I Need Help With My Rough Draft The Paper Needs An Intro

I Need Help With My Rough Draft The Paper Needs An Introduction And S

I need help with my rough draft; the paper needs an introduction and some additional support in regards to existential questions. I seem to be lacking in this one area of the paper. Also my bibliography needs to have additional sources from a peer-reviewed scholarly. This paper is focused on Sikhism, an Eastern religion and Islam, an Abrahamic religion. The purpose of the paper will compare some of the similarities and differences between Sikhism and Islam.

Some of the topics will be history, leaders, sacred text, religious practices, and daily life. Also answer important questions such as the purpose of life and afterlife. Attached is my rough draft.

Paper For Above instruction

The comparison between Sikhism and Islam involves a complex exploration of their histories, beliefs, practices, and philosophies. Both religions, while distinct in their origins and doctrinal frameworks, offer rich insights into human spirituality and existential questions about the purpose of life and the afterlife. This paper aims to analyze these aspects thoroughly, providing a comprehensive understanding of both faiths in relation to their historical development, leadership structures, sacred texts, religious practices, and daily life.

Introduction

Religions serve as fundamental frameworks for understanding human existence, morality, and the universe. Sikhism and Islam, two major religious traditions, emerge from different cultural and geographic contexts—Eastern and Abrahamic, respectively—but both seek to address profound questions about life's purpose, divine justice, and human destiny. The exploration of these two faiths reveals both their unique features and shared values, contributing to a broader understanding of religious diversity and spiritual search.

Historical Background

Sikhism originated in the Punjab region of India in the late 15th century, founded by Guru Nanak and subsequently shaped by nine other Gurus. It emerged as a distinct religious tradition emphasizing God's unity, equality among human beings, and community service. Islam, founded in the 7th century CE by the Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula, rapidly expanded across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its core tenets involve submission to Allah's will, the importance of the Quran, and following the prophetic tradition.

Leadership and Sacred Texts

Sikhism's spiritual leadership revolves around the Gurus, with the Guru Granth Sahib serving as its sacred scripture, containing hymns and teachings from Sikh Gurus and other saints. In contrast, Islam recognizes a series of prophets, with Muhammad regarded as the final prophet. The Quran is the primary sacred text, considered the literal word of God revealed to Muhammad. Both religions emphasize the importance of guidance from their respective scriptures and spiritual leaders in daily life and worship.

Religious Practices and Daily Life

Sikh practices include prayers, meditation on God's name, community service, and wearing symbols like the turban and uncut hair to express faith and identity. The Five Ks are essential symbols of faith. Muslims perform daily prayers (Salat), fasting during Ramadan, almsgiving (Zakat), and pilgrimage (Hajj). Both religions encourage living ethically and in harmony with divine commandments, integrating religious practices deeply into daily routines.

Existential Questions: Purpose of Life and Afterlife

The purpose of life in Sikhism is to realize one's unity with God through honest work, meditation, and service—living a truthful and compassionate life to attain liberation (Mukti). In Islam, life is a test from God; the ultimate goal is to worship Allah, follow His guidance, and achieve eternal paradise (Jannah) after death. Both religions underscore moral responsibility and seek to provide answers to life's fundamental questions about existence and destiny.

Discussion of Existential Questions

Existential questions such as the purpose of life and the afterlife are central to both Sikhism and Islam, guiding adherents toward spiritual fulfillment. Sikhism posits that human life’s purpose is to break free from the cycle of rebirth (Samsara) by merging back with God through devotion, righteous living, and meditation on God's name. The concept of the afterlife involves union with God after death, achieved through ethical living and spiritual discipline (Kumar, 2015).

Islam teaches that human life is a divine test, and the correct fulfillment of religious duties leads to salvation. The afterlife consists of paradise or hell, with divine judgment determining the soul's eternal destiny. Actions performed during earthly life, influenced by faith and obedience, determine one's afterlife experience (Ali, 2018).

Both religions stress the importance of morality, devotion, and community service as pathways to fulfillment, yet they differ in their conceptualizations of divine justice, the nature of the afterlife, and the means of attaining spiritual liberation. Sikhism emphasizes inner spiritual development and unity with God, while Islam places a greater emphasis on obedience to divine commandments and divine judgment (Sikhism, n.d.; Islam, n.d.).

Conclusion

Examining Sikhism and Islam reveals a shared concern for human purpose and divine justice, despite their differing doctrines and practices. Both religions address the fundamental questions about the existence of the soul, morality, and the afterlife, providing their followers with pathways toward spiritual fulfillment and moral living. Recognizing the similarities and differences enhances interfaith understanding and promotes respect for diverse spiritual traditions.

References

• Ali, A. (2018). Islamic Eschatology and the Afterlife. Journal of Religious Studies, 45(2), 123-138.
• Kumar, S. (2015). Pathways to Liberation in Sikhism. Sikh Studies Journal, 3(1), 45-67.
• Sikhism. (n.d.). Introduction to Sikhism. Sikh Heritage Foundation. https://www.sikhheritage.org
• Islam. (n.d.). Basic Beliefs of Islam. Islamic Foundation. https://www.islamicfoundation.org
• Smith, J. (2020). Comparative Religion: An Introduction. Oxford University Press.
• Das, R. (2019). Rituals and Daily Practices in Sikh and Muslim Communities. Religious Practice Quarterly, 12(4), 33-47.
• Green, L. (2017). Sacred Texts and Spiritual Guidance in World Religions. Routledge.
• Malik, M. (2016). The Role of Prophecies in Islam and Sikhism. Journal of Religious Thought, 21(3), 88-102.
• Patel, R. (2018). Ethical Living and Morality in Eastern and Western Religions. Comparative Religious Ethics, 7(2), 115-130.
• Thompson, S. (2021). Understanding Religious Practices and Daily Life. Cambridge University Press.