Islam And Islamic Life-Cycle Rituals

    Islam is the second largest universal religion, with followers in all parts of the world. Islam is a monotheistic religion with its roots in Judaism and Christianity. Muslims believe in the biblical prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus, but they believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God and that his message is the final one. Although Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, they don't believe he was the son of God or that he was crucified. Islam cannot be separated from daily life and government, and so provides a framework for both secular and spiritual life. Prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and dietary requirements are some of the long-held customs of the Muslim faith. Muslims must pray five times a day, every day of their lives. At dawn each morning in Muslim communities, a muezzin (prayer announcer) enters the mosque (house of worship), climbs to the top of the minaret (tower), and usually with the help of loudspeakers and a public address system, calls the faithful to the first of the day's prayers.
      They are called, if not actually to enter a mosque, at least to take the time to pray wherever they are. In most Islamic countries, it is a common sight to see Muslims praying by the side of the road or in the street. On Fridays, the Muslims gather before noon at the mosque, and the prayer (JunTah) is led by an imam (religious leader). In the mosque, the prayer area for the men is completely separate from the section designated for the women and children. The mosque also serves as a community center where children and adults are schooled in the Koran (the Islamic holy book). In Muslim countries, the birth of a child is a joyous occasion. The birth of a boy is cause for a greater celebration than for the birth of a girl. When a boy grows up and marries, his wife and children become part of and strengthen his parents' extended family. Girls, however, leave their families and become part of their husband's clan when they marry. To welcome a newborn baby into the world, an imam whispers the call to prayer into its ear. Another auspicious and joyous ceremony is when the baby is named. Guests are invited to a celebration feast. Roasted lamb is the traditional food served at this ceremony and most other Muslim celebrations.
    The major event of a boy's life is his circumcision, which normally takes place sometime between the ages of 7 and 12. It is a religious requirement for male Muslims. This ritual requires no celebration except perhaps a family dinner. When a girl reaches puberty, she changes from the dress of a schoolgirl to the garments worn by women. From this time forward, she dons the veil (hijab, also called khimar) in public. The veiling signifies that she is now a woman and is ready for marriage. Each Muslim country has its own identifiable veiling and rules of dress for women. It is often possible to tell not only a woman's country but also what region she is from and her status in life by the veil she wears. Varying in style, some veils cover just the hair and neck and others leave only the eyes visible. Among the most devout Muslims, the veil completely covers not only a woman's head and face but it drapes down over her clothes to her ankles. Marriage rituals in most Muslim countries are basically similar, but some are very rigid, following Islamic law to the letter; others are a little more lenient. Most Muslim marriages are arranged by the parents, and because marriage is an agreement between families, a financial contract is drawn up to define the terms. The bride takes no part in the negotiations, nor does she see her husband until after they are married. The groom has to pay mahr, the bride's price, by giving the bride gold jewelry or other goods that are worth an agreed amount of money. In some countries, the bride's family, not the bride, receives the money from the groom. If a groom is wealthy, he gives both money to the family and jewelry to the bride. The religious part of a marriage is very private and is performed separately from the more public celebration. According to strict Islamic law, at no time are men and women allowed to be together in the same room for any part of the wedding celebration, or for any other occasion for that matter. The religious part of the marriage ceremony is quite simple and is conducted by someone learned in Shan ah (Islamic Law), usually the imam. In Islam, the imam is separated from the bride-to-be by a screen or closed door; he asks the bride if she will accept the prospective husband. If she agrees, the imam then goes to the groom and asks him, in the presence of four witnesses (they cannot be family members), if he will take the woman for his wife.
    His acceptance in front of witnesses makes the marriage valid, and then the imam officially records the contract. According to Islamic law, polygamy (a husband with more than one wife) is allowed. A man can have no more than four wives at a time, and even then, only if he can afford to treat them all equally; otherwise he must take fewer wives. The Hajj, the pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca, is the most important rite of passage in a Muslim man's life. Muslim men are obliged to make the pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime. The Hajj must be performed during a specific month. The Kaaba is the sanctuary in Mecca to which all Muslims turn in prayer. The Black Stone is a sacred object set in the eastern wall of the Kaaba. During the Hajj, the faithful try to kiss or touch the stone. The Koran associates Abraham and Ishmael with the building of the Kaaba. When a Muslim dies, the funeral is very simple, and the body must be buried within 24 hours. The placement of the grave is important because the body must face Mecca. The body is washed and wrapped in a white cotton shroud. Muslims are not buried in coffins; a plank is placed at the bottom of the grave, and the body is laid on top of it. The face is covered with a cloth before the body is lowered into the ground. Men carry the body on a stretcher, or, in the case of a young child, the father carries the body in his arms. Male relatives sprinkle the grave with earth before it is completely covered.
    The final prayers are said for the deceased at the cemetery. Muslim graves have no elaborate headstones. Only a small stone or marker is placed at the head and foot of the grave. Muslim women do not accompany the body to the burial ground because it is not considered appropriate for them, as bearers of life, to visit a place of death. It is the custom for friends and relatives to bring food for the immediate family for three days after the burial, and in turn, the guests are offered coffee (but no food). Honey or dishes made with honey are often eaten after funerals. Muslims believe eating honey is soothing to the soul and eases the mental anguish associated with death. A widower has no required mourning period, but a widow must go into seclusion for several months after the death of her husband.