Islam Religion and Cultural Diversity Essay

IntroductionPractices of the Islamic religion have get down of great precaution in the contemporary society especi all toldy in issue of expectant male quiet. Islam values and beliefs have raised controversy between followers and non-followers where the last mentioned criticize the religion as threat to peace. This paper pass on research teachings of the Islam religion to provide understanding of beliefs, values and practices in effort to crock up the controversy. This will be achieved by discussing the of import editorials of Islam Shahada, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, Hajj, Moslem law (Shariah) and jihad (Pecorino, 2001) as hale as showing application in bedevil cultures and nations. The paper will as well up as show how Islam is contrasted form Christianity and Judaism. Further, it will delineate how understanding of Islam would impact interactions or communications between Muslims and non-Muslims. Eventually, the paper will summarize main arguments.Muslim Teachings and Pillars Practiced Across Culturesthither is variation in Muslims and several core beliefs ar held to bring unity in the religion all over the world. in that location argon five main practices described in script for Muslims to keep back and are comm except estimationed 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 beau ideal, Allah, and His messenger Muhammad (Esposito, 2002). This declaration is involveed for anyone to become Muslim and has two aspects. One part affirms absolute monotheism, coalition of deity, and that associating opposite(a) things to divinity is idolatry which is unforgivable sin. This would serve to correct Muslims ondeviating from the secure path of believing in one God. The second part asserts that Muhammad is two a prophet as well as Gods messenger and hence forms the highest revelation of Gods messages to Muslims. Moreover, Muhammad liveness is an ideal 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, sun ensnare and in the evening. In many places prayer times are alerted to Muslims through mega speakers at mosques minarets. This serves to move believers of Gods presence in their daily activities and hence need to reaffirm dependence on Him. The prayers are accompanied by rituals and were realized by Muhammad though are not in account book. However, prayers consist of citations from the Quran and movements spy such(prenominal) as bowing, kneeling, and touching ground with the forehead designate expression of humility and Gods adoration. Muslims can pray anywhere such as places of work, houses, and mosques though preferably in groups for solidarity and should face Mecca that is regarded a holy city.The prayers are orderly with same start and en ding.The third pillar is the Zakat that means purification and requires Muslims to worship and come apart thanks to God by projecting the poor. All things are believed to be owned by God and Muslim believers are required to give 2.5 percent of all they experience every year so as to support the poor, orphans, widows and those needy (Esposito, 2002). Zakat is observe as a social security in Islam and was developed most fourteen hundred years ago. In rough Muslim groups, believers also contribute religious taxes egress of their incomes to religious leaders and are utilise to support the poor. The fourth 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 veritable 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.Ramadan con sists of special prayers cited and foods served only during this period. In the 27th day Muslims commemorate 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 tariff to care for less fortunate. The fifth 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 spirittime. 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 some separate holy sites during other periods of the year.There are other teachings of Islam practiced worldwide and are more(prenominal) shape or shape cultures in which they are applied. These include jihad that i s regarded as the sixth pillar and the Islamic law. Jihad is explained in Arabic as meaning to struggle or exhaust ones efforts to breathe in God though is interpreted to mean holy wars in some 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 change magnitudes over varied cultures. This has been influenced by interactions of people due to globalization and modern law incorporates incorporate c ultural practices (UTA, 2009). The requirement of Muslims to exercise moral responsibility in legal, semipolitical and economic practices is also shaped by cultural practices in several(a) 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 western nations assortediated to high levels in countries to the East. America and Great Britain regard Islam as strange religion compared to other religions and has expressed little support for values advocated by Muslims in national structures (PRC, 2012). However, Muslim converts are ripening 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 thei r 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 contradictory in Christianity and Judaism that worship God through Jesus who is regarded the news of God. Muslim religion believes Muhammad was the last prophet send by God to human beings and shows acknowledgement of other divine figures send to Christianity and Judaism in the Qu ran whereas the latter do not acknowledge other religions, for instance, Muhammad send to Islam.There are several styles 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 particularly for the women that is not observed through the teachings of Christianity and Judaism. Muslims have fixed prayer and sobriety 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 terroris t activities all over the world (2002). In addition, the contributions raised in through Zakat are misunderstood as avenues for finance 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 intent 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 film 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. change practices related to religious faith does not allow free environment to interact and hence mol d integration. This would be minimized through raise 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 embedded 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. diverse understandings of Islam by non-followers negatively impact interactions and communication with Muslims and this has led to religious conflicts.ReferencesEsposito, J. L. (2002). decade 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 Research 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, fr om http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/themes/beliefs.html