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 "peace, purity, acceptance and commitment" (Fisher 1999, 354). With respect to doctrine, Islam holds that Allah (God) is the focus and sole authority of religion. Muhammad is God's prophet, chosen by Allah to bring the world the message of Allah's 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 Qur'an 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 beh

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