Islamic Practices

What denomination of Islam do the 10 Obligatory Acts belong to?

Shi’a Islam

What denomination of Islam do the 5 Pillars of Islam belong to?

Sunni Islam

Talk about Shahadah

It is the declaration of faith, ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger (and Ali is the friend of Allah)’, helps Muslims to understand that they must worship Allah in order to gain access to Paradise (Sunni and Shi’a)

Talk about Salah in Shi’a Islam

Shi’a: Only pray 3 times a day, pray with hands by the side, use a small clay tablet, Fajr, Dhuhr + Asr, Maghrib + Isha

Talk about Salah in Sunni Islam

Pray 5 times a day, hands are folded during prayer, pray directly onto a mat, all visible areas are washed during Wudu

Talk about Sawm in Shi’a Islam

• Fasting, which includes abstaining from food, drink, sex, lying cheating, swearing from dawn until dusk

• Purpose is to develop taqwa (God consciousness), self-discipline and empathy

• Fast is broken a few minutes after sunset

• Broken with dates and water

• The Night of Power, according to Shi’as, occurs on the 23rd night

Talk about Sawm in Sunni Islam

• Fasting begins at dawn and breaks at sunset

• Fast is broken immediately after sunset

• The last ten days are significant, as they include the Night of Power

 

Talk about Hajj (Applies to Shi’a and Sunni)

• Represents a journey to the Holy Land of Mecca

• Shows commitment to God

 

Talk about Zakah in Shi’a Islam

• Muslims are required to give up 2.5% of their savings to charity

• Represents the sacrifices made by Muhammad

• Also requires you to feel empathy for the poor

• Shi’a Muslims also have to pay Khums

 

Talk about Zakah in Sunni Islam

• Muslims are required to give up 2.5% of their savings to charity

• Represents the sacrifices made by Muhammad

• Also requires you to feel empathy for the poor

 

Talk about Khums (Shi’a)

A 20% tax on a Shi’a Muslim’s excess income

Represents the sacrifices made by Muhammad

Also requires you to feel empathy for the poor

 

Talk about Jihad (Shi’a)

Greater Jihad - The internal struggle for Allah

Lesser Jihad - Fighting a Holy War in the name of the struggle for Allah

 

Talk about Amr-bil-Maruf

Encouraging people to do what is good - Halal

Talk about Nahi Anil Munkar (Shi’a)

Discouraging people from doing what is bad - Haram

 

Talk about Tawallah

Be loving towards the friends of Allah

Talk about Tabarra

Disassociate from the enemies of Allah

Talk about Id-ul-Fitr

	Id-ul-Fitr
Origins	According to Islam, the first Eid was celebrated by Muhammad around 624 AD. They were initiated in Medina.
Key activities and their meaning	Sunni - Two rak’has, starts with intention to pray, Allahu Akbar Takbir Al-Ihram and Allahu Akbar. This is repeated several times, raising the hand each time. Shi’a- They have five railings of the hand, small du’a is recited
Significance for Muslims in Great Britain today	The day that Islam is fully recognised, people have a day off work/school, celebrated as a community
Quotes from sources of authority (5 and 12 markers)	Rush to your rewards in the morning - Qur’an

 

Talk about Id-ul-Adha

	Id-ul-Adha
Origins	Ibrahim has a recurring dream where Allah demands he sacrifices his brother Shaytan tempts Ibrahim, but the prophet pelts him with stones to make him go away When Ibrahim sacrifices Ishmael, Allah puts a ram in his place Ibrahim passes God’s test for devotion
Key activities and their meaning	10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah     Celebrated around the world Key part of Hajj - festival of sacrifice Sacrifice an animal (qurbani, halal way), share the meat/money between family, relatives, friends and the poor Shared meals and public occasions Giving money to charity Visiting hospitals
Significance for Muslims in Great Britain today	Greater Eid Eid prayers Ibrahim’s duty and devotion to Allah - exemplar Unity
Quotes from sources of authority (5 and 12 markers)	‘Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God … For God did take Abraham as a friend’ - Qur’an 4:125   ‘O my son, I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you’ - Qur’an 37:100

Talk about Ashura

	Ashura
Origins	For Sunnis •  Muhammad was in Madina and saw the Jews fasting on the tenth month of Muharram. • He asked them what they were doing and they said it was the day were they remembered the Israelites who were saved from the Pharaoh. • They said that Musa fasted on this day. • He replied with ‘we are closed to Musa than you’. • So he fasted on this day and told people to fast.   • For Shias • Remembers the martyrdom of Hussein (grandson of Muhammad) • Who was killed in the battle of Karbala • Killed by Yazid, a ruler who demanded Hussein give him his allgience • He refused due to corruption, use of slavery and injustice
Key activities and their meaning	Shia key activities: 1 Festival of sincere sadness 2 Wear black as a sign of grief 3 Mosques covered in b lack cloths for mourning 4 After afternoon prayers, poems about the tragedy are read & people will cry 5 Some gather to beat themselves with whips and chains in sorrow, but becoming less common   Sunni: • Many fast but this isn’t compulsory (due to origins/mentioned above) • Sunni do not accept the whipping of their bodies • Sunni Muslims also partake in bonfires, carnivals and special dishe
Significance for Muslims in Great Britain today	Sunnis do not whip their bodies like some Shi’a as according to teaching the body shouldn’t be harmed • Many Muslims (Sunni) remember Ashura as a day of atonement - a day sins are forgiven if repented - meaning Muslims will confess their sins to God and try repent in order to go to Jannah • Many fast, often on the 8th, 9th and 10th day of Muharram to commemorate the deliverance of Allah when Musa and the Israelites were saved form the Pharoah. •     • For Shi’as there is a lot to be learnt about this festival - firstly the tragic death of Hussein should never be forgotten, nor the actions of imams • Like Hussein did, Muslims should stand up for justice to a better society • A Shi’a’s love for Allah is shows through their love for imams. • Du’a performed - known as Dua e Ashura - recited 7x some, to highlight how great Allah is and shows respect • Mourning - men in large group on streets & parades to commemorate the Battle of Karbala and martyrdom of Imam Hussein as a way to relate to his painful death.
Quotes from sources of authority (5 and 12 markers)	“the prophet came to Madinau and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura” “for fasting the day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as explanation for the year that went before” “The Prophet never abandoned fasting the day of Ashura” “The messenger of Allah said the best of fasting after Ramadan is fasting Allahs month of Muharram”