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The constitution does not stipulate a state religion, as Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are all
practiced,
with constitutional guarantees of freedom. However, as the vast majority of Syrians are Moslems, it does stipulate
that the President be Moslem. The President is elected by universal suffrage every seven years, and the election
must be approved by the People's Assembly, or parliament, itself elected by the people. The People's Assembly is
the head of the legislative branch of the government. It is dominated by the Baath Party, though many other Parties
are represented as well. The President, as Head of State, is the head of the executive branch, and also Commander
of the armed forces. President Hatez AI-Assad was elected to office in 1971, and reelected in 1978, In 1985 and
in 1992. He is often considered as the " father" of the country, and this feeling is frequently translated
into popular demonstrations supporting the regime, particularly on national holidays.
Islam
Islam is the declared religion of about 90% of the population. This fact is not likely to go unnoticed, even
by the most shortsighted observer. Whether you stay in the city or travel through the countryside, you will notice
the religious fervor of city-dwellers going to the mosque at the call of the muezzin or peasants in their fields
facing Mecca to pray.
Prayer, rather the five daily prayers, the most apparent act of Islamic faith, is one of the five pillars of Islam,
or the five fundamental rites of Islam, together with the Shehadah, or declaration of faith, the Zukat or alms,
the fast of the Ramadan and the pilgrimage (hadj) to Mecca. The act which determines all others for the Moslem
is to say the Shehadah which is a proclamation of faith and a commitment of one's belonging to the Islamic Community
(Umma).
Islam is a religion that appeared in Arabia in the 7th century, proclaimed by Muhammad, or Mahomet, Messenger of
God (He who was chosen by God). Muhammad was born around 570 in the Hidjaz. In 612, he had, through archangel Gabriel,
the revelation of the Koran, which is the holy book of the religion, a compendium of wisdom, and a treatise of
state.
This new religion of Islam, abandonment or submission to God, contained in the Book of God, had a difficult start.
Muhammad had to flee Mecca, his native city, to undertake a migration (hijrah) to Medina. This migration or hijrah
is the start for reckoning the Moslem calendar. Before dying in 632, the Messenger of God had the happiness to
see his revelation imposed on Mecca (in 630). But already Islam had spread throughout the Hedjaz. Progress of Islam
spread like fire, as we saw in the historical study. Details that we know of the life of Muhammad come from the
Hadith, narratives of the acts and sayings of the Prophet. The Hadith constitutes one of the essential bases of
the Sunna (tradition) of the prophet. The mosque It is place of prayer featuring one or more minarets. From atop
these towers, sometimes monumental, and sometimes modest, with the purpose of calling the believers, the muezzin
calls the people to prayer five times a day. The minaret did not exist at the time of the Prophet, and it does
not have an assigned place in the mosque. It seems that it was used sometimes as a light-house (Manara). The Friday
mosque (Masjid-AI-Jumaa) stands out for its size, and also the care devoted to its decoration.
Inside, the ablutions fountain is essential; it is where the faithful cleanse themselves according to rites appropriated
to the degree of impurity one assesses for himself. A niche, or Mihrab, indicates the direction of Mecca (Qibia).
In more important mosques, there is a preaching chair, or Minbar from where a predicator (Khateeb) will give a
sermon (Khutba) whose theme may be political if it concerns the destiny of the community. There is no clergy in
Islam, and prayer is directed by a mullah, Imam, or sometimes by any simple believer engaged in lay life but who
is acknowledged by his colleagues as a pious man. It is therefore not necessary to be an Alim (pi. Ulemas) i.e
a doctor of the law, to direct prayers.
Prayer Allah Akbar (God is Great), and the Fatiha, the introductory surate of the Koran, is recited. Then a reading
of any selected passage of the holy book is made, followed by a raqa, i.e., a cycle of body movements with recitation
of the ritual formula of Takbir. According to the kind of prayer the number of raqaat (plural of raqa) is more
or less important.
Each cycle includes a takbir, a second time with the torso bent and the hands applied to the knees. The cycle will
be continued by an invocation followed by a prostration until the forehead touches the ground while kneeling on
the legs and soles of the feet. After another Takbir the prostration is repeated and the prayer ends with a salutation
to the angels and believers with the head turned to the left, then to the right saying: Assalam Aleikom (peace
be unto you).
The morning prayer (Es-Soubh) is made at dawn, and consists of two raqaat. The midday prayer (ed-Duhr) and the
afternoon prayer (el-Asr) include four each. That of sunset (maghreb) includes three raqaat and the last one, at
night, has its four; it is accomplished between sunset and sunrise.
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