For this blog post I decided to explore the importance of the five pillars of Islam and how examples of the five pillars of Islam are illustrated in the text. The five pillars of Islam are the foundation and framework of the lifestyle of a devoted Muslim. These pillars are 1) Shahada (testimony of faith), 2) Salah (prayer), 3) Zakat (giving to those that are less fortunate), 4) Sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan), and lastly, 5) Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca).

The Quran emphasizes on the importance of how there is only ONE God and there is no other, he is above everything and everyone and has no son; this ties into Shahada, in declaring ones faith in Islam, one must understand and believe that there is only one true God. Also, when it comes to Salah, the only way that a Muslims prayer is acknowledged is when they are facing the Kaaba. The Kaaba, the central point of the pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place during “the sacred month” of the hajj, was originally established by Abraham as a place to worship the one true God, and now Muslims always face it when they pray.

For this blog post I decided to answer one of the discussion questions on The Classic of Poetry. The question is “how do repetition and variation function in the poems? Think in terms of the analogies the poems draw between natural and human cycles.” Now I believe that repetition and variation emphasizes melodic rhythm and highlights certain words or phases to show its importance and cater to its meaning. A great example of this is the poem “Plums Are Falling.” This poem describes a woman’s journey of finding a suitable man for herself. The recurring line Plums are falling signifies the decreasing amount of available men that she is capable of marrying. In the first stanza, she states ‘seven are the fruits’ and in the second stanza ‘three are the fruits,’ referencing that as time goes by, the chances of finding that right one is getting smaller and smaller.

Also the poem “Peach Tree Soft and Tender” is a great example of repetition and variation is utilized. This poem is depicts the life of woman as she transitions into being a wife and her obligations to her family (home). The line ‘Peach Tree Soft and Tender’ symbolizes the woman. The beginning of the first stanza, ‘Peach tree soft and tender, how your blossoms glows’ relates to the young lady being in the process of growing in to a woman; the beginning of the second stanza ‘Peach tree soft and tender, plump, the ripening fruit’ relates to the young lady in her prime getting ready for marriage; and lastly the beginning of the third stanza ‘Peach tree soft and tender, its leaves spread thick and full’ illustrates the young lady as a fully blossomed woman and her succeeding as a wife, mother and daughter.

These examples of repetition show the realities of what it means to be a woman, more so the cycle of being a woman. The poem “Peach Tree Soft and Tender” seems to describe the overall process of being a woman whereas the “Plums Are Falling” specifically sheds light on the process of getting a husband and becoming a wife, hoping to get the right one in the end.