Islamic Practises Flashcards
Shahadah:
- Whispered in the ears when you die and are born
- is the declaration of faith
-“There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God
-One of the 5 pillars. The Shahadah is one of the five pillars of Islam. …
Recitation in the Athan. The Shahadah is recited in the Athan (call to prayer).
Zakah
- give 2.5% of your earnings to charity
- this is given for orphans, widows and the needy
- Is often played during Ramadan
-Zakah is given to help Muslims recognize that they are khalifas ( stewards) of god’s earth - Charities like Islamic Relief spend Zakat money responsibly
Alms are meant only for the poor, the needy, those who administer them, those whose hearts need winning over, to free slaves and help those in debt, for God’s cause, and for travellers in need.
— Qur’an 9:60
In addition to practising Zakah, Muslims are encouraged to voluntarily give their money and time to charity throughout the year. This is known as
Sadaqah
.Khums literally means ‘a fifth’. It was originally a proportion of the hauls taken during wars by Muslim armies that was given to their religious leader. Today, Shi’a Muslims give 20 per cent of their savings to charities related to Islamic education and to the poor.
Sawm
- fasting during the month of Ramadan the 9th month of the Muslim calendar
- Used to help get stronger and reject evil
-Used to deepen spiritual connection with God - Helps Muslims to relate to the poor
-Its a direct command from God
‘But to fast is best for you if only you know’
-Muslims avoid food and water during daylight hours and smoking and sexual activity - Avoid evil thoughts and deeds like lying
‘Fasting is for a fixed number of days and if one of you be sick , or it one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on.’
People exempt from Sawm:
-Elderly
-Children - Pregnant women
-breast feeding mothers
-travellers
-ill
Hajj:
how Sunni Muslims undertake pilgrimage to the Ka’ba in Makkah; it is a once in a lifetime thing
-makes Muslims closer to Allah
- Preps them for the day of judgement
- The Hajj involves visiting several significant locations, each one recalling an action of either Muhammad or Ibrahim
-The Hajj involves circling the Kaaba- the focus of their daily prayers when at home
-Muslims connect with the Ummah while on Hajj
-Ibram-dressing in two pieces of white cloth
Tawaf- circling the ka’aba seven times anti-clockwise
-Drinking the water from the zam-zam well
zam-zam water is sacred because it heals people. When Hajor was in the dessert with no water the zam-zam water appeared
- Wuquf asking Allah for forgiveness at mount Arafat
-Sa’y walking between Al-safa
and Al-Marwa hills seven times
-Throwing 3 pebbles at the 3 jamarat that represent Shaytan
- sacrifce of sheep and goats for Eid UL Adha
- Some pilgrims also visit Madinah the prophet Muhammad mosque+burial site
-Safa and Mawa muslims run between two mountains
made as a ritual as a tribute to Hajor’s search for water
-Mount Arafat is a hill when muhammad stood. It’s where pilgrims go and pray and ask for forgiveness from God
-Muzdalifah is a valley between Mina and Mount Arafat. Pilgrims spend the night in the open. They throw pebbles at Mina
- Eid al aduh is a festival at the end to commemorate Ibrahim and his devotion to killing the sheep, goat. It’s then given to the poor
Hajj Quotes:
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) Said: Whoever performs Hajj with any obscenity Shall return (from Hajj) like a newborn baby.
And proclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations.”
Is Sawm ( fasting) difficult fro Muslims in the UK agree and disagree factors
———-Agree——-
- Muslims are in the minority and so it can be hard to fit in whilst fasting
- Exam seasons can clash with
Ramadan
-School days and work days are long and not catered for fasting
- sleep deprivation due to when fasting in the summer months
- Many people who are not religious do not understand fasting and think that it means dieting
‘God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear’
——Disagree—
-Because of the religious pluralism in the UK people will want to help fasting muslims in practical ways
- Fasting is supposed to be difficult so that Muslims can relate to the poor and show self control when others are not fasting
-‘Fasting is good for you if only you knew’
-Muslims must follow the sharia path and any suffering is insignificant compared to the reward of completing Sawm
-They are fasting in the name of Allah and so will be rewarded in the after life
Issues relating to Muslims in Britain undertaking Hajj
is it difficult agree and disagree
———–AGREE——
-limited number of knowledgeable travel agents
- Very costly because Saudi-Arabia is so far away
-Not being allowed time of work
- Saudi arabia not advised to travel to by UK Gov
-Cultural differences
-Lack of understanding around Hajj
- Only 12% of Muslims can go
——-DISAGREE———————–
“Whoever performs Hajj for Allah’s pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew.”
- Hajj is meant to be difficult
- -Hajjcan be addede to name whrn they get bakc
-Hajj is a once in a lifetime opportunity
-Hajj is one of the 5 pillars
Salah :
there are 5 daily prayers
Fajr After Dawn
Zuhr/Dhuhr After MIdday
As’r Late Afternoon
Maghrib After Sunset
Isha After Dark
How to make wudu: 1 -wash the face completely once, 2- washing the arms up to the elbows once, 3- wipe entire head including the ears, 4- wash the feet up to the ankles once.
Prayer is known as salat by Muslims. In Arabic salat means to connect and prayer is about connecting with Allah by taking time out from everything else in the world. For Muslims this creates a personal peace that you cannot find in the world and can only come from Allah.
· Prayer is the second of the Five Pillars of Faith and it us a duty for Muslims to pray five times each day. They pray at dawn, midday, late afternoon, just after sunset and again before midnight. These are not precise times but windows of time when prayer should take place.
· Muslims usually pray in the Mosque but they can pray anywhere. Many work places in the UK have prayer rooms. If there is no place to pray a Muslim can just put their prayer mat down facing Mecca and begin praying.
· Muslim always face Mecca when they pray and Mosques are built facing Mecca. You can buy a special compass that tells you which way you need to kneel in order to face Mecca. Everyone facing in one direction helps to create unity and a sense of community and belonging.
· Ablutions called wudhu must take place before prayer. Footwear is removed and hands, feet and face are washed. Mosques provide a special place for this to take place. Wudhu is a way of preparing for the important act of praying and is about becoming pure before speaking to Allah.
· The prophet Muhammed taught that prayer is a spiritual cleansing and through daily prayer Allah wipes a way a person’s sins. It also helps Muslims to avoid temptation and evil in their lives.
· The daily ritual of prayer has been performed for over 1400 years and it sets the pattern of the day and unites millions of Muslims across the world.
· Muslims are called to prayer by the muezzin who calls from the minaret. In the modern technological age some Mosques play a recording of the call to prayer.
· Prayer is a set of words, actions and thoughts and is the uniting of the body, mind and soul. The Qur’an is also recited during prayers
· Prayer is tied in with giving (zakat) and caring for others. Praying with others in the Mosque helps Muslims to discover who us in need and who needs their care and help
Du,a - personal prayer Done it every day
Jummah collective prayer evenings on Fridays at the mosques
‘He who performs wudu perfectly his sins will leave;
‘prayer is a timely subscription for believers’
khums
one of the 10 obligatory acts of shi’a muslims
20% of wealth (spare money) to charity
this can be money to allah’s relatives (khalifs)
this is payed to the Imam or their representative who then distributes it
It is the sixth of the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi’a Islam. This tax is paid on any profit earned by Shi’a Muslims.
Who should pay it?
Every individual Muslim who is at the age of puberty and is sane. For the minors, it becomes the parents or guardian’s duty to pay it.
On what is it paid?
There are various items to which Khums applies. For example treasure trove and spoils of war, etc. But the most popular item in our daily life is the Khums on the surplus of income or on possessions that exceeds our needs.
Know that whatever of a thing you acquire, a fifth of it is for Allah, for the Messenger, for the near relative, and the orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer (Surah 8:41
khums is paid on top of zakat
Tawalia
The duty to love the friends of Allah. This includes both love for God and love for those who follow him.
Tabarra
The duty to express disapproval of evil-doers. We should dissasociate with those who hate allah and with those who oppressed ahl al bayl. We shoukd not be in the companny of those who mock and insult them or islam.
Nahil Anril Munkar:
How Muslims discourage bad actions. Correcting evil if we see someone sin or something that is wrong . we should try and stop it if not hate it in our hearts. We should always forbid what is evil and encourage what is good.
Amr-bil-Maroof
How Muslims encourage others to do good
by discouraging bad actions and commanding what is good . we should enourage others to do good deeds aswell as doing them ourselves.
Jihad
The struggle to live as a Muslim. Jihad means struggle in arabic
‘the person that struggles for Allah’s word to be supreme is the one serving Allah’s cause’
Greater Jihad
on his return from battle the prophet muhammad said ‘‘we are finished with the lesser jihad’.(Hadith)
the struggle to be good
Muhammad states that the greatest struggle is to be a good person
the mains aims of greater jihad are to perform the 5 pillars with devotion actually live by prophet muhammad’s actions Sunnah justice and fairness for all rise above selfishness and greed
These are the greater jihad struggle because you can only fight fir justice if you are free from evil yourself
Lesser Jihad and its origins
the struggle against evil
the struggle for defending faith
won’t harm women and children
allow surrender
freedom from oppression
treat POW well
has lots of overlaps with the Geneva convention
can’t attack civilians
originates from muhammad’s decision to suthorise tsking up conflict to prevent the wiping out of muslims and is supported in the Qur’an ‘permission[tofight} has been given to those who are being fought because they were wromged’.
also quran states’fght in the way og god those who fight against you, but do not transgress’
fighting to defend one self is okay for example the battle of makkah when the enemie was trying to wipe out muslims by killing all followers .
lesser jihad is to take action to correct wrongdoing in society (as a last resort)
Many military groups claim to be Jihadists . Most muslims consider this to be a misuse of the word and a misinterpretation of islam.
Fight in God’s path against those who fight you, but don not be aggressors, for God does not love aggressors (Qu’ran)
‘permission(to fight)has been given to those against whom war is waged wrongfully because they were wronged. And God is surely capable of giving them victory’ Quran
