Units 7 & 8: Islamic beliefs, teachings and practices (Paper 2 Section A) Flashcards
Tawhid:
The belief in the oneness of God
Islam is a …………… religion
monotheistic
Surah 112; the oneness of God(4):
- “He is god the one”
- “God the eternal”
- “He begot no one nor was he begotten”
- “No one is comparable to him”
Belief in the Tawhid means that Muslims should…(3):
- Worship only one God
- Never make anything in their lives more important than God because God has no equal
- Not use images or pictures of God as it is impossible to portray him accurately
The supremacy of God’s will(3):
- God can make anything that he wants happen
- Nothing happens unless God allows
- Muslims try to live according to God’s will accepting that God knows best
Sunni Muslims(4):
- The Sunni leader (caliph) must be elected
- Only the Qur’an and the Sunnah have the authority to provide religious guidance
- Abu Bakr(Mohammed’s adviser) is the rightful leader
- The six articles of faith give the main beliefs for Sunni muslims
The Sunnah
Mohammed’s teachings
The Shi’a(4):
- The Shi’a leader (Imam) should be descendant of Mohammed chosen by God
- The Qur’an, the Sunnah and the Imam have the authority to provide religious guidance
- Ali (Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law) is the rightful leader
- The five roots of Usul ad-Din give the main beliefs for a Shi’a Muslim
Shared beliefs in Sunni and Shi’a Islam(4):
- the belief in the same God
- following the teachings of the Qur’an
- following the teachings i the Sunnah
- acknowledging the importance of the prophets
The articles of Faith in Sunni Islam(6):
- Tawhid
- Belief in angels that passed on God’s message to the prophets
- Respect for the holy books, especially the Qur’an which is the highest authority in Islam
- Respect for the prophets, particularly Mohammed who recieved the final revelation of Islam from God
- The day of judgement
- The supremacy of God’s will
The five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi’a Islam(5):
- Tawhid
- Respect for Prophets
- Adalat
- The Imamate
- that muslims will be resurrected after death and will be judged by God
Adalat (definition):
The justice of God, a belief that God will judge everyone on judgment day in a fair and just way
The Imamate (definition):
Respect for the twelve Imams, who were chosen by God after Mohammed died
There are …. different names for God in the Qur’an and the Hadith…
- 99
- these names describe God’s characteristics and it helps Muslims have some idea about what God is like
Some of God’s most important qualities are that he is… (6):
- Immanent
- Transcendent
- Beneficent
- Omnipotent
- Fair and Just
- Merciful
Immanent(definition):
God is present everywhere in the world and in the universe
Transcendent(definition):
God created the universe and s is beyond and outside it. He is not limited by the physical world
Beneficent(definition):
God is benevolent, all loving, and all good
Omnipotent(definition):
God is all-powerful
Fair and just(definition):
God treats everyone fairly and justly
Merciful(definition):
God shows compassion and mercy
Angels(definition):
spiritual beings who serve God and pass on his message through prophets
Jibril(Gabriel):
The angel of revelation who revealed the Qur’an to Mohammed
Mika’il
The angel of mercy, who rewards god deeds and provides nourishment for the earth and human life
Angels are…(5):
- Pure and sinless
- Have no free will so can only do what God tells them to do
- Constantly serve and praise God
- Are able to take on a human form to give messages from God
- created by light
Roles of angels(4):
- Messengers from God
- Take care of people
- Record everything a person does
- Take peoples’ souls to God
Predestination(definition):
The idea that God knows or determines everything that will happen in the universe
Most Muslims believe that…(free):
God knows everything that will happen but people still have free will and can make their own choices. Most Muslims believe that they are responsible for their actions
Qur’an 9:51
“Only what Gd has decreed will happen to us”
Qur’an 13:11
God does not change the condition of a people unless they change for the worse
Barzakh(definition):
The state, after death, of waiting until the day of judgement
Akhirah(definition):
Everlasting life after death
The belief in Akhirah encorages Muslims to…(3):
- Take responsibility for their actions
- Give hope to Muslims who suffer
- Accept unjust situations
Risalah(definition):
The belief in prophets and their importance as messengers of God
Adam:
He is considered to be the father of the human race and the first prophet
Qur’an(Adam):
God forgave Adam after he kicked him an Hawwa out of the garden of bliss and Adam became the first prophet
Ibrahim is important because….(5):
- He fulfilled all the tests and commands given to him by God
- He showed great faith in God
- He is a good role model for Muslims
- Mohammed was one of his descendants through his son Ishmael
- He proclaimed a belief in one God at a time where worshiping multiple was normal
The five pillars:
- Shahadah
- Salah
- Zakah
- Sawm
- Hajj
Shahadah(definition):
The declaration of faith
Salah(definition):
Prayer
Zakah(definition):
Charitable giving; Requires Muslims to give 2.5% of their savings to charity every year
Sawm(definition):
Fasting
Hajj(definition):
Pilgrimage
The ten obligatory acts:
- The five pillars
- Jihad
- Amr-bril-Maruf
- Nahi Anil Munkar
- Tawallah
- Tabarra
- Kuhms
Jihad(definition):
The struggle to maintain the faith and defend Islam
Amr-brilmaruf(definition):
Encouraging people to do what is good
Nahi Anil Munkar(definition):
Discouraging people from doing what is wrong
Tawallah(definition):
Showing love for God and people who follow him
Tabarra(definition):
Not associating with enemies of God
Khums(definition):
20% tax(half to charity, half to religious leaders)
Salah duty:
- Sunni Muslims pray 5 times a day
- Shi’a Muslims pray 3 times a day
Wudu(definition):
Ritual washing performed before prayer
Times of prayer(5):
- Fajr( just before sunrise)
- Zuhr(just after midday)
- Asr(afternoon)
- Maghrib(just after sunset)
- Isha(night)
Mihrab(definition):
indicates the direction of Mekkah. It is a small niche in the Quibblah wall facing Mekkah
Prayer are made up of a number of rak’ah.
What is a rak’ah?
Set sequences of actions and recitations
Usually rak’ah includes the following basic actions(5):
- stand and recite the first chapter of the Qur’an
- Bow and recite in Arabic “glory be to my lord who is the very greatest” x3
- stand and make a recitation praising God
- Kneel with whole face touching the floor
- recite “God is the greatest” while sitting then prostrating
Jummah prayer(definition):
A special communal prayer held at Friday at midday
Ramadan(definition):
The most important month in the Islamic calendar, as it is when the angel Jibril started t reveal the Qur’an to Mohammed
Muslims focus on their faith during this month by …(4):
- fasting
- studying the Qur’an
- giving to charity
- trying to please God
The night of power(definition):
The night when Jibril first started to recite the Qur’an to Mohammed
Fasting in the Qur’an(2):
The command to fast was revealed to Mohammed and can be found in the Qur’an:” so any one of you who sees in that month should fast” Qur’an 2:185
Qur’an 97:2-3;
“The night of glory is better than a thousand months”
In addition to Zakah, Shi’a Muslims also give…
Khums
Qur’an 2:215
“God is well aware of whatever good you do”
Significance of Hajj(6):
- Produces inner peace
- Brings a person closer to God
- Shows self-discipline to God
- Emphasizes equality and unity
- Leads to a persons sins being forgiven
- Reminds Muslims of the good examples set by prophets
Qur’an 3:97
“Pilgrimage is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it”
Hajj remembers…
the actions of Ibrahim and his family who built the ka’aba
The ka’aba(definition):
Cube shaped building in the center of the grand mosque and the holiest place in Islam
Hajj processes(5):
- Entering a state of Ihram
- Circling the Ka’aba
- Walking between the 2 hills
- Standing at arafat
- Throwing pebbles at Mina
- Sacrificing an animal
Entering a state of Ihram(2):
Entering a state of purity; this includes ritual washing ,praying and wearing Ihram clothes. It shows everyone is equal before God
Circling the Ka’aba:
The stone is an ancient Islamic relic
Walking between the 2 hills:
This remembers Hajira’s search for water and the miraculous appearance of the well of Zamam
Standing at Arafat:
God is believed to forgive the sins of everyone at Arafat
Throwing pebbles at Mina:
Pilgrims throw pebbles at the walls to show they reject the devil and the temptation to sin
Sacrificing an animal:
This sacrifice remembers Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his own son out of obedience to God
Greater Jihad(definition):
The inward personal struggle to live according to the teachings of Islam
Lesser Jihad(definition):
The outward collective struggle to defend Islam from threat
Id-ul-Fitr activities(6):
- Muslims gather together in Mosques or large outdoor areas to say special prayers
- They decorate their homes, eat special food, give cards, and exchange presents
Id-ul-Fitr significance:
To celebrate the end of a month of fasting (ramadan). Its a way for Muslims to give thanks to God
Id-ul-Adha activivties(4):
- Special prayers are held in the Mosque usually themed around sacrifice
- Muslims visit family and friends and enjoy meals together
- Muslims will slaughter an animal
Id-ul-Adha significance(2):
Celebrates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God. Also celebrates the completion of Hajj
The day of Ashura(definition):
It is an important Shi’a festival that remembers the death of Husayn battle of Karbala
The day of Ashura activities(3):
- Perform plays and reenactments of Husayn’s death
- public expressions of grief and mourning
- many visit Husayn’s tomb