ISLAM PRACTICES AND CEREMONIES

Question 1

Name the five pillars of Islam

Answer 1

Shahada - witness to the one God
Salam - Prayer
Zakah - Alms giving
Sawm - Fasting
Hajj - Pilgrimage

Question 2

Define Shahada

Answer 2

• The declaration of faith in the one God and that Muhammad is His messenger.
• The Shahada is contained in the adhan (call to prayer)

Question 3

Define Salah

Answer 3

• Muslims have to pray five times a day (as well as du’a, a personal prayer)
• Prayers are directed towards the Ka’bah in Makkah
• Prayer has to take place in a clean area
• Friday prayers (Jummahs) are held in mosques lead by an imam
• The muezzin calls people to prayer and recites the prayers
• Prayers must come from the heart

Question 4

Define Zakah

Answer 4

• Giving to charity —> it is a duty
• Pay 2.5% of a Muslims overall wealth every year
• It is forbidden in Islam to charge interest on loans

Question 5

Define Sawm

Answer 5

• Fasting that occurs in the month of Ramadan
• No food from just before dawn to just after sunset
• excused only if:
  children under 12
  pregnant woman or those nursing young babies
  the sick
  those doing physically demanding work
• The month when the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad
• Muslims reflect on the whole Qur’an in the last 10 days

Question 6

Define Hajj

Answer 6

• Going on a pilgrimage to holy places
• once a year for 5 days
• Muslims should go once in their lives
  1. Men and women must be in a state of spiritual purity (ihram)
  2. On the first day pilgrims circle the Ka’bah 7 times (tawaf)
  3. Pilgrims travel 5 miles to Mina for midday prayers
  4. The next day at sunrise they travel to Mount Arafat
  5. Pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah and collect small stones
  6. On the following day, pilgrims travel to Mina and throw stones at three pillars to drive out Shaitan. They then sacrifice a sheep or cow for the festival of Id-ul-Adha
  7. Pilgrims return to Makkah

Question 7

Why do Muslims practice Shahadah

Answer 7

• Because it indicates a promise to carry out God’s will
• To become a Muslim you have to recite the Shahadah for 2 witnesses

Question 7

Why do Muslims practice Salah

Answer 7

• Salah shows Muslim unity and brotherhood
• Reminder of God’s greatness and the obedience to God
• Symbolises submission to God
• Gives thanks and asks for forgiveness from God

Question 7

Why do Muslims practice Zakah

Answer 7

• To ensure that one isn’t selfish
• An act of worship and a duty
• A reminder that everything belongs to God
• Helps the weak and poor

Question 8

Why do Muslims practice Sawm

Question 9

Why do Muslims practice Hajj