Islam

Question 1

Akhirah:

Answer 1

belief in the final judgement and life after death

Question 2

Al- Qadr:

Answer 2

Muslim term for predestination

Question 3

Burkha:

Answer 3

a long, loose fitting clothing that covers the entire body which is compulsory for women in some islamic countries

Question 4

Hijab:

Answer 4

Often used to describe the headscarf worn by many women who are required to cover everything apart from face and hands

Question 5

id-ul-fitr:

Answer 5

Celebration of breaking the fast on the day after Ramadan ends

Question 6

Isa:

Answer 6

24th prophet of islam. muslims believe he is to be the messenger of God. Believed to have had a miraculous birth. He was a healer of the sick and foretold the coming of the final prophet

Question 7

Lesser jihad:

Answer 7

The word jihad means to ‘strive’. Lesser is a physical struggle or ‘holy war’ in defence of islam

Question 8

Mecca:

Answer 8

Islams holiest city, located in Saudi Arabia. Birth place of the prophet Muhammed and where islam originated. Site of the Ka’ba and destination of the annual Hajj. Muslims pray and worship towards mecca.

Question 9

Mosque:

Answer 9

a communal place of worship for the islamic community

Question 10

Muhammed:

Answer 10

The final prophet of islam, to whom the Qu’ran was revealed to.

Question 11

Prophet:

Answer 11

A messenger of Allah. The Qu’ran says theyre 25 prophets of islam, beginning with adam and ending with muhammed

Question 12

Ummah:

Answer 12

Means community and refers to the worldwide community of muslims who share a common religious identity.

Question 13

What is the line of communication between prophets and humans?

Answer 13

Risalah

Question 14

Describe prophet Muhammed life timeline:

Answer 14

Born in Mecca, 570 CE. Orphaned
Got married and had four children, 4 of which died
Was troubled by the corruption in Mecca
Night of power= angle jibril and Quran, revelations followed for 23 years
Began to preach his messages (only one God, thanks through worship, judgement day)
People did not accept his message
Moved away to Yathrib, he was accepted as a prophet (Hijrah)
By 630 CE he marched to the city of Mecca with 10,000 men and conquered the city.

Question 15

Describe Muslim beliefs about Al-Qadr:

Answer 15

God has a divine and master plan for all of us that is predestined
This is part of his plan for the world
God is omniscient and knows everything into great detail
Attitudes to Al-Qadr comes from the kutub
“if good is willing” phrase used to show submission into God and his will

Question 16

Describe Muslim beliefs about Akhirah:

Answer 16

Life on earth is preparation for life in the afterlife (akhirah)
Life is a test to peoples behaviour and all will be judged by the actions portrayed
Every human has free will and has the ability to make their own choices
God has given the Quran to guide people to live the life he intended them to live, as well as the Sunnah which is Muhammads actions
Judgement Day, all accountable for their actions

Question 17

What is Jannah?
When will it happen?
What is its purpose?

Answer 17

State of peace and joy, contains everything dreamed of on earth, Full of sparkling fountains, beautiful garden and delicious food, Some believe there are multiple levels that brings you closer to god “level appropriate to their deeds”

After the sounding of the trumpet by Israfil, the dead are raised and two angles will question each individual. People must recite the Shahadah and lived in full submission(five pillars)

Rewarding those who lived a faithful and moral life. Or for suffering persecution because of faith. Or for fighting in the cause of God.

Question 18

What is Jahannah
When will it happen?
What is the purpose?

Answer 18

Place of terror, boiling water and fire as well as suffering. Will suffer by being separated by God. Some believe there is redemption and if they repent they may go to paradise

After judgment people will cross a very narrow bridge (siraat), Those who collected more bad than good deeds will fall as they try to cross and fall into terror.

Punishment to those who failed to live faithfully and morally. Also used a deterrent from bad deeds.

Question 19

What is Niyyah?

Answer 19

Intentions

Question 20

What is Dunya?

Answer 20

Earthly life

Question 21

What is being tested by Dunya?

Answer 21

If we are greedy, lacking sympathy, mean or spiteful. Reactions to misfortune, to see if we are frightened or complaint or depressed. Our reaction to good, selfish, conceited, arrogant. Our way of life, dishonest, hurtful, open, loving

Question 22

Describe Barzakh:

Answer 22

State of waiting between Dunya and Akhirah, once in grave the deceased will be visited by two angels that will ask a series of questions to test their faith, even if one is answered incorrectly then the person will be beat and tortured until Allah will say stop. If all good then they will rest peacefully until Judgement day.

Question 23

Describe the features of a mosque:

Answer 23

Dome, while its not a ritual requirement some believe it may be symbolic of the vault of heaven
Minaret, tower attached to a mosque that serves as a place where to call to prayer is called, or nowadays it plays internally. also helps locate the mosque
Qibla wall, wall in prayer room that faces the ka’aba in mecca, helps reflect the sound of the prayers back into the prayer room
Mihrab, An alcove in the qibla wall which helps to identify it, required in all mosques, there to indicate where prayers must face
Minbar, a step of steps with a platform in the prayer room, The imam will stand here whilst performing Friday prayers, it enables him to be seen and heard clearly

Question 24

What is Hajj?

Answer 24

5 pillar of islam and is an obligatory act for those who can afford it and are fit to go. Is held for 5 days and it is required once in peoples life. It recognises key islamic events and to measure the uniqueness and powerfulness of God.

Question 25

Why is Mecca so significant?

Answer 25

It was the place where:

Ibrihim was gonna sacrifice ishmael
ibrahim was ordered to rebuild the Ka’bah as a place of worship to the one true God.
Remember the story of Muhammed

Question 26

Describe the practices and rituals involved in the pilgrimage:

Answer 26

Upon arrival, muslims must enter a state of purity (Ihram), where they dedicate themselves to prayer and they put on a special plain garment of white unsewn cloth. They are restricted from cutting their hair, nails and wear perfume or have sex.

They circle the Ka’bah seven times anticlockwise (Tawaf) and drink from the Zamzam well - this reminds them of ibrahims wife where she was desperate for water and an angel took her there. Pilgrims then spend the night and then throw pebbles at the three pillars to represent not giving in to the devils temptations. Sacrificing the animal represents the story (id-ul-Adha). Then men will also shave their heads to show the completion

Question 27

What is Id-ul-adha and how is it celebrated?

Answer 27

Festival of sacrifice, marks the end of Hajj, opportunity for all muslims to celebrate together, shows importance of personal sacrifice to God.
People will get gifts, new clothes, food prepared and arrangements for the sacrificed animal. Prayers will be said in the mosque and an Id prayer is heard. Friends and relatives join together. It is a sacred duty to give some of the meat to the poor.

Question 28

What is Id-ul-Fitr and how is it celebrated?

Answer 28

Festival of breaking the fast. Three days of joyful celebrating at the end of Ramadan. Reward for completing the fast. Thanks giving to God for giving Muslims strength to complete it.

Houses will be decorated with colourful banners and lights. New clothes bought. Prayers said and a sermon in mosque. relatives and friends join. Gifts and money given. Charity given.

Question 29

What is Laylat-ul-Qadr? and how is it celebrated?

Answer 29

Night of power, marks the date when Qu’ran was revealed.

Muslims stay up all night reciting the Quran. Pray and remember Gods mercy and forgiveness. Commit time to study and recite the Qur’an in greater depth.

Question 30

Reasons for wearing a headscarf/traditional clothing:

Answer 30

Some believe God had instructed them to do so as it commands modesty. Reflects personal devotion to God. Sign of Muslim identity. Many want to express that they can wear the headdress and still have a voice, often viewed as a sign of oppression. May be required in some countries as part of law.

“guard their private parts”
“Male attendants having no physical desire”