RE - Islamic Practices

What are the Five Pillars of Islam and what are the specific ones?

General: five actions Muslims expected to complete over their lifetimes

Specific: shahadah (declaration of faith), salat (five daily prayers), zakat (giving to charity), sawm (fasting) and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Why are the Five Pillars important?

Shows obedience to God, foundation of faith, living perfect Muslim life, Islamic identity, relationship with community, deeper faith and moral base

What are the Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi’a Islam?

The 5 Pillars (excluding shahadah) khums, jihad, amr-bil-maroof (encouraging good), nahi anil munkar (discouraging evil), tawalla (associating with God and allies) and tabarra (disassociating with enemies of God)

What is jummah prayer?

A midday prayer on Fridays, men are expected to attend it and women may. It is followed by a sermon and many men stop/close work

What is wudu?

Done before prayer as cleansing by washing the body. Can be used with dirt or sand if water is not available.

What is in a prayer mat?

A compass facing towards Mecca, mosques also have a part in walls which faces Mecca

What is sawm?

Fasting, which is done every Ramadan

Why is Ramadan a holy month?

It was the month in which Allah revealed the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad

What is zakah and sadaqah?

Zakah is a form of charity in which 2.5% of personal wealth is given to the poor. Zakah is given if a Muslim has more money than the nisab, a minimum. Sadaqah is optional, extra money/time, which many Muslims also give.

What is hajj?

Mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca which every able Muslim must do at least once. Only Muslims can enter Mecca, it is done every 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Pilgrims wear ihrams to show equality

What do pilgrims do first?

Wudu, take on the ihram, walk 7 times anticlockwise around the Ka’aba reciting Qur’an. They go to the Zam Zam well to refresh, and take this water home for those not doing Hajj or unable to make it

What happens in Al Safa, Al Mawrah and the Mina Valley?

They walk a quarter of a mile seven times between the first two.

Mina Valley: 8km away from Mecca, tent city with 100,000 tents and up to 3 million accomodated

What happens in Mount Arafat, Mina and the end of the journey?

Mount Arafat: Muhammad preached last sermon, Muslims here ask for forgiveness and then move to Muzdalifah (a pebbled plain where they rest, eat, take stones)

Mina: Pilgrims throw seven stones each at three pillars representing temptation. A sacrifice is then made and men shave heads to show change.

End: Pilgrims change to normal clothes, celebrate Eid-al-Adha and return to Mecca, completing seven circuits of the Ka’aba, then go home

What does Ashura commemorate?

Imam Hussain (Muhammad’s grandson) refused to pledge alleigance to the ruler Yazid due to Hussain viewing Yazid as against Islam. Yazid forced Hussain and family out of Medina. Hussain knew Yazid only wanted him but his friends/family stood by and they were killed by an army in the desert.

How do Shia’s observe Ashura?

Avoid leisurely activities to mourn, attend mosque and pray, serving free meals, retelling story of Karbala, wear black and cover buildings for mourning, some self flagellate but leaders ask them to donate blood instead, Karbala pilgrimage

How do Sunnis view Ashura?

They celebrate it but as thanks and not mourning, doing fasting, no self flagellation

Why are the two Eids celebrated?

When Muhammad came to Medina, he learnt of two grand carnivals every year and said Allah had appointed two better days, Eid al Adha and al Fitr