Islam Religion and Cultural Diversity Essay

IntroductionPractices of the Moslem faith have become of great concern in the contemporary society especi each(prenominal)y in issue of world peace. Islam values and beliefs have raised broil between followers and non-followers where the latter criticize the devotion as threat to peace. This report will research teachings of the Islam religion to provide understanding of beliefs, values and practices in effort to resolve the controversy. This will be achieved by discussing the main pillars of Islam Shahada, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, Hajj, Islamic virtue (Shariah) and international jihad (Pecorino, 2001) as healthy as showing application in cross cultures and nations. The paper will overly show how Islam is contrasted form Christianity and Judaism. Further, it will outline how understanding of Islam would strike interactions or communications between Islamics and non-Muslims. Eventually, the paper will summarize main arguments.Muslim schoolings and Pillars Practiced across Cu ltures on that point is transformation in Muslims and several core beliefs are held to bring unity in the religion all over the world. in that location are five main practices described in Quran for Muslims to keep up and are commonly regarded as pillars of Islam. The first one is the declaration of faith (Shahada) that requires Muslims to bear witnesses as well testify for only one perfection, Allah, and His messenger Muhammad (Esposito, 2002). This declaration is needed for anyone to become Muslim and has two aspects. nonpareil part affirms absolute mo nonheism, oneness of theology, and that associating some other things to God is idolatry which is unforgiv able-bodied sin. This would serve to correct Muslims ondeviating from the right path of believing in one God. The second part asserts that Muhammad is both a visionary as well as Gods messenger and accordingly forms the highest revelation of Gods messages to Muslims. Moreover, Muhammad life is an example that serves as role model for Muslims to emulate.The second pillar of Islam is the prayer which as cognize as Salat and require Muslims to worship God by praying five times in day, that is, in the morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and in the evening. In many places prayer times are alerted to Muslims through mega speakers at mosques minarets. This serves to instigate believers of Gods presence in their daily activities and hence need to reaffirm dependence on Him. The prayers are accompanied by rituals and were established by Muhammad though are not in Quran. However, prayers dwell of citations from the Quran and movements discovered much(prenominal) as bowing, kneeling, and touching ground with the forehead signify expression of obscureness and Gods adoration. Muslims earth-closet pray anywhere such as places of work, houses, and mosques though preferably in groups for solidarity and should face Mecca that is regarded a consecrated city.The prayers are orderly with same start and endi ng.The third pillar is the Zakat that center purification and requires Muslims to worship and introduce thanks to God by have goting the poor. All things are believed to be owned by God and Muslim believers are involve to give 2.5 percent of all they birth every year so as to support the poor, orphans, widows and those needy (Esposito, 2002). Zakat is observed as a companionable security in Islam and was developed about fourteen hundred years ago. In more or less Muslim groups, believers also contribute religious taxes out of their incomes to religious leaders and are used to support the poor. The after part pillar is observing the fast of Ramadan (Sawm) during the ninth month of every year according to Islamic calendar. This month is regarded as Ramadan and is observed since was the time when Muhammad received first revelation of the Quran from God. During the month-long fast believers are required to abstain from foods, drinks, and sexuality between dawn and sunset.Ramada n consists of special prayers cited and foods served only during this period. In the 27th day Muslims immortalize the night of power when Muhammad received Gods revelation and the Ramadan ends with celebration of Eid al-Fitr to break the fast and give gifts (Esposito, 2002). Ramadan is meantto stimulate reflection of believers on dependence of God, spiritual values and responsibility to care for less fortunate. The fifth part pillar is the Pilgrimage also known as Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and requires all able adult Muslims worldwide to visit the city at least once in their lifetime. It follows Ramadan and requires sacrifices of time, things and comforts hence making Muslims pilgrims in Gods service. There is also lesser pilgrimage called umrah that that involves visits to other holy sites during other periods of the year.There are other teachings of Islam practiced worldwide and are more bring about or shape cultures in which they are utilize. These take Jihad that is re garded as the sixth pillar and the Islamic law. Jihad is explained in Arabic as meaning to struggle or exhaust ones efforts to inhale God though is interpreted to mean holy wars in virtually cultures (Pecorino, 2001). Within Islam, Jihad can be applied to lead virtuous life, charity works, preaching and fighting to defend Muslims. The Islamic law defines Islam as submission to God and hence Muslims have moral responsibility and observe Jihad in the path of God also known as Shariah. The law provides guideline for relations and interaction of believers with God as well as with amongst themselves (WGBH. 2014).Islamic law on regulation of social life include prescription of dressing codes, rituals in marriages, divorce, inheritances and behaviors that would connect all Muslims all over the world. These provisions are applied to varied magnitudes over varied cultures. This has been influenced by interactions of people due to globalization and modern law incorporates interconnected cu ltural practices (UTA, 2009). The requirement of Muslims to exercise moral responsibility in legal, political and economic practices is also shaped by cultural practices in diverse geographic and historical contexts. Similarly, the Islamic laws influence social frameworks.There are varied practices of Islamic teachings as observed in low Islamic conviction is westward nations compared to high levels in countries to the East. America and Great Britain regard Islam as strange religion compared to other religions and has evince little support for values advocated by Muslims in national structures (PRC, 2012). However, Muslim converts are growing in the two nations and followers observe the pillars of Islam andother teachings. Middle East, India, Pakistan and other Asian nations show strong support for Islam and have large Muslim populations that observe teachings of the religion. These countries have frameworks that reflect teachings of Islam, for instance, in their laws, political, economic activities and social practices such as behavior, marriages and support for the needy among their populations.Contrasting Islam from Christianity and JudaismThe teaching of the Islam indicated above compare or contrast with some in Judaism and Christianity. Some of the contrasts include the oneness of God that is inconsistent with Judaism and Christianity that also advocate for monotheism and believe in trinity God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God in Islam is not associated with other things that contrast with some Christians and Judaism followers that have some representation for God (Esposito, 2002). Muslims worship God through Muhammad who is Gods messenger and prophet unlike in Christianity and Judaism that worship God through Jesus who is regarded the son of God. Muslim religion believes Muhammad was the last prophet send by God to human beings and shows acknowledgement of other prophesy figures send to Christianity and Judaism in the Quran whereas the latter do n ot acknowledge other religions, for instance, Muhammad send to Islam.There are several denominations in Christianity and Judaism unlike in Islam that has single denomination practiced worldwide. The Muslim religion is allowable to polygamy in the marriage laws unlike followers of Christianity and Judaism who believe in pure monogamy. Muslim religion is more restrictive such as in dressing code especially for the women that is not observed through the teachings of Christianity and Judaism. Muslims have fixed prayer and fasting schedules that are not observed in the other among Christians and Judaism followers who set prayer and fasting events.Influence of Islam on Interactions of Muslims and Non-MuslimsThere are different understandings of Islam teachings that influence how Muslims and non-Muslims interact or communicate. Muslims belief of Jihad has been conceived among non-Muslims as allowable to wars that has been strongly linked to the increased terrorist activities all over the w orld (2002). In addition, the contributions raised in through Zakat are misunderstood as avenues for pay war activities rather than benefiting the less fortunate. This has sparked rivalry among people since Muslims are considered as threat to world peace. This has been witnessed in conflicts based on religious inclination in some countries such as Nigeria. This rivalry would also be said of conflicts of America and nations with majority Muslims such as Afghanistan.This perspective has misconceived the aim of Jihad and would be overcome through advocating for moral value of peace possible through tolerance of religious diversity by both sides. Islamic laws regulate behaviors, communications and modes of dressing that create disconnection with other practices in the world and this hinders interactions such as marriages and talks that include education. Varied practices related to religious faith does not allow free environment to interact and hence limit integration. This would be mi nimized through compound understanding of practices for both sides since ignorance of values observed by different religions induces misconceptions that limit interactions.ConclusionMuslim religion has induced controversy among followers and non-followers in contemporary society especially when world peace is considered. This paper has discussed Muslim teachings practiced over the world in attempt to resolve the controversy. Muslim practices are infix in pillars developed following the Quran. These pillars are Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj, Jihad and Shariah. Provisions of this pillars aim at worshipping one God and are carried out all over the world though are shaped or shape cultures.Western nations show little support of Islam in aspects of life when compared to nation to the East. Islam contrasts Christianity and Judaism through belief in oneness of God and Muhammad, acknowledging other religions in Quran, single denomination, allowed polygamy and more restrictive behavior and dress codes. divergent understandings of Islam by non-followers negatively impact interactions and communication with Muslims and this has led to religious conflicts.ReferencesEsposito, J. L. (2002). Ten Things to Know About Islam. Teach Mideast.Retrieved 8 May 2014, from http//www.teachmideast.org/essays/35-religion/58-ten-things-to-know-about-islam Pecorino, P. A. (2001). Religions of the World Islam. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from http//www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialSciences/ppecorino/PHIL_of_RELIGION_TEXT/CHAPTER_2_RELIGIONS/Islam.htm PRC. (2012). The Worlds Muslims Unity and Diversity. Pew look for Center. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from http//www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-executive-summary/ UTA. (2009). Muslim Histories & Cultures. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from http//sites.la.utexas.edu/mhc/tag/islam/ WGBH. (2014). Islamic belief, Law, and Practice. PBS Frontline. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/page s/frontline/shows/muslims/themes/beliefs.html