Islam Flashcards
How many followers does Islam have and where are they situated?
1.9 billion muslims - 2nd biggest religion
majority of Muslims live in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa including about 4.1 million in the United Kingdom.
What is the origin and who is Allah?
follow the teachings of Muhammad who lived in Saudi
Arabia 1400 years ago
Islam means ‘submission’ and one who submits is called a Muslim
they believe that not only has Allah created all things but that Allah has also provided guidance to help all people live good lives
What are the two main groups of Islam?
Sunni and Shi’a
both agree on the fundamentals of Islam and share the same Holy Book (The Qur’an), but there are differences mostly derived from their different historical experiences, political and social developments.
How is submission shown to Allah?
-A sign of submission to Allah is ‘salah’ to pray five times a day in the direction of Makkah (where the Ka’bah is)
-must be washed and special gestures before prayer
-On Friday there is congregational prayer which
Muslims hold just after noon in the nearest mosque
-Ramadan during the ninth month of the Muslim
religious calendar. Devout Muslims fast from dawn to sunsetduring the entire month.
What are the key beliefs?
Tawhid: oneness of Alah, he created everything
Risalah: role of the prophets in islam such as moses and jesus
Akhirah: afterlife, judgement after death, paradise or eternal suffering
What is the symbolism of Islam?
combination of a crescent moon and a star.
What is a focal point is Islam?
brotherhood - Ummah: represents the eternal link and equality between all Muslims, supported by direction of prayer
muhammad appointed black slave as director of prayer
What are the problems with Ummah?
there is a lot of conflict between Sunni and Shia, lots of violence throughout middle east
What is Zakat?
the amount of money that every adult, mentally
stable, free, and financially able Muslim, male and
female, has to pay to support specific categories people
Who was Muhammad?
was the founder of Islam and the proclaimer of the Qurʾān, Islam’s sacred scripture. .
What is Allah?
Allah is the Arabic word for God; the creator. Muslims have 99 names for Allah.
What is salah?
The second of the Five Pillars in the Islamic faith, and an obligatory religious duty for
every Muslim. It is a physical, mental, and spiritual act of worship that is observed five
times every day at prescribed times.
What is Makkah?
Mecca, also spelled Makkah, is a city in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It has the
Holy site of Kaaba, where Muslims go on pilgrimage (hajj) once in their lifetime.
