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| The Hindu Phenomenon |
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RETREAT AND RAGE |
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well-known five pillars of Islam - bearing witness to the unity of
Allah and finally of Mohammed's Prophethood, prayers with special
emphasis on collective prayers every Friday with the face always
turned towards the Kaaba, zakat (charity) for purposes of the
community, fasting during the month of Ramadan and Haj (pilgrimage)
to Mecca - continuously reinforce this sense of the community. Much
of this is familiar to all those who know anything about Islam. But
Professor Robinson underscores a few points which deserve attention.
First, the last act of the Friday
prayer itself commemorates the community as the Muslim turns to his
neighbour on either side in performing the salaam. Secondly, no one
who has lived with Muslims in the month of Ramadan can fail to see
the powerful sense of community generate in the joint experience of
fasting. Thirdly, the performance of the Haj represents the ultimate
celebration of the community; for all pilgrims don two white sheet,
the ihram, in recognition of the equality of all Muslims before
Allah, and as they live for the first 13 days of the month on the
plain of Arafat, they experience the reality of the community as
never before despite differences of language and culture. |
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