Islamic Practices in Inside Mecca: Fadelma’s Experiences Throughout the Hajj
As a faith centered on orthopraxy, followers of Islam are motivated by demonstrating their faith physically. Practice-centered faith separates itself from “orthodox” faith in that it focuses principally on ritual practice, rather than theology or belief. To Muslims, one’s actions are a better demonstration of a devotion to God than a right belief in Him. Practices like systematic prayers and pilgrimages prove the orthopraxy nature of Islam, setting it apart from other religions deemed to be orthodox. As showcased in the film, Inside Mecca, Muslims from all walks of life are united in faith by these fundamental practices.
Firstly, Islamic life is grounded on the physical tradition of prayer, or salat. Practiced five times a day, with the times determined by the position of the sun and moon, these prayers are ways in which Muslims show their devotion to Allah. The ritual begins with the Muslim standing, then bending gradually into a sitting position, and ending in full prostration, all tied together with meticulous Arab sayings. The act of bowing fully onto the ground, along with the methodical movements of the prayer itself, are practices that show humility and represent the true devotion of Islamic members to their faith. Seeing images of Muslims crowded together, facing the same direction in prayer demonstrated to me the strong adherence that Muslims have towards this Pillar of Faith.
In addition to daily prayers, Muslims are required to journey to Mecca once in their lifetime. This enduring trip, or the Hajj, emphasizes strongly the concept of equality for mankind. Muslims from all over the world come together, dress in the same way, and observe the same rituals for one purpose, which allows no superiority on the basis of race or social status, only humility and devotion to Allah. While the film Inside Mecca followed three individuals on their journey through the Hajj, the particular story of Fadelma was especially intriguing to me. As a white female from the United States who grew up in a Christian household, her journey of conversion to the Islamic faith, and the reasons behind it, interested me. I found myself wishing that the film had spent more time on this piece of her story. Nevertheless, what she experienced during her journey was equally interesting as it showed how exhausting and overwhelming the Hajj can be.
The images of the crowds of Muslims that show up annually and how truly immersed everyone is in the experience, seemed to be a clear representation of the importance of giving oneself to Allah. However as a female in this experience, Fadelma was to get permission to attend by a male relative and wear different attire than the Ihram garments worn by the men. This to me, was both interesting and frustrating as I wish the Hajj practiced greater gender equality recognize the need for tradition. Yet, Fadelma’s experiences throughout the Hajj clearly demonstrated the importance of rituals, giving me a better insight into the faith life of a Muslim. Steps like circling the ka’bah seven times, running back and forth between Safa and Marwah, and stoning the Jamarat all prove how systematic the Hajj is, further showcasing the orthopraxis nature of Islam.
So far in this class, I have found the topics of Islamic practices to be especially captivating. Having come into this class with very little prior knowledge about this religion, I have found it interesting to learn about what Islam is actually focused on and how its members practice it. In particular, learning about the Five Pillars have stood out to me. Comparing these fundamental practices of the faith, as well as future topics about the religion, to Christianity is something that I have enjoyed and am looking forward to doing more of.
