Expression of Faith

Question 1

What is the translation of SHAHADA?

Answer 1

Profession of Faith

Question 2

Which belief is Shahada the recitation of?

Answer 2

Recitation of the belief that “there is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger”.
Links to the Islamic belief ‘Tawhid’ - oneness of God.

Question 3

What is Shahada an assertion of?

Answer 3

An assertion of the fundamental unitarian monotheism central to Islam.

Question 4

What else does Shahada recognise?

Answer 4

The believer recognises Muhammad as God’s spokesperson (rusul) - the apostle who speaks God’s message - what Muhammad says, God says.

Question 5

Why is Shahada important for Muslims? (belief, teachings)

Answer 5

Attests to the believers commitment the worship of one god and to a pure ideal of monotheism
Commits the Muslim to undivided allegiance to God’s commandments
To confess this statement sincerely is to submit to all teachings of Islam.
A person becomes Muslim when they sincerely profess this statement in front of a witness.

Question 6

What is the translation of SALAT?

Answer 6

Daily Prayer

Question 7

How many times does one perform salat?

Answer 7

The performance of daily prayers 5 times a day
Dawn - Sunrise - Mid afternoon - sunset
Noon - Mid afternoon - Sunset - an hour after sunset
An hour after sunset - just before dawn

Question 8

What is the process of salat?

Answer 8

Salat begins with the statement of intent (Niyyat) and is structured according to the rak’ah/rak’at (plural) movements/words prescribed for prayer which shows increasing levels of submission to God.
Performed on a small mat - Sajjada
A Muslim prays by facing Mecca and the Ka’aba.
Before prayer, a Muslim washes themselves (wudu): Hands, feet, face, arm, wiping hair in a prescribed manner - be clean to commune with Allah.
Muslims go to a Mosque at noon on Fridays to pray with the Umma. Such acts compel the believers to become part of the social life of the community.
Those who are physically unwell or travelling are exempt where they are unable.

Question 9

How does Salat help Muslims?

Answer 9

Stopping during the day helps them be better Muslims, lessens stress and puts day into perspective.
Prayers help structure the day and maintain a connection with God.
Provide spiritual nourishment.
Provides guidance and peace of mind.

Question 10

What does Salat emphasise/reaffirm/require?

Answer 10

Reaffirms every day is a gift from God and Muslims should keep their minds on Him.
Expresses gratitude to Allah and love of Allah, reminding them of the greatness of God.
Prayers require the adherent to submit to the will of God.
Prayers emphasise the believers’ connection with God.

Question 11

What is the translation of ZAKAT?

Answer 11

Almsgiving/Charity

Question 12

What is Zakat?

Answer 12

Zakat is set at a rate of 2.5% of a Muslim’s annual savings or of the monies/possessions of those who had more than enough to meet their basic needs - different for different Muslim communities.

Question 13

Why is alms given? What is a quote from the Sura?

Answer 13

Alms are given to meet the needs of the faithful such as supporting widows, orphans and the poor.
“…and be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity. And whatever good you send forth for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah, for Allah sees well all that you do” (Sura 2:110).

Question 14

What does Zakat do to the worshipper in terms of wealth?

Answer 14

Zakat detaches the worshipper from the pangs of absolute attachment and ownership of wealth towards a more spiritually-healthy state.
This allows humans to see wealth as a form of sacred trust from God.

Question 15

What does Zakat do to the worshipper in terms of personality?

Answer 15

This results in a worshipper learning not to be selfish (spiritual transformation) and becomes compassionate towards other fellow human beings, especially when fasting. It checks one’s greed. A less greedy person works more sensibly and has a balanced life.

Question 16

What kind of mental state does a person paying Zakat have?

Answer 16

A person paying Zakat has a settled state of mind and is conscious knowing they have contributed positively to the lives of individuals and society as a whole.

Question 17

What is the translation of SAWM?

Answer 17

Fasting

Question 18

What do Muslims do during Fasting?

Answer 18

For one month each year, all Muslims (excluding the very young, old, sick or pregnant or those travelling long distances) must not eat, drink or engage in intimate relations between dawn and dusk.
When the sun sets, people can start eating again. During this time the Qur’an is read

Question 19

What is a quote from the Sura abt Sawm?

Answer 19

“O’ you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you are expected to be truly obedient” (Qur’an 2:183).

Question 20

What does Sawm test? What is it a reminder of? What does it demonstrate?

Answer 20

The sacrifices test the spirit, discipline, will, encouraging a sense of religious duty and dependence.
Sacrifice serves as a reminder of the hunger for the poor, fostering unity and fraternity in the Umma.
Demonstrates devotion to Allah by overcoming the basic needs of the body and ego as a show of faith.

Question 21

What does Sawm allow the worshipper to understand?

Answer 21

Fasting enables the rich to feel what it means to be hungry and not be able to buy the food they want. Hence the rich will be more inclined to give to charity when they fast.
This builds up a relationship between the rich and the poor, helping to build social harmony.

Question 22

What is the translation of HAJJ?

Answer 22

Pilgrimage

Question 23

What is Hajj?

Answer 23

Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca, the center of Islam.
A Pilgrimage is a religious/spiritual journey - a pilgrim adopts humble conditions in order to focus on their spiritual development.

Question 24

What occurs during Hajj? What happens once a pilgrim arrives in Mecca?

Answer 24

During Hajj, a pilgrim wears two pieces of clothes irrespective of wealth, to denote equality.
It is a nine-day devotional experience - Hajj means ‘to set out for a place’.
All Muslims who are physically able and have enough money, should travel to Mecca at least once in their lives to perform Hajj. For those that cannot afford the pilgrimage, it is customary for a group to pool their resources and send one of their number to represent them all.
Once a pilgrim gets to Mecca, they go to the sacred Mosque, they circumambulate (walk around as an act of worship), the Ka’aba seven times and then visit the plains of Mount Arafat - where Adam and Eve repented and received forgiveness for their mistakes.

Question 25

What does Hajj do for Muslims?

Answer 25

Hajj creates a great coming together of humanity, evoking an idea of the last judgement - al-Akhira: people going equally before Allah
Hajj is the realisation of the universality of Islam - all races and nationalities united under Islam.
Hajj teaches Muslims to worship God collectively by obeying the call of God in large numbers - the central aims of worship is exalting, glorifying and praising God individually and collectively.

Question 26

What is a quote about Hajj from the Hadith?

Answer 26

“rid themselves of their sins and attain the sinless state of newborn”