SSE Group 3 Blog

"Like the in breath and the out breath," she says, "you gather the light and give it out. That's just the way it works."

Wings of Love

Love in action. We've all heard the clich� a million times but there's something about the way Nancy Rivard says it, that it reverberates in your heart for days to come. Maybe it's because she actually walks the walk and speaks with the confidence of experience; maybe it's because there is an uncanny sincerity in her demeanor; or perhaps it's impossible to pinpoint one particular reason.

Whatever the case, if you spend an evening with this World Woman of Peace (1999), you get a flavor of that infectious enthusiasm, a love affair with humanity that fills Nancy's heart and surrounds her

Discover The Love

On Christmas Eve 1983, Nancy Rivard suddenly lost her father to bladder cancer. "I wondered what life was about that it could be taken from us like that," she recalled. "I began to evaluate where I was going." Nancy purposely got herself demoted from the management track at American Airlines and went to work as a flight attendant. With low-cost travel passes and a flexible schedule, she toured around the world, searching for a calling -- for healing.

As a child, Nancy would write letters to "God" and submit them to her messenger -- the wind. Perhaps her father's untimely death provided the answer to her incessant question -- what is the deeper purpose of my life? In pursuit of understanding life and death, Nancy's travels took her to exotic places and provided incredible experiences and insights. She lived with the Hopi Indians, adopted a girl in Sri Lanka who was later killed, encountered healers in the Philippines, met with spiritual teachers in Thailand, Africa, India, Russia and the list goes on an on. But she kept on learning and re-learning the same answer. "Stop looking outside for teachers and answers. Look within, find yourselves in service and discover the love that is aldready within you," she says.

Power of One

Looking for a way that she could use her job as a flight attendant to serve the world, Nancy Rivard thought of an idea: volunteers could deliver medical supplies, school materials and plain old love to needy children in the United States and abroad, travelling at the same low fares airline employees receive. "I knew that if I could expose people to the types of helping experiences I'd had, they would find the same joy and fulfillment," she says. Nancy wanted to share the love she was so vividly experiencing. Excited about her proposals, she took 'em to upper management at American Airlines, where she was working. But all her attempts were in vain.

"To get rejected again and again was very tough," Nancy recalls. "I wanted to share love and awaken humanity to a higher connection with life but I didn't know how." But then she got yet another powerful message from a spiritual teacher -- think small, change yourself, know the power of one. So she did just that. Nancy began collecting sample-size hotel soaps and shampoos from her co-workers and delivering them to Bosnian refugees. The recipients were so grateful, they had tears of thankfulness and joy in their eyes. Following her first trip, two other flight attendants joined.

Today, Airline Ambassadors delivers close to $10 million in goods with the help of 4000 volunteers and less than 5% overhead! Nancy often tells friends, "When you do good work, doors keep opening."

It's simple: love in action

If you're really tuned in, Nancy's riveting stories coupled with an electrifying presence can just blow you off your seat. I mean, who has experienced instantaneous hurriances when they open their arms to the sky and ask for help? How many people have witnessed first-hand, mind-shattering miracles where the only thing you can

Art by David Delany

But you see, that's the thing about Nancy. Despite all her escapades, experiences and endeavors, she comes down to one basic thing: love in action. It's that simple. Everything comes down to that. "The extra-ordinary lies in the ordinary," she says with confidence. While she used to travel the world seeking answers, she now looks to each present moment.

"Each moment contains everything you ever need to know. If you're confused, it's simply because you don't have enough information," Nancy notes, "Just stay with it for a while and it'll clear up." And per Nancy's experience, when that confusion clears up, you naturally arrive at service to all. While before you might've thought of cleaning up your life and then doing service, now you realize that your personal life works itself out when you are focused on giving unconditional love in each moment. The tomorrow you were waiting for has never come and never will. Start now.

Experiencing The Thunder

On paper, one could rant and rave about the work that Nancy has inspired, about how she was on the back cover of Reader's Digest, is a World Woman of Peace, a Rotary fellow, an Ambassador for Peace and so on, but to know her is to really to meet her, to share her presence, and to hear the thunder of love behind her voice.

After searching for life's deeper meanings in all corners of the world, after meeting numerous sages and saints, after experiencing inexplicable phenomena, after all the mundane trials and tribulations, Nancy came to an understanding: she saw that the extra-ordinary lies in the ordinary, that joy comes in service, and that the potential of love resides in each action, every moment.

So when she says "love in action", it's no longer a cliche. It's an experience.

# posted by Babu : 7:42 AM  1 comments

“ Listen to the primeval Pranava AUM resounding in your heart as well in the

heart of the Universe. ” - BABA -

INTRODUCTION TO HINDUISM

A highly developed civilisation flourished in the Indus Valley, around the sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, about 2000 B.C. . In 1500 B.C., India was invaded by the Indo-Aryan tribe who settled in Punjab, bringing with them their religion. By 900 B.C. the use of iron allowed the Indo-Aryans to move down to the lush Ganges Valleys, where they developed a far more elaborate civilisation and system where Hinduism could grow and develop. During the Gupta Period about 320-480 B.C., Hinduism became more consistent. The sacred Hindu laws were coded; the great Hindu temples were being built and the rituals of prayer were written and recorded in sacred texts.

Hinduism is the religion that originated in India and is still practised by most of its inhabitants. It is a major world religion which began in 1500 B.C. . The word Hindu is derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu meaning river, more specifically, the Indus River. The Hindus are those who follow Dharma, or the way of the four classes; which are known as Varnas, and the four stages of life, which are Ashramas.

The myths of Hinduism survive not only in the Temples of India but reside in the Hindu ancient scriptures. Hinduism continues to serve a vital function, by giving passionate meaning and supportive form to the lives of Hindus today.

THE SCRIPTURES OF HINDUISM

The Hindus believe that the various God’s words, and stories depicting their lives are recorded in scriptures such as the Vedas. These are the oldest scriptures in India's history. The Puranas are another collection of sacred scriptures, which discuss the Hindu philosophy. The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are epics which tell of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama's lives respectively. The Mahabharata tells of the war between the Pandava brothers led by Lord Krishna, and their cousins the Kauravas. The Ramayana depicts the story of Lord Rama and his journey to recapture his wife Sita, after she was taken by the demon Ravana. These stories are filled with other small tales and discourses on the topics of law, geography, political science, and astronomy, all from the Hindu perspective.

THE MANY GODS OF HINDUISM

Most Hindus are believers of the Gods : Lord Brahma known as The Creator, Lord Vishnu known as The Preserver, and Lord Shiva known as The Destroyer, who are together known as the Hindu Triad. But there were other Avatars, or Gods come to earth in human form. Among them are : The dwarf Vamana, who thought that he could trick the demon Bali out of the Universe. The man-lion Narasimha, who destroyed the demon Hiranyakashipu. The Avatar known in the scriptures as Kalki, has yet to come. This Avatar is known as the one who will come to destroy the universe at the end of this Age of Kali. Of all the Avatars in Hinduism, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, both the incarnation of the Lord Vishnu, are perhaps the most popularly followed among the Hindus.

TEACHINGS OF HINDUISM

PERIODS IN TIME - Yugas

The Hindus believe that time is ever changing, going from the first Yuga; the Golden Age, referred to as the Kritha Yuga, to the last and present age, which is the Age of Distruction, referred to as the Kali Yuga. It is said that after each Yuga, the earth is destroyed by fire and flood, and a new Yuga evolves.

REINCARNATION - Samsara

The Hindus believe that after death the soul leaves the body and is reborn in a body of another person, an animal, a vegetable, or a mineral. This process of reincarnation is called Samsara. Reincarnation is said to be determined by all the good and bad actions which were committed in the previous life by an individual. These actions are defined by the Hindus as Karma.

FOUR STAGES OF LIFE - Ashramas

According to Hinduism life has four stages. The three original stages are the student or Brahmachari, the householder or Grihastha, and the forest-dweller or Vanaprastha. During the sixth century another stage was added : The renouncer or Sannyasi, whose aim is, to get rid of goals and debts from the other stages, and then release themselves to God.

THE ETERNAL DUTY - Sanatana Dharma

The most important doctrine of Sanatana Dharma for all Hindus, is Ahimsa or Non-Violence, which is used to justify the common Hindu practice of vegetarianism. The other four doctrines are Sathya or Truth, Dharma or Righteousness, Shanti or Peace, and the final doctrine, Prema or Love. These are also the doctrines which Sri Sathya Sai Baba the present Avatar, expects his devotees to abide by.

FESTIVALS OF HINDUISM

Hindu festivals are colourful and happy occasions. They encourage the continuance of religious traditions and enable Hindu children to learn about the various Gods to whom the festivals are dedicated. Dewali, is the Festival of Lights, which takes place in the early winter, and Holi is the spring carnival, when members of all castes mingle and sprinkle one another with bright colours of red and orange powder. Janama - Ashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna. This takes place at midnight on the eighteenth day of the fifth month according to the Hindu calendar. Another important Hindu festival is Shivarathri. Worship is offered to Lord Shiva between midnight and sunrise (a twenty-four hour period), by repeating the many names of Lord Shiva and placing flowers and milk on the Lingam, which is a form representing Lord Shiva.

PRAYER & HINDUISM

In daily ritual, a Hindu gives offerings of fruits and flowers when doing Puja, a form of prayer. A Hindu will have a small altar in the house with statues of the various forms of God. Many villages and towns in India have Temples, which are the places of worship for Hindus, where Priests perform ceremonies throughout the day. When the sun arises certain prayers are read to awaken the Gods. The statues in the Temples are bathed, clothed and fanned and then offered food. The distribution of this food called Prasad takes place afterwards. The Temple is also a cultural centre where songs are sung, holy texts are read aloud, and sunset and sunrise rituals are performed.

THE CEREMONIES OF LIFE IN HINDUISM

There are general ceremonies that a Hindu would follow in life. First a child is born, and when it starts eating solid food a ceremony is performed. Two important gender related ceremonies are next. The first hair-cut given to a baby boy, and the purification of the first menstruation for a girl. For Hindu women the marriage ceremony along with the blessings upon a pregnancy are both very important as well. The last ceremony for any Hindu, is the funeral ceremony. This ceremony involves cremation of the body and, if possible, the sprinkling of ashes in a holy river in India such as the Ganges, and the yearly offerings to dead ancestors by the remaining family members of the deceased.

# posted by Babu : 8:32 AM  1 comments

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM

Judaism is one of the oldest existing religions in the world. It is a Monotheistic religion; in which God is The Creator and the source of all righteousness. The Hebrew Bible teaches that there is only one God. All Jews are said to be descendants of the sons of the Patriarch Jacob, known as The Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Over time Judaism retained its core belief in the nature, and the unity of God, and in the return to the land of Israel from which they were ejected by the romans two thousand years ago. For most of their modern history they have lived as a minority in a majority Christian or Muslim society, depending on the good will of the majority, to survive and thrive as a people. Often they were excluded form the political and economic mainstream because they were not allowed to own land or take up a craft or attend university. The Jewish were frequently persecuted for not accepting the majority religious beliefs of neighbours.

The Jewish community in canada today, consists of approximately three hundred -thousand people with the majority living in Toronto and Montreal.

The Rabbi and the Cantor are hired by the individual Synagogue or Temple and often stay in that community for their whole professional career. There is no strong, central, overriding authority in the Jewish community. In all Synagogues the conduct of the service is the responsibility of the whole congregation and every member may lead the service. The Cantor and Rabbi may be assigned to prominent portions of this task but rare is the service where some members do not come to the platform to assume ritual functions. Their presence symbolises the most important aspect of Jewish worship; it knows of no Ministers in the Christian sense, it is essentially worship by the congregation

Although the two names for place of worship for the Jewish, are often used interchangeably, the difference between Synagogues and Temples centres around the varying emphasis on the place of traditional ritual and practice in the daily life of the Jewish. There are four distinct approaches, or sects of Judaism :

1. Orthodox - most traditional

2. Conservative - modern traditional

3. Reform - stresses the prophetic call to moral action tradition

4. Reconstructionist - reinterprets Judaism as an evolving religious civilisation.

There are two main cultural and historical streams of Judaism as well. One is European or Ashkenazic Jewry. The other is Asian North African of Sephardic Jewry.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The Ten Commandments are the basis of Judaism. They are the laws God gave to the Prophet Moses to give to his people. The sanctity of the laws is the core of the Jewish religion. God is the judge and any trespass against the law is punished. The Ten Commandments are written as follows :

1. I am the Lord, Thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the

house of bondage.

2. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Thou shalt not make any graven image

or likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or

is in the water beneath the earth.

3. Show mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep my commandments.

4. Thou shalt not take the name of the lord, thy God, in vain.

5. Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it as the lord, thy God, hath commanded thee.

Six days thou shalt labour and do all the work. The seventh day is the Sabbath of

the Lord, thy God. (REST DAY FOR ALL)

6. Honour thy father and thy mother as the Lord thy God has commanded thee so

that thy days may be prolonged.

7. Thou shalt not kill.

8. Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

9. Neither shalt thou steal.

10. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbours. Neither shalt thou

desire thy neighbour’s possessions.

SCRIPTURES & TEACHINGS OF JUDAISM

The Jewish people believe in :

1. The Advent of the Messiah or Saviour.

2. The idea of “Chosen People” entrusted to carry out the “Covenant with God”.

3. The Laws contained in the torah, which is Judaism’s Revealed Will of God.

4. The concept that all people are made in the “Image of God”.

Among the holy books of Judaism the Torah is sacred. It was compiled embodying the Jewish Laws and Disciplines. Later it was further enlarged in the book of Talmud.

Kosher Food

Keeping Kosher is another daily aspect of Judaism. People of the Judaism faith have been instructed in the Torah about which foods they are, and are not allowed to eat, and how to prepare them. The Jewish do not eat meat and milk together in one meal. They eat only certain kinds of meat that are ceremonially slaughtered and prepared a certain way. The only seafood they can eat, is fish with fins and scales. A meal that has meat as its main course will not include butter with the bread or milk with the coffee.

Kosher signifies primarily, “ceremonially cleaned” when applied to food. Meat is Kosher when it comes from a limited group of four legged animals. Birds and fish which may not exhibit certain blemishes, and which have to be prepared in a special way. Quadruped mammals are permitted if they chew the cud and have cleft hooves. This excludes rabbits; because they do not chew cud, or horse; which have single hooves. Camel flesh is prohibited, and so is the pig. Also the reptiles, amphibians, and sea creatures; like oysters, crabs and shrimp are prohibited. Birds are generally allowed, except for a specific biblical list of predators, and those that eat the flesh of dead animals. Most important of these is the prohibition about eating milk and meat products at the same meal. Tradition bases this on the thrice repeated biblical injunction : “Do not boil a kid in its mothers milk”, so there is no butter on the table when steak is served and no ice-cream for dessert unless the meal was all comprised of dairy products.

What is the purpose of keeping Kosher? Some hygienic advantages have long been apparent for instance the Jews abstinence form pork saved him from the ill effects of Trichinosis. The Jew observes Kosher because he takes it to be the Will of God, or because it forms an important religious discipline, and recall to him during the act of eating, that he is a spiritual being who must feed not only his body, but also his soul.

FESTIVALS OF JUDAISM

The Yomin Noraim also referred to as the Days of Awe, are the ten days of penance, when each person of the Jewish faith is called upon to reassess the values of life, and to consider how its quality may in improved. They begin with Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year and close with the Day of Atonement.

On Rosh Hashanah the individual is judged, and on Yom Kippur the judgement is sealed. During the entire month of Elul, which precedes the Jewish New Year, there are Ticyhinto and Pizmonim performed. These are special repentant prayers of soul searching, and of seeking forgiveness from man and from God. The keynote of this period is its feeling of solemn redemption, yet it is mixed with a spirit of quiet confidence, in which man places his trust in God. At the end of the services of Yom Kippur, as soon as the fast is broken, the Orthodox Jew immediately sets out to construct his Sukah. A Sukah is a beautiful rectangular tent constructed in the back yard. It is adorned with leaves and fruit and the family partake their dinners inside the Sukah for nine days.

The Rosh Hashanah meal consist of a Chalah, which is bread in the form of a wheel; to symbolise the wheel of life, and sometimes in the form of a ladder; to represent men climbing and descending in life. A slice of Chalah is then dipped in honey as a hope for sweet year to come. Many people eat fish at the meal to symbolise that there good deeds for the year may be plenty as the fish in the sea.

Each week ends with the celebration of Sabbath which begins on Friday night and continues through to Saturday night. The Jewish organise their week around this holiday and prepare their best meals for the celebration. After synagogue services they invite friends home for company and relaxation.

The yearly “clock” of the Jewish community revolves around the Autumn celebration of the Jewish New Year and the spring celebration of Passover. These holidays are also times for the extended family to gather for meals and visits. The major rituals of most holidays take place at home. The Jewish mark the onset of holidays by lighting ritual candles at home in the evening because for Jews each day begins at sunset of the previous evening.

PRAYER AND JUDAISM

The traditional Saturday morning services at Synagogue lasts about three hours. Men dress in suits and ties and women wear dresses. Men are expected to cover their heads with a skull cap that is readily available outside the sanctuary. The holy ark is the focal point of every place of Jewish worship. A simple curtain or a lavish gate may guard the contents of the Holy Ark. Within rests the scrolls of the Torah, hand-written copies of the Five Books of Moses, lovingly penned by devoted scribes each copy like the rest to the last letter and the last space. And the near the Holy Ark will burn the Eternal Light, a symbol of man’s faithfulness and God’s watchful sign of the everlasting covenant in which the people of Israel believe themselves to be bound to the God of their fathers who is the “Father of All Men”. Some people sit quietly or leave during the service if necessary. In each Sabbath service, the prayers are written in Hebrew with translations provided. There is reading from the first five books of the Torah and another reading from the Book of Prophets of Kings.

PRAYER bEFORE mEAL tAKING

Blessed is the Lord our God, Ruler of the universe whose goodness sustains the world. The god of grace, love, and compassion, is the source of food for all who live for Gods love, is everlasting. Through Gods great goodness we do not lack and will not ever lack. God is in the goodness that sustains and nourishes all, providing food enough for every living being. Blessed is the Lord, Source of food for all who live.

MORNING pRAYER

Blessed is the Eternal our God, who has awakened me to the new day, made me a Jew, called me to be free, and formed me in the Divine Image. Blessed is the one who opens the eyes of the blind, who provides clothes for the naked, who brings freedom the captive, and whose power lifts up the fallen. Blessed is the Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who removes sleep from the eyes, slumber from the eyelids. Help me Lord to be awake to Beauty and love, aware that all being is precious, that we walk on holy ground wherever we go.

EVENING pRAYER

Lord your touch unseen brings sleep upon my eyes, you make my lids grow heavy with the night. Grant that I may lie down in peace, and rise up to life renewed. Let your majesty and beauty be in my thoughts at the end of the day, and the moment of awakening. Lord Guardian of you neither slumber nor sleep. Blessed are you by day, and blessed by night, blessed when we lie down, blessed when we rise up. For in your hands are the souls of all the living, and spirits of all flesh. May angels wings caress me all through the night, let your good presence hover at my side. Lord spread the shelter of Your peace upon me, my dear ones and all Your children.

Life Cycle Events In JUDAISM

The celebration of life cycle events for Judaism is also built around the shared belief that they are part of the biblical Jewish community. A Jew is born to a Jewish mother or a person who converted to Judaism. When children reach the age of religious majority they are called to say the blessing and read from the Torah in Hebrew. A Bar Mitzvah is held only for thirteen year old boys and a Bat Mitzvah is held for twelve year old girls. The children read a segment of the Torah and there is usually a celebration after the service for family and friends.

The next event in the life cycle of the Jews is marriage. In a Jewish marriage the bride receives a contract which is her official record of the marriage and grooms obligations to her in the event of divorce.

In Judaism there are rituals and traditions around death, burial and mourning that are designed to honour the life of the deceased, and to comfort and support the bereaved. The Jewish try to bury the dead within twenty four hours of death. The family sits in mourning for seven days, in honour of the deceased. The Jewish do not send flowers but do prepare meals for the family in mourning. When this part of the mourning cycle is completed the family members attend regular morning and evening services at their Synagogue.

# posted by Babu : 8:30 AM  0 comments

“Be like the Star which never wavers from the Crescent and is ever fixed in steady faith.” - BABA -

INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

The Islamic religion is the youngest of man’s great religions. The birthplace of this faith was Arabia. The word Islam means submission, and a Muslim is one who submits to the Will of God. For Islam the individual is not so much the image of God as the representative of God in creation. In the world today there are an estimated 860 million Muslims.

Belief in one God, Allah is the cornerstone of Islam. Islam’s purpose from the outset has been to uphold the Oneness of God. Muslims regard their holy book, the Qur’an, as the final, unchanged word of God. However, they also believe that the Jewish Torah and Psalms and the Christian Gospels are important too, being God’s Revealed Word.

Muslims, believe in eighteen Old Testament Jewish Prophets and in John the Baptist and Jesus, and honour them as genuine Messengers of God. They do not follow Christians in believing that Jesus is the Son of God. There is also a belief in various classes of angels, who rank below the Prophets and above humankind. Their duties include guarding the gates of hell and recording the thoughts and actions of every individual while on earth.

Muslims believe in five basic observances, called the Five Pillars of Islam. They are :1) Islamic Profession of Faith, 2) Prayer, 3) Almsgiving, 4) Fasting, 5) Pilgrimage. In addition to the Five Pillars, there is Jihad or striving in the path of God. This is not simply, or even primarily Holy War against infidels. It can take on many forms including learning, good works, and self control. Jihad as Holy War is not a Pillar of Islam because it is a duty imposed on the community as a whole, not on every individual.

Islam has not escaped a fate common to all religions : sectarian divisions. Although there are numerous sub-sects, the two main branches of Islam are the Sunni and the Shi’ite. They split over the question of the line of succession from Prophet Mohammed. The Sunni, by far the major and the Orthodox branch of Islam, recognise the first four Caliphs as true successors of Prophet Mohammed. Which were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. The Shi’ite, a minority group which represents the Liberal branch of Islam and is mainly concentrated in Iran and India, disregard the first three Caliphs who were not related to Prophet Mohammed, uphold family succession only and regard Ali (son-in-law and cousin of Prophet Mohammed) and his successors as divinely ordained Caliphs. A Shi’ite sub-group, known as the Twelvers, recognises twelve Imams or religious leaders since the death of the Prophet Mohammed. The members of this sect believe that there is yet one more Imam to come who may appear at any time to conquer the world and usher in justice and righteousness.

From architecture to literature and law, traditional Muslim culture has been a seamless whole.

THE LIFE & MISSION OF MOHAMMED

Mohammed ibn Abdullah was born in Mecca into the tribe of Quraish. His father died a few days before His birth. His mother died when He was six years old. His grandfather who took care of Him after his parents passed away, also died three years later. So at the age of nine, His uncle Abu Talib was entrusted with Mohammed’s care.

As a young man, Mohammed conducted business in the trade caravans of Mecca. At the age of twenty-five Mohammed entered the services of a wealthy widow named Khadijah. Their relationship flourished to a point where they finally wed. This union gave Mohammed freedom from economic burdens and a chance at pursuing his spiritual pursuits. However, Mohammed’s full ministry did not begin until fifteen years after he was wed to Khadijah.

Often Mohammed would wander off into the hills and caves outside Mecca, to seek solitude for his meditation. It was on one such outing, that Mohammed received instructions from the Archangel Gabriel to begin preaching in the name of Allah. Upon receiving instructions, the now Prophet Mohammed was fired by an overwhelming desire to proclaim his revelations to his countrymen. When preaching Prophet Mohammed focused on three main points. They were : 1) The Oneness of Allah, 2) The Moral Responsibility of Man Towards Allah, and 3) The Judgement Day of Humanity. Prophet Mohammed also stressed constantly that he was not divine, but merely chosen to be a spokesman of Allah.

Despite all kinds of opposition, Prophet Mohammed proceeded to preach against Idolatry and called men to recognise the worship of Allah only. Prophet Mohammed claimed for Allah the attribute of being God. Allah was not a God, or even the greatest of Gods; Allah was what his name literally claimed : The One and Only God Without Rival.

As Prophet Mohammed’s fame spread, so did the opposition of what he was preaching. A delegation from Yathrib, later renamed Madina, offered Prophet Mohammed protection in return for his mediation skills to calm tribal feuds. So, Prophet Mohammed and some of his disciples fled on September 24, 622 A.D. This migration is known in Arabic as the Hegira and is the year from which all Muslim calendars are dated.

Although the people of Medina were more interested in a political figure than in a religious leader, Prophet Mohammed won over the people to his faith. He became the city’s political chief as well as religious leader. Thus, under his direction, civil and religious authority were fused. For the next ten years, until his death, Prophet Mohammed struggled to unite his countrymen into a coherent politico-religious group; and he succeeded! At the time of his death in 632 A.D. virtually all of Arabia was under his control. No other Arab had ever succeeded in uniting his countrymen as Prophet Mohammed had.

THE FIVE PILLARS IN ISLAM

1. CREED - Shahadah

The Creed or Islamic Profession of Faith is : La ilaha illa’llah muhammadun rasulu’llah. When translated reads : There is no other God but Allah and Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah. This Creed is recited once a week in a formal service, but many times a day by countless devoted Muslims as they go about their work. Five times a day, a similar, though somewhat longer formula, is proclaimed by the Muezzin. A Muezzin is one who calls people to prayer from the tower or Minaret of the Mosque, the Islamic place of worship.

2. PRAYER - Salat

A faithful Muslim is to show his gratitude to Allah through prayer five times a day. The periods during the day at which a Muslim must pray are : at daybreak, at noon, in mid-afternoon, after sunset, and before retiring to bed. Of course, Muslims are supposed to go to the Mosque; but if that is not possible, then it does not matter where the religious duty is performed, as long as it is observed.

Prior to praying, a Muslim must follow a certain bathing ritual. This ritual requires the individual to wash head, hands, and feet with water. If no water is available, then the individual must wipe hands and face with fine, clean sand. Upon completion of this bathing ritual, the individual spreads a prayer mat on the ground facing Mecca, and kneels to pray. Regardless of the spoken language of the individual, prayer is recited in Arabic. Naturally, this schedule is not absolutely binding during times of sickness and travelling. Under such circumstances the Qur’an recognises the difficulties and hence prescribes a more relaxed ritual. One day during the week is set aside for public prayer. Every Friday noon, all Muslims join together in the Mosque and its surrounding area for communal prayer. There are no images of any kind in the Mosque; no paintings or pictorial windows, for Muslims dislike such representations. Instead, many Qur’anic verses are written on the walls in Arabic. There are no seats or pews in the Mosque, simply because everyone must spread his carpet for prayer. Qur’anic texts are chanted and the service lasts half an hour.

3. ALMSGIVING - Zakat

Together with prayer the Qur’an stresses the giving of alms as the outward sign of true piety. In the early years of the Islamic religion, almsgiving was a free-will offering, but what began as a voluntary act of charity soon evolved into an obligatory tax, the Zakat. The money collected in this way was used for the care of the poor, the building and support of Mosques, and at one time during the great Islamic Empire, for expenses incurred in the administration of the empire. Naturally, with the disruption of the empire, the Zakat has become a voluntary gift once more. Many devout Muslims regard it as a loan made to God, which He will repay many-fold.

4. FASTING - Sawm

The most carefully observed of all Muslim religious duties is to fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim calendar which is the month in which Prophet Mohammed is supposed to have received his first revelations. In order to commemorate this occasion, the faithful are commanded to fast, without anything to eat or drink, from dawn till sunset for this whole month. However, since it is a month in a lunar calendar, Ramadan rotates around the year. When Ramadan falls in the winter months, a religious fast does not seem too demanding, but during the summer months, and in hot countries especially, this duty becomes particularly rigorous.

5. PILGRIMAGE - Hajj

No religious ritual has done more to unite the Muslims than the rite of pilgrimage. Every true Muslim must make a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca at least once in his lifetime. Each year and during the same period each year, thousands of Muslims, from all walks of life and of different colour, race or nationality meet on common ground and realise their equality before Allah. Before entering the holy precincts, all pilgrims wear white seamless garment and abstain from shaving or cutting hair. However simply visiting Mecca is not enough. Three main rituals and various other duties are prescribed :

Before entering the very large open-air centre, where the Ka’aba the sacred cube shaped shrine in Mecca, is located, pilgrims stop to perform their ablutions, put on the white seamless garment, remove their footwear, and approach the Ka’aba barefoot. Then they walk counter-clockwise around the Ka’aba seven times; three times quickly and four times slowly. On each round they either kiss or touch the Southeast corner of the Ka’aba where the Black Stone is located. Next, pilgrims walk quickly seven times between two points five hundred yards apart. This is done in a valley between two mounds referred to as Safa and Marwa. The climactic ritual is a march to the Mount of Mercy, in the Plain of Arafat, fifteen miles East of Mecca. This ceremony is a day’s journey on foot but many stop to rest at the Sanctuary of Mina, the half-way point. All pilgrims must however arrive the next morning at the Mount of Mercy. Once there, pilgrims stand before Allah from noon to sunset, absorbed in pious meditation. The night is then spent in the open. The following morning, pilgrims return to Mina, where they follow animal sacrifices and three days of feasting. A final round of the Ka’aba back in Mecca, and the discarding of the seamless garment completes the pilgrimage. The pilgrim is now permitted to assume the special title of Hajj, or : One Who Has Made Pilgrimage to the Holy City, which is Mecca.

TEACHINGS OF ISLAM

Allah : The Only God : Tauhid

Allah is regarded as Creator, Provider, and Determiner of Man’s Destiny by Muslims. He is the Lord of the Universe, the Only One that should be worshipped. It is impossible for Allah to have a body because that would limit Him, and Allah is infinite. Allah has no parents, no children and no partners : no one can share in His being, His power or his personality. Allah has created everything and everyone but there was nothing and no one to create Him.

Islam’s Holy Law : Shari’a

Muslims believe that the Shari’a, the Law of Islam, sets out a divinely ordained way of living. This is because it derives primarily from the Holy Book of the Qur’an and then from sound tradition, or Hadith, a body of literature consisting of the sayings and practices of Prophet Mohammed, his companions, and other notable Muslims. Islamic Law differs from Western law in that it is, in principle, immutable. It regulates how Muslims relate to the state and their fellow citizens and also determines their conscience and relationship with God. Because the Qur’an and Hadith are applied to particular situations, law rather than theology is the most important area of Islamic scholarship. As a result, Islamic Jurisprudence displays great diversity.

Life After Death : Akhirah

Belief in Akhirah is definite in Islam and vital for all Muslims. The life we have now is a preparation for eternal life after death. The things we do; only have meaning if good is rewarded and bad punished. Muslims believe that there will be a Day of Judgement - Yawmuddin - in the Court of Justice of Almighty Allah.

Universal Islam Philosophy : Sufism

Sufism is Islam’s Universal Philosophy. Its message of Suh-i-kul, meaning Peace With All, has endeared it to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It appeals to all Muslim sects and social classes. Sufis see the unity of God, Tauhid, in everything and everyone. Sufism has acquired distinctly un-Islamic practices, its origin is unimpeachable, tracing back to Prophet Mohammed himself. The Sufi must first master the Shariah, the True Path of Islam, before venturing on to the Tariqah, the Sufi Way.

FESTIVALS OF ISLAM

The two most important festivals of the Islamic year are the Hari Raya Haji, also called Eid-ul-Adhar, which marks the successful conclusion of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The highlight of the event is the sacrifice of lambs, an enactment of the sacrifice made by the Prophet Abraham who, at the last moment, was instructed to replace the lamb for his son, Ismail in sacrifice to Allah. The meat from this sacrifice is distributed to the poor and deserving. Hari Raya Puasa, also known as Eid-ul-Fitr, marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Hari Raya Puasa, is celebrated for the whole month of Syawal. The day begins with congregational prayers in the morning, unlike normal Friday prayers held in the afternoons. And no celebration is complete without food. Dishes like Ketupat, which is rice cooked in packets of coconut leaves, and Rendang, which is a spicy beef dish, are specially prepared for this occasion. On both occasions the day starts with mass prayers in the Mosques, followed by the provision of cakes and sweet meats in the homes. During Hari Raya Puasa everyone wears new clothes, and the home itself is decorated and cleaned. Visiting other houses also takes place on a large scale. A moving part of Hari Raya Puasa is when, on return from the Mosque, the children formally approach their parents and ask their forgiveness for their sins and omissions during the previous year. Another practice associated with Hari Raya Puasa but perhaps not of Islamic origin, is that of putting up lights around the house for the seven days preceding the festival known as the Malam Tujuh Likur, the lights are there to welcome the angels who, so it is said, visit earth during this period. These displays of lights are very attractive, particularly in certain districts, and in Kuala Kangsar they provide the basis for a competition of the best display every year.

Hari Raya Haji is a much quieter occasion. Of course the fasting month itself, though not a festive occasion, is of very great significance in the life of a Muslim and is marked by a number of religious observances including special prayers, called Sembahyang Tarawih, at night in the Mosques.

MORE IMPORTANT FESTIVALS OF ISLAM

Maulud Nabi : The birthday of the Prophet Mohammed is marked by special prayers and lectures in the Mosques. "Birthday parties" are also normally held for orphans and underprivileged children.

Awal Muharram : The start of the Islamic New Year, also known as Maal Hijrah.

Israk and Mikraj : Commemorating the night journey of the Prophet Mohammed and his ascension, is normally marked by public lectures.

Nuzul Quran : This festival commemorates the first revelation of the Al-Quran to the Prophet Mohammed. It takes place during the holy month of Ramadan.

THE QUR’AN : SCRIPTURES OF ISLAM

The Holy Book of Islam is the Qur’an also spelled Koran, a word frequently translated as, “to recite”. Prophet Mohammed believed the revelations contained within the book came from a well-guarded tablet concealed in heaven. For Muslims, the Qur’an is the completion of God’s Message to humankind and the culmination of all previous sacred scriptures. The Qur’an is one of the main sources of the comprehensive system of Islamic Law. Although the revelation were given to Prophet Mohammed at intervals, Muslims believe that the Qur’an is a holy book which contains all that has happened and will happen in the universe

The Qur’anic Revelations, which may not be altered by anyone, are written in the Arabic language, and copies of the book may only be touched by the ceremoniously pure. The book is divided into 114 chapters, or Suras according to length, the longer chapters were placed first. The Qur’an addresses the central Concerns of Islam : The Oneness of God; The Need to Obey God; God’s part in history : from creation to the end of the world; and Judgement and the After Life.

Although they exist in complete form in the heavenly book, the revelations were communicated to Prophet Mohammed in Mecca and some in Medina. Since Prophet Mohammed received revelations throughout his life, the Qur’an was not finalised by the time of his death. This led to disputes among his followers.

According to tradition, Caliph Abu Bakr began the process of collating the various revelations and having them written down, and this task continued under his successor Caliph Umar. However, what emerged were several divergent versions, and it was left to Caliph Uthman to rule on which were authentic. Copies of the authorised version, were then made, and one was kept in Medina and others sent to Mecca, Kufa, Basra, and Baghdad.

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