FREE ESSAY ON ORTHOPRAXY IN ISLAM

ORTHOPRAXY IN ISLAM

Orthopraxy in Islam 
RLST 2600 Orthopraxy in Islam Islamic life is centered on the physical practice of prayer
(salat). With that the religion of Islam itself is based in the methodical movement
through which Muslims show their devotion to Allah. The prayer begins with the devotee
standing, bending slowly into a sitting position and ending in full prostration. Bowing
fully onto the ground is a practice that shows humility and represents the true devotion
of members. Practice-centered religion differentiates itself from "orthodox" religion in
that it focuses primarily on ritual practice, rather than theology or doctrine, orthodox
meaning "correct opinion". The most visible orthodox religion of America is Christianity.
Christianity centers life around the opinions of the church with less emphasis on purity
and behavior. Islamic life is distinctly based on what can be defined as "orthopraxy" or
the importance of religious practice. The orthopraxy of Islam can be seen in at least
three of the Five Pillars of Islam, salat, Ramadan and the hajj, which are also
representative of Muslim faith and duties. Salat, as mentioned earlier, is the
performance of prayer five times a day. The prayer, which includes full prostration, is
performed facing Mecca. In the The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, (the earliest source of
Islamic writing as dictated to Mohammed), it is written, "Whencesoever thou comest forth
(for prayer, O Mohammed) turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship. Lo! it is
the Truth from thy Lord. Allah is not unaware of what ye do (Surah 2:149)." Implicit
directions for prayer also display the amount of emphasis on practice. Salat must be
performed five times daily, at specific times of the day: early morning, noon,
mid-afternoon, sunset, and evening. Each Friday a congregational service is held at the
mosque and every male is required to attend. Before prayer, four ritual aspects are
required: ritual purification, proper covering of the body, proper intention, and facing
Mecca, or qibla (1). The emphasis on purity is directly associated with prayer, as one
must not be impure in any way when one prays. The ritual impurity associated with
everyday living is known as najasa or hadath. Najasa is external impurity including but
not limited to, urine, blood, pus, feces of animals and humans. Hadath is impurity of the
soul from performing certain activities. Hadath is caused by activities ranging from
sleeping to seminal emission. The degree of hadath varies depending on the activity.
Daily impurities result in a need for cleansing or ablutions. Ablution can be performed
outside of mosques, usually the mosque will maintain a small fountain in which people can
wash their hands to their elbows, feet to their ankles as well as heads and faces (1).
The use of ablution as a form of purification as well as the consistent call to purify
oneself follows the orthopraxy within Islam. The Koran states, "The month of Ramadan in
which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the
guidance…whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month (2:185)." The fasting
during the month of Ramadan is an expression of joy; the fasting person recalls their
dependence on Allah for sustenance and life. The fast lasts for thirty days, each day
from sunrise to sunset. Again, the emphasis is placed on the practice of refraining from
food, which challenges the body (1). The lives of Muslims change for a month as they
devote themselves to concentration on the past year, and the graciousness of God.
Increasing the amount of time spent focusing on religion allows members of the religion
to renew their faith and their relationships with others. The journey to Mecca known as
the hajj encompasses the practicing element of Islam. The holy pilgrimage to Mecca is
required for all Muslims only if they have the means to afford such a trip and the
physical ability to do so. Borrowing money is not proper for the trip; in fact one must
have all debts settled before they leave on hajj. Travel to the center of religious
worship represents the distance one is willing to travel as well as the costs one is
willing to endure in order to display their devotion to Allah. The hajj consists of four
days of constant practice and ritual. The talbiya, a prayer of announcement is recited
constantly while on hajj. The rituals of the pilgrimage begin once the pilgrims enter the
gates of Mecca, reciting the talbiya; these serve as checkpoints to guarantee that only
Muslims enter the holy site. One of the core ceremonies of the trip is the
circumambulation of the Ka'ba (tawaf) seven times counterclockwise by those on hajj.
Tradition states that Abraham and Ishmael practiced the same ritual during their
lifetimes. On one corner of the Ka'ba rests the "black stone…a sign of God's
covenant with Abraham and Ishmael. The Prophet used to touch it when he passed, and
pilgrims follow his example, also kissing and meditating near it (1)." Comparing Islam
once again to a religion considered an example of orthodoxy-Christianity-the difference
appears in the separate religious texts. Christian text, the New Testament, explains the
lifestyle that is important concerning the rules of thought, faith, and the doctrine
within Christianity. Christianity itself encounters strange practices in the ceremony of
Mass, or Sunday worship. During traditional Catholic Mass the priest circles the
worshipers with incense, and sprinkles holy water on them. The rituals embedded in
Christianity are however, creations of later Christian followers, addition to the
foundation of the religion. The ritual of the Eucharist represents another type of
practice established in Christian ceremony, one based on direct teachings of Jesus
Christ. Mohammed himself set forth the practices of The Five Pillars of Islam, the
original and continually practiced rituals of Muslims. The difference also involves the
lifestyle of the Christians. In most Christian sects/denominations there is no encounter
with personal circumambulation, prostration or ritual covering of the body. These
physical aspects of Islam truly separate it from what can be considered orthodoxy. The
faith and duties of Islam are inside of the practices performed. The Islamic people
practice strict physical rituals that correspond directly with their belief system. The
Five Pillars of Islam exemplify the practices of Islam in that they require physical
practice including worship, behavior and ritual cleanliness. The practices are followed
obediently by Muslims and are seen as enhancing the relationship one has with Allah. As
Dr. Denny says, "Islam…on the other hand, view[s] religion as a way of life and a
ritual patterning of that life under God's lordship (1)." Works Cited 1. See Frederick
Denny's book, An Introduction to Islam pages 112-136. 2. Pickthall, Mohammed Marmaduke,
ed. The Meaning of the Glorious Koran. Mentor, NY, NY.