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The Seven Features of the SMART Paradigm

The seven features of the SMART paradigm help illustrate a religion and culture that is often misunderstood in the West, Islam. Islam is an Arabic word meaning ôpeace, purity, acceptance and commitmentö (Fisher 1999, 354). With respect to doctrine, Islam holds that Allah (God) is the focus and sole authority of religion. Muhammad is GodÆs prophet, chosen by Allah to bring the world the message of AllahÆs love and devotion. Islamic doctrine acknowledges the ancient prophets of Israel as messengers of God, but does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as a prophet. Islamic doctrine also rejects the doctrine of the trinity in Christian religion. The QurÆan consists of the revelations given to Muhammad by Allah, forming the basis of all Islamic doctrine.

Socially, the Islamic culture is oriented toward collectivism, placing less emphasis on individual initiative or action. Islamic social culture tends to foster cooperative relationships among and between members, particularly within the context of family. This ethic runs through social, familial, and work aspects of socialization. Islamic culture accepts a significant power distance between, for example, a work and a manager or company owner or a family member and the head of the family. Such a power distance suggests that leaders make decisions because of status, but also that responses of workers or lower-level family members tend to be relatively automatic and exhibit a high degree of cooperation. Unconventional behavior is not accepted well in Islamic culture. Conformity and rigid behavioral and attitude expectations limit individual freedom of action as well as mobility. Within the family context, most Islamic family members believe that their first and most important loyalty lies with the family, then to a tribal group, and finally to the larger society.

From rituals involving prayer to dress, Islamic culture historically maintains many rituals of interaction. One<...

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The Seven Features of the SMART Paradigm. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 15:09, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1711776.html