Hajj, Ids & Sunni and Shi'a Flashcards
What is Hajj?
Muslims should go to on pilgrimage to Makkah (the Hajj) at least once in their lifetime. This is one of the five pillars or duties of Islam.
Why is Hajj so important?
- Makkah is important because it is the site of the Kaaba which Muslims believe was built by the first man, Adam, as a house of God and later rebuilt on Allah’s instructions by Ibrahim.
- Muslims think of it as the first Mosque or place of worship in the world. Muslims face the Kaaba every time they pray.
- Makkah was Muhammad’s home town and where Islam started. It is where Muhammad received the revelation of the Qur’an from the angel in the cave.
- The Hajj shows the equality of all Muslims and brings Muslims from all over the world together. They all wear the same, pray together, walk around the Kaaba together, eat together and camp together.
- This experience changes the lives of many. Malcolm X changed his views of white people upon meeting white Muslims on the Hajj.
What happens on Hajj?
Before starting Hajj Muslims must complete the UMRAH - the lesser pilgrimage. This includes:
- Making a Tawaf - walking 7 times around the Kaaba
- Performing Sa’i - walking 7 times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
On Hajj:
- Everyone wears Ihram – two white unsewn pieces of cloth – to show that everyone is equal and to show purity. Pilgrims must not smoke, wear perfume, argue or have sex,
- Pilgrims spend the day on Mount Arafat (where Muhammad gave his farewell speech) praying for forgiveness. It is called the Mount of Mercy.
- Stones are thrown at three pillars (Jamraat) which represent Satan to show Muslims fighting evil together and they perform Tawaf and circle the Kaaba seven times.
- A sacrifice called a Qurbani is made - a sheep is slaughtered and the meat given to the poor.
- At the end of the Hajj some perform a halq & shave their heads to show a new beginning and fresh dedication to the way of Islam. Others will cut a lock of hair - this is called taqsir
What is Id-ul Adha?
The most important festival for Muslims
* Happens at end of Hajj but celebrated by Muslims all over the world, even if not on Hajj
* A sheep or goat is sacrificed and a third of the meat given to the poor. Modern Muslims give up something (make a sacrifice) give money to charity instead. This is called a QURBANI - a sacrifice.
* Muslims are remembering the story of Ibrahim being told to sacrifice his son Ismail but then hearing a voice from God
telling him to sacrifice a goat instead.
* The point is that Muslims should be able to sacrifice anything for Allah.
What is Id-ul Fitr?
Happens at end of Ramadan.
* Begins when the new moon can be seen.
* Muslims meet for special meals and go to the mosque to give prayers of thanks for completing the fast successfully, new clothes are worn, lights are put up in homes.
Cards are given saying “Id Mubarak” (Happy Id), special food and sweets are eaten, presents are given.
* Muslims pay Zakah during Ramadan to make sure that everyone has enough to celebrate.
* Muslims visit the cemetery to remember loved ones.
The sin of SHIRK is when a person worships something other than God. For most Muslims it is a
sin of shirk to show a picture of the Prophet Muhammad.Taqwa is the desire for personal connection with God. To live in a state of taqwa is to live in awareness of God.
What do Sunni muslims believe?
Sunni Muslims Believed that Abu Bakr should have taken over when Muhammad died in 632.
Sunni accept that there were four leaders following the death of Muhammad. They are Bak’r, Umar, Uthman and Ali. They are called the “rightly guided khalifahs”
90% of Muslims are Sunni.
They believe that leaders (imam) should be chosen by the community and are ordinary men. They are the leaders of Mosques today.
What do shi’a muslims believe?
Shi’a Muslims
Believed that Ali should have taken over when Muhammad died. Ali had married Muhammad’s daughter. They believed that the leader should be a descent of Muhammad and therefore after Ali, Ali’s son (Muhammad’s Grandson)
would take over.
Muhammad’s Grandson Hussain was killed in battle in Karbala in 680. Shi’a remember his death in the festival of Ashura when they cut themselves to re-enact his martyrdom. They also visit Karbala on pilgrimage and pray using a turbah - earth from where Ali’s son was murdered.
10% of Muslims are Shi’a. They have their own interpretations of Islamic laws and only accept teachings passed down through Ali and his followers. They believe that leaders (imam) are holy men. They believe that there have been 12 imams after Muhammad. They believe that the 12th Imam, the Mahdi, has been kept alive by Allah and will appear at the end of the world, along with Isa.
When they say the Shahadah Shi’a add “and I bear witness that Ali was a friend of God”
