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RELIGIOUS & MORAL EDUCATION


13 - 7 - 2020 NOTES





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J.H.S. 1
R.M.E NOTES
TOPIC:  PILLARS OF ISLAM - HAJJ (CONTINUATION)
 
 RITUALS PERFORMED DURING HAJJ
1. CIRCUMAMBULATION OF THE KA’ABA: This is a practice where pilgrims walk seven times round the Ka’aba at the great mosque in Mecca. This movement is done in an anti-clockwise direction. Many also attempt to touch the Black Stone (a meteorite believed to have been sent from heaven). The pilgrims run seven times along a passageway in the great mosque commemorating the search of water by Hagar, wife of prophet Ibrahim.

2. STANDING ON MOUNT ARAFAT: On the ninth day of the twelfth month on the Islamic calendar, pilgrims go to Arafat, a plain about nine miles southeast of Mecca. They listen to series of sermons delivered by Islamic scholars on mount Arafat. According to Islamic traditions, Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon on Arafat.

3. COLLECTION OF PEBBLES AT MUZDALIFAH:  Pilgrims spend a night on Muzdalifah to collect pebbles for a stoning rite. Pilgrims begin the day at Muzdalifah and begin heading to Mina for the stoning before dawn. Once in Mina, they perform the first rami (throwing seven pebbles at the largest of the three pillars known as Jamarat).

4. THROWING OF STONES (STONING THE DEVIL) :  Pilgrims throw pebbles at three spots where Satan is believed to have tempted the prophet Ibrahim trying to discourage him  from heeding to the voice of God. Muslims believe that at this spot in Mina, Ibrahim responded by throwing stones at Satan to scare him away. Millions of pilgrims converge at the Jamarat Bridge in order to perform this act. In 2006, 350 people were being crushed to death as a result of stampede.

5. SACRIFICE AT MINA: After the symbolic stoning of the devil, pilgrims sacrifice an animal usually a sheep or a goat. This commemorates the incident related in the Old Testament when the prophet Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son but Allah accepted a sheep instead. Nowadays, many pilgrims pay someone to slaughter the animal on their behalf and obtain a certificate to show that the exercise had been carried out. The meat is not wasted but frozen and distributed to poor countries across the globe.

6. REPETITION OF THE CIRCUMAMBULATION OF THE KA’ABA: After the sacrifice at Mina, pilgrims then shave their hair (for men) and remove their Ihram clothes.They then proceed back to Mecca to go round the Ka’aba and walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.

7. DRINKING OF THE ZAMZAM WATER:    Pilgrims drink water from the Zamzam well which is inside the great mosque. Muslims believe this is where Allah provided water for Hagar and her son, Ismail, when they were wandering in the desert.

8. PRAYERS AT THE STATION OF IBRAHIM:   Pilgrims pray at the station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim). It is believed that Ibrahim and Ismail prayed after building the Ka’aba.

MORAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HAJJ.
1. Undertaking Hajj is a sign of commitment and devotion to Allah and the Islamic faith.
2. Hajj provides an opportunity for Muslims across the globe to examine their faith in Allah.
3. It brings people from all walks of life together to worship Allah. Hajj is the largest gathering of Muslims across the world.
4. Hajj allows Muslims to appreciate the historical sites and environments where the prophet wrote the message of Allah.
5. The period of Hajj is used to commemorate the divine ritual Abraham performed as a sign of obedience to God.

AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
The African Traditional Religion has many practices that distinguish their activities from that of Christians and Muslims. These practices are as follows:
A. Traditional worship
B. Traditional prayer (pouring of libation)
C. Traditional offering and sacrifices
D. Drumming, singing and dancing
E. Invoking and possession of spirits

A. TRADITIONAL WORSHIP:  Members of the African traditional religion have special days they worship their gods and ancestral spirits. Some members worship on Tuesdays and others on Fridays.  Special rituals and sacrifices are performed during the day of worship.

THE PURPOSE OF TRADITIONAL WORSHIP.
1. To express appreciation and show respect to the gods, ancestors and God Almighty.
2. Worship draws the traditionalist closer to his object of worship.
3. It gives the traditionalist the opportunity to confess his sins and ask for forgiveness.
4. To pacify (appease) the gods and ancestors for broken taboos and customs.
5. They worship to seek for protection and security from the gods and ancestors.
6. Traditional worship promotes spiritual growth and development of the worshiper.

B. TRADITIONAL PRAYER:  Traditional prayer is normally done through the pouring of libation. Libation is a ritual of pouring a drink as an offering to a god or spirit in memory of those who have died. They invoke (call) the spirit to come and grace the worship and ensure that things go well. Palm wine, schnapps, local gin or akpeteshi and water can be used in pouring libation. Places they pray include shrines, sacred grooves and temples.

TYPES OF TRADITIONAL PRAYER.
1. VOTIVE PRAYERS:  This is a prayer offered to make a promise or a vow to a god or deity.
2. THANKSGIVING PRAYER:  This is a prayer to thank the gods and ancestors for their protection.
3. PREVENTIVE PRAYER:  This is a prayer said to prevent a misfortune, epidemic, danger or calamity.
4. INTERCESSORY PRAYER:   This is a type of prayer offered to plead on behalf of others.

THE PROCESS OF POURING LIBATION   
1. Libation is poured by a linguist, a clan head, a family head, a priest or a priestess.
2. It can be poured daily, weekly, monthly or annually. It can also be poured during festivals, naming ceremonies, marriage ceremonies and funerals.
3. Libation is poured on a bare foot, no cap or hat is worn. The one performing should have his or her cloth folded to the chest.
4. The performer can stand, squat, kneel or sit down whiles performing the libation.
5. The right hand is always used in pouring libation. However, libation for the dead is poured using the left hand.
6. Drinks like schnapps, local gin, palm wine, corn wine or even water can be used.
7. The drinks are first raised towards the sky to God Almighty through the lesser gods and ancestors.
8. Recitation of the libation should be loud enough for the people present to hear.
9. The name of the Supreme Being is mentioned first, followed by the lesser gods and then the ancestors. The worshiper invokes their presence and blessings.
10. The performer concludes the libation by asking for blessings and protection as well as punishment for their enemies.

REASONS OR IMPORTANCE OF LIBATION
1. To invite the gods and ancestors to the occasion.
2. To give thanks to the gods, ancestors and the Supreme Being.
3. To show honor or respect to the gods and ancestors.
4. To remember the deeds of their ancestors.
5. To ask for guidance and protection from God.
6. To ask for forgiveness of sins.

C. TRADITIONAL OFFERING AND SACRIFICES: Traditional offering is when members give or offer food (mashed yam or eggs), drinks and cola nuts to the gods and ancestors. However, traditional sacrifice is the offering of something valuable to a god. It usually involves shedding of the blood of animals like cows, sheep, goats or fowls as a sacrifice to the gods.

TYPES OF SACRIFICES.
1. THANKSGIVING: This is a type of sacrifice offered to show appreciation or gratitude to the gods.
2. VOTIVE SACRIFICE: This is a type of sacrifice made in fulfillment of a vow or a promise.
3. PURIFICATION SACRIFICE:  A sacrifice made to cleanse an individual for breaking a taboo or a custom.
4. PREVENTIVE SACRIFICE:  This is a sacrifice offered to prevent evil or danger.
5. PROPITIATORY OR APPEASEMENT SACRIFICE:  This is a sacrifice to calm the gods for an offence committed.
6. SUBSTITUTION SACRIFICE: This is a sacrifice offered to redeem or save an offender from the anger of the gods or evil.

IMPORTANCE OF SACRIFICE TO THE WORSHIPER
1. It draws the worshiper closer to his/her object of worship.
2. It helps to prevent evil or calamity.
3. It is a way of expressing commitment to the gods.
4. It promotes peace between the worshiper and his god.
5. It helps the worshiper to purify himself.
6. Sacrifice helps the worshiper to appreciate and thank his gods and ancestors.
7. It provides an opportunity for the worshiper to ask for long life, prosperity and bumper harvest.
8. Sacrifice promotes a righteous living because people will have to sacrifice for every evil act committed.

D. DRUMMING, SINGING AND DANCING: The traditional religion is characterized by drumming, singing and dancing. The drumming and singing are used to invoke the spirit of the ancestors to grace the occasion. Special songs are sung to invite the spirits to accept their worship.

E. INVOKING OF SPIRITS AND POSSESSION: As worshipers begin to sing, drum and dance, the spirits are invoked. The worshiper or worshipers gathered may then be possessed by these spirits. Whilst possessed, they then communicate the message of the gods through them.





























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