Muslim Practices Flashcards
What is Zakah?
One of the Five Pillars and Ten Obligatory Acts; giving alms (2.5% of savings above the minimum threshold)
What is Salah?
Prayer five times a day (or three for Shi’as as two are merged); one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts.
What is Jihad?
To struggle’. The personal or collective struggle against evil
What is greater or inner jihad?
The personal struggle of every Muslim to live by the teachings of their faith
What is involved in fasting?
Not eating or drinking; one of the Five Pillars is Sawm during Ramadan.
What is Makkah?
Place of pilgrimage during Hajj; the spiritual centre of Islam
What is Hajj?
One of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts; pilgrimage to Makkah, which all Muslims must undertake at least once in their lives, unless prevented by problems over wealth or health.
What is ablution (wudu)?
Ritual washing before prayer
What is the Shahadah?
The Shahadah - Muslim declaration of faith; one of the Five Pillars in Sunni Islam.
What are the ten obligatory acts?
These are requirements for Shi’a Muslims.
What are movements or rakahs?
Actions and ritual movements made during salah (prayer) consisting of recitations, standing, bowing and prostration.
What is Ramadan?
Month during which Muslims fast (sawm) from dawn to sunset.
What is Sawm?
Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan; one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts.
What is lesser or outer jihad?
This refers to the military struggle to defend Islam. It is carried out according to strict and clear cut rules
What is the Night of Power?
The night on which Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qur’an during Ramadan, Muslims try to stay awake and read the Qur’an and pray.
What is Ashura?
Important festival in Shi’a Islam, to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein (Muhammad’s grandson). Sunni Muslims observe Ashura as a day of repentance for sins in the belief that they will be forgiven
What is Mina?
Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims take part in the stoning of pillars
What is the ka’aba?
Part of the Hajj pilgrimage; cube-shaped building in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. All Muslims face it when they pray.
What is Muzdalifah?
Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims hold a night prayer and rest after the Stand on Mount Arafat
What is Id-ul-Fitr?
Festival; celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan and marks the end of fasting
What is Khums?
One of the Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi’a Islam; practice of alms giving.
What is a Mosque?
Muslim place of worship.
What is giving alms?
Giving to those in need, e.g. money, food, time. It is one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts (Zakah).
What are Jummah prayers?
Friday prayers in the mosque, where a sermon (khutbah) is heard.
What is Id ul-Adha?
Festival; celebration of the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah
What are recitations?
Part of the practice of salah (prayer); the reciting of verses from the Qur’an.
What are examples of the 10 Obligatory Acts?
They include salah, sawm, zakah, hajj and jihad (duties also for Sunni Muslims) but the final five are not part of the Sunni tradition – khums, encouraging good, discouraging wrong, showing love for God and people, disassociation with enemies of God.
