Aim+Muslim

Aim Mariah Nunes Muslim people are full of great, yet strict, faith. They have many goals and rules in their religion. some are to be achieved daily, whereas others are to be achieved at least once in their lifetime. the article “Islam: Wars of Muslim Expansion” details some of these traditions. The author writes, “First, the profession of faith, ‘There is no god but God; Muhammad is the prophet of God,’ must be recited at least once in a person's lifetime. Second, Muslims must pray five times daily. Third, Muslims must pay the zakat, an obligatory tax on possessions and cash. Fourth, Muslims must fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar. Fifth, Muslims should make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime” (Becraft). The aim of Muslims is to achieve these requirements. They must admit a “profession” of the Muslim faith, “pray” or worship five times a day, “pay” an “obligatory” tax, “fast” during allotted times, and make a “pilgrimage” or great journey to Mecca. These aims must be accomplished in order to truly demonstrate their love to their god.

Furthermore, Muslims believe that those who perish for their god are heroes. It is a major aim in the lives of Muslims to achieve such a fate. These individuals or groups of individuals, who die in the name of their god, are called martyrs. “Martyrdom: Arab-Israeli Wars”, an article from the database ABC-CLIO elaborates on the reasoning for Muslim suicide. The author explains, “All of them believe that martyrs receive rewards in the afterlife in exchange for the sacrifice of their lives in the name of God. People who die in battles for their religions are sometimes considered heroes by those who survive them” (Blackwell). Due to the fact that Muslims believe “rewards” will be granted to them in their “afterlife” they willingly aim to die in the name of the one they worship. They wish to be considered “heroes” by those who “survive them”, or their families. It is considered an honor to achieve such an aim in the lives of the highly religious Muslim culture.

Works Cited

Becraft, Bonnie. "Islam: Wars of Muslim Expansion." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.

Blackwell, Amy Hackney. "Martyrdom: Arab-Israeli Wars." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.