1- The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on their karma and dharma. Karma is the law of cause and effect that determines the quality of one’s life and future rebirths. Dharma is the moral duty and obligation that each person has according to their caste and stage of life.
2- The idea of dharma is attached to caste because each caste has its own specific dharma that defines its role and function in society. For example, the Brahmins, the highest caste, have the dharma of being priests, teachers, and scholars. The Kshatriyas, the second highest caste, have the dharma of being warriors, rulers, and administrators. The Vaishyas, the third highest caste, have the dharma of being merchants, farmers, and artisans. The Shudras, the lowest caste, have the dharma of being servants, laborers, and workers.
3- Caste is tied to the Hindu beliefs in karma and dharma because it is believed that one’s caste is determined by one’s karma in previous lives. A person who performs good deeds and follows their dharma will be born into a higher caste in their next life. A person who performs evil deeds and violates their dharma will be born into a lower caste or even as an animal in their next life. Therefore, caste is seen as a reflection of one’s spiritual progress and a way of maintaining social order and harmony.
4- Hinduism can be considered monotheistic when there are more than 33,000 gods/goddesses because it believes in one supreme reality called Brahman, which is the source and essence of everything that exists. The gods/goddesses are manifestations or aspects of Brahman that represent different qualities, functions, and powers of the divine. Hindus worship different gods/goddesses according to their personal preferences, needs, and traditions, but they ultimately acknowledge that they are all expressions of the same ultimate reality.
5- A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims. It is usually a simple building with a large open space for prayer and a niche called mihrab that indicates the direction of Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. A mosque may also have a minaret, a tower from which the call to prayer is announced five times a day. A mosque may also serve as a community centre, a school, a hospital, or a court of law. Mosques are decorated with geometric patterns, calligraphy, and sometimes floral motifs, but they do not have images or statues of humans or animals.
6- The three main sects of Islam are Sunni, Shia, and Sufi. Sunni Muslims are the majority group that follow the teachings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. They believe that the first four caliphs (successors) after Muhammad were rightly guided by God and that any qualified Muslim can be a leader of the community. Shia Muslims are the minority group that follow the teachings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad and his family members.
7- The Ka’aba is a cube-shaped structure covered with black cloth that is located in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is considered the most sacred site in Islam because it is believed to be the first house of worship built by Abraham and Ishmael for God. It also contains a black stone that is believed to be from heaven and was given to Abraham by an angel. The Ka’aba is the direction towards which Muslims pray five times a day and it is also the destination of the pilgrimage (hajj) that every Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime if they are able to do so
8- Islam has many impacts on the lives of believers because it provides them with guidance on how to live according to God’s will and how to achieve salvation in the hereafter. Some of these impacts are:
Islam requires Muslims to perform five daily prayers (salah) at specific times throughout the day. These prayers help Muslims to remember God, express gratitude, seek forgiveness, ask for help, and strengthen their faith.
Islam requires Muslims to fast (sawm) from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting helps Muslims to develop self-control, empathy, generosity, and piety.
Islam requires Muslims to give a fixed amount of their wealth (zakat) to the poor and needy every year. Zakat helps Muslims to purify their money, share their blessings, support the community, and reduce inequality.
Islam requires Muslims to perform the pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they are able to do so. Hajj helps Muslims to demonstrate their submission, unity, equality, and devotion to God.
Islam requires Muslims to follow a set of moral and ethical principles (sharia) that govern all aspects of their personal and social lives. Sharia helps Muslims to avoid what is harmful (haram) and do what is beneficial (halal) for themselves and others.