Comparative Analysis of Prayer in Islam with Prayer in Christianity Research Paper

Comparative Analysis of Prayer in Islam with Prayer in Christianity - Research Paper Example Comparative Analysis of Prayer in Islam with Prayer in Christianity It will analyze role and meaning of prayer in general as well as in each of two religions in particular. The first part of the paper will examine such prayer related themes as meaning of prayer in Islam: calling out of the muezzin: parts of the five time prayer; prayer in the Koran; the Fatiha – the main prayer of the Muslims. The second part of the paper will discuss prayer from Christian perspective: particularly prayer in Catholicism and ways of praying; Liturgy of the hours; prayer and the Scripture; the Lord’s Prayer – the main prayer of the Christians. Notion of pray is present almost in all religions which eve existed and still exist today. Prayer usually expresses such feelings as love and faith, respect, regret and sorrow, happiness and gratitude. Being one of the essential parts of spiritual practice, a prayer is utilized in worshiping God. However, prayer is different in different religions. There are various forms of prayer: spoken and written words, meditations, songs, etc. usually religious people call prayer a conversation with God. However, only religious people can understand all the nuances and meanings of the spiritual power of a prayer (Beasler 196). According to Mauss prayer is very ancient and unique religious phenomenon (p. 21). Role of prayer has always been complex and constantly changing. Both in Islam and in Christianity prayer place significant role, because is the first and the major means of communication or connection of the believer and God. II. Meaning of prayer 1. Prayer in Islam Holy prayer salat is one of the major pillars of Islam. Except prayer there are four other fundamentals of Islam such as almsgiving (zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan (sawm), pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj), and personal declaration of faith to God and Mohammed (shahad) (Oh 38). Role of prayer in Islam cannot be underestimated. According to the teachings of the Muslims, the payer was mentioned by the Prophet Mohammed after his revelation about faith. Like Moses and Jesus taught about role of prayer and praying, Mohammed taught about praying Allah. One cannot be a Muslim without praying. It is obligation of every Muslim to pray God and Prophet in their remembrance, because prayer is act of confession of faith. Muslims deliver their prayer five times a day, so prayer is rather an act of worshiping: at daybreak, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. Muhammad himself established the times for praying as well as ritual actions. In Muslim countries anyone can hear the call to pray of the muezzin. It serves as a calling out or a reminder to pray. Usually the muezzin delivers his calling out via a megaphone located on the top of a mosque’s minaret. So, the muezzin calls out: God is most great [Allahu Akbar], God is most great, God is most great, God is most great, I witness that there is no god but God [Allah]; I witness that there is no god but God. I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God. I witn ess that Muhammad is the messenger of God. Come to prayer; come to prayer! Come to prosperity; come to prosperity! God is most great. God is most great. There is no god but God (Esposito 18). People, who are at work or with family, busy or doing nothing, hear the reminder and know that it’s time to go to pray. No matter how busy a person is, they should go to the mosque and concentrate their mind on the pray to their God Allah. Even if there is no mosque nearby, a person can pray in

Alzeimer's Disease Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Alzeimer's Disease - Research Paper Example Alzheimer’s disease, also known as Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type is a brain complication, which results in deteriorated brain functionality (American Health Assistance Foundation, 2011). It is the most reported case of dementia complication and develops gradually in a victim. The main effects of the disease are a permanent damage on neurons, which leads to intellectual incapacitation through loss of memory and rationality. As the disease develops in a person, it impairs brain related functionality leading to poor judgment and rationale in making decisions (Nordqvist, 2009), (American Health Assistance Foundation, 2011) The two major causes of Alzheimer’s disease are family history and age (Crystal, n.d.). Although developing Alzheimer’s disease is not a part of normal aging (Crystal, n.d.), it has been proven that age increases the risk of developing this disease (Crystal, n.d.). Family history also plays a major role in Alzheimer’s disease and having a close blood relative such as mother, sister, a brother; etc who has developed Alzheimer’s disease increases the risk of developing this disease. Other unproven causes of this disease include a history of head trauma, long-standing high blood pressure, and female gender (Nordqvist, 2009). There are two major types of Alzheimer’s disease, which have been identified according to the age of the patients: Early Onset Alzheimer’s not very common and is said to occur when a patient displays symptoms of the disease before reaching the age of 60 (Kantor, 2010). Late Onset Alzheimer’s is however very common and is said to occur when a patient aged 60 years or higher displays symptoms of the disease. The two types are both fatal (Kantor, 2010). The basic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are language and memory problems (forgetting familiar names, words, routes etc), flat moods, and personality changes (Kantor, 2010). A more in-depth discussion about the