as a pillar of Islam at various times throughout the days. Each prayer has a specific time it can be prayed, with the times coinciding with the sun’s position. For instance there is one prayer at the break of dawn and dusk. Prayers are held alone usually to maintain a connection with god, but on special occasions like for Friday prayers they can be held together. Friday is Islam’s holy day so people tend to pray together on that day, but it is not compulsory to pray together on that day.

15. How does your religion react or provide understanding for violence in society (past and present)?

Islam doesn’t forbid violence to protect religion; it actually encourages any religion that may feel jeopardized to defend it. Any example of the first wars declared by Muslims was justified because of self defence not expansionism. Muslims strongly oppose converting people to Islam, in early battles the prisoners of Muslim battles were free to keep their religion and practice freely. Until recently Jews and Christians lived in Muslim countries without trouble, often they were also the society’s intellectuals. It’s only recently that political debates have torn apart members of all three religions, with Muslims having their share of blame. These incidents, such as the violence inflicted by Jews against Muslims and Christians and vice versa in the Middle East are entirely political. The mentioning of religion are merely tactics used by governments to gather support, which from any religious point of view is wrong.

16. Did September 11 change any of your views of religion?
The murder of thousands did not affect my religion; it wasn’t a religious attack on the United States. Instead it was an attack perpetrated by Muslims upset over American foreign policy. The attacks used religion to justify political tensions. The terrorists were all Muslims, but their grievances were understood across the world regardless of religion. You could be Buddhist to understand why the attacks occurred but condemn the deaths of innocent civilians. It highlighted a major misunderstanding of cultures across the world, everywhere we believe to be understanding but we know very little about each others beliefs.

17. What was your most memorable religious experience?
I remember going with my parents to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It wasn’t a religious trip but to see all those mosques was inspiring. Every mosque I’ve seen shows a bit of how the local community has interpreted a mosque. A mosque is important to every Muslim community, but the designs they’re made in are local. The mosques in their local architecture demonstrate to me the fusion of different cultures and one religion. Wherever you go, in every Muslim community you’ll see mosques of all shapes and sizes all devoted to one common religion.

18. Have you ever suffered discrimination because of your religion?
As a Muslim, September 11 of 2001 obviously had a great impact on me. A negative one. It had to; the people behind the events that unfolded that day were Muslims. I remember being in my careers class and the moment the news broke, even before thoughts of Muslim terrorists came to be, I was the focal point of the class. I remember looking up during a playing of My Cousin Vinnie and seeing faces looking at me. My friends, a beloved teacher and complete strangers. It was so natural to look at me; I was the only person in that class with a name resembling anything Arabic. That day they changed me into something I was never before. Although I’m not religious myself the moment that day will stick with me forever as the first introduction to what made me different for others.

19. Have you ever belonged to another religion? If so, why and how was it like?
I was born into a Muslim family so I really didn’t have any opportunity to belong to another religion. At moments I have though doubted my religion and turned to religions like Judaism and Hinduism. I think I chose both religions because of their historical merits, I believe the older a religion the purer it was. I eventually didn’t convert, but by taking interest in other religions I found myself adopting some of their teachings into my own.

20. Is there a punishment for someone who decides to leave Islam?
There is no punishment itself for leaving Islam, it’s widely believed execution is prescribed as a punishment for apostasy but it’s never mentioned in the Qur'an. Instead execution is a cultural punishment. The only religious punishment for leaving Islam is cultural and social. Your family almost certainly will move away from you awkwardly and Muslims might say you’re going to hell. If you are married, your wife can religiously choose to divorce you, and she’ll be treated as if her husband has died. She’ll be entitled to all the assets a man has held and their children if there are any. But other than that nothing can really happen because being a Muslim is done as an individual.

Analysis

In Islam, people are known to be sinful and in the past, ignorant of the existence of one God, having practiced polytheism for a long period of time. During the inception of Islam, polytheism was particularly popular and many people who were once Jews or Christians practiced idolatry, worshipping various man-made idols and not recognizing God. During that time, polytheism was a large part of society and contributed to the lifestyles of many. It was believed that God sent prophets, for example, the one true messenger of God, Muhammad down to Earth to pass on his messages, as well as the spreading of his will, guiding people towards Truth. Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad was chosen by God to come to Earth to change their ways of idolatry and reintroduce monotheism to the Middle East.

The ideal goal of a Muslim is to be able to ascend to Paradise. He or she would be judged by God on the deeds that they did while they were living, and the type of life that they had led, since Islam has a motto that states that one should cherish himself or herself, both spiritually and physically. That is because in the afterlife, they would be summoned before God in their physical form. On their Day of Judgement, God decides whether or not that person would go to Paradise or Hell.

Through understanding religion and trying their best to be good, Muslims are hope to be able to be chosen to go the Paradise. However, the meaning of the word “good” is extremely ambiguous. It is not stated specifically what Muslims are required to achieve, or the things that they are to do in this life in order to go to Paradise. Since this is so, Muslims study books on the life of Prophet Muhammad and try to emulate his lifestyle hoping to be able to view the way of Muhammad’s life as a guide that would lead them closer to God.

Muslims believe that the entry to Paradise is given only to those who have led an excellent life as a follower of God. Muslims strive to achieve the best possible life that they are able to have in this life, so that they may go to Paradise in the afterlife.

This interview has definitely allowed me to explore a religion that I am not very familiar with, and to learn about a lifestyle that is unlike mine. I greatly enjoyed this interview as it gave me to opportunity to really speak to someone who was involved in that religion and ask questions that helps me to discover more. It was truly an enlightening experience. I learned a lot about Islam and I am glad that I had chosen to research on this religion as I find it entrancing. The religious experience was believable, and I feel, successful. I am in awe of the fact that one has managed to remain in the same religion, as have many others all around the world, because I feel that it was a very easy task to be discouraged and lose faith in their religion.

There is a large difference in the lifestyle that I lead, and the lifestyle of a Muslim. The biggest difference is that I am not religious and I was fascinated by the details of religious rituals and the various ceremonies they go through, that I would not normally take part in on a day-to-day basis. I am slightly envious of religious people, as they are able to put their faith in something that is highly intangible, and believe that there is truly something waiting for them after this world, and that they would be rewarded so that the things they did in this life would not have gone to waste. To believe that there is a higher power is a marvellous thing, and I admire religious people for that.

I would like to thank Hammad Khan whom I interviewed for this project.