Worship and Celebration

Question 1

Salah?

Answer 1

Five daily prayers.

Question 2

Zakah?

Answer 2

Tax which Muslims must pay for poor. Once a year on income and savings. Pay 2.5% on savings and income above amount you need to live on.
Money paid to mosque, special zakah box.

Question 3

Hajj?

Answer 3

Annual pilgrimage to Makkah.

Question 4

Meaning/significance of Shahadah as summary of Muslim belief?

Answer 4

I bear witness there is no God but Allah and I bear witness Muhammad is the prophet of Allah’.
- sums up Islamic belief, no god but allah: believe in Tawhid and submitted to Allah’s will and message and teaching of Qur’an.
Words of Shahadah importance for muslims is shown by how: all a person has to do to become Muslim is say it infront of witnesses.
Muslim father whispers in newborns ear, so first words it heard. They are shouted by the muezzin as he calls muslims to prayer, repeated in salah, muslims try to say it when dying.

Question 5

Practise of Salah?

Answer 5

Compulsory ritual prayer. 5 times a day. Decided by when sun rises/ sets.
Most muslims find out prayer times from mosque (board of 6 clocks showing 5 daily and friday prayers).
Muezzin calls from minaret repeating Shahadah 4 times, shouting God is great and calling Muslim to prayer.
Must perform wudu and clean clothes so pure for God’s contact.
Find clean space to pray (mat).
Find qibla (direction of prayer)- use qibla compass or mihrab in mosque(alcove).
Must make prayer intention (niyyah)- how many actions intend to perform and why.
Must carry out set prayer ritual (actions and words called rak’ah): during rakah they:
Hold hands to ears
Bow down
Prostrate themselves (submission to God)
Repeat surah from quran
Say god is great
Wish gods peace over left and right shoulder.

Question 6

Significance of Salah?

Answer 6

Commanded in quran, muhammad performed salah, shows submission to God, preserves taqwa (awareness of God) promotes unity of ummah through use of same language, movements and direction of prayer.
Performing wudu and using clean space shows God is holy and cannot he approached normally.

Question 7

Zakah used to:

Answer 7

Help poor. Re-distribute wealth.
Help orphans/ widows.
Pay for upkeep of mosques/ muslim schools.
Pay for muslim missionary work.

Question 8

Significance of zakah?

Answer 8

Means purification. Purifies wealth so does not stop them worshipping allah properly.
Quran says must give zakah. Shows submission to will of God and one of pillars.
Gods unity means all wealth God’s- sharing means believe in unity of Ummah (tawhid). = reminds muslims whether rich/ poor or equal value in God’s eyes.
Knowing all giving zakah at same time brings unity to Ummah.

Question 9

Shahadah?

Answer 9

Declaration of faith in Muhammad as the messenger of Allah.

Question 10

Sadaqah?

Answer 10

Voluntary charity. Muslims should give what you can spare.

Question 11

Practise/ significance of sawm?

Answer 11

Quran commands muslims to fast as a sign of devotion to Allah. Must fast during month of ramadan.
Give up food, drink and sex during daylight. Nothing pass lips, no smoke. Eat and drink at dusk and dawn. Read one thirtieth of Qur’an per day, read whole Qur’an by end. Special prayers at mosque at night. Attend special service on night of power. Not gossip, swear, tell lies.

Question 12

Significance of sawm?

Answer 12

Commanded in Qur’an, third pillar of Islam, celebrate/thanksgiving gift of Qur’an. Shows muslim devotion to allah, brings muslim closer to allah.

Forgiveness of sins, promotes self- control and submission to Allah’s will. Makes muslims aware of ummah (brotherhood)- all fast together and help each other through it. Helps them give zakah from the heart- gain understanding for poor.

Question 13

Meaning/ significance of Id-ul-fitr celebration?

Answer 13

End of ramadan and fast.
Wear new clothes, go to mosque for special service.
Imam gives sermon on benefits of ramadan.
Muslim give zakah, visit eachother, east special food, often children get presents.
Some exchange Id cards.

Question 14

Id-ul-fitr significant because?

Answer 14

Time for forgiveness and making amends. 
Unites ummah in common joy/celebration.
Time for giving and sharing.
Reflect on duty towards those less fortunate. 
Appreciate family life.

Question 15

Significance of hajj events in Makkah?

Answer 15

Pilgrimage takes place in D’hu al’Hijja.
Follows prophets pilgrimages and commanded by qu’ran.
Hajj only pillar no compulsory- perform if able.
Hajjis (completed) regarded as very holy and have certain authority.
Dies on hajj- goes straight to heaven and not wait judgement.
Muhammad went on hajj- following prophet of the sunnah.
Begins in Makkah at great mosque surrounds kabah and hills of marwa and safa connected.
Then to arafat and finally mina.

Question 16

Arafat?

Answer 16

A plain near Makkah where pilgrims confess sins.

Question 17

Id-ul-fitr?

Answer 17

The festival of breaking fast

Question 18

Id-ul-adhan?

Answer 18

Festival of sacrifice.

Question 19

Qiblah?

Answer 19

Direction of Ka’bah in Makkah which must be faced in Salah.

Question 20

Tawaf?

Answer 20

Going round ka’bah seven times in worship of Allah.

Question 21

Wudu?

Answer 21

Washing that takes placing before prayers.

Question 22

Sawm?

Answer 22

Fasting by going without food during daylight hours.

Question 23

Significance of Makkah events?

Answer 23

Round ka’bah 7 times. Touch ka’bah/ kiss black stone- devotion to Allah.
Ka’bah built by Adam rebuilt after flood by Ibrahim and Ismail- remember prophets as perform ritual called Tawaf.
Run between marwa and safa hills. Copying hagar and ismail as searched for water to survive desert. Remember Ibrahim fighting devil (sa’y).
Collect water from zamzam well discovered by ismail. Holiest water.
Perform salah/ listen to sermon in courtyard of great mosque.
Lots of prayers as become united with allah, bring deeper awareness of allah and sense of spiritual rebirth and fulfilment.

Question 24

Significance of Arafat events?

Answer 24

Listen to sermon given by imam on mount mercy.
Stand for several hours- confess sins.
Where Adam and eve landed after thrown out of eden. Adam confessed sins, forgiven and made prophet.
Final judgement on arafat: confess sins= forgiven, start anew life- will not count against them.
Commitment to allah standing all day in heat.
Reminds small part of Allah’s creation, dependent on him for wellbeing.
Recognising ones sins leads to humility.

Question 25

Significance of mina events?

Answer 25

Arafat to mina gather 49 stones- throw at pillars stoning mina. Remember Ibrahim stoning devil at mina when tempted him to disobey Allah and not sacrifice son. Also promise to rid evil in their hearts.
Tenth of dhu al hijja make their sacrifice. Kill to remember Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice son, when allah provided a ram. = allah provides for all their needs, also thanksgiving.
Meat then shared with poor.

Question 26

Meaning of id-ul- adha?

Answer 26

Mosques all over congregational prayer and families make sacrifice and eat celebratory meal.
Uk- sacrifice chicken or pay halal butcher to do it. Instead of sharing left over to poor, pay id zakah.
Reminds Muslims allah is great and must try to worship him in every aspect of lives.
Not in hajj to join in spirit of hajj, reinforces Ummah feeling.
Sacrifice of animal reminds should be prepared to give up everything for Allah.
History of events reminds their faith not new but planned by Allah from beginning of time.