Exam 3 Worship and Ritual Islam

Question 1

What are the 6 pillars of Islam?

Answer 1

1) The Islamic testimony of faith (shahada)
2) Ritual prayer (salat)
3) Almsgiving (zakat)
4) The Ramadan fast
5) The hajj pilgrimage
6) Jihad (sometimes included)

Question 2

What is required for prayer?

Answer 2

Purification

Question 3

What are the two types of defilement?

Answer 3

1) minor
2) major

Question 4

What causes minor defilement and how is it eliminated?

Answer 4

caused by defecation, urination, sleep, bleeding, etc. eliminated by ablutions or dry ablutions.

Question 5

What causes major defilement and how is it eliminated?

Answer 5

Caused by sexual intercourse, menstruation, contact with a corpse, etc.
Eliminated by a full ritual bath.

Question 6

How many times a day is ritual prayer (salat) performed? How does it begin and with whom?

Answer 6

5 times per day, alone or in a group. Begins with the call to prayer (adhan).

Question 7

Who leads muslim group prayer and how is gender handled?

Answer 7

An Imam: usually a male.
Women and men separated.

Question 8

What varies from prayer to prayer?

Answer 8

Number of Rak’a (postures).

Question 9

What are the special Salat?

Answer 9

Friday congregational Salat, requires a male congregation of at least 3-40 males. Holidays, Funerals, Superogatory.

Question 10

What is almsgiving (zakat) and its purpose?

Answer 10

Regional tax on one’s wealth in order to purify it. Can be regulated or unregulated.

Question 11

Islamic Calendar

Question 12

When does the Ramadan Fast take place/begin/end?

Answer 12

During the entire month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar from damn prayer to sunset prayer. Begins with the sight of the new moon. Ends with feast of eid and alms for the poor.

Question 13

What month in the islamic calendar is ramadan?

Answer 13

Nine

Question 14

What is the “Night of Power”?

Answer 14

The night when the Quran was revealed.

Question 15

Where is the hajj pilgrimage to and for how long?

Answer 15

Mecca and 5-6 days.

Question 16

What does the white dress symbolize during the hajj?

Answer 16

A reminder of human morality.

Question 17

Who are the Hajj rites linked to?

Answer 17

Abraham and his family.

Question 18

What is the key act of the hajj?

Answer 18

The standing ceremony on the Mount of Mercy.

Question 19

What is Islamic Jihad?

Answer 19

Exertion or Struggle

Question 20

Two forms of Jihad and their origins?

Answer 20

Greater Jihad: battle against desires and sins (mecca)
lesser jihad: armed battle (medina)

Question 21

What are the islamic rights of passage?

Answer 21

Birth, Circumcision, Death

Question 22

When are children named after birth?

Answer 22

After seven days, often after revered muslims.

Question 23

What does the prefix ‘Abd’ mean?

Answer 23

Servant of God

Question 24

Is circumcision required?

Answer 24

No, but it is common.

Question 25

What happens to the corpse after death in muslim ritual?

Answer 25

Washing and burial.

Question 26

What is the goal of invocation of God?

Answer 26

Induce the divine presence and unification with God.

Question 27

What do the Sufis use as a mean to connect with God?

Answer 27

Music listening sessions. Qawwali as an example.