Task 1a: Critical Analysis
Introduction
Islam is a monotheistic religion that forms the last of the
three Abrahamic faiths, and is the world’s fastest growing
religion. With over 1 billion adherents and an
immeasurable influence on the world around us, I have
always been curious as to what makes Islam so prevalent
as the way of life for so many of my peers and people who
I encounter in my daily life. In critically analysing the
faith, I hope to gain an understanding of the uniqueness of the religion through researching
the core beliefs, and through asking the faith community to speak of how they view their faith
as unique and hearing their views on various factors and aspects of the religion.
Core Beliefs
The Five Pillars (arkan al-Islam)
Forming the foundation of Islam, the Five Pillars
are five official acts that must be performed by all
Muslims as the framework for worship and
commitment to faith.
1. Shahada, the declaration of faith. Said in
Arabic: lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāhu muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh, it expresses the belief that there is no
god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. The first part of the Shahadah
is stated in the Quran: “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger (Surah
3:18) and expresses Islam’s monotheism. The second declaration speaks of Prophet
Muhammad as the last prophet and the guiding figure of all Muslims. Seen as the most
important Pillar of Islam, the shahada must be said with in front of witnesses when
converting to Islam. It is recited in the adhan (call to prayer) and by all Muslims performing
the five daily ritual prayers, and is whispered in the new-born’s ear at the aqiqah (birth
ceremony) and are the last words a Muslim hears at the moment of death.
,2. Salat, the five daily obligatory prayers. The prayers are performed at dawn (fajr), noon
(dhuhr), mid-afternoon (asr), sunset (maghrib), and night (isha) and are made in the direction
of Mecca and performed after taking wudu (ablution). It includes a recitation of the opening
sura (chapter) of the Quran and worshippers prostrate themselves and repeat glorification of
Allah. Prayer may be performed anywhere, however the mosque is the preferable place and it
is a requirement for Muslim men to perform the Friday noon prayer in the mosque. The
importance of salat is shown in the Quran (2:28) which says: “You shall consistently observe
the Salat, especially the middle prayer, and stand before God in submission."
3. Zakat, giving alms to charity. Calculated individually by each Muslim, the annual
payment of 2.5% their earnings and possessions (excluding their house, car and professional
tools) is paid to a religious official or a representative of a local mosque. The tax is used to
take good care of the holy places and mosques in the individual's community or to give
assistance to those in need or who are impoverished and serves as a reminder of one's social
responsibilities to the faith community. Giving zakat carries great importance, and it is stated
that “True piety is this: to believe in God, and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the
Prophets, to give of one’s substance, however cherished, to kinsmen, and orphans, the needy,
the traveller, beggars, and to ransom the slave, to perform the prayer, to pay the zakat.”
(Quran 2:177).
4. Sawm, fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In the Quran it
says that a Muslim must “Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears clear from the
dark line, then fast until the night falls; and abstain from your wives (when you have decided)
to stay in the mosques for assiduous devotion.” (Quran 2:187), meaning that from sunrise to
sunset each day, all healthy adult Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sexual
activity. Through fasting Muslims seek nearness and forgiveness from Allah, atone for past
sins and are reminded of the struggles of the needy.
5. Hajj, pilgrimage. The annual pilgrimage to the holy city Makkah (Mecca) is a once in a
lifetime obligation for those who are physically and financially able to undergo it. While on
Hajj, the nine essential rites of wearing the ihram (unsewn cloth symbolizing the humility
and equality of all believers), walking around the Kaaba (sacred black shrine within the
2
, Grand Mosque), standing at the plain of Arafat, spending the night at Muzdalifa, throwing
stones at three symbols of Satan, sacrifice of an animal at Mina, repetition of walking around
the Kaaba, drinking of water from the well of Zamzam, and performance of two cycles of
prayer at the Station of Abraham must be completed. The penitence for failure to complete
any of the rites is stated in the Quran (2:196): “You shall observe the complete rites of Hajj
and `Umrah for Allah. If you are prevented, you shall send an offering, and do not resume
cutting your hair until your offering has reached its destination. If you are ill, or suffering a
head injury (and you must cut your hair), you shall expiate by fasting, or giving to charity, or
some other form of worship. During the normal Hajj, if you break the state of Ihram
(sanctity) between `Umrah and Hajj, you shall expiate by offering an animal sacrifice. If you
cannot afford it, you shall fast three days during Hajj and seven when you return home - this
completes ten -provided you do not live at the Sacred Masjid. You shall observe God, and
know that God is strict in enforcing retribution.”
Six Articles of Faith
The six articles of faith describe the core beliefs of Islam. They are as follows:
1. Belief in the Oneness of Allah
The most fundamental concept in Islam is its strict monotheism. The Quran describes Allah
as: “Say, He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is
He begotten; And there is none like unto Him” (Quran 112:1-4). Idolatry and polytheism is
rejected, which under Muslim interpretation includes doctrine such as the Holy Trinity of
Christianity. Allah is the sole creator and is beyond all comprehension. Thus, Allah is
described by certain attributes or names which total 99, including Al-Rahman (The
Compassionate) and Al-Rahīm (The Merciful).
2. Belief in the Angels
Muslims believe in Malaika, the unseen heavenly spirits of the divine world who worship
Allah and carry out His orders throughout the universe. Their duties include communicating
revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions, and taking a person's
soul at the time of death.
3. Belief in the Books
3
Introduction
Islam is a monotheistic religion that forms the last of the
three Abrahamic faiths, and is the world’s fastest growing
religion. With over 1 billion adherents and an
immeasurable influence on the world around us, I have
always been curious as to what makes Islam so prevalent
as the way of life for so many of my peers and people who
I encounter in my daily life. In critically analysing the
faith, I hope to gain an understanding of the uniqueness of the religion through researching
the core beliefs, and through asking the faith community to speak of how they view their faith
as unique and hearing their views on various factors and aspects of the religion.
Core Beliefs
The Five Pillars (arkan al-Islam)
Forming the foundation of Islam, the Five Pillars
are five official acts that must be performed by all
Muslims as the framework for worship and
commitment to faith.
1. Shahada, the declaration of faith. Said in
Arabic: lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāhu muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh, it expresses the belief that there is no
god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. The first part of the Shahadah
is stated in the Quran: “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger (Surah
3:18) and expresses Islam’s monotheism. The second declaration speaks of Prophet
Muhammad as the last prophet and the guiding figure of all Muslims. Seen as the most
important Pillar of Islam, the shahada must be said with in front of witnesses when
converting to Islam. It is recited in the adhan (call to prayer) and by all Muslims performing
the five daily ritual prayers, and is whispered in the new-born’s ear at the aqiqah (birth
ceremony) and are the last words a Muslim hears at the moment of death.
,2. Salat, the five daily obligatory prayers. The prayers are performed at dawn (fajr), noon
(dhuhr), mid-afternoon (asr), sunset (maghrib), and night (isha) and are made in the direction
of Mecca and performed after taking wudu (ablution). It includes a recitation of the opening
sura (chapter) of the Quran and worshippers prostrate themselves and repeat glorification of
Allah. Prayer may be performed anywhere, however the mosque is the preferable place and it
is a requirement for Muslim men to perform the Friday noon prayer in the mosque. The
importance of salat is shown in the Quran (2:28) which says: “You shall consistently observe
the Salat, especially the middle prayer, and stand before God in submission."
3. Zakat, giving alms to charity. Calculated individually by each Muslim, the annual
payment of 2.5% their earnings and possessions (excluding their house, car and professional
tools) is paid to a religious official or a representative of a local mosque. The tax is used to
take good care of the holy places and mosques in the individual's community or to give
assistance to those in need or who are impoverished and serves as a reminder of one's social
responsibilities to the faith community. Giving zakat carries great importance, and it is stated
that “True piety is this: to believe in God, and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the
Prophets, to give of one’s substance, however cherished, to kinsmen, and orphans, the needy,
the traveller, beggars, and to ransom the slave, to perform the prayer, to pay the zakat.”
(Quran 2:177).
4. Sawm, fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In the Quran it
says that a Muslim must “Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears clear from the
dark line, then fast until the night falls; and abstain from your wives (when you have decided)
to stay in the mosques for assiduous devotion.” (Quran 2:187), meaning that from sunrise to
sunset each day, all healthy adult Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sexual
activity. Through fasting Muslims seek nearness and forgiveness from Allah, atone for past
sins and are reminded of the struggles of the needy.
5. Hajj, pilgrimage. The annual pilgrimage to the holy city Makkah (Mecca) is a once in a
lifetime obligation for those who are physically and financially able to undergo it. While on
Hajj, the nine essential rites of wearing the ihram (unsewn cloth symbolizing the humility
and equality of all believers), walking around the Kaaba (sacred black shrine within the
2
, Grand Mosque), standing at the plain of Arafat, spending the night at Muzdalifa, throwing
stones at three symbols of Satan, sacrifice of an animal at Mina, repetition of walking around
the Kaaba, drinking of water from the well of Zamzam, and performance of two cycles of
prayer at the Station of Abraham must be completed. The penitence for failure to complete
any of the rites is stated in the Quran (2:196): “You shall observe the complete rites of Hajj
and `Umrah for Allah. If you are prevented, you shall send an offering, and do not resume
cutting your hair until your offering has reached its destination. If you are ill, or suffering a
head injury (and you must cut your hair), you shall expiate by fasting, or giving to charity, or
some other form of worship. During the normal Hajj, if you break the state of Ihram
(sanctity) between `Umrah and Hajj, you shall expiate by offering an animal sacrifice. If you
cannot afford it, you shall fast three days during Hajj and seven when you return home - this
completes ten -provided you do not live at the Sacred Masjid. You shall observe God, and
know that God is strict in enforcing retribution.”
Six Articles of Faith
The six articles of faith describe the core beliefs of Islam. They are as follows:
1. Belief in the Oneness of Allah
The most fundamental concept in Islam is its strict monotheism. The Quran describes Allah
as: “Say, He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is
He begotten; And there is none like unto Him” (Quran 112:1-4). Idolatry and polytheism is
rejected, which under Muslim interpretation includes doctrine such as the Holy Trinity of
Christianity. Allah is the sole creator and is beyond all comprehension. Thus, Allah is
described by certain attributes or names which total 99, including Al-Rahman (The
Compassionate) and Al-Rahīm (The Merciful).
2. Belief in the Angels
Muslims believe in Malaika, the unseen heavenly spirits of the divine world who worship
Allah and carry out His orders throughout the universe. Their duties include communicating
revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions, and taking a person's
soul at the time of death.
3. Belief in the Books
3
