Islam Practices Flashcards
what are the 5 pillars of Sunni Islam
shahadah - declaration of faith
salah - obligatory prayer ( sunnis 5 x a day) and (shia 3x a day)
Zakat - compulsory giving
Sawm - fasting during Ramadan
Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca.
what are the 5 pillars of Sunni Muslims
shahadah - the declaration of faith ( and is also the first pillar of the 5 pillars)
zakat - obligatory giving
sawm - fasting during Ramadan
salah - obligatory prayer
hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca
why are the 5 pillars important to Sunni muslims
- they are called the 5 pillars as they build the foundations of Muslim life - guide muslims on the steps to success to jannah
- they form a framework that unites Sunni Muslims
- they bring Sunni Muslims closer to God and ensure they focus on Him everyday - as these practices have been derived from the Qur’an which is the infallible, revealed word of God and so you are able to honour God to develop a relationship with him so that His wishes for you ( live eternal life in Jannah ) are fulfilled
- they help Muslims achieve the estalogical reward of life after death in Paradise
what are the 10 obligatory acts of Shia Islam
-sawm
-salah
- Hajj
-Zakat
- Khums - 20% taxation
- Jihad - striving to overcome evil
- Amr - Bil - Maroof - encouraging good actions
- Nahi Anil Munkar - discouraging evil actions
- Tawalla - showing love for God and people who follow him
- Tabarra - disassociation with enemies of God
what are the 2 types of Jihad
Inner Jihad ( struggle ) - discipline within yourself, daily striving to be a good Muslim against selfish , internal evils
Outer Jihad ( struggle ) - defending the religion from external threat - by Holy war
why are the 10 obligatory acts for Shia Muslims important
- they guide Shia Muslims on how to live their life
- they unite all Shia Muslism and give meaning to their life
- they help Shia Muslims achieve the reward of Paradise after death and avoid the punishment of hell
- they help Shia Muslims to focus their lives on God = pleasing God
what is the quote for the Shahadah ( Sunni version)
” there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”
what is the quote for the Shahadah ( Shia )
” There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah and Ali is the friend of God”
- shia muslims, the shahadah is a belief rather than a practice
why is Shahadah important for MUslims
- expresses the core beliefs of islam as the Shahadah is considered to provide the foundations for the other four pillars which tell a muslims how to live according to the beliefs expressed in the Shahadah
- The Shahadah is recited at key moments in a Muslim’s life, such as birth, conversion, and death.
It serves as a reminder of the purpose of life: worshiping Allah and following His guidance.
Dying with the Shahadah on one’s lips is considered an ideal ending, as it symbolizes complete devotion to Allah.
-The Shahadah unites all Muslims worldwide, regardless of sex, ethnicity, or language.
Every Muslim recites the same Shahadah in Arabic, reinforcing the idea of a single Ummah (community) bound by faith in Allah and allegiance to the teachings of Muhammad.
It encapsulates the essence of Tawhid (the oneness of Allah), which is the foundation of Islamic belief and practice.
By reciting the Shahadah, Muslims affirm their commitment to live by Allah’s will, which shapes every aspect of their lives.
when is the Shahada said
- whispered into newborn baby ears so it’s the first thing they hear
- recited during the call to prayer and salah
- repeated when someone wants to convert to Islam with a witness, e.g. the imam present
- said before death to demonstrate commitment to Islam
what are the steps for salah
- must be offered in arabic and from memory, using set prayers from the qur’an , sunnah and haddith
- salah usually begins with Takbir : “ Allah is the greatest”
- start with wudu ( ritual washing and cleansing - physically and soiritually cleansed)
- establish right niyyah ( right intentions )
- men should as far as possible offer salah in a mosque
what are the reasons to disagree that the Shahada is the most important pillar
- all pillars are equally importants. they are all duties that should be performed, one cannot be singled out from the others = it is why it is called the 5 pillars - they all serve as a guidance to llead Muslims to desired place
Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, is seen as the pinnacle of Islamic worship, where all Muslims stand equal before Allah regardless of status or wealth.
The Qur’an commands this act: “And proclaim to the people the Hajj; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:27).
The spiritual renewal and unity experienced during Hajj exemplify Islam’s emphasis on collective worship and submission, arguably making Hajj more profound in importance than the Shahada.
The Interdependence of the Pillars
The Shahada is foundational, but its significance is realized through the fulfillment of the other pillars. Without practicing the remaining pillars, the declaration of faith risks being a hollow statement.
Each pillar reinforces another; for instance, Salah reflects the Shahada in action, Zakah embodies its social responsibility, and Hajj manifests its ultimate submission. Thus, the other pillars have greater functional importance in living out Islamic faith.
when are the times that sunni muslims do salah
sunrise
noon
afternoon
sunset
night
when are the times that shia muslims do salah
3 x a day
BUT They combine noon/afternoon prayer and sunset/night. prayer together making it more practical and this is what muhammad sometimes did
what are some quotes used for salah
” call on me and i will answer you “ - Surah
” turn your face in the direction of the sacred Mosque” - surah
” remember God so that you may prosper” - Surah - By muslims praying 3x - 5x a day God helps mus lims to remember God often
” i created mankind to worship me” - Surah
what is Qibla
refers to the direction of Mecca, which Muslims face when they pray , wherever they are
what is a difference between shia and sunni muslims in the way that they each pray
SUNNI : PRAY 5X A DAY
SHIA : PRAY 3X A DAY BUT OFFER THE NOON / AFTERNOON PRAYER TOGETHER AND NIGHT/SUNSET PRAYER TOGETHER
SUJUD FOR SHIA - SHIA MUSLIMS KNEEL DOWN TOUCHING THEIR FOREHEAD TIUCHING A WOODEN BLOCK
SUJUD FOR SUNNI - KNEEL DOWN WITH FOREHEAD TOUCHING THE PAYER MAT
what is rak’ahs and recitatinos
- movements and words in a sequence ( rak’ah ) with has a number of different physical positions
what does islam mean
submission to God
what does Sujud show
total submission to God and his teachings - the idea of bowing down and prostrating = EMBELLISHES GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE
what is a similiarity between the way shia and sunni muslims pray
both do a total of 17 sequences of prayer each day by way of rak’ahs and recitations
what are some quotes to support the importance of prayer
” when the call to prayer is made hurry towars the reminder of God and leave off your trading.. that is better for you “ - surah
” the whole earth has been made a place of worship” - hadith
” prayer is better than sleep “ - hadith
what is a quote to support that praying at mosque is better than at home
” prayer with the congregation is 27 times better than prayer performed by oneself” - hadith
what is dua
personal prayer, prayer off invocation , supplication , request
what is a quote to say that praying elsewhere other than mosque is okay
” the whole earth has been made a place of worship” - hadith = suggests that it doesnt matter where you pray as long as you have right niyyah and you are devoting yourself to God
what are jummah prayers
- congregational prayers at the mosque at noon on Friday - they are the best attended of the week
- for sunni muslims it is seen as compulsory for men and believed great reewards come from this
- for shia muslims , it is not necessary in the absense of the twelfth imam
how is the jummah prayers carried out
- the adhan is called and wudu is performed
- the imam will deliver a sermon ( kutubah) on an issue relevant to the community
why are jummah prayers important to attend
- attending means that Muslims can learn from the imam and worship together as the ummah, it also helps to bring about the forgiveness of sins = strengthening the sense of belonging in the ummah
why is prayer important for Muslims
- it is one of the five pillars, emphasising its important
- prayer is established by muhammad and instructed by the Qur’an
- it is a way of establishing a direct and lasting relationship with God
- it helps muslims attain taqwa ( God consciousness ) and is a reminder of the importance of God as the focus of their lives
- helps muslims avoid sin, including shirk , and to focus on God
- the first question a muslim is asked on the day of Judgement is about salah = prayer is important in order to achieve paradise
- prayer at mosque strengthens the community - ummah
what are some scriptures about sawm
” fast until nightfall “ - surah
” fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill , or on a journey then on other days “ - surah
” you who belive, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God” - surah
” it was the month of Ramadam that the Qur’an was revealed, so any of who sees in that month should fast” - surah
what is sawm
fasting - it is the 4th pillar
- main period of fasting is during ramadam = 9th month of islamic calender
which categories of people are exempt from taking part in fast
- elderly and youngest
- those who are travelling
- those who are ill/ unwell
what is a quote which tells muslims what to do if they cannot fast
- ” the Qur’an says those who do not fast should do so at another time and/ or help the needy “
what are conditions to not do when fasting during daylight hours in ramadan
- no food or drink
- no smoking
- no sexual activity
-no bad thoughts - no bad deeds
what is important about sawm
- it is about remembering the ‘ night of power’ when angel Jubril revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad at the end of Ramadan
what are the benefits of sawm
- develops devotino to God - thicekns the relationship and brings you closer to HIM
- develops concern / sympathy for those in need - emulating God’s nature eg omnibenevolence
- develops self - disipline and self control
- brings the ummah together
why is sawm important for muslims
- it is one of the 5 pillars and 10 obligatory acts - it is a foundational practice for Muslims
- develops devotion to God - brings you closer to Him and increases your appreciation for his provision as well as developing gratitude
- it is a ‘ blessing not a burden’ ; it helps to develop self restrain snad is though to have health benefits
- it shows obedience to God and His will
- develops selv disipline / control
- helps develop concern for and sympathy with the poor and understanding of the importants of charity = links to zakat
- helps muslims to remember the importance of the Qur’an wjhich was first revealed during Ramadan
- brings the ummah together and strenghten their unity
what are scriptures that refer to zakat and khums
’ Whatever you spend with a good heart, give it to parents, relatives , orphans .. whatever good you do Allah is aware of it “ - surah
” know that whateverof a thing you acquire, a fifth of it is for Allah, for the Messenger , for the near relative, and the orphans and the needy” - surah
what is zakah
- a charity and a directive from Qur’an - it is a religious obligation that allows you to purify your wealth as wealth is on loan from God so some ( 2.5% ) should be used to help others
what is the nisab threshold
- the minimum amount that a muslims must have before being obliged to pay zakat
who is obliged to pay zakats
people in the nisab threshold - people who are not in deep poverty )
what are khums
- an additional 20 % taxation that SHIA muslims pay on top of the zakat tax.
- the tax is paid on any rofit earned by shia muslims and traditinoally recipients of khums have been decided by shia leaders eg descendants of muhammad , or those within shia islamic faith
what is the importance of the khums
- gives special recognition to muahmmad , his descendancts and leaders within Shia islam
- used to help build islamic schools or prohects chosen by shia leaders to help those in need - emulates the fair nature of God
- promotes islam throug education
- 1 of the the 10 obligatory acts so acts as a foundation
what is the importance of giving zakah
- purifies and cleanses your wealth
- sharing blessings of wealth with others prevents greed - moral developments
- money benefits both giver and reciever - the giver will reciever a hundrer - fold back in the afterlife and they should also feel the satisfaction of giving
- if everyone gave zakah then there wiould be no poor in the world = stewardship - duty to male thre world -which was created by God into a morally better place
- fulfills your religious duty and obligation = 3rd pillar of islam - found in holy scripture and so as the Qur’an is ithe inherrent , infallible word from God it must be followed to show your belief and devotion to God’s teachings
what is scripture used to reference Hajj
” pilgrimage to the house is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it “ - surah
what is Hajj
pilgimage to Mecca ( saudia arabia )
- it is held annually and last 5 days and around 3 million muslims attend
- the fifth pillar oof islam and the rituals that take place we established by Muhammad ( THE SEAL OF PROPHETS )
why do muslims go to mecca
- it is the birthplace of prophet muhammad
- it is home to the Ka’ aba the holiest place for a muslim
- muslims experience in real life the direction muslims face when they pray = overwhelming feeling of closeness to God
- known as the ‘ heart ‘ of islam - the Ka’aba is seen as the house of God
what is the influence / impact that Hajj has short term
- feel part of the united ummah - 3 million people do hajj
- feel sense of equality as everyone walks around the ka’aba ( house of God)
- feel closer to God
- makes muslims feel strengthened in their faith
- reminds them what is important - focuses on taqwa
- sense of relief as their sins are forgiven = allow for fresh start / new beginning - due to visiting Arafat - mount of mercy
- emotional seeing the ka’aba
what is the influence / impact that Hajj has long term
- stronger faith and relationship with God - new focus on religion - happrns fue to visiting Zamzam well = muslims feel a sense of dependenvce on God for spiritual life
- more respected in community - as you have completed the 5th and final pillar you act as a vessel of knowledge / source of spiritual advice and experience of the glory of Ka’aba
- more focused on being a good muslim / following faith
- feel more purpose / peace in life as you are strenghtened
- commitedd to helping poor / ill BECUAUSE you mark the feast of sacrifice whilst at Hajj with Eid ul Adha
what are the steps in Hajj and the rituals performed at the location and their significance
- journey to Hajj - Muslims put on iHRAM ( WHITE SEAMLESS ROBES ) to enter in the state of ‘ ihram ‘
- shows unity and equality as all dressed identically / equally = shows that we are all equal as God’s children , it also strnegthens feeling of commitment and community within ummah
- Great Mosque - tawaf - circle the Ka’aba 7 times in anticlockwise direction
= demonstrates unity of all muslims together in submission to Allah and shows devotions and unconditional love to Allah
- Al safa/ al marwa hills - Sa’y = running betwee hills of safa and Marwa and drinking water from zam zam well
= remembers Hajar , ibrhaim’s wife , searching for water for ismail. the well spring was seen as miracle from God = suggests that at Hajj miracles do happen as it is the heart of spiritualism and holiness / shows dependence on God
- Mt Arafat - the ‘ stand’ where muslims praise Allah , read from the Qur’an and ask for forgiveness
= this is where Adam and Hawa were reunited and Muhammad gave his final sermon - Muslims also hope to be forgiven here
- Mina - collect and throw strones at 3 pillars ( jamarat ) and an animals is sacrificied , men’s heads shaved and womens cut off a lock of hair
- symoblises rejection of the devil / evil and celebrates Eid ul Adha = festival of sacrifice as it reminds muslims of Ibrahims great sacrifice as he was ready to sacrifice his son for gOD = REMINDER OF FAITH / SUBMISSION TO GOD and the hair is cut as a symbol of purity
- Madina - praying at prophets mosque
= this is place of first mosque and muslims community set up by Muhammad , here all prayers are heart and accepted by God
- Great Mosuq - twaf = circle ka’aba.7 times in anticlockwise direction
= allows muslims to see holiest shrine in person rather than facing the direction = emotional experience
why is Hajj important for Muslims
- Qur’an says it is obligatory for all Muslims who are physically able and can afford it (Surah 3:97)
- Hajj is seen as a powerful demonstration of the unity of the ummah, with Muslims from different
denominations and countries converging in one place for the purpose of worship/fulfilling requirement of faith. - It means Muslims can see the Kaaba – the House of God - for themselves, strengthening their faith and relationship with God and
It is an opportunity for sins to be forgiven as muslims are remindded of their dependence to God and to feel grateful of the Qur’an beig revealed to Muhammad and forming the 1st islamic community
what are the rules to achieve greater JIHAD
- following 5 pillars
- working for social justice
- studying the Qur’an
- doing good deeds
- attending mosque regularly
- resisting temptation , greed , envy
what are the rules to achieve lesser JIHAD
- fight for a just cause
- fight as a last resort
- fight must be authorised by accepted muslim authority
- minimum amount of suffering should be caused
- ends when enemy surrenders
- innocent civiilians not attacked
- aims to restore peace and freedom
what is scripture to represents lesser jihad
” fight in God’s cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limit. God does not love those who overstep the limits” - surah
” those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms .. God has the power to help them” - SURAH
” if they do fight you, kill them - this is what such disbelievs deserve - but if they stop then God is forgiving and merciful .. fights them until there is no more persection” - surah
what aare coontrasting views on whcih kihad is the most important
- Both found in the Qur’an, which is considered by Muslims to contain the infallible, complete Word of God
-Most Muslims agree that greater jihad is the most important (as it is stressed in the Qur’an) Greater Jihad is a PERSONAL battle, which is understood by many to be the true meaning of the term = most muslims should try to widen their knowledge on greater jihad and thei rpractices in order to be a good muslims and spread the word of God by lesser jihad
- Even though Muhammad was involved in military battles, he supported greater jihad as more important However there may be occasions when Islam / the name of Allah is threatened and it may be appropriate / seen as necessary to defend Islam. Islam does have set conditions for this, which shows it can happen.
what is scripture referencing festivals
“It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind… So any one of you who is present that month should fast.” -
Surah
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (Surah
what is Id ul aDHA
End of Hajj - festival of sacrifice
- muslims Remembers Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son when God asked him to. This story is found in Surah 37 and reminds Muslims of the test of faith faced by Ibrahim and how they should apply this to their own lives, as well as the mercy shown by God. = show devotino = core of islamic belief
Signifies
the end of Hajj. Muslims remember their own willingness to sacrifice anything to God’s wishes. They celebrate with the sacrifices of an animal, which is shared among family, friends and the poor. Prayers, card and presents are given.
= focusing on submitting to will of Allah
what is id ul fitr
- end of ramadan
- A time to celebrate and thank Allah for his help in getting through the month of fasting.
- muslims must Express gratitude, wear new clothes, exchange gifts. Zakat becomes due. Muslims celebrate with their family and community. Homes are decorated - there will be special services and a celebratory meal is shared. Wish one another ‘Eid Mubarak’.
what is ashura
- A day of fasting and mourning. = Remember how Nuh (Noah) left the Ark and how Musa (Moses) and the Israelites were saved from the Egyptians.
Muhammad had observed Jews fasting (to
remember Moses saving the Israelites) and adopted this practice.
Shi’a Muslims also mourn the martyrdom at Karbala in 680CE of Hussain, who was a grandson of Prophet Muhammad. They may wear black and no music is allowed.
why are festivals important
- Give a sense of identity and belonging to the religion
- To remember past events and important people within the Islamic religion - opportunity for reflection
and education about faith - To strengthen the ummah / communities/families
- To connect Muslims with the
worldwide community
To share Islamic beliefs
To mark key events in the Islamic calendar through the year - creates tradition
Express gratitude
Grow closer to God
Strengthen your belief
what are the steps for salah
- must be offered in arabic and from memory, using set prayers from the qur’an , sunnah and haddith
- salah usually begins with Takbir : “ Allah is the greatest”
- start with wudu ( ritual washing and cleansing - physically and soiritually cleansed)
- establish right niyyah ( right intentions )
- men should as far as possible offer salah in a mosque
