Religious Traditions Worksheet

University of Phoenix Material

Islam Worksheet

When studying Islam, it is important to understand the essential elements of the faith, how they are practiced, and the distinctions among the three branches: Shiite Islam, Sunni Islam, and Sufism.

Write a 1- to 2-paragraph response for each of the following directives and note where there are differences among the three branches of Islam.

1. Explain the meaning of the name, Islam.

It comes from an Arabic word that means Peace.

2. Explain the basic concepts of Islam.

In Islam, they believe in one God. They promote peace and believe in the prophet, Mohammad who revealed His word.

3. Describe the practices of Islam.

Islam follows the '5 pillars'. These are belief in one God, daily prayers, fasting in the month of Ramadan, charity to the less fortunate, and a pilgrimage to the holy land.

4. Describe the goals of Islam.

To follow the rules of the Quran and to live a good life then after life.

5. Describe the view of authority in Islam.

Muhammad and his successors (god's spokes person here on earth) are the authority i the Islam religion.

The Qur’an serves as the primary source of information and authority for Muslims, much as the Bible does for Christians. With this in mind, evaluate Islam’s historical influences on law, philosophy, and the arts in the Muslim world. Write a 1- to 2-paragraph response for each of the following questions. Provide examples to illustrate your thinking.

1. What is the legal ideal in Islamic law? How does the Qur’an inform and guide Muslims in attaining this ideal?

In Islam, Haram is illegal activity. this can be anything has a negative influence on you. It is because of this that the women wear the veils and cover their whole body. They do not want to weaken a man and cause him to act upon a sexual impulse. Similarly, the kind of music that you listen to or movies that you watch fall under this category because they could cause you to mimic them and act inappropriately.

2. What is the relationship between philosophy and theology within Islam? Is it acceptable for Muslims to hold separate philosophical and theological beliefs?

Philosophy and theology are both used in Islam. The pursuit of knowledge is not only acceptable, but it is encouraged. The theory is, if someone does all the research they will find that all signs do point to Islam. It is a way of confirming for ones self that Islam is correct and that it is in fact the one true religion.

3. What artistic themes are regularly expressed in Islamic art and architecture? How are these themes explored? How has the Qur’an influenced the development of art in the Islamic world?

Art in Islam could be a tricky thing. It is thought that if one's subject of said art it a person, it could cause arrogance. It is best to stick with professions that allow or even require some form of art. Architecture is a good example of this.