Learning from Islam

Was wir vom Islam lernen können : "Beten hilft"
On Some Points of Similarity

Essa Al_Seppe and Max Watzenboeck

Introduction

Certain similarities between African and Islamic cultures are observed and conclusions are drawn what forces could result if Islam and Africa are permanently depicted with a looser-image by the media.

!. The Meaning of Islam according to the Islamic Faith

Islam is derived from the Arabic root “salema” : peace, purity, submission and obedience. Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to his laws.
Everything and every phenomenon in the world , other than man is managed totally by god-made laws, i. e, they are obedient to God and submissive to his laws, i., e, they are always in State of Islam.
Man has the qualities of choice and intelligence, thus he is invited to submit to the will of God, i. e. become a muslim.
Islam dates back to the age of Adam and has been conveyed by God’s prophets including Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. God’s last prophet enforced the message, this is Mohammed. The word Allah means one and eternal God, creator, lord, king, compassionate, merciful, Arabic speaking Christians and Jews use the same word for God.

2. Articles of Faith
• A muslim believes in the one God
• A muslim believes in all prophets without discrimination
• A muslim believes in all scriptures and revelations of God
• A muslim believes in the angels of God
• A muslim believes in the day of judgement.
• A muslim believes in Qaddaa and Qadar – these are the timeless knowledge of God and his power to plan and execute his plans
• A muslim believes that the purpose of life is to worship God
• A muslim believes in a specially high ranking of man among all other creatures
• A muslim believes that every person is born muslim.
• A muslim believes that every person is born free from sin
• A muslim believes that he must work out his way to salvation through the guidance of God
• A muslim believes that God does not hold any person responsible until he has shown him the right way
• A muslim believes that faith is not complete when it is followed blindly or accepted unquestionedly.
• A muslim believes in a clear distinction between the Quran and the Traditions and Sayaings of Prophet Mohammed

3. Applications of Faith
• Salah (Prayer)
• Seyam (Fasting)
• Zakah (Charity): Every muslim , male or female; who is in possession of 85gm of gold approx. $1500 in cash or trade at YE must give 2.5% zakah…………
• Haji ( Pilgrimage)

4. African Inheritage
• Many Africans accept monotheism
• Burundi worship IMANA
• Barundi worship additionally
• Habimanan – only he truly exists
• Habonimanan- only he truly sees
• Hazikimana – only he truly saves
• Igirukwigomba – only he does as he will
• Biori – only he watches over everything
• The Zulu worship Umdali - the creator
• Summing up the attributes of God the Zulu say – God is a holy spirit. He does not beget , nor is he begotten and there is none comparable with him

5. The Concept of Tauhid
Thauhid is a concept that all human activities must be governed by rules from Allah (and his Prophet.) This concept has been distorted by Christian missionaries, specially in Southern African by encouraging the use of traditional names for ancestors and spirits. The Christinam teaching of God to the Xhosa is Uthixo which is derived from the word idol. Christian teaching to the Zulus names God as Umkhulu that means greatest of our elderes. Many African languages have no term for secular at all.

6. The Ritual of Salah
Many of the traditional rituals of Africa are comparable to the Islamic rituals that guide daily life and culture.

7. Government through Shuran or Mutual Consultation

8. African Social Customs and Islamic Etiquette
8.1 Greetings
8.2 New Born Babies
8.3 Circumcision
8.4 Death, Burial and Life After Death
8.5 Cleanliness and Eating Habits

9. Homo Ludens
( An Abbreviated Nubian Tale)
God created two types of humans , makers and prayers. Finally, the makers became so active that the prayers had to stop praying. They were displeased, copied the methods of the makers and made it impossible for the makers to make anything any more. Surprisingly this made praying much less fun for the prayers. So God decided to create a third type of humans: players. They were allowed to act just as they liked it or found it necessary : as makers , as prayers or just as players, at least part-time or most of it. This idea saved mankind (according to the Nubian Tale).