Islam Flashcards
What does Islam mean?
“Submission to God”
- Creed: Shahadah (There is no god but God, and Muhammad, peace be upon, is the messenger of God)
Origins?
- Last prophet, Muhammed
- In his time, Arabia was in polytheism and idolatry (placed in Ka’bah, originally made by Abraham to honour God)
- Old Arabia= ruling tribes, merchants, salesmen (rivalry, bloodshed, invading clans, breaking alliance, women= social ladder
- Muhammad was a hardworking merchant, distaste for idolatry
- While Muhammad was in a cave, Allah (God) sent revelations through archangel Gabriel
- Revelations proclaim HIs oneness and need for all beings to submit to their faith, worship and live righteously
- Travels to Makkah, and preach
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
Shahadah, salat, zakah, sawm, hajj
Explain shahadah
Profession of faith
Explain salat
Aspect of observing prayer every day, prayer 5 times daily
Explain zakah
The charity within each Muslim
Explain sawm
Conceptualization of fasting during Ramadan
Explain hajj
Holy pilgrimage to Makah
Holy place of worship?
Mosque
- Holiest place of worship for Muslims (aside from Kaabah)
- Exemplary of good deeds, perform prayers and observe/reflect faith
- Imam lectures before and after prayers
- Wudu is done before prayer, required to clean themselves before each of the five prayers
- Fridays
- Take off shoes
- No seats
- Men and women separate
What is an Imam?
Spiritual teacher, lectures before and after prayers
What is wudu?
Cleansing before a prayer
When do Muslims pray?
At dawn, noon, mid afternoon, sunset, evening
Holy book?
Qur’an
- Revered, word of God passed from Angel Gabriel to prophet Muhammad
- One of the only books not changed upon its revelation due to strict oral reverence
- Idyllic faith and practice for Muslims, 114+ surahs (chapters)
- Orally
What is the Kaabah?
Holiest place of worship
- Building located in Makah, Saudi Arabia
- Adam’s original place of worship, built by Abraham
- Largest sight of pilgrimage, pillar of Islam
- Formally known as Hajj
- All Muslims must complete pilgrimage once in their lifetime
Jihad meaning?
Effort to strive, survive and struggle
Hadith meaning?
Tradition based on teachings sayings of Prophet, second source law
Hijrah meaning?
Migration of Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah
Mi’raj meaning?
Muhammad ascension into Heaven
Beliefs?
- Not called on to compel anyone to believe in what they believe
- Align oneself with the will of God is part of one’s inner struggles
- Shahada (central to Islam)
- Muslims owe their faith to Muhammad
- Allah is the creator and master of all, rules over Heaven and Earth (nothing moves without his permission), every present and compassionate to lead us to knowledge and fulfillment, surrendering to God is the only answer
- Every person has a soul, and will be sent to Paradise or Hell (evil deeds= Hell)
- Judgement day
Hell?
Abode of great torments and anguish, avoided by submitting to Allah and obeying His commands (based on intentions and motives)
Symbols?
- No symbols, Muhammad denied the use of pictures/sculptures of animals or humans
- Some symbols represent Muslim nations
Ramadan?
Draw Muslims closer to Allah, develop piety, patience and preservice (dawn to sunset)
Eid Al-fitr?
1st day of the 10th month of the Islamic year
- End of fasting month (Ramadan) and marks spiritual and moral renewal for Muslims
Eid-al-Adha?
- Festival of Sacrafice
- Tenth day of 12th month of Islamic calendar
- Abraham’s submission to the will of Allah, and willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael
Milas ul-Nabi?
- Mohammad’s birth, 12th day of the third month of Islamic calendar
Mi’raj?
- Night Journey/ascension where Muhammad was taken by Gabriel from Makkah to Jerusalem, then to Heaven
- 27th month of Rajab (7th month)
New Year?
First day of Muarram, first month of Islamic calendar
Shi’ah Observance of Muharram?
- First ten days of Muslim New Year, celebrated by Shi’ahs
- Commemorates son of Ali (grandson of Muhammad), killed battle of Karbala
Milestones?
Aqiqahl, marriage, divorce, death
Aqiqahl?
Name giving ceremony
- Seven days after birth
- Abdullah (servant of God)
- Abdur- Rahman (servant of Merciful One)
- Either family name, or Muhammad’s names
- Hair cut
- Sacrifice goat/sheep
Marriage? (milestone)
- Union between man and women
- Contractual
- Voluntary
- Meant to have a strong, compassionate, polite family (live will of Allah)
- Some are polygamous
Divorce?
- Last resort, discouraged
Death (milestone)
- Burial on day of death
- Recitation of chapters from Qu’ran
- Mourning period- 3 days
- Deceased visited by two angels
Duties?
Fasting, charity, prayer, abstaining from evil
Internal duties: faith, gratitude to God, sincerity, freedom from egotism (sufism)
Divisions in Islam?
Sunni and shi’ah
Explain Sunni
- 85% of Muslims
- “Well-trodden path”
- Muhammad= the last Prophet
- Follows traditions of Muhammad and his example, and 4 schools of Sunni law: Hanafi, Shafi’l, Hanabali, Maliki
Explain Shi’ah
- “party of Ali”
- Believes prior to death of Muhammad, he chose his son in law (Ali) to be his successor
- After Muhammad’s death, series of infallible leaders (Imams) take charge of Islam
- Small group
Sheikh role?
Recite Qu’ran, blesses at mosque
Women’s role?
Men are providers for women
- Supporters, obedient and serve husbands
- Allowed to choose own husband
- Loyalty and dedication to husband (only Muslim husbands)
