Islam Pratices Flashcards
The Five Pillars
The key to lead a good Muslim life as they help to give Muslims an identity as one community who share a faith and enable them to show their obedience and dedication to God.
The Ten Obligatory Acts
For Muslims who follow Twelver Shi’a Islam, these are their ten duties: Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Khums(a 20 per cent tax on income once all expenses are deducted where half goes to charity and half goes to Shi’a religious leaders, Hajj, Jihad (the struggle to maintain the faith and defend Islam as well as the struggle to live by their faith by obeying the Five Pillars, contributing to the community or doing voluntary work, Amr-bil-Maruf- encouraging people to do what is good, Nahil Anil Munkar- discouraging people from doing what is wrong, Tawallah-to be loving towards the friends of God, including Muhammad and the Imams, Tabarra-disobeying from the enemies of God.
The Shahadah
“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”. This is said when a baby is born so that the first thing they hear is this basic belief of the faith they are born into, included in daily prayers, becomes the last words of a Muslim before they die. The Shahadah provides the foundation for the other 4 pillars as these four pillars are actions that put a Muslim’s faith, expressed in the Shahadah, into practice. Many Shi’a Muslims add, “and Ali is the friend of God” to demonstrate their belief that Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in law, was the true successor of Muhammad and that only he and his descendants know the true meaning of the revelation given to Muhammad.
Salah: the daily prayers
Sunni Muslims are required to pray at five set times during the day. This places demand upon Muslims but is all part of self-discipline required in submitting themselves to God. Shi’a Muslims combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, so they pray 3 times a day.
How do Muslims prepare for prayer?
Wudu-Muslims follow detailed instructions in the Qur’an “wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows”. It is not physical cleanliness that is required but spiritual cleanliness and wudu is a form of spiritual preparation or purification to allow Muslims to focus fully on God in their prayers. Muslims face the holy city of Makkah for prayer as this means that all Muslims are physically and mentally focussing on one place associated with God. mihrab-shows the exact direction of Makkah from the mosque which Muslims face to pray. The prayers are led by an Imam.
Salah
“So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayers” The daily prayers and made up of a number of rak’ah which includes standing to recite the first chapter from the Qur’an, bowing to show God is great, upright position to make a recitation praising God, kneel with their forehead-prostration and shows complete obedience to God, sit while reciting God is the greatest. Du’a prayers “Call on me and I will answer you”
The Jummah Prayer
All Male Muslims are expected to attend a Mosque and once the prayer is complete, the imam will deliver a sermon that reminds Muslims of their obligations and duties to God.
Prayer at home
Many Muslims will use a prayer mat which they position so it is facing Makkah.
The significance of prayer
Prayer creates a greater awareness of God which in turn motivates them to do God’s will. Prayer also unites Muslims worldwide as they all pray in the same way. A Muslim can go into any Mosque and participate with fellow Muslims. The actions of bowing and prostrating remind them that God is greater and more important than they are.
Sawm: fasting during Ramadan
During Ramadan, Muslims believe that the Qur’an started to be revealed to Muhammad. “It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind”. Purity of thought is required to cleanse the soul and free it from harm. It requires considerable self-discipline. 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 by inviting the poor to share their meal that breaks the fast at sunset as well as choosing to pay Zakah.
The Night of Power
-important festival which marks the beginning of God’s revelation to Muhammad and the first verses revealed describe how the angel Jibril instructed him to start reading, “Read in the name of your Lord who created”. “The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months” so this means that observing the Night of Power gives Muslims the benefits of worshipping for a thousand months and so Muslims try to keep awake throughout the night to devote themselves to prayers and studying the Qur’an.
Zakah
-giving 2.5% of their savings every year to help the poor. By giving Zakah, Muslims are acknowledging that everything they own comes from God and belongs to him, and that they should use their wealth to remember God and give to those in need. It frees people from desire and teaches self-discipline and honesty. “God is well aware of whatever good you do” “Alms are meant only for the poor, the needy”. Muslims are encouraged to voluntarily give their money and time to charity- Sadaqah.
The significance of Zakah
Muslims are fulfilling a duty imposed by God and it is a sign of a true Muslim.
-gives Muslims a good attitude towards money as they learn to share and not be greedy with it
-strengthens communities by making the rich support the poor
-links with salah where prayers should make Muslims feel concern for others and Zakah puts this concern into action.
Hajj
Hajj is the pilgrimage that should be made at least once during a Muslim’s lifetime. Some communities will provide financial support for a poor Muslim to make the pilgrimage as it is a religious obligation. “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it”. God told Ibrahim to build a shrine dedicated to him Ka’aba to make it a pure place of worship
How is Hajj performed?
Entering a state of Ihram-performing ritual washing, praying and putting on Ihram clothing such as the white cloth which signifies equality and purity.
Circling the Ka’aba-anti-clockwise direction seven times some believe the stone is a meteorite, others believe it was given by God to Adam to erase his sin and allow him a path into heaven.
Travelling to Arafat-13 mile walk where they stop for the night at Mina where they pray and read the Qur’an.
Standing at Arafat-where Muhammad preached his last sermon where they spend the whole afternoon standing to show the depth of their faith. Islam teaches that God will forgive the sins of all who complete the standing at Arafat but only if they know they have done wrong.
Throwing pebbles at Mina-throw the pebbles they have collected to show that they reject evil, sacrifice an animal
Returning to Makkah-to circle the Ka’aba seven more times and then they return to Mina to reflect on Hajj and remember God and his blessings.
