islam: practices Flashcards
1
Q
what are the five pillars?
A
- the five most important duties for all muslims
- the fundamental practices of islam on which everything else is built
- seen as key to living perfect muslim life
2
Q
what are the ten obligatory acts?
A
- combine the five pillars with some additional duties
- followed by Twelver Shi’a Muslims
3
Q
what do the five pillars consist of?
A
- Shahadah; the declaration of faith
- Salah; prayer
- Zakah; charitable giving
- Sawm; fasting
- Hajj; pilgrimage
4
Q
what do the ten obligatory acts consist of?
A
- Salah; prayer
- Sawm; fasting
- Zakah; charitable giving
- Khums; 20% tax(half to charity, half to religious leaders)
- Hajj; pilgrimage
- Jihad; struggle to maintain/defend faith
- Amr-bil-Maruf; encouraging people to do what’s good
- Nahi Anil Munkar; discouraging people from doing wrong
- Tawallah; showing love for god/followers
- Tabarra; not associating with enemies of god
5
Q
what is the Shahadah phrase?
A
‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.”
6
Q
what is the importance of the shahadah?
A
- expresses core beliefs of islam
- considered to provide foundation for other pillars, which tell a muslim how to live according to beliefs expressed in shahadah
7
Q
what do shi’a muslims add to the shahadah?
A
- extra phrase ‘and Ali is the friend of God’
- shows belief that Ali, muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, was true successor
8
Q
how is the importance of the shahadah put into practice?
A
- to become muslim, person has to sincerely recite the shahadah in front of muslim witnesses
- recited many times during a muslim’s life
- if born into Muslim family, it’s first thing they hear
- if possible, it’s last thing they say before they die
9
Q
how do muslims observe the duty of salah?
A
- sunni muslims pray 5 times a day
- shi’a muslims pray 3 times a day
10
Q
what do muslims do before they pray?
A
perform ritual washing (wudu) to make themselves spiritually clean
11
Q
what direction do muslims face when they pray?
A
the city of Makkah
12
Q
what happens when muslims pray in a mosque?
A
- men and women divided into separate groups
- prayers led by an imam (religious leader)
