Islam practices

Question 1

Why do Muslims follow the 5 pillars of Islam?

Answer 1

Sign of dedication, commitment, and submission to Allah

Question 2

What are the 10 obligatory acts of Shi’a Islam? Name at least 7

Answer 2

4 of the pillars (Salah, Zakah, Hajj, Sawm)
Khums (20% tax - charity and religious leaders)
Jihad (Struggle to maintain faith and defend Islam)
Amr-bil-Maruf (Do what is good)
Nahi Anil Munkar (Don’t do what is wrong)
Tawallah (Show love for God and people)
Tabarra (Stay away from enemies of God)

Question 3

What is the importance of the Shahadah (Give 2 and a quote)

Answer 3

Foundation for the other pillars - without this statement there would be no Islam.
Recited many times during a Muslim’s life. Birth to death and shows total commitment to Allah’s will.
Whispered into ear of a new-born baby, it is in the call to prayer, Muslims repeat the statement every night and, if they can, before death.
Although all the pillars hold equal importance in Islam, the Shahadah is seen as the starting point.
“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet”

Question 4

Why do Muslims perform Wudu before prayer?

Answer 4

Muslims must prepare for prayer by a ritual washing - they wash their faces, hands, and feet and believe the ritual helps them to become spiritually clean. Purifies the body and the mind and helps remove sin.

Question 5

Why do Muslims wear head coverings (Hijab)?

Answer 5

Show modesty

Question 6

Which way must Muslims face in prayer?

Answer 6

Mecca

Question 7

What is ummah?

Answer 7

Brotherhood is Islam

Question 8

Give 3 differences between Sunni and Shi’a prayer:

Answer 8

Sunni prayer 5 times a day / throughout the day so they focus on Allah from morning to evening.
Shi’a complete all prayers but combine afternoon and evening prayers to make 3 times a day.

Sunni Muslims cross their hands while standing in prayer.
Shi’a Muslims do not cross their hands in prayer

Sunni Muslims will pray in any clean place regardless of the material.
Shi’a pray on natural material.. some use a clay block to rest their head on / in touch with nature

Question 9

What is Jummah?

Answer 9

Friday Mid-day Prayer
Muslims are allowed to pray at home rather than at the Mosque APART from Jummah prayer which all Muslims are encouraged to attend, it is believed you will be rewarded in heaven for attendance.
Jummah (Friday prayer) is a special communion prayer held every Friday at midday. All men are expected to attend the Mosque. They will be reminded about their duties to God.
It is important to have a community prayer to show solidarity, socialise and learn from others.

Question 10

Give 4 reasons why prayer is important in Islam:

Answer 10

Talk to God
Relationship with God
One of 5 pillars
Commanded to pray in the Qur’an
Motivation for religion
United all Muslims in the community

Question 11

Why is Salah important for the Ummah?

Answer 11

All Muslims pray at the same time and face Mecca the holy city where Muhammad was born. This brings a sense of community and a sense of belonging for all Muslims.

Question 12

Which festival celebrated the end of Ramadan?

Answer 12

Eid - ul - Fitr

Question 13

Give three examples of those excluded from fasting during Ramadan:

Answer 13

Illness
Children
Pregnant women

Question 14

Give 4 reasons why Sawm is important:

Answer 14

Great amount of self-discipline involved
Shows absolute obedience and dedication to God
Helps people appreciate what Allah has provided. Muslims also develop compassion for those in poverty and understand what it is like to go without food. Many give Zakah at this time.
Muslims should consider their behaviour towards others.
Spend time in the Mosque focused on the spiritual side of life. It brings people closer to Allah.

Question 15

Which month did the Angel Jibril reveal the Qur’an to Muhammad on the Night of Power?

Answer 15

Ramadan

Question 16

There are a certain number of dates that Muslims believe may have been the Night of Power - they try to stay awake throughout the night on these dates, praying and reading the Qur’an.
What is this possibly worth? Give a quote and what else do they believe?

Answer 16

Observing the Night of Power is thought to give Muslims the benefits of worshipping for a “thousand months”. Therefore, many Muslims try to stay up throughout the night of power to gain the benefits.
Muslims believe Allah will forgive their sins on this night.
They believe the angels descend on the earth and spread peace on the night of power.

Question 17

Give 2 ways Zakah can be given:

Answer 17

Local mosque
A bank like HSBC
Directly to organisations like Muslim Aid

Question 18

Give and explain two reasons why Muslims give Zakah: (Give a quote too)

Answer 18

To cleanse and purify - show purity of their souls
Compassion - show care for the poor and those in need
Help the community - help the whole community and brotherhood of Islam (Ummah)
Benefit in afterlife - angels will record their actions in the book of deeds and judge them and decide on their afterlife.
“He who sleeps whilst his neighbour goes hungry is not one of us”

Question 19

Shi’a Muslims give khums as well as Zakah. Half of khums goes to religious teaching and the other half goes to those in poverty. What percentage is khums?

Answer 19

20%

Question 20

What is Sadaqah?

Answer 20

An act of good will or charity

Question 21

What does the organisation White Helmets do?

Answer 21

Rescue efforts during bombed places in war

Question 22

Give 3 reasons why Hajj is important

Answer 22

One of 5 pillars - compulsory
Share experience with the Ummah - Muslim brotherhood
Closer to God

Question 23

Why did Hajira run up and down two hills?

Answer 23

Looking for water

Question 24

Give 4 Hajj practices and what’s involved:

Answer 24

State of Ihram - white clothing to show purity and equality.
Circling Ka’aba - 7 times (Tawaf) raising a hand towards the black stone, an ancient relic from the first Ka’aba built by the prophet Adam.
Walking two hills - Safa and Marwah and collect water from ZamZam well. Remembering Hajira’s (Ibrahim’s wife) search for water and the miracle.
Meditation at Arafat - Muhammad preached his last sermon here. Afternoon spent in prayer in hot sun. Physically draining - devotion to God. Forgiveness of sins.
Throwing of pebbles at Mina - Walk to Muzdalifah and collect 49 stones to throw at 3 pillars. Pillars represent the devil - rejection of evil.
Sacrificing an animal - Id-ul-Adha Festival - Ibrahim sacrificing Ishmael. Meat is given to the poor.

Question 25

Give 4 reasons why the Ka’aba is important:

Answer 25

Represents the first house of Allah
Built by Adam and then rebuilt by Ibrahim
Represents oneness of God
Pray towards Ka’aba
Circle 7 times raising a hand towards the black stone, an ancient relic from the first Ka’aba built by Adam.
When Muslims circle the Ka’aba it represents equality - often Muslims will also wear white to represent this

Question 26

How to greater Jihad: Give 2

Answer 26

Study Qur’an
Follow 5 pillars
God comes first
Avoid drugs and alcohol
Follow Muhammad’s teachings
Help those in need

Question 27

What is a holy war?

Answer 27

Fighting for religious causes

Question 28

Lesser Jihad - outward struggle to defend Islam
Give 2 strict rules or conditions for a “Jihad”:

Answer 28

Approved by a religious leader to gain freedom and restore peace.
Fought in self defence
Not used to gain territory or wealth
Not to convert people to Islam
Last resort - peaceful methods should have been used first
Innocent people should not be harmed so certainly no Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Question 29

How Muslims celebrate Id-ul-Fitr (end of fasting): Give 2

Answer 29

Thank God for giving them strength to complete the fast and for his wisdom and guidance.
Muslims decorate their homes and eat special food, sweets given to children.
Muslims exchange cards and presents.
Muslims have time off work - they gather in Mosques to pray. And listen to sermons explain about Zakah.

Question 30

How do Muslims celebrate Id-ul-Adha (end of hajj)?

Answer 30

Animal sacrificed and traditionally Muslims some meat to the poor.
In the UK, Muslims often donate money instead of offering a sacrifice.
Muslims will forgive others and make amends for the wrong that they have done to others.

Question 31

History of Id-ul-Adha?

Answer 31

Remembers Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice Ishmael - shows complete obedience to God.

Question 32

What is the festival of Ashura? What does it remember?

Answer 32

Day of Remembrance
Mainly Shi’a - remembers death of Husayn (Grandson of Muhammad) at the battle of the Karbala. It is a day of sorrow and a symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression.

Question 33

What do Shi’a Muslims do on the festival Ashura?

Answer 33

Perform plays and retell the story of the battle.
There is a public mourning - Muslims wear black. In London, thousands gather at the Marble Arch.
Some beat and cut themselves / although it is not encouraged that Muslims donate blood instead.
In Iraq, many visit Husayn’s tomb on pilgrimage

Question 34

What do Sunni Muslims do on the festival of Ashura?

Answer 34

Muhammad asked some Jewish people why they were fasting on this day. They replied that it was to remember the escape of the Hebrew slaves in the time of Moses.
Many Sunni Muslims now remember this day as a “Day of Atonement” where sins are forgiven. Sunni Muslims do not accept the whipping of bodies.