Islam practices AQA

5 pillars

Five Pillars

-          Shahadah

o   Declaration of faith

o   Repeated multiple times

-          Salah

o   Prayer

o   Five times a day

-          Zakah

o   Charitable giving

o   2.5% of your wealth

o   Mandatory

-          Sawm

o   Fast during Ramadan

-          Hajj

o   Pilgrimage to Mecca

10 obligatory acts in shia islam

-          Salah

o   Daily prayers

-          Swam

o   Fasting

-          Zakah

o   Giving to the poor

-          Jihad

o   The struggle to keep belief in Allah and follow his rules

o   Defend Islam

-          Khums

o   20% tax paid

o   Split between charities supporting education

o   Given to descendants of Muhammad

-          Amr-bil-Maruf (halah)

o   Encouraging people to do what is good

-          Nahi Anil Munkar (haram)

o   Forbidding evil by discouraging people from the wrong

-          Tawallah

o   Showing love

-          Tabarra

o   Disassociation, not associate with God’s enemies

 

differences between sunni and shia practices

	Beliefs	Practices
Similarities	-          They both believe in Tawhid which is the oneness of God -          God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement. -          The prophets should be respected, especially Muhammad	-          Conducting daily prayers -          Giving money to the poor -          Fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan -          Performing the pilgrimage to Mecca
Differences	-          Sunni Muslims believe that the Prophet did not explicitly declare a successor -          Shia Muslims believe that the Prophet publicly designated his cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (peace be upon him), as the first in a line of hereditary Imams from the Prophet's family to lead the community after him -          But in Shahadah, Shi'a add, "and Ali is the friend of God."	-          Shia visit Ali's tomb -          Shia beat themselves to remember the battle -          Shia pray 3 times of day, Sunni 5 times

Shahadah key bits

-          Declaration of faith

-          Sunni Muslims: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.”

-          Shia Muslims: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah, and Ali is the friend of God.”

-          Said at birth

-          Said before death

-          Foundation of the other four pillars

Salah key bits

Salah: prayer with and in worship of God, performed under conditions set by the Prophet Muhammed

-          Daily prayer, and is the second Pillar of Islam,

-          Sunni Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day

-          Shi’a Muslims combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, so they only pray three times a day

-          Combination of words and movement which emphasises submission to Allah

-          Liturgical in form: set times, words and movement. Men and women pray separately.

During Salah you must face the Kabbah (Qiblah). If you can’t find it then it is about Niyyah.

It is commanded in the Qur’an and the prophet Muhammed did it (Sunnah)

Prayer times sunni

Fajr	Just before sunrise
Zuhr	Just after midday
Asr	Afternoon
Maghrib	Just after sunset
Isha	Night

Wudu key bits and importance

Rules: Must be running water

Reason: not to remove physical dirt, not washing away sins, it is only a ritual to prepare yourself for prayer, (Niyyah). Things that break the wudu is menstruation and sickness. Alternatives to water could be sand or dust.

Wudu is important because:

-          If water is not available, it is intention that matters.

-          It is not about physically cleanliness, but spiritual cleanliness.

-          Wudu is a form of spiritual preparation or purification to allow Muslims to focus fully on God is their prayers.

wudu quote

You who believe, when you are about to pray, wash your faces and your hands up to your elbows, wipe your heads, wash your feet up to your ankles and, if required, wash your whole body." Qur'an 5:6

Adhan meaning

call to prayer

meaning and bits of Rak’ahs

Rak’ahs is a sequence of movements in ritual prayer

·       Sujud: is bowing down and touch your head on the floor

·       Jalsa: is kneeling

·       Tashahud: is the recitation of the Islam belief that there is no god except Allah and the prophet Muhammed is his messenger

·       Salam: this means 'peace' and marks the end of the prayer

·       Du'a: is the informal part of prayer and asking for forgiveness

·       Takbir: stating one’s intention to pray

·       Sujud: Prostration, a physical embodiment of showing submission to Allah

·       Salam: greeting the angel on our shoulders and acknowledging the wider Ummah.

Jummah meaning and bits

weekly friday congregational prayer

-          Attendance is mandatory for adult men, expected of Muslims women.

-          The Imam will give the sermon in a Mimbar.

-          You have to purify your intentions Niyyah so that you are only going for God.

-          Must take off your shoes.

-          Tahiyet-al-Masjid is the portion of the Muslim prayer where the person kneels or sits on the ground facing the Qiblah

-          The Khubah does not have to be in Arabic as it isn’t the word of God.

After the sermon someone will give the Akhama

Salah importance and influence

Why is Salah important?	How might the pillar of Salah influence a Muslim’s life?
The actions of bowing and prostrating reminds them that God is greater and more important than they are	Help Muslims live on the straight path.
Reciting the Qur'an during the prayer reminds Muslims of its importance,	Stick with things that are Halal and avoid things that are Haram
One of the 5 pillars	Ummah, feel closer to the community
God has commanded them to do it. Prayer creates a greater awareness of God, which in turn mo3tivate them to do God's will	Feel closer to Allah
Submission to God	Make Muslims more devoted to God as they are praying everyday
Unites Muslims worldwide.	Reminder faith, reinforcing.

Salah quotes

“Your Lord says call on me and i will answer you” Qur’an

“believers! when the call to prayer is made of the day of congregation hurry towards the reminder of God and leave off your trading” Qur’an

Sawm meaning and key bits and quote

Ramadam

fasting on 9th month of islamic calender commemorates first revelation to Muhammad

“it was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind.. so any one of you who sees in that month should fast” Qur’an

Sunni and Shi’a Muslims break the fast at different times:

Sunni: breaks the fast when the daily prayers are finished

Shi’a: break the fast when every bit of light is gone (when you can’t tell the difference between white and black string)

The pre-dawn meal and The sunset meal names

The pre-dawn meal to break the fast is called Suhur

The sunset meal to break the fast is called Iftar

dos and don’ts while fasting and exceptions and expectations during sawm

What can’t you do whilst fasting?	What to do whilst fasting	Who doesn’t have to fast	Who should fast
Eat food. Drink anything  Smoke Have sexual intercourse. Swearing Fighting	Focus of Allah Give charity to the poor. Have self-discipline. Do 5 prayers a day. Read from the Qur’an Do lots of Dhikr (ritual prayer)	People with health problems Pregnant women Children Chronic illness Terminal illness	Every healthy adult

Quotes for fasting

"... Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." Hadith

“To fast is best for you, if only you knew” Qur’an 2:184

“And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread of night. Then complete the fast until sunset” Qur’an 2:187

Night of power key bits and quote

 The night of power was the night when the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed. It occurs during the second half of the month of Ramadan.

 

The Angel Jibril told Muhammed to “Iqra” “Recite” the Qur’an and he could suddenly read

 

"What will explain to you what that Night of Glory is? The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months?" Qur'an 97:2-3

Id ul Fitr: Festival of Fast Breaking key bits

Id ul Fitr: Festival of Fast Breaking

Marks the end of the month of Ramadan and thanks Allah for the strength and help he has given Muslims to be able to fast

 

-          Celebrated for 1-3 days.

-          Muslims gather in Mosques or large outdoor areas to say special prayers.

-          The Imam’s sermon reminds Muslims that they should forgive and forget any differences or disputes that have occurred during the year

-          Everyone wears their best cloths or new cloths for the occasion.

-          Homes are decorated, special foods are eaten, processions take place, and cards and presents are exchanged

-          In the UK it is not recognised as a national public holiday but Muslims are usually granted the day off

-          Some go to the local cemetery and remember family members who have died.

Zakah key bits

Zakah is a duty of giving 2.5% of your savings are once a year. It Is the purification of wealth. Almsgiving (Not charity)

 

Nisab: the amount of money that should be given that is worked out by the value of 87 grams of gold.

Sadaqah: good actions or voluntary payments that are voluntary payments that are undertaken for charitable reasons

Zakah is compulsory for anyone whose savings are greater than the Nisab. Most will give the money at the end of Ramadan.

quotes for zakah

“They ask you about giving: say, “The charity you give shall go to the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, and the traveling alien.” Any good you do, God is fully aware thereof.” [2:215]

“You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and bow down with those who bow down.” [2:43]

“Charity in secret, quiets the wrath of God and takes away one’s sin as the water puts out the fire and keeps away seventy kinds of calamities.” [Hadith]

Khums: key bits

Khums is the Shi’a version of Zakah. This involves giving 20% tax paid by Shi’a Muslims on their excess income.

Half of the money collected as Khums goes to Shi’a religious leaders to be spent on behalf of god on things considered necessary for religious matters while the rest is given to charity or the poor

Hajj context and meaning

• What is Hajj: Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim should try to complete at least once in their life as an act of worship and devotion.

• Origins of Hajj: Around 4,000 years ago, God told Prophet Ibrahim to take his wife Hajira and son Ishmael to Arabia and leave them with limited supplies. When the food and water ran out, Hajira ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah searching for help. God caused water to spring from the ground, and later instructed Ibrahim to build a shrine there, which became the Kaaba.

Hajj what you do during

• Circling the Kaaba (Tawaf): Pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times anti-clockwise, touching or acknowledging the Black Stone while reciting a prayer of devotion to God.

• Running between Safa and Marwah: Muslims walk seven times between the two hills, recalling Hajira’s search for water, before collecting water from the Zamzam well.

• Journey to Arafat: After Tawaf and Safa-Marwah, pilgrims travel to Arafat, stopping at Mina on the way. This follows the path of Hajira and prepares them for the next key ritual.

• Standing at Arafat: On the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims spend the afternoon praying at Arafat, where Muhammad gave his final sermon. This reflects the Day of Judgement and is believed to lead to forgiveness for sincere believers.

• Stoning the Devil: Pilgrims throw 49 stones at three walls (Jamarat), symbolising the rejection of evil. Many also sacrifice an animal for Eid-ul-Adha, give meat to the poor, and men shave their heads while women cut a lock of hair.

• Return to Mecca: Pilgrims return to Mecca to perform a final Tawaf, then spend two nights in Mina reflecting and remembering God before completing Hajj.

Id ul Adha:

This is a Muslim festival that focuses of celebrating the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God. Normally celebrated by sacrificing animals.

4 days long

visit families and eat festive meals

Importance of Hajj to Muslims:

• Hajj brings deep spiritual transformation, making the Hajji more aware of God's presence and encouraging sincerity and humility in their relationship with Him.

• It offers inner peace and promotes values like justice, kindness, respect, honesty, mercy, and forgiveness, while also teaching self-discipline through its physical and mental challenges.

• Hajj highlights unity and equality through shared practices like wearing Ihram and staying in tents, fostering a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood.

• It reminds Muslims of Ibrahim’s faith and example, and is believed to lead to the forgiveness of sins.

Hajj quotes

“Pilgramidge to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it” Qur’an

Jihad meaning lesser/ greater

Jihad: a struggle/strive against evil; this may be an inward, personal struggle or an outward collective struggle.

Great Jihad	Lesser Jihad
-          Aiming to live a perfect Muslim life -          Being a kind and good Muslim and part of the Ummah -          The struggle to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah and Shariah -          Following the example of the Prophet Muhammed in everyday life.	-          A struggle of the community rather than the individual to remove evil from society -          The fight against oppression -          Working against the persecution of Muslims in countries where they are in a minority. -          The struggle to bring about peace, even when it means having to use weapons. -          Defending yourself and other Muslims if you are attacked

Jihad quotes

"This is My path, leading straight, so follow it, and do not follow other ways: they will lead you away from it - 'This is what He commands you to do, so that you may refrain from wrongdoing.'" Qur'an 6:153

 

"But those who have believed, migrated, and striven for God's cause, it is they who can look forward to God's mercy: God is most forgiving and merciful." Qur'an 2:218

rules for lesser Jihad war

. The ONLY examples for fighting for a religious cause is sometimes referred to as a holy war.

-          Only be declared by a fair religious leader.

-          It cannot be used to make people convert to Islam.

-          It must be in response to a threat to the faith.

-          It must not be used to gain territory or wealth.

-          It must be the last resort – all peaceful methods must have been tired first.

Ashura festival

Ashura is a festival that is important for Shi’a Muslims in particular, who remember the battle of Karbala and death of Hussain on this day. It is a day of remembrance

Sunni Ashura

-          Refer to it as the Day of Atonement

-          Remember it as the day when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt

-          Others believe that traditionally Ashura remembers the day Noah (Nuh) left the ark after the flood.

-          After going to Medina, Muhammed nominated Ashura as a day of fasting from sunset to sunset, and it is still a voluntary fast day for Sunni Muslims

Shia Ashura

-          Remember the death of Hussein, Son of Imam Ali, and grandson of Muhammed.

The battle of Karbala was fought between Hussain and his supporters against the army of Caliph Yazid. It lasted all day as Hussain, with around 70 men plus women and children, fought against the much larger army.

-          Eventually Husayn’s supporters were overwhelmed, and their camp was set of fire and their bodies were trampled on by the horses of their enemy.

In countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan it is a public holiday and some even go as far to beat themselves on the back with chains, pound their head, or cut themselves. They do this to connect with Husayn’s sufferings and death.

In London, several thousand Shi’a Muslims go to Marble Arch for a procession of mourning and listen to speeches. Some UK religious leaders encourage Shi’a Muslims to donate blood as a way of remembering the death of Husayn.

In Iraq, many Shi’a pilgrims go to the Mashhad al-Husayn, the shrine in Karbala which is believed to house the tomb of Husayn.

Key words

1. Islam - submission to the will of god

2. Tawhid - oneness of god

3. Risalah - the belief in prophets of importance

4. Inshallah - god willing

5. Qur'an- holy book of Islam

6. Hafiz - someone who memorised the Quran

7. Muhammad - the seal of prophets

8. Lailat al-Qadr - night of power

9. Sunnah - habitual practice

10. Hadith - saying of the prophet

11. Hijrah - journey

12. Caliph - successor

13. Imamate - the Devine appointment of imams

14. Imam Shia - leader in a mosque: Ali

15. Imam Sunni - Abu Bakr

16. Six articles - The key beliefs for Sunni muslims: Angels, Tawhid, Quran, Risalah, supremacy of gods will, Akirah

17. Usul ad-Din - the five routes of religion for Shia Muslims: Risalah, tawhid, justice of god, the Imamate, the Akirah

18. Sunni - someone who believes Abu Bakr is the successor

19. Shia - someone who believes the successor is Ali

20. Bismillah - starts every chapter of the quran

21. Surah - a chapter in the Quran

22. Akhirah - life after death

23. Iblis - the devil

24. Adam - first prophet

25. Ibrahim - the perfect Muslim

26. Ashura - festival that Shia Muslims do in rememberence of Ali

27. Sahahadah - declaration of faith : I bear no one but witness there is not god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. And Ali is a friend of god

28. Salah - praying and prayers

29. Kabah - the building in the middle of Makka

30. Sawm - fasting

31. Ramadan - month of fasting

32. Zakah - almsgiving

33. Hajj - pilgrimage

34. Halal - good/allowed

35. Haram - prohibited

36. Shirk - comparing something to god

37. Malaikah - angels

38. Ummah - Muslim community

39. RI salah: The belief that prophets are an important channel of communication between God and humans

40. Prophethood: When God makes someone a prophet to communicate his message to people

41. Iqra: Recite