Islam Practices Flashcards
Name the Five Pillars
- Shahadah - declaration of faith
- Salah - prayer
- Zakah - charitable giving
- Sawm - fasting
- Hajj = pilgrimage
What is the Shahadah?
- Declaration of faith that anyone becoming a Muslim must make
- First pillar of Islam and the foundation on which the other pillars are based
*
Why is the Shahadah important for Muslims?
- Repeated in Salah
2, Keep saying it throughout the day - Last words you hear or say before death
- Recited in the Adhan (call to prayer)
- Whisper it in the ear of a new born baby
- Teach it to children
- To become a Muslim a person has to recite Shahdah in front of Muslim witnesses
By declaring the Shahadah what is a Muslim saying?
1.”There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”
2. The belief in Muhammad (PBUH) as the messenger of Allah is accepting that Islam, as given directly to the prophet by Allah.
What do Shi’a Muslims add at the end of the Shahadah?
- “And Ali is the friend of the God” - shows their belief that Ali was the true successor to Muhammad
Why is the Shahadah fundamental to a Muslim’s whole way of life?
- Muslims believe that the purpose of life for human beings is to worship Allah alone
- A Muslim performs every act in the name of Allah and to obtain the pleasure of Allah
- Allah gave humans life and they have a responsibility to live it in the way Allah intended
Why do Muslims perform Salah?
- It is commanded in the Qur’an
- They must remember Allah throughout their day and prayer helps them do this
- It makes them feel closer to Allah
- It united with other Muslims
- It reconfirms their faith
What is the significance of prayer?
- the actions of bowing and prostrating remind Muslims that God is greater than them
- Prayer is important because ..
Muslims have been commanded by God to pray - it helps Muslims to become closer to God
- Recite ‘God is the greatest. first while sitting and then while prostrating
it unites Muslims around the world, as they all prayin the same way - it motivates Muslims to do God’s will
Why is Salah important to Muslims today?
- To maintain regular contact with God.
- To remind Muslims how great God is.
- To show the unity of believers by praying at set times facing the same direction.
- To ensure that they don’t lose their faith.
- To remind Muslims of Tawhid and that they are God’s servants.
- To fulfil a commandment of Allah
What are the rules of Salah?
- Perform wudu (ritual washing to spiritually cleanse themselves)
- Pray 5 times a day at set times
- Face Makkah
- Perform certain actions – standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. These must be repeated in a certain order and a certain number of times
- Recite in Arabic
- Men and women are divide into separate groups - prayers led by an imam
When are the times of prayer?
- Fajr - just before sunrise
- Zuhr - just after midday
- Asr - afternoon
- Maghrib - just after sunset
- Isha - night
What are the differences between Shi’a and Sunni Muslims in prayer?
- Shi’a Muslims combine the midday and afternoon prayers
- Difference in movements during Salah
- Shi’a Muslims believe in using only natural elements when prostrating themselves in prayer, so they place a clay tablet at the spot where their forehead will rest
How do Muslims perform wudu?
Muslims wash their faces, hands and feet under
achieved?
running water
• Mosques have two special rooms set aside for this, one for women and one for men
• If water isn’t available, Muslims can ‘wash’ themselves using sand or dust instead. This illustrates the fact that wudu is about becoming spiritually clean, not physically clean
How do Muslims face the city of Makkah?
In a mosque, the mihrab indicates the direction of Makkah
• This is a small niche in the qiblah wall, which is the wall that faces Makkah. Muslims use this to face the right direction when they pray
• Muslims can also use a special compass to indicate the right direction
Why is wudu important?
• The purification of wudu helps Muslims to fully focus on God in their prayers
Why is facing the city of Makkah important?
Praying in the same direction means that all Muslims are focusing on one place associated with God
Describe prayer inside a mosque
Many mosques have carpets that look like rows of prayer mats, giving each person their own space to pray.
Prayers in the mosque are led by an imam, who is positioned at the front of the congregation, facing the mihrab.
• Men and women pray at the same time but in separate spaces.
• The imam will lead the prayers from the men’s prayer room, but his voice is usually also broadcast in the women’s prayer room, so he can lead everyone’s prayers together.
Define rak’ah
- Set sequences of actions and recitations
What are the set sequence and actions in rak’ah?
Stand and recite the first chapter from the Quran
Bow (showing respect to
Stand and make a recitation praising God
God) and recite in Arabic
‘Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest three
times
Kneel with the forehead, nose, hands, knees and toes touching the floor (prostration) - this shows complete obedience to God. Recite ‘How perfect is my Lord the most high’
Recite ‘God is the greates. first while sitting and then while prostrating
What is the Jummah prayer?
- Special communal prayer that is held on Friday at midday
• The Jummah prayer is a special communal prayer held every Friday at midday.
All men are expected to attend a mosque for this prayer, and women may do so if they wish.
• After the prayer, the imam will give a sermon that reminds Muslims about their duties to God.
• Muslims are otherwise allowed to pray at home, and women often do so if they have children to look after or find it hard to attend a mosque.
• Muslims must still perform wudu at home, although they do not need a special room to pray in.
• Many Muslims use a prayer mat at home, which is positioned facing Makkah.
What is Zakah?
- Zakah is a special charity tax that Muslims have to pay
- It is commanded in the Qur’an and there are many regulations about it
- Once a year Muslims should pay Zakah on their income and savings
- The law schools say that Muslims should pay Zakah of 2.5% of their savings and on their income above their Nisab (the amount you need to live on)
- Farmers have to pay proportions of their crops and livestock
What should Zakah be used for?
- To help the poor – Zakah should re-distribute wealth from rich to poor
- To help orphans and widows
- To pay for upkeep of mosques and Muslim schools
- To pay for Muslim missionary work
Why must Muslims pay Zakah?
- All Muslims should pay Zakah as purification of their wealth
- Zakah means purification and Muslims believe that giving Zakah purifies what wealth a Muslim keeps so that it does not stop them from worshipping Allah properly
- Muslims gives Zakah because it is one of the five pillars, it has been commanded in the Qur’an, it unifies the Ummah and it helps Muslims to help each other and show the brotherhood in Islam
What are the origins of Zakah?
Gwine to charityis mentioned a number of imes nathe lherecto, axartiale/ho cere you give should be for parents, close relatives, orphans, the needy, and travellers. God;
The axecreamount that should be given was worked out at a later date by Muslim scholar. well aware of whatever good you do! (Qur’an 2:215)
. Only Muslims with savings greater than a certain amount (known as the nisab) are required to give Zakah
Muslims with savings greater than the nisab are expected to give 2.5% of their savings once a year
Zakah can be donated directly to a charity such as Islamic Relief or Muslim Aid
It can also be collected by a mosque, which will distribute the money among those
in need
• By giving Zakah, Muslims are fulfilling a duty to God
It helps to strengthen the Muslim community by supporting the poorest and weakest
It encourages Muslims to have a good attitude towards money, and to use their wealth in a way that would please God
• It is a type of purification that helps Muslims to become
How much is given during Zakah?
Who is Zakah given to?
Describe the importance of Zakah
- In giving Zakah, Muslims are fulfilling a duty imposed by God.
- Paying Zakah gives Muslims a good attitude towards money.
- Zakah strengthens communities by making the rich support the poor.
- Zakah links well with Salah (prayer). Prayers should make Muslims feel concern for others, and Zakah puts this concern into action.
Describe Ramadan (sawm)
- Ramadan is the holiest month of the year because it contains the night of power
- Fasting and prayer during this month unite the community in thought of others and focuses a Muslim on self-purification and seeking forgiveness from god
What are the origins of Sawm?
The command to fast was revealed to Muhammad and can be found in the Qur’an: ‘It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind …
So any one of you who sees in that month should fast’ (Qur’an 2:185)
It has been obligatory for Muslims to fast during Ramadan since the seventh century
. Muslims get up every day before sunrise to eat and drink enough to keep them going
until sunset
• Food, drink, smoking and sex are forbidden during daylight hours
• The fast is broken at sunset. The evening meal is often shared with family and friends, and followed by extra prayers and readings from the Qur’an
What are the exceptions of fasting during Ramadan?
• Children and people who are ill, pregnant or breastfeeding can be excused from fasting
People who can’t fast are expected to make up for it later if they can
The self-discipline that is required to fast shows obedience and dedication to God
Fasting inspires Muslims to help those in poverty who can’t afford enough to eat or drink
What must Muslims do during Ramadan?
- Must give up food and drink during the hours of daylight
- Must eat and drink in special meals at dusk and dawn so that they can carry on a normal life
- Should read 1/30th of the Qur’an per day so that they read the whole Qur’an by the end of Ramadan
- Should say special prayers in the mosque at night (tarawih prayers)
- Remember the night when Muhammad (PBUH) received his first revelations from Allah
- Should not gossip, swear or tell lies
Why do Muslim fast?
- It is commanded in the Qur’an
- It is the 3rd pillar of Islam
- It is a celebration and thanksgiving for the gift of the Qur’an, which was first revealed in Ramadan. Muslims believe that the Qur’an is Allah’s word and therefore the most precious gift they have, so they should thank Allah for it during the month when it was first sent down
- It shows a Muslims devotion to Allah
- It brings a Muslim closer to Allah
- Most Muslims believe that fasting in Ramadan brings forgiveness of their sins
Why is fasting during Ramadan important?
- By feeling hungry during the day is that it serves as a reminder that the poor feel that way all the time if they cannot afford to eat properly.
- This greater awareness inspires many Muslims to find ways to help the poor. This may include inviting the poor to share their meal that breaks the fast at sunset.
- Many Muslims choose to pay Zakah during Ramadan.
What are the benefits of fasting?
- It brings Muslims closer to Allah
- It promotes self-control and submission to Allah’s will
- It makes Muslims aware of the brotherhood of Islam (Ummah) because all Muslims fast together and help each other through the difficulties of fasting
- It helps Muslims give Zakah from the heart because they gain some understanding of what it is like to be poor
What is the Night of Power?
The Night of Power is when Jibril first appeared to Muhammad and started revealing the Qur’an.
. The words that Jibril spoke to Muhammad on this night can be found in Qur’an 96:1-5. They describe how Jibril instructed Muhammad to start reciting his words:
GG Read! In the name of your Lord who created: He created man from a clinging form [a blood clot]. Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One who taught by [means of] the pen, who taught man what he did not know. y
Qur’an 96:1-5
•The exact date of the Night of Power is unclear, but it is believed to be one of the odd-numbered dates in the second half of Ramadan.
Muslims try to stay awake throughout the night on each of these dates, praying and studying the Qur’an.
Observing the Night of Power is thought to give Muslims the benefits of worshipping for a thousand
months.
fE What will explain to you what that Night of Glory is? The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months § 5
State some quotes to support the Night of Power
What is Eid, what happens on Eid and what is the purpose of Eid?
- The ending of the fast is celebrated by the feast of Eid-ul-Fitr
- On this day, Muslims wear new clothes and go to the mosque for a special service
- After the Salah, the Imam gives a sermon about the benefits of Ramadan and then the Muslims give their Eid Zakah to the mosque
- After this Muslims visit each other and eat special foods and often the children are given presents
- This festival marks the breaking of the fasting period
- Muslims do not only celebrate the end of the fasting but also thank Allah for the help and strength that Allah gave them during Ramadan
