The selected conversation partner for this exercise was a Muslim. This religion traces its roots to the 7th century during the day of Prophet Muhammad. Religion historians acknowledge Islam remains one of the major faiths with many followers across the globe. Having started in Mecca, this faith has been expanding rapidly into different parts of the world. Most of the attributes associated with Islam are attributable to the Arab culture where is started. Members of this faith rely on the Quran as the primary religious text. They believe in God who created the universe. He presents an all-knowing and all-powerful higher power. I chose this specific person to learn more about the nature of this religion and demystify the misconceptions many Christians have about Islam.
My Partners’ Religious Beliefs
The respondent revealed that Islam was founded on the famous articles of the religious faith. The first one is the Quran, a text God offered to Muhammad directly. The second is the belief in Prophets who have a significant place in this faith. The third is a belief in the final Day of Judgment. The fourth is the belief in Angeles while the fifth is people’s belief in Qader. The final is the knowledge of Allah and His oneness (Mansouri, 2018). From these articles, Muslims need to believe that God is one and controls everything in the world. Prophet Muhammad offers the guidelines for all Muslims to follow.
Community
From the completed interview, it emerged that Muslims pursued their religious aims as one big community. Specifically, they congregated in Mosques to say their prayers and engage each other spiritually. Religious leaders have a role to lead other members in prayers. Various schools exist intended to educate individuals about the message of God depending on a number of factors, including age, marital status, and gender. Imams offer guidelines and ideas to ensure their followers are able to practice various rituals and activities effectively. In the wider society, Muslims are encouraged to portray attributes, behaviors, and actions that glorify Allah (Mansouri, 2018). Individuals will come together to observe various religious rituals, including saying payers, sharing with the poor, and helping the less fortunate. Believers would also have a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives.
Central Myths
Muslims identify themselves with various myths that have helped support the foundation of their religion. The identified partner disclosed that the story of Muhammad was important to many believers in this faith. Specifically, the individual indicated that he once had a vision that would form the basis for the message and revelations he received from Allah. Such ideas have been passed across from one generation to another. The second myth is a story that took place in 622. According to the respondent, Muhammad managed to escape from Mecca and headed to Medina in an effort to avoid persecution (Mansouri, 2018). This event is believed to have led to the emergence of Islam as a major religion.
Rituals
Muslims embrace various rituals that make it easier for them to pursue their religious goals. According to the respondent, fasting is a common practice that takes place during the famous month of Ramadan. Believers are usually expected to fast from morning until sunset. This religious practice is essential since it allows every believer to purify his or her inner self (Mansouri, 2018). The respondent went further to indicate that people were expected to participate in Hajj, the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca (Mansouri, 2018). This was expected at least once in a believer’s lifetime. Zakat, according to the individual, was necessary since it empowered believers to offer alms to the less fortunate in their respective societies. Shahada was also a necessary ritual that guided Muslims to declare their faith in Allah. Ritual purity also stood out as a major practice that defined a person’s stand or place in Islam.
Ethics
The interviewee indicated that Islam offered written and unwritten guidelines that helped Muslims exhibit ethical behaviors. For instance, they were expected to follow the requirements of the religion throughout their lives. Some of them include observing the pillars of Islam, engaging in 5 prayer sessions every single day, and fasting when it was required. Such practices were religious in nature and helped believers strengthen their positions in Islam. Additionally, believers need to respect others, remain involved in their problems, and offer emotional support (Mansouri, 2018). Muslims were also against various malpractices, such as stealing, telling lies, or being promiscuous. The respondent was categorical that such ethical requirements were essential because they helped Muslims relate positively with one another and eventually lead peaceful lives.
Characteristic Emotional Experiences
The interviewee revealed that the Quran provides a number of guidelines that help believers achieve and portray emotional intelligence. The respondents indicated that Hadiths encourage Muslims to remain self-aware, practice self-control, promote empathy, and be able to relate with others in a positive manner. The Quran goes further to encourage humans to embrace the idea of God fearing. This attribute will make it possible for them to benefit from mercy, love, and compassion, emotional attributes that God bestows on believers. The promotion of God’s word will make it easier for more people to promote emotional sensitive and remain attached to God. The exercise revealed that individuals were required to have total control of their emotions and engage in actions that can take them closer to their spiritual goals. The Quran goes further to teach more people to promote these additional motions: determination, enthusiasm, and hope (Mansouri, 2018). Additionally, the respondent indicated that sorrow, fear, and anger were also capable of influencing believers.
Material Expressions
Islam embraces material expressions in a way that support the progression and exhibition of this faith. The respondent argued that material culture was embodied in Islamic culture. Specifically, most of the people focused on artistic development and aesthetic attributes to create and promote religious meanings (Molloy, 2020). The individual was also convinced that Islamic art was unique and proclaimed the messages of Allah (Sealy, 2021). The people believed that clothes and attires in this religion meant a lot in Islam. Similarly, Islamic architecture remained a widely promoted form of material expression that helped more believers pursue their religious aims.
Sacredness and Holiness
In Islam, various activities continue to be practiced and are passed across from one generation to the next. The respondent indicated that there were various places that portrayed various attributes of Islam. For example, Mecca was identified as a religious place since it was the origin of Islam. Believers were expected to visit Mecca for pilgrimage, an action that supported the Islam belief system. Mosques are also studied as holy places whereby believers can visit to say their payers (Mansouri, 2018). During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast and consider how they can help the less fortunate. These actions and ideas are distinguishable from what ought to be ordinary since they are sacred in nature.
Conflicts
After completing the communication session, it was evident that the respondent offers accurate ideas and information that matched the traditions associated with Islam. From the respondents, it is agreeable that the individual understood the attributes, beliefs, and rituals that many Muslims practice (Sealy, 2021). The interviewee was also aware of the foundations and messages that many believers took seriously whenever pursuing their religious goals.
Theory of the Origin of Religions
Based on the responses gained from the completed interview, the naturalistic origin of religion appears to be the most appropriate theory that describes this religion. This theory indicates that spiritual attributes occur naturally, thereby rejecting the ideas or customs associated with a given population. Islam could have emerged as a response to the idea that any form of matter has a spiritual attribute to it (Mansouri, 2018). This means that the pioneers of this religion did not focus on anthropological attributes or psychological notions. Consequently, it has become one of the natural religions with billions of followers in different parts of the world.
Challenges
The respondent revealed that many non-Muslims were unaware of the true nature and moral responsibilities of believers. The issue of Islamophobia remained whereby many individuals associated this religion with cases of terrorism (Sealy, 2021). Consequently, some Muslims have faced different forms of persecution or discrimination in different countries. However, the true foundations and teachings of Islam help non-Muslims understand the teachings of Allah and how they seek to promote peace. The efforts many Muslims undertake have helped more people appreciate and embrace Islam as a nonviolent religion.
Focus of Islam
The responses gained from the exercise support the notion that Islam is a religion that focuses on a belief system or orthodoxy. This is the case since it has attributes that amount to a complete worldview (Mansouri, 2018). Individuals have key beliefs, behaviors, and expectations after the end of the universe. Such aspects have made it one of the religions with many followers in the world today.
Comparing My Beliefs with those of My Partner
From the completed investigation, it is agreeable that most of the practices are similar to those of my faith. Specifically, members of the Episcopal Church engage in prayers, fasting, and repentance. They can visit churches and religious places just like the way Muslims visit mosques. The faith systems have unique beliefs and religious texts that guide people to pursue their goals (Mansouri, 2018). The ideas of punishment and judgment on the final day are evident in both religions. Christians believe in God while Muslims in Allah. These attributes show conclusively that Muslims and Christians share a wide range of similarities.
Conclusion
The successful completion of this exercise has helped me learn more about Islam. Specifically, I have realized that the religion shares numerous similarities with Christianity. Believers are allowed to follow a unique belief system, observe rituals, and engage in ethical behaviors that resonate with those of Christians. The respondent identified some of the social structures and myths that help more Muslims to live together harmoniously. With such strengths and aspects, the emerging question is how more people could be encouraged to study Islam in an effort to help deal with the increasing level of Islamophobia in the West.
References
Mansouri, M. (2018). Holy time and popular invented rituals in Islam: Structures and symbolism. Al-Jami ah Journal of Islamic Studies, 56(1), 121-154.
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Sealy, T. (2021). Islamophobia: With or without Islam? Religions, 12(6), 369-381.