Sue D. read and reviewed the book, The Faith Club, a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew -- Three Women Search for Understanding. especially with the Muslim woman in mind. After 9/11 the Muslim woman, Ranya Idiby decides to find a Christian woman and a Jewish woman to help her write a children's book that would show the many similarities between the three religions and that she thinks would help people from the three religions understand each other. The three women start meeting in order to formulate this book. But they discover that first they must come to an understanding between themselves before they can write for others. The initial fireworks occurs when the Epicopalian woman who was raised Catholic, Suzanne Oliver, describes the crucifixion of Jesus in a way that sounds like 'the Jews killed Jesus" to the Jewish member of the group, Priscilla Warner. The bickering about this age old topic between a Jew and a Catholic, rubs the Muslim the wrong way because she feels excluded even in an argument, much as she feels sidelined as a Muslim out in the general society. The threesome go forth and do not pull any punches as they work through their belief systems. Interestingly, this all serves to draw each closer to their own religion.
Sue D. decided to follow particularly the reasoning of the Muslim woman to see if she really could pass as a moderate Muslim. In this book, and in the discussions between these three women, it appears that there can be a middle ground, but whether that can apply to the Muslim world at large remains to be seen.
Several of the group have read The Faith Club and felt it was a worthwhile read. Outside reviewers say it is a page turner.
From The Faith Club:
"Things to Know about Islam
"What We Call God"
Allah is the Arabic word for God. It is used by Arab Christians as well as Muslims. For Muslims, God was not created and there is no other being like him. Muslims believe that one of God's most important qualities is his "Oneness." According to Muslims, if God is One, then there cannot be different or rival Gods, such as a God for the Jews, a God forthe Christians, and a God for the polytheists. God is believed to have 99 beautiful names. These are descriptive adjectives given throughout the Quran, including All Powerful Creator of the Cosmos, The Compassionate, The Merciful, The Gurdian, The loveing, The Patient, and the Ever Forgiving. Muslims traditionally repeat these descriptive names with the help of a rosary known as a misbah. This rosary has 100 beads. Ninety-nine represent God's qualities, while one larger bead symbolizes God.
"Holy Book"
The Muslim holy book is called the Quran. it is believed to be the word of God, revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel over a period of twenty-two years. Initially written on any available materials, it was compiled in its final form after the death of the prophet. MUhammad in 632 A.D. It is divided into 114 chapters (suras) consisting of verses (ayat). All chapters except for chapter nine start with "in the name of God the merciful and the compassionate." Muslims learn that Quran in its original language, Arabic, because its recitation as the word of God is a ritual that allows Muslims to experience God symbolically, as a community of the faithful. This is comparable to the symbolic Christian experience of God found in the taking of the Eucharist, which defines the Christian community. Islam prohibits pictorial depictions of god as a way to discourage idol worship As a result, the art of writing (calligraphy) is used to decorate the Quran and mosques. Muslims look to the Quran along with the Hadith (a collection of teachings thought to derive from the prophet and his companions) for guidance in many aspects of life. Muslim law, known as Shari's, is based upon the Quran and the Hadith.
"Worship and Prayer"
Muslims gather at their mosque on Fridays at noon for communal prayer. The Imam leads the prayer and addresses the congregation from a stepped platform called a minbar. he never preaches from the top step, which is symbolically reserved for the prophet Muhammad. Mosques are built with a special tower called a minaret, where a person known as the muezzin calls the people to prayer five times a day. When Muslims pray they fact toward Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad. The direction is marked by an alcove known as the mihrab, which serves as a focal point for the prayer hall. The prayer hall has no seats because prayer involves standing, kneeling, and prostrating. All prayers end with the same call for peace for the prophet Muhammad, his followers, and the descendants of Abraham. In some mosques there are separate balconies for women, although in the most imortant mosque in Mecca, Majid al-Haram, women and men pray in the same hall and are not segregated. Before praying, Muslims clean themselves by washing their face, mouth, nostrils, hands, lower arms, and feet. For hygienic reasons worshipers are required to remove their shoes before entering a mosque, and many Muslims use a prayer mat, some with an attached compass to indicate the direction of Mecca. Mosques are usually domed structures with pillars and arches decorated with calligraphy and abstract geometric designs. The interiors are kept simple so as not to distract worhipers. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul and the Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain are famous for their architecture. The Dome of the Rock and Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem are among the most important mosques for Muslims. The Noble Sanctuary, as the holy area in Jerusalem is named, marks the place of the prophet Muhammad's night journey and ascension to heaven. Muslims believe humanity will assemble there on the Day of Judgment.
Rituals
The most important rituals in Islam are collectively known as the five Pillars of Islam. ShaShahaa is the first an most imporant ritual. it is a simple declaration, "There is no god, but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of god." These words are a profession of faith and provide the basis for conversion. A person who sincerely recistes the Shahada is considered a Muslim; no other ritual is needed.
Salat is prayer performed five times a day at specific times facing toward Mecca. The call by the muezzin from the minaret lets people know it is time for prayer. All prayers end with ritual salutations and calls for peace for the prophet Muhammad, his followers, and the descendants of Abraham, which include Moses and Jesus, Friady is the day that Muslims pray communally in a mosque. As a result, weekends in Muslim countries are either thursday and Fridy or Friday and Saturday.
Zaka is the giving of money to help the less fortunate. Muslims who are financially able are expeted to give 2.5% of their net worth for social welfare.
Sawm is the practice of fasting, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims will not eat or drink from dawn until dusk during this holy time. The idea behind such a fast is to teach people to empathize with those less fortunate who are often hungry and thirsty. Only healthy an mature Muslims are required to fast. Although Ramadan is a time for reflection and discipline, it has also become atime of special gatherings of family and friends with delicious meals followed by traditional desserts. Muslims may decorate their homes with the crescent moon shape and star, which have come to symbolize Islam. Socializing often extends late into the night, ending with a late or early predawn meal call suhur.
Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca required at least once in the lifetime of a Muslim. Muslims perform specific rituals and prayers around the Ka'aba, a black cubic structure believed to be God's first house on earth, rebuilt by Abraham and Ishmael, and where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Ishmael. Around two million Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage. Pilgrims wear seamless white clothes so that no stitch or fabric can distinguish one worshiper from the other. This is a sign of the equality of all under God.
Holidays
Muslim holidays fall according to the Islamic calendar, which has 12 months each lasting from one new moon to the next. the Islamic year begins on the day of Hijra, which recalls Muhammad's migration from Mecca to medina in the year 622 A.D. The year 2006 corresponds to theyear
It seems that the three women The Faith Club were able to deal with each other, to learn about each other's religion and could come to some sort of consensus. That is encouraging. However, one member of our group suggested another book to balance the seemingly beneficial outcome of this book. He felt that it shows the other side and is therefore more fearsome. That book is entitled Heretic. Ayaan Hirsi Ali's second book, after The Infidel, Ali has modified her view somewhat. In The Infidel she seemed to advise Muslims to leave their faith as she had done. But in Heretic she raises a question whether Muslims can reform their faith. She now writes: “Without fundamental alterations to some of Islam’s core concepts, we shall not solve the burning and increasingly global problem of
political violence carried out in the name of religion.”
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