Cultural Awareness

Islam

The main two tenets of Islam are:

1. Submission
2. Peace

Submission: Total submission to and acceptance of the One and Only God (Allah) and His will.

Peace: Inner peace (peace with oneself), peace with the Creator, as well as peace with all creations. It is through the total submission to the will of God that one reaches this form of peace. A Muslim is a person who believes in Allah as the One and Only God and in Muhammad as his last Prophet and Messenger.

Relationship between God and Human

1. Doctrine of Free Will

Humans are in a state of total submission (Islam) to the will of Allah. The difference between humans and other creations is that humans have been given the ability to choose. When minds submit to Allah, then the whole person has completely submitted to Allah. At this level of total and complete submission, the relationship between Allah and the human is one of a complete peace.

It is an Islamic characteristic to have complete obedience to Allah and acceptance of His will and commands. It is also an Islamic characteristic to acquire a unique feeling of satisfaction, fulfillment, and content as a result of this obedience and acceptance.

2. Direct Relationship between God and Man

The relationship between Allah and Man is a direct one, with no mediators. There is no other party that can help, give, take, support, provide, or grant forgiveness but Allah. Muslims do not associate any other deities with Allah. Faith in and submission to Allah must become complete and pure.

3. Sin and Forgiveness

All humans are born sinless. The individual is only responsible for the sins he commits intentionally. Recognizing human nature, Allah the Most Merciful, accepts Man’s sincere repentance and forgives our sins.

True belief and righteous deeds are two key elements for one to attain Allah's pleasure and satisfaction. It takes both elements to establish healthy individuals and healthy societies.

4. Service

Man is created to serve (worship) Allah. Allah has entrusted Man with the responsibility of being His deputies and representatives on this earth.

As He entrusted Man with the gift of life, Man’s physical being, wealth, family relationships, communities, environment, and the earth are intrinsic parts of Man’s responsibility to Allah. It is Man’s responsibility to care for and maintain that trust. Carrying on this responsibility is part of serving and worshipping Allah. It the sincerity of the Muslim's worship that gives it its effectiveness and usefulness.

Islam commands the worship of Allah as though Allah is visible to human eyes. Although the individual does not see Him, Allah sees the individual.

5. The Afterlife: Heaven and Hell

Muslims believe that life on this earth is only a transition period that precedes the latter life. Winning the latter life is the goal of every Muslim.
This is achieved through gaining Allah's satisfaction through believing in Him and following His commands and prescriptions. The reward for those who gain Allah's satisfaction and forgiveness is Heaven, and that for those who strayed is Hell.
Muslims are advised by Prophet Muhammad to work for this life as if we are living forever, and work for the latter life as if we are dying tomorrow. This saying highlights the balance that Muslims are to work towards achieving in their life on earth.

Islam as a Way of Life: The Islamic “Constitution”
Islam is a religion for both the individuals and the communities as the teachings of Islam do not separate religion from human affairs. Politics, economics, law, and all other aspects of human affairs are integrated into one system of worship to Allah.

Islam provides both the individual and the state with a comprehensive "constitution." Through this constitution, ethics, righteousness, legitimacy, correctness, and similar fundamentals are well defined and are not left to individuals to experiment with or differ about. Having been legislated by Allah, the Creator of this world, Muslims believe that the Islamic way of life is the most suitable one for us to follow.

The Islamic Family: Community as “extended family”
In an Islamic community, the family system is very strong. Family ties and closeness are not limited to the parents and the children; they extend to include all relatives of different degrees. Neighbors and friends play an important role in the family system. People do not interfere in each other's affairs; rather, counseling and advising within the Islamic frame constitute the basis of this closeness and relationship. As a result, the whole community, even the whole nation, becomes like one big family. With such attitude the elderly, the orphans, the disabled, or the needy (if there is any) do not face starvation, homelessness, or similar forms of suffering.

Care for the Elderly and Infirm
When members of the family, neighbors, or friend's circle grow old, they are looked upon as valuable members whom you can turn to for advice and council. When they get sick, or they lose their ability to care for themselves, they are surrounded by a younger and more able generation who take the responsibility of care for them. Care is provided with love and courtesy as to make them feel wanted. The belief within, that it is a phase of life that we will all experience, and that each has a responsibility and a role to play, highlights the spirit of this love and courtesy. No one feels that he is burdened by this older person and his needs.

Islam demands that children care for their aging parents. "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: My Lord, bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood." This is taken from the translation of the meaning of the Holy Qur'an, 17:23-24.

Muslim's view of Life

Muslims consider themselves on a mission in this earth, and they are committed to this mission by the belief in the Creator. It is the responsibility of all Muslims to care for life in all possible ways:

Physically by keeping our selves as well as others out of dangers, and by caring for health and fitness.
Spiritually by maintaining our faith. Worshipping Allah sincerely is guaranteed to purify the soul and to secure spiritual tranquility and satisfaction.

The Sacredness of Life
Islam has made human life sacred and has safeguarded its preservation. According to its teachings, aggression against human life is the second greatest sin in the sight of Allah, second only to denial of Him. The Qur'an declares, "..If anyone kills a person for any reason other than for (the killing of) a person or for sowing corruption in the land, it will be as if he had killed the whole of mankind." (5:32)
"It is not permissible for the Muslim to frighten his brother." The sin of murder is not limited to the murderer alone. Each individual who participated in this crime, by deed, or by word, will be the recipient of Allah's punishment in proportion to his share in it. Even a person who happened to be at the scene of the murder will receive a share of the sin for not defending the victim.

Enduring Hardships
The Islamic teachings require the Muslim to be resolute in facing hardships; he is not permitted to give up and to run away from the hardships of life when a tragedy befalls or some of his hopes are dashed. Indeed, the believer is created for striving, not for sitting idle; for combat, not for escape. His faith and character do not permit him to run away from the battlefield of life, and he possesses a weapon that never fails and ammunition that is never exhausted: the weapon of his unshakable faith and the ammunition of his moral steadfastness.
Man’s duration here on this earth is not for him to determine or control. A Muslim believes that he has neither right nor power to determine his nor any body else's time to die. All lives belong to the creator, and Man can neither shorten it nor prolong it. A person's life ends only when Allah decides for it to end.

Human Suffering
The Islamic creed states that:

Each Muslim must do his best to maintain life.
Doing one’s best in maintaining life is within the limits of knowledge and financial resources.
Each Muslim must ensure that whatever he does not introduce unbearable pain or suffering to another human.

If an affordable medical treatment is available, it must be administered to the patient provided it does not expose the patient to unusual pains and suffering. On the other hand, using devices or drugs aimed at ending a person's life is not allowed in Islam no matter how much the illness or the suffering is.

Emotional factors should not be used in making the treatment decision since belief in the Will and Mercy of Allah should provide the patient, his family, and his friends with the needed support. Muslims look upon such hardships as tests from Allah. Patience, persistence, and hope in Allah's Mercy not only are prescribed for the patient and his family and friends but also are better rewarded by Allah.

In summary, every Muslim is called to believe that every one will die only when Allah wills him to die.

Death Ritual
Upon death, the eye lids are to be closed, the body should be covered, and preparation for burial takes place as soon as possible. The whole body is washed and wrapped in a shroud. Muslims gather and a prayer is performed for the dead. The body is to buried soon after the prayer. The wrapped body is to be laid directly at the bottom of the dug grave. The body is to be laid on its right side facing the direction of Makkah. A ceiling is attached to the grave and then covered with dirt. The grave is to be marked by raising its top level of dirt above surrounding grounds. A stone may be used to mark its location, but no writings are allowed. Buildings or other forms of structures are not allowed on top of the grave.

The family of the dead has a responsibility to fulfill any debts he had as soon as possible. They have the commitment to maintain contacts and courteous relationships with close relatives and close friends. They frequently pray and supplicate for him. Charity, fasting, prayers, and pilgrimage is often performed on behalf of the dead. Visiting the graves is recommended for the living to remember death and the Day of Judgment.

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