Abrahamic Religions

Judaism, Islam, and Christianity and their customs

Islam

• Buildings and places of Worship– Masjid » a place of prostration

– collective mosque » state owned center for community worship

• Place of Friday afternoon Services (jum'ah)• Difference from churches and Synagogues

» marriage or birth not preformed in mosque» confession, penitence, confirmation don't exist

Islam Cont.

• Prayer– preformed in bows and prostrations– Congregation gathers in a large room in rows

barefooted• follow imam's movements• Women are separated from the men, like in orthodox

Judaism• No music in services, only chanting of the Qur’an

Islamic Service Customs

• Congregants gather in a large great hall – Women and men are separated• Men are on the ground floor• Women in the balcony

• Individual Prayer– Entrance to the great hall• Individual prayer is done upon entering

Islamic service Cont.

• Imam chants the Qur'an – First in Arabic– Then in English

• Sermon is given by the Imam• Group Prayer– All congregants come to the front of the great hall

and do a prayer to Allah as one group

Music in Abrahamic Religious Services

• Islamic Services– Music is not used due to the fact that it is

considered Haram– Chanting of the Qur’an is permitted

• Jewish Services– Singing of certain prayers is an integral part of the

services especially in services on holidays

Music in Abrahamic Religious Services Cont.

• Christian Services– A Choir is used to sing hymns throughout the

service which is also an important part of the service

• Summary– Christian and Jewish services use music as an

important part of worship– Islamic services don’t use music because it is part

of their law in regard to music

Christian Worship Services

• Buildings and places of Worship– Usually held in a Church or Chapel» Can be held anywhere.

• Services are held on Sundays• Churches are also used for.

» marriages» baptisms(specifically a Christian tradition)» confession, penitence, confirmation» Funeral services

Christian Worship Services Cont.

• Prayer– Preformed in a group, but is also followed by

personal prayer.– There are a variety of ways to pray• Bowing is the most common

– Full body prostration is not often done.

• Face raised to the sky.• No real specific or right way to pray.

Christian services Cont.(basic outline of a Sunday service)

• Entrance– Greetings, music, song, prayer, praise

• Proclamation and Response– Scripture readings, prayer, offering, preaching• Included in this section–Music–Witnessing–Media messages

• Communion served (Could be once a month or every week)• Benediction

Jewish Services

• Recitation of prayers is the central characteristic of Jewish worship.– There is often help from the people in the

congregation (Rabi speaks, and congregation answers)

– Cantor is in a room, usually with an organ, singing the prayers

Jewish Services Cont.

• 10 men needed to open the ark and take out the Torah– Passages are read during each prayer service– 3 times of prayer• Morning prayer ( week day, and Saturday morning)• Afternoon prayer• Evening prayer (weekly, congregational services on

Friday evenings)

Jewish Services Cont.(Friday evening Service)

• Services begin with the song of songs– composed of six psalms, 95 to 99, and 29,

representing the six week-days– Sermon from Rabi– List of honored deceased is read (if any)– Benidiction

Pictures and Videos

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=rk5qei2TtoM– Recitation of the four

questions (said on Passover by the youngest child at the Passover sader)

Cited Sources"mosque." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.

19 Apr. 2008 http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9053913"jum'ah." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 19

Apr. 2008 <http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9044135>.United Methodist Hymnal Book of United Methodist Worship. Nashville:

Abingdon P, 1989. 2.