For Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, worship plays a vital role in their daily lives. Worship and ritual can be some of the most effective ways for someone to experience God. In each of these religions, worship is used not only as a means to communicate with God personally, but also as a cultural representation of the faith-believing body itself. Worship is said to “sustain(s) tradition and serve(s) as a medium in which evolving self-understandings of community can be expressed” (JCM 157). Though these monotheistic religions are unified under this common objective, rituals and worship served a variety of purposes in ancient times.
Early Levitical and Deuteronomical texts in the Torah detail the exact ways in which sin was to be atoned for …show more content…
However, the term “ritual” is typically frowned upon by Muslims, as they prefer the term “‘ibada” instead. This terms gives meaning to their practices, which combats the otherwise derogatory term “ritual” which may unintentionally make their actions sounds empty or meaningless (JCM 191). Muslims complete many of their practices for the same reason that most Jews and Christians would. In their religion, prayer and adherence to God’s law is what brings true intimacy between man and the divine. Salat is performed and symbolically humbles oneself while acknowledging the lone divinity of Allah. This creates a closeness like no other between the worshipper and the one being worshipped. Similarly, when a Muslim completes the prayer of Shahada, he himself becomes “linked with God” (JCM 192). Fasting and almsgiving are similar to the practices of fasting and tithing in Judaism and Christianity. The main difference between zakat and other forms of charitable donation in a religious context is the symbolism behind it. “Zakat serves to make pure and honorable the wealth remaining to the giver” (JCM 194). The final pillar, Hajj, is usually completed as a means to self-rediscovery. During the Hajj, Muslims worship and rejuvenate themselves spiritually, as if rededicating themselves to Allah. Other common rites are exercised by Muslims throughout their lives including various birth and childhood rites, circumcision, and marriage (JCM
Early Levitical and Deuteronomical texts in the Torah detail the exact ways in which sin was to be atoned for …show more content…
However, the term “ritual” is typically frowned upon by Muslims, as they prefer the term “‘ibada” instead. This terms gives meaning to their practices, which combats the otherwise derogatory term “ritual” which may unintentionally make their actions sounds empty or meaningless (JCM 191). Muslims complete many of their practices for the same reason that most Jews and Christians would. In their religion, prayer and adherence to God’s law is what brings true intimacy between man and the divine. Salat is performed and symbolically humbles oneself while acknowledging the lone divinity of Allah. This creates a closeness like no other between the worshipper and the one being worshipped. Similarly, when a Muslim completes the prayer of Shahada, he himself becomes “linked with God” (JCM 192). Fasting and almsgiving are similar to the practices of fasting and tithing in Judaism and Christianity. The main difference between zakat and other forms of charitable donation in a religious context is the symbolism behind it. “Zakat serves to make pure and honorable the wealth remaining to the giver” (JCM 194). The final pillar, Hajj, is usually completed as a means to self-rediscovery. During the Hajj, Muslims worship and rejuvenate themselves spiritually, as if rededicating themselves to Allah. Other common rites are exercised by Muslims throughout their lives including various birth and childhood rites, circumcision, and marriage (JCM