Islam

Question 1

Prophet Muhammad

Answer 1

Prophet Muhammad started the Islamic faith after an spiritual encounter with an angel. The angel gave him instructions from Allah (God) on how to live.

Question 2

Five Pillars

Answer 2

The Five Pillars is a way to summarise the key practices that Muslims follow in their life.

Question 3

Hajj

Answer 3

Hajj is a special spiritual journey that Muslims are expected to take at least once in their life. The journey takes Muslims to important sites in their faith including the Plain of Mina.

Question 4

Sawm

Answer 4

Sawm is fasting, no food or drink is consumed during the month of Ramadan during daylight. This is done as a way to ask God of forgiveness for sins (bad deeds).

Question 5

Kaaba

Answer 5

The Ka’ba is the most holy temple in Islam, it was cleared of idols (fake gods) by Prophet Muhammad and is the centre of worship during Hajj. It is located in Mecca

Question 6

Zakat

Answer 6

Each year Muslims are expected to give a fixed portion of their money to charity like helping the poor. In this way they believe their wealth is ‘made pure’.

Question 7

Shahadah

Answer 7

Worshipping the one God is the most important action of Muslims, a daily routine will be to focus on him by believing and saying the words “There is no God except Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger for Allah”

Question 8

Hijab

Answer 8

The hijab is one type of head covering which is intended to promote modesty.

Question 9

The Qur’an

Answer 9

The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam. Muslims treat it with great respect, keeping it clean and above all other books.

Question 10

Sunni and Shi’a

Answer 10

There are 2 main groups within Islam, Sunni is the largest. Both groups share ideas about Allah being one, but place emphasis on different aspects of the faith which they feel are most important.