Islamic practices Flashcards
Name the principles of practice belonging Sunni and Shi’a Muslims
Five Pillars of Sunni Islam and the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi’a Islam
What is Shahadah
Declaration of faith and its place in Muslim practive
What is Salah
Muslim prayer
What is Sawm?
Fasting during the month of Ramadan
What is Zakah
compulsory donation of 2.5% of a Muslim’s spare income to charity
What is haji
Pilgrimage to Mecca
What is Great Jihad
Struggle to uphold faith in times of crisis
What is lesser jihad?
the outward struggle to defend Islam from threat
What is the difference between Zakah and Khums
Zakah is the overarching belief held by both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims of charitable giving in which 2.5% of income must always be spent on charitable causes each year. Khums refers to the additional 20% donation of wealth to charity that is carried out by Shi’a Muslims only
Which festivals are the most important in Islam
Eid-Ul-Fitr, Eid-Ul-Adha, Ashura
State an Islamic quote which emphasises the overarching importance of the 5 pillars and the 10 obligatory acts
“The truly good are those who believe in God and the Last Day, in the angels, the scripture and the prophets… those who keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms”
What are the 5 pillars of Islam
Shahadah (Declaration of faith), Salah (obligatory prayer), Zakat (compulsory giving ), Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan), Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
How does belief in the 5 pillars influence a Sunni Muslim’s daily life
Give structure to Sunni Muslims’ lives, helps them get closer to Allah by building a spiritual connection, helps them achieve the reward of paradise, instils a sense of community amongst Muslims, fulfilling each pillars acts as a building block to paradise
What is the extra phrase in the Shadadah that is spoken by Shi’a Muslims which relates to the Imamate
“Ali is the friend of God”
Explain the two types of Jihad
Greater Jihad refers to the inner struggle to discipline yourself and submit to Allah by fully embracing his teachings, even in times of crisis.
Lesser Jihad refers to the outer struggle to defend the Islamic faith from external threat (Persecution and Holy War)
What do tawalla and tabarra refer to in Shi’a Islam
Association with good people and disassociation from bad people
State the Islamic quote which pertains to the Shahadah in Sunni Islam
“There is only one God and Muhammed is his messenger”
What is the significance of the Shahadah to Muslims
Reminds Muslims of the oneness of God - Tawhid - Viewed as a fundamentally important belief. The words of the Shahadah are the first words heard by Muslim babies. The Shahadah is included in daily prayer. Said before death to demonstrate a commitment to the religion of Islam.
Identify an Islamic quote which illustrates the divine origins of the Shahadah
“God sent messages to every community.” The Angel Jibril passed down the Shahadah to the illiterate Muhammad, as well as other prophets.
What are the arguments for the Shahadah being the most important pillar
It is the infallible word of God. The other pillars stem from the Shahadah such as Salah, in which the Shahadah is recited during prayer. The words of the Shahadah are the words recited in Muslims’ first and last moments.
What are the arguments for the Shahadah not being the most important pillar
All the pillars are equally important. They are all duties that should be performed, one cannot be singled out from others. Salah is more important as it happens five times a day and is about making regular communication with God. Zakah is more important as it involves helping others in a practical way; doing things to help others may be seen as particularly important.
State key quotes which underpin the importance of Salah in Islam
“Keep up regular prayer”
“He is closer to you than your jugular vein”
“Call on me and I will answer you”
“Remember God often so that you may prosper”
“I have created mankind to worship me”
How many times a day do Sunni and Shi’a Muslims pray
Shi’a pray 3 times a day. Sunni prat 5 times a day.
Which 5 times do Sunni Muslims pray
Sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset, night
Explain why Shi’a Muslims only play 3 times a day.
They combine the noon and afternoon prayer to mirror how Muhammad would sometimes pray and to make prayer more practical
What does wudu refer to
Ritual washing that cleanses Muslims of sin prior to prayer
What does the Qibla refer to
The Qibla refers to the direction of Mecca, which Muslims face when they pray to show submission to God
What are the rules of Salah
The Salah must begin with the Takbir: “Allah is the greatest”. The Salah must be offered in Arabic and from memory, using set prayers from the Qu’ran, the Sunnah and the Hadith.
What does the Sujud show?
Total submission to Allah whilst praying
What is the significance of the belief that “Prayer is better than sleep” stated in the Hadith
Prayer is the best way of enforcing faith with action for Muslims rather than being idle
What the arguments of praying in a Mosque
Instils a sense of community amongst Muslims
Muslims are reminded that they are all equal and loved by God as they are praying together
The Mosque is considered the spiritual center of communication with God
In some congregations Muslims wear the same attire to show solidarity and equality amongst themselves and God
State quotes which highlights the importance of mosque worship
“Prayer with the congregation is better than prayer performed by oneself.- Hadith
“A believer in a mosque is like a fish in water” - Malik ibn Dinar, Islamic scholar
State a quote which advocates for universal prayer
“The whole Earth has been made a place of worship”
What is Du’a
Personal prayer, prayer of invocation
What is Jummah prayer
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 rewards come from this.
Why is Jumah prayer not necessary for Shi’a Muslims
For Shi’a Muslims, it is not necessary in the absence of the twelfth imam
Explain the process of Jummah prayer
The adhan is called and the wudu is performed. The Imam will deliver a sermon on an issue relevant to the community.
State an Islamic quote that advocates for prayer in the home
“Pray in your houses - do not make them like graveyards”
State a quote which describes Salah as a communal act
“When the call to prayer is made on the day of congregation, hurry towards the reminder of God”
What does Du’a refer to
Personal prayer for Muslims
Can prayer be performed at home for Muslims
Both Salah and Du’a can be performed at home
Why is prayer important for Muslims?
A way of establishing a direct and lasting relationship with God
Prayer helps Muslims to obtain God-consciousness and is a reminder of the importance of God as the focus of their lives
Helps to Muslims to avoid sin (shirk)
The first question a Muslim will be asked on the Day of Judgement is about Salah - prayer is important in order to achieve paradise.