Islam Flashcards
Scene of Pre-Islamic Arabia
- Desert region
- Trade
- Mecca was most important city presence of Ka’bah and Hajj
- Hanif’s would go reflect and meditate in caves find purity
Who is Muhammad?
- Seal of prophets (last one)
- Founder of Islam received revelations from God over 23 years (messenger)
- Earned a reputation for being Alamin (trustworthy) and a settler of disputes
Why is Muhammad a role model?
- Looked up to as what Muslims should aim to model in order to become good Muslims
- Prime example of one who submits themselves to Allah
- Hadith is used to learn from wisdom and actions of the prophet
- Great, distinguished leader
6 Principal beliefs
Tawhid, Maliki (angels), Qur’an, Rusul, Akhira and Al-Qadar
Significance of Qur’an
- People of book revealed sacred word of Allah
- Provided to Muhammad by Angel Gabriel
- Defines belief and conduct
- Contains ultimate guidance for mankind and gives spiritual direction
What is the Hadith?
Collection of traditions of the words and deeds of Muhammad – details how to live out the Qur’an.
5 Pillars
Shahadah declaration of faith Salat pray 5 times a day Zakat give 2.5% of earnings to charity Sawm fasting during Ramadan Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca
Importance of 5 pillars
• 5 pillars unite Muslim community (Ummah)
• Aim of closeness to God
Beliefs are expressed through pillars
Belief and Pillar Links
- Tawhid & Shahadah
- Salat & Akira
- Zakat & Al – Qadar
- Sawm & Al- Qadar
- Hajj & Tawhid
What is Islamic Jurisprudence?
Theory of law applied in a particular country
Comprehensive and covers every area of life
Islamic ethics (order of importance)
- Qur’an
- Sunna + Hadith
- Ijma – consensus amongst religious leaders
- Qiyas – comparison with teachings of Qur’an and Hadith
What is Halal?
what is permissible under Islamic Law – largely applies to food, but applies to all aspects of life & behaviour
What is Haraam?
what is forbidden by Islamic Law – more often applied to relationships and behaviour that are unacceptable (adultery)
What is Tawhid?
- Belief in oneness of Allah
* Marks unity and existence of God
What is Maliki?
- Belief in angels
- Angels are conscious beings
- Messengers of God the channel through which humans become aware of Allah
What is the Qur’an?
- Belief in scripture and books of Allah
- Muslims believe the Qu’ran is unchanged and the final book of Allah
- Qu’ran stands apart as the final book as the reliable and complete source of Allah’s revelations.
What is Rusul?
- Role models and messengers of God’s word for Muslims (Muhammad + Abraham)
- Muhammad is most important seal of prophets, founder of Islam
What is Akhira?
- Belief in life after death/day of judgment
- Live with an awareness of judgment day and are accountable for their actions
- Allah either punishes people for their sins (Jahannam) or rewards them for their goodness (Jannah) – fate
What is Al-Qadar?
- Belief in fate/pre-destination
- Things happen through the plan of Allah and fate is predecided
- Allah gives human’s freewill to choose actions but ultimately their fate is pre-decided
What is Shahadah?
• A person becomes a Muslim when they bear testimony to the core creed of Islam – commitment to the path of Islam
What is Salat?
Pray 5 times per day
• Direct and personal communication with God in a meditative state
• Chance to break away from daily stresses
What is Zakat?
give 2.5% of earnings to charity
• Money is distributed to the poor and needy
• Enables a person to detach from their wealth and develop their compassion
• Bridges gap between rich and poor
What is Sawm?
fasting during Ramadan
• Muslims are required to fast consecutively for a whole month once a year
• Fasting is the best form of true thanksgiving
• Muslims go to mosque every night – establish community connection
What is Hajj?
- Pilgrimage to holy lands – Ka’bah and Mt Arafat
- Obligatory if you can afford and are healthy – at a certain time in year (July- August)
- Hajj connects individuals to the monotheistic, universal religion (Tawhid)
- About forgiveness of sin
- Ihram clothing – unites Muslim community by disregarding differences (race, gender)
Who are the 4 rightly guided Caliphs?
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali
Sunni
- Describes the practices of the Prophet and early Muslims
- Represents 80% of Muslims today
- Recognise there is nothing special or divine about their leaders except they have necessary skills in religious law
Shi’a
- Subscribe to Muhammad appointing Ali as his successor and therefore having centrality of authority over Islam
- No great difference in beliefs or practice, though Shi’a stands for ‘Party of Ali’
