GCSE : Islam Practices Flashcards
5 Pillars of Sunni Islam
- Shahadah - declaration of faith
- Salah - prayer
- Zakah - Charitable giving
- Sawm - Fasting
- Hajj - Pilgrimage
10 Obligatory Acts Shi’a Islam
- Salah
- Sawm
- Zakah
- Khums
- Hajj
- Jihad
- Amr-bil-Maruf
- Nahi Anil Munkar
- Tawallah
- Tabarra
Shahadah
Declaration of Muslim faith.
- In Shi’a Islam, they further believe that Ali, Muhammad’s cousin, was the true successor
Salah
- Daily Prayers
- 5 times a day
What is Ablution (wudu)?
Spiritual, ritual washing before prayer to bring about spiritual cleanliness.
Allows Muslims to fully focus on God during prayer, submits themselves to God.
Qur’an : “When you are about to pray, wash your faces and your hands”
If no water is available, one may do it with sand or dust.
When should Muslims pray?
Fajr - Just before sunrise Zuhr - Just after midday Asr - Afternoon Maghrib - Just after sunset Isha - Night
In which direction should Muslims pray?
Facing towards MECCA.
This way they can fully focus on one place associated with God
What is a Mihrab?
A symbol built into a Qiblah wall to identify the direction of Mecca
What is the Rak’ah?
Sequence of actions and recitations a Muslim performs during prayer
During prayer, what happens during standing?
Muslims recite first chapter from Qur’an
During prayer, what happens during bowing?
Muslims say in Arabic ‘Glory be to my God who is the very greatest’ three times
Bowing shows that they believe God to be great, respect
During prayer, what happens during returning to an upright position
Muslims make a recitation praising God
During prayer, what happens when they kneel with their forehead, nose, hands, knees and toes touching the ground?
- Prostration
- Shows complete obedience to God
- Recite ‘How perfect is my Lord the most high’
During prayer, what happens during sitting?
- “god is the greatest” is recited
During prayer, what happens during turning right and left?
- “Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God” is recited
What is the Jummah prayer?
- Midday prayer every Friday
- Muslims expected to attend a Mosque for this prayer
- Imam delivers a sermon, reminding them of their obligations and duties to God
- “Hurry towards the reminder of God and leave off your trading” - Qur’an
How must prayer at home be conducted?
- Clean room
- With a prayer mat
- Conduct Wudu (ablution)
- Facing Mecca
What is the significance of prayer?
- What God has commanded them to do
- Recognises God as great
- Shows respect
- Social
- Strengthens relationship with God if they are seen to be doing their duties
What is Sawm?
Fasting during Ramadan
- Muslims cannot eat or drink during daylight hours
- No smoking or sex during daylight hours
Why is Sawm significant to a Muslim?
- Demonstrates their love for God
- Shows they can make huge sacrifices of their physical needs as evidence for their submission to God
- Cleanses Muslim’s souls and free it from harm
- Also reminds them of how the poor feel
- The greater awareness inspires Muslims to help the poor
- Some Muslims pay Zakah during Ramadan
When can Sawm be excused?
Health reasons, including
- Pregnant women
- Mothers nursing babies
- Children
- Ill people
What is the Night of Power?
A festival marking the beginning of God’s revelation of Muhammad by angel Jibril telling Muhammad the first verses of the Qur’an
“Read, in the name of your Lord who created”
“The Night of Glory is better than a thousand Months”
Significance of Night of Power?
“The night of Glory is better than a thousand Months”
Observing Night of Power gives Muslims the spiritual benefits of worshipping for a thousand months.
Muslims try to keep awake throughout these nights, devoting themselves to prayers and studying the Quran to submit themselves to God
What is Zakah?
- Third Pillar of Islam
- Giving Alms (money to the poor)
- For Muslims who have enough savings, it is compulsory to give 2.5% of their savings every year to help the poor
“God is well aware of whatever good you do”
What is the importance of Zakah?
- Fulfilling a duty imposed by God
- Obeying the Qur’an strengthens relationship with God
- Learn to share money and not to be greedy
- Links to Salah where one should care for others
- Brings people out of poverty, unites community
What is Sadaqah?
When a Muslim voluntarily gives their money and time to charity at any point of the year
What is Khums?
- A Shi’a Islam practice
- Addition to giving Zakah
- 20% of income that is donated to religious leaders
- This allows God’s money to be spent on religious matters, while the rest is for charity or the poor
What is Hajj?
- 5th Pillar of Sunni Islam
- 5th Obligatory Act of Shi’a
- A pilgrimage journey that must be made at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime
“Pilgrimage to the house is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it”
Origins of Hajj?
- Ibrahim and his wife and son (Hajira and Ishmael) went to Arabia
- They struggled and nearly died from hunger and dehydration
- Ishmael stuck his foot in the ground which spouted water
- On their return, God instructed Ibrahim to build the Ka’aba
- This is now a place of worship in Mecca
How is hajj performed? (long)
Entering a state of Ihram
- Ritual washing, prayer, clothing (two sheets of white cloth for men and women wear clothes of a single colour that cover their whole body but leave their face open) (this is a symbol for equality)
Circling the Ka’aba
- Anticlockwise direction
- Seven times
- Touch the black stone built into the Ka’aba, or raise their hand to acknowledge it
- Stone is of significance, some believe it came from paradise, and so when touched it allows Muslims a path to paradise
Travelling to Arafat
- 13 mile walk to Arafat
- Halfway they stop for the night at Mina, where they pray and read the Qur’an
Standing at Arafat
- Pilgrims walk to Mina, where Muhammad preached his last Sermon
- The heat of the sun reminds them of what the day of judgement will be like
- Some Muslims spend the whole afternoon standing in order to show the depth of their faith
- ISLAM TEACHES THAT GOD WILL FORGIVE THE SINS OF ALL WHO COMPLETE THE STANDING OF ARAFAT, but only if they know what they did wrong, and if they are determined not to do wrong again to make up for their sins
Throwing Pebbles at Mina
- Muslims walk to Muzdalifah where they sleep
- They collect 49 pebbles to throw at the Jamarat, which are walls representing the DEVIL and TEMPTATION
- This shows that they reject evil
- An animal is then sacrificed, where the leftovers are given to the poor
- Pilgrims then cut their hair
Returning to Mecca
- Muslims then return to Mecca to circle the Ka’aba seven more times
- Then return to Mina to spend two more nights there, remembering God and his blessings
How is Hajj performed? (simple)
- Entering a state of Ihram
- Circling the Ka’aba
- Travelling to Arafat
- Standing at Arafat
- Throwing pebbles at Mina
- Returning to Mecca
Significance of Hajj?
- Brings about a spiritual transformation that makes the Hajji a much better person
- Teaches sincerity and humility in a person’s relationship with God
- They become more aware that God is with them and watching them
- Self discipline, physical and mental sacrifice in submission of God
- Symbolic of unity and equality
- Inner peace
- FORGIVENESS OF SINS
- CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH ALLAH
- AKHIRAH
What is the Jihad?
A struggle against evil, whether it be a personal struggle or an collective struggle for all Muslims
What is the Greater Jihad?
personal inward struggle of all Muslims to live in line with the teachings of their faith
What can be done about the Greater Jihad?
Observe the 5 pillars of Islam, which brings them closer to God
What is the Lesser Jihad?
Outward struggle to defend one’s faith, family and country from threat
“This is my path, leading straight, so follow it”
What is Holy War?
Fighting for a religious cause or God, probably controlled by a religious leader
What can the Lesser Jihad cause?
- Terrorism
- Misinterpretation of lesser Jihad can cause unjust violence
- However conditions for the declaration are the same as conditions for a HOLY WAR
What is Id-Ul-Fitr?
A Muslim festival that celebrates the end of Ramadan
What is Id-Uh-Adha?
A Muslim festival that celebrates the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his Son to God
Significance of Id-ul-Fitr?
- Thanking God for the strength and help he has given them
- Thanking God for his wisdom and guidance through Ramadan
How is Id-ul-Fitr celebrated?
- One, two or three days
- Special prayers in mosques or outdoor areas
- Homes are decorated
- Poor is helped
- Forgiveness
Significance of Id-ul-Adha?
- Recognises Ibrahim’s sacrifice
- Demonstrates the lengths which Muslims must take to submit themselves to Allah
Origins of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha
Muhammad stated that God had appointed two days in the year that are best to celebrate.
These were the days if Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha
How is Id-ul-Adha celebrated?
- Prayers in Mosque
- Animals are sacrificed to remember Ibrahim’s sacrifice
- Donations to the poor
What is the Day of Ashura?
A festival that is important for Shi’a Muslims in particular, who remember the battle of Karbala and the death of Husayn, the Son of Imam Ali and grandson of Muhammad
Significance of Ashura?
- Seen as a symbol of struggle against injustice and oppression
- Symbolic for Husayn’s death in war
How is Ashura celebrated?
- Cutting themselves
- Bashing themselves with chains
- Cutting baby’s heads
- Gathering
- Bloodshed, beating
