October 19

After prayer, Mrs. Egan reviewed the format for the test next class (Thursday 10/21). Each question will have either a quotation or a picture to be used as a "hanger" to answer a 3-mark question about its nature/definition and then a 7-mark question with regards to its significance/greater connection. In our circumlectio groups we formed some of our own questions with answers (below) about the pictures in the textbook on pgs. 320, 323, 331, 347, and 350

pg. 320: What are these people doing? Describe.

• Salat (daily prayer)
• Rak'a (ritual movements involving standing, bowing, kneeling, and touching one's head to the ground)
• Represents submission to Allah
• Salat is one of the Five Pillars

How does this relate to Muslim's daily life?

• Relationship of constant submission to Allah
• Performed 5 times a day, so a constant part of daily life
• Shirk is their worst sin, which is to forget humanity's relationship to Allah. This helps to prevent this from happening
• Ritual cleansing must be performed before Salat
• Mihrab points to Mecca, central part of Muslim life
• Men and women sit separately so as to prevent distractions
• Prayer can be carried out with the Ummah in the Mosque or privately

pg. 323: What is the Hajj?

• Pilgrimage to Mecca
• Required of all reasonable Muslims who are financially and physically able
• One of the Five Pillars of Islam

How does it relate to Islam: it's founding, it's relation to Allah, and relation to humanity?

• (Founding) Give examples of connections to Muhammad, his pilgrimages, etc.
• (Allah) Describe how Muslims become close to and discover Allah while on the Hajj
• (Humanity) Describe how aspects of the Hajj promote characteristics of Islam regarding people; equal treatment, etc.

pg. 331: What is the Qur'an?

• Sacred book of the Muslims
• Given by Allah to Muhammad over the course of 20 years

How does it relate to the Five Pillars of Islam?

• States the requirements of the Five Pillars
  
• Provides principles of Islam life
• Describes humanity as God's special representatives on Earth--therefore must be sacred
• Includes story of Hajira running between the two hills of Safa and Marwa, which pilgrims themselves perform on the Hajj
• Includes necessity of caring for the underprivileged (ie. widows, orphans), which is practiced through the Five Pillars
• How relates to Salta, Zakat, Shahada, Sawm, and Hajj

pg. 347: Who is Muhammad?

• Founder of Islam
• Allah's rasul
• Qur'an is only miracle attributed to him

How is he an example for Muslims?

• Both of his wives were widows (demonstrates social justice)
• Spent time in meditation
• Islam is a religions that focuses on making converts--Muhammad himself went to Mecca to destroy idols
• Made several pilgrimages to the Ka'bah and made his farewell speech from the Plain of Arafat (both are required places to go on the Hajj)
• One of the qualifications for being a Prophet is to be a morally upstanding member of the community PRIOR to the revelation
• He acted as a political leader, which represents the Islamic philosophy of no separation between Church and State
• The Sunnah (what Muhammad said or did) and the Hadiths (sayings of Muhammad) help instruct Muslims how to live their lives

pg. 350: What is the significance of the dress code?

• Modesty
• Optional
• Helps to prevent shirk
• Takes gender out of the equation so that there can be more focus on the id. of the person

How does the Qur'an apply to modern life of children in this picture?

• Learn the Qur'an
  
• Enforcing modesty
• Encouraging ways of life
• Enthusiastic attitude of Islam