Monday, January 11, 2010

Huston Smith - Islam

PART III

What are the Five Pillars?

1st pillar: Confession of faith - shahadah - "There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet.

2nd pillar: prayer - salat - Muslims pray five times per day, helps faith to be a constant

3rd pillar: charity - those who have much should help life the burden of those who are less fortunate

4th pillar - Ramadan - able-bodied muslims must fast furing Ramadan to honor Muhammad's Hijra (pilgrimmage) from Mecca to medina.

5th pillar - pillgrimmage - hajj - every able Muslim must make a pilgrimmage to Mecca once in their life.

What were the Social Teachings?

Economics: a society's health requires that material goods be widely and appropriately distributed

The Status of Women: Before Muhammad, women had no rights, but the Koran leaves open possibility of women's full equality with men.

Race Relations: Islam stresses racial quality and there is much willingness to intermarry.

The use of force: The Koran teaches forgiveness and the return of good for evil when the circumstances warrant.

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