Islam Flashcards

Question

One Signifcant practice Hajj Hajj expresses the beliefs of Islam Belief - Tawhid (belief in the oneness of God)

Answer 1

- The essence of Islam is to submit to the will of Allah - Tawhid expresses the monotheism encompassed in Islam - It forbids Muslims in believing in more than one God (polytheism) - Tawhid is the foundation for everything, meaning Allah is omnipotent (unlimited power) and omnipresent (present everywhere) - Allah is the sustainer and source of guidance Hajj Ritual - Tawaf Keeping the Ka bah in the centre signifies keeping Allah in the focal point of adherents life The black stone is the only remaining stone preserved from the original Ka bah. Muslims do not associate any supernatural powers with the black stone but take it as a symbol of God’s unity There is a deep significance behind the choice of seven rotations around Kaaba, in the Arabic language the number 7 means completion. According to the holy Quran, there are seven heavens in the entire universe. The first chapter of the Holy Quran is considered to complete the entire of the Islamic teachings and contains seven verses. There are seven days in a week, additionally there are seven gates of hell. By completing each circuit with pure intentions, pilgrims symbolically close the gates of hell one by one and subside all forms of evil.

Answer 2

- Angels of Allah is part of the fundamental of Islamic faith - Mala’ika are special invisible creatures of Allah which were created before Adam for the sole purpose of obedience to Allah - Allah uses angela as his messengers - Angel Jibril (Gabriel) carried Wahi (messenger of Allah) to Muhammad for a period of almost 23 years. These messages contained the holy Quran Hajj ritual - A fast walk between Safa and Marwa (Sa’y) Ritual centred on the traditional of Hagar and Ismail’s wandering in the desert looking for water The angel Jibril appeared and showed her a spring. The spring became the water supply for desert travellers. The city of Mecca came to be built at the location. Allah aided Hagar and Ismail at their greatest time of need. Pilgrims travel on the walkway between the hills of Safa and Marwah which symbolises the search for things of true and lasting value to the Muslim. It is also the ultimate realisation that Allah will provide all that is needed

Answer 3

- Clarifying to humanity the purpose of creation - worshipping God and obeying his commands as well as clarifying that this life is a test for each individual, a test which results in the decision of ones life after death - Providing human beings practical examples to lead moral, righteous, and purpose driven lives free of doubts and confusion Purifying the soul from materialism, sin and heedlessness - Establishing evidence against humanity by sending prophets so people will not have an excuse when they will be questioned on the Day of Judgement. They will not be able to portray ignorance to the purpose of their creation and life after death Hajj ritual - The Feast of Sacrifice (Nahr) - Sacrifice symbolises the preparedness of Muslims to sacrifice all personal needs, wants and aspirations in service of Allah - A Muslims life is totally at the service of Allah even to the cost of one’s own life if necessary - The sacrifice calls to mind Ibrahim's submit to Allah in resisting the temptations of the devil and being prepared to sacrifice his son (Isma’il) - Ibrahim was visited by the devil as he set for Medina in obedience to Allah - The devil argue powerfully that Ibrahim did not need to sacrifice his son - Ibrahim remained faithful to Allah and continued his way to offer Isam’il as a sacrifice only to be stopped by Allah at the last moment

Answer 4

- Al Akhira (Day of Judgement) - Believing in Akhirah (life after death) is one of the basic components of faith - According to Islamic Shariah Akhirah is the Day of judgement when each individual will be judged for their deeds in the world - To believe in Akhirah means that this world will end one day and everyone will be gathered before Allah on the Day of Judgement - Those who followed the path set by Allah will be rewarded and those who did not will be punished Hajj Ritual - The Stand Before Allah (Wuquf) The central moment of Hajj is known as the Wuquf. This takes place at Arafat at the mount of mercy Pilgrims meditate, pray and concentrate their thoughts on Allah during the stand The sermon is preached on the top of Arafat. The mount of mercy is where Adam and Even sought restoration and forgiveness Pilgrims seek forgiveness of their sins and experience at the beginning of new life Great repentance as part of the Hajj takes away all past sins and allows the muslim Pilgrim to feel cleansed and free form past transgression., this means a new start and a great sense of peace and wellbeing is perfect to submit to Allah The word Arafat “awareness” and pilgrims feel a tremendous presence of God almighty there

Answer 5

Hajj is undertaken for Allah and the fulfilment of the duty prescribed to Allah. This aids individuals to become “Whole” once again after cleansing themselves of the many sins they accumulate over the course of their lives These are all signs of certain inner qualities; that you love and fear Allah more than anything, you will have a strong sense of duty to Him, that you are willing to respond to his summons and ready to sacrifice your material comforts in his cause. Hajj helps keep alive the memory of humanity’s final standing for judgement before their Lord and Judge Each step within Hajj highlights the importance and sacrifice each individual is willing to take for these specific outcomes. Successful completion of Hajj promotes Quranic fulfilment and purification of faith Hajj reinforces beliefs of Islam such as Angels and Sa’y through devout, reconnect and strengthening personal relationship with Allah and cleansing conscience “Praying at Mount of Mercy "The reward for Hajj is nothing but Paradise” - Hadith

Answer 6

Hajj aids adherents to break various barriers such as race, language, ethnicity and colour that causes a division and helps them create a unity of single human family based on the recognition of Allah as the creator and sustainer of all life. Unification of people’s minds and hearts towards the same purposes “ to please Allah and to have sins forgiven” The prayers on the plain of Arafat (Stand before Allah) creates a sense of equality with humankind for the individual as all pray amongst one another, laying bare souls before Allah through their own individual prayers During the ritual, all participants experience the extent of complete physical submission to allah, regardless of who they are This is prominent in creating a sense of equality for the individual as it shows that all Muslims have the same duty to completely submit to the will of Allah The Ihram garments (white cloth) represent the equality of individuals before Allah. This encourages individuals through a deepened understanding of Allah’s judgement to value each member of the Umma and wider Muslim community equally. The ritual of Tawaf unites individuals in circumambulation of the Ka Bah under the shared purpose of keeping Allah central in life “Common prayer on Arafat” - “There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah, his alone and has no partner” - repeated

Answer 7

Hajj is one of the 5 pillars of Islam Pillars guide the Muslim in the way of submission to the will of Allah. Hajj is the perfection of faith, and combines itself all the distinctive qualities of other obligatory acts of prayer, patience, privation of amenities of life, devotion, zakat, sacrifice and supplication Shahada - is expressed through Tawar - declaration of faith as the pilgrims circumambulate the Ka bah (here i am at your service Of God, here I am) Salat - E xpressed on the plains of Arafat through reflection, meditation and prayer and seeking forgiveness. This is pilgrims’ direct communication with Allah Zakat - Zakat is expressed through Nahr where pilgrims organise and pay for a sacrificed animal, where meat is distributed to family and poor Sawm - is expressed through moderation of behaviour throughout Hajj y being state of Ihram (sacred state) “Whoever performs Hajj and stays away from lewdness, wrangling and obscenities will come home like a newborn” Hadith

Answer 8

The pilgrim of hajj is trained to completely forget materialistic comforts and glamour’s of the worldly life Avoids using oil, scent, perfume. Wearing only two pieces of unsown cloth, does not cut hairs and nails, he keeps himself busy day and night worshipping Allah and carrying out the rituals of Hajj Take off your colourful clothes, put on simple ones, Do not wear socks, keep hands bare, do not use perfume or comb hair, do not use any kind of adornment. Stop sexual relations. Do not unt. Ths influences an adherent to adopt an attitude of self-discipline and pride and vanity will disappear Putting a pilgrim in Ihram (scared state of mind) symbolises the positions that the pilgrim puts himself in the world before God, they must come as a beggar and destitute as in outward appearance so in the depths of your heart. “You are all sons of Adam and Adam is created from dust” All adherents are equally humbled before Allah

Answer 9

The Hajj attracts over two million Muslims from countries throughout the world. Hajj promotes a profound overwhelming sense of diversity of Islam Hajj promotes the submission to the will of Allah and reassurance of his omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and omnipresence When Muslims perform hajj, a community of adherents are professing truth of the human story as well as Allah’s commission Stand before Allah on Arafat connects pilgrims at the beginning of human story (Adam and eve) On the plain Arafat, Adam and eve were given by Allah after wandering on Earth in concussion ad unhappiness Adherents gather in this spot annually in order to seek this same forgiveness and to be cleansed. Throwing stones are the three pillars in Mina showing defiance against the devil’s temptations showing Allah an act of faith By doing this and partaking in hajj their faith is strengthened and they are able to submit to Allah through hajj and show complete faith to him “O people! Your lord is on, your father is one. You are all sons of Adam and Adam is created from dust” - Prophet Muhammad

Answer 10

Hajj shows he unifying power of Islam The particular nature of Hajj means that pilgrims mix across the lines of ethnicity, nationally, sect and gender that divides them in everyday life Through performing the rituals of Hajj, adherents are reminded how Muhammad and other prophets were able to establish a deep and personal relationship with God Hajj strengthens spirit of unity, equality, brotherhood and sisterhood within the World Wide umma Hajj is a unifying experience for Muslims : Ihram - during the state of Ihram money, status is no longer important which ensure equality of a person before Allahl during the hajj Tawaf - the whole community moving together Sa’y - walking in unity between Safa and Marwa Wuquf - reminder of the day of judgement The rituals provide pilgrims with perfect uninterrupted experience of Islamic values (peace, equality, reverence and humility “The pilgrimage also enables Muslims from all around the world of different colours, languages, race and ethnicities to come together in spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood to worship the one God together” - The Council on Islamic Education

Answer 11

The connection of the community with a pilgrim undertaking the Hajj provides an additional element of spiritual and community focus during the time of Hajj means to strength and deep umma life Before Hajj, Muslims should redress all wrongs, pay all debts, plan enough money for their journey, leave enough money for their family and behave well on Hajj Umma is involved with the preparation of pilgrims before they leave Community involved in supporting family member of the pilgrim Nahr - the giving to the community (sacrifice) Living religion through physical rituals - Nahr outside mecca, animals are sacrificed to show how Allah provided an animals so Abraham did not have to sacrifice Ishamel The meat is used to feed pilgrims and is sent to poor in other countries Zakat is expressed through Nahr where pilgrims pay and organise beast to be slaughtered and shared Sacred sites in hajj Medina and Mosque of the prophet Medina is considered a special place in the heart of Muslims as it was the first city to welcome Muhammad The Mosque of the prophet Medina contains Muhammads grave and graves of first 2 caliphs “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give charity and obey Allah and his messenger” - Surat al-Tawbah 9:71

Answer 12

Honorific titles of Hajji (men) and Hajja (women) Hajji and Hajja often given special respect in Umma Eid Al- Adha (festival of sacrifice) commemorates accomplishment and special opportunity to have social gathering among family and friends. It is a special atmosphere of peace, respect and giving and receiving as well as sharing and caring Hajji and Hajja speak of spiritual uplift as well as feeling positive mentally and emotionally. They pray that such inspiration will remain an ongoing source of spiritual connection and motivation. Paramount witness to the essence of Islam and the principles of Islam expressed in undertaking the Hajj Upon return, the Hajji shares stories and experiences with their local community providing means and strength to umma “So when you have accomplished your rites of Hajj, remember Allah so you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance” - AlBaqarah 2:200