Islam Practices: Festivals + 10 Obligatory Acts

List the 10 Obligatory Acts

Salah, Sawm, Hajj, Zakah, Jihad, Khums, Tabarra, Tawalla, Amr-bil-Maroof, Nahi Nil Munkar

What did imam al-ridha add to the reason that wudu should be performed?

gets rid of laziness, drowsiness and purifies heart before standing with Allah

what did the 11th imam say the purpose of sawm was?

to experience the pain and hunger of the poor --> more generous in giving to charity

what is the purpose of ramadan for both sunnis and shias

Ramadan purpose: redress lives + learn self-restraint

what is greater jihad?

struggle to overcome evil in your own self

what is lesser jihad?

struggle in the cause of Islam to overcome injustice in society

who do shias give their khums to?

to the imamate to be distributed

what is amr-bil-maroof

directing others --> good/justice

what is maroof

anything approved by Shari'ah or generally recognised as a beneficial action, halal

what is nahi anil munkar?

commanding what is just + forbidding evil

what is munkar?

that which is not approved by Shari'ah or what is detestable or disagreeable, haram

what is tawalla?

showing love

how do the obligatory acts do tawalla?

Obligatory Acts expressing love towards Allah + towards Ahl al-Bayt (PM's family)

why are sunnis against tawalla?

Shia expressing of tawalla close to worship --> shirk, accuse worshipping at shrines of imams - seeking advice not from Quran

tabarra meaning?

disassociated

who do Muslims show tabarra to?

Hatred/disassociated against enemies of Allah + ahl al-Bayt

when is tabarra performed?

Performed publicly during festivals/celebrations --> prosecution of Shias by Sunnis

what do sunni scholars believeon tawalla and tabarra?

believe both tawalla + tabarra should be rejected because they cause division in Islamic community

what are the different names for eid al-adha?

Eid Al-Adha/The Major Festival/The Festival of the Sacrifice/Greater Eid

what does Eid Al-Adha celebrate?

Celebration of sacrifice + marks end of Hajj

Who does Eid Al-Adha remember?

Remember P Ibrihim - demonstrated full submission to Allah

What happens in Eid ul-Adha?

1) Muslims start day by performing ghusl: full body ablution - purify themselves for day ahead

2) Will attend special Eid prayer

3) Main ritual: Qurbani (animal sacrifice)

a) UK: will need animals to be slaughtered in an official slaughterhouse - law

b) Meat distributed equally to family/friends/poor

4) Ends with special family meal - use meat from Qurbani

Different names for Eid Al-Fitr?

Festival of Ramadan/ Festival of Breaking the Fast/Lesser or Smaller Eid

who started Eid Al-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha?

Muhammed

How long is Eid Al-Fitr + compared to Eid ul-Adha?

3 days (1 less than Eid ul-Adha)

Influence of fasting/Ramadan on Muslims?

Takes people out of normal lifestyle

Requires to engage in personal reflection

Heighten people's awareness of sufferings of poor

Greater appreciation of what they have

What is the Festival of Ashura for?

Shia festival

Remember death of Husayn at battle of Karbala (son of imam Ali + grandson of PM)

What is Husayn's death a symbol of for Shias?

symbol of struggle against injustice/tyranny/oppression - Lesser Jihad

What to do to celebrate the festival of Ashura?

Eve: spend night listening to tragedy of Imam Hussain, Don't fast: avoid consumption of food/drink until midday (sawm), Offer condolences when greeting one another, Continually invoke curses against killers of Imam Hussain (tabarra), Recite Jusrah Tawhid + Salawat as many times as possible (tawalla)

What does Salawat do?

Expresses respect for Prophet Muhammed

Actions of Ashura around the world

Perform plays + reenactments to tell story of Hussain's death to remember events of battle of Karbala

Shi'as: take part in public expressions of grief + mourning

Shia men gather in streets + beat themselves on chests

Iraq: visit Husayn's tomb - could be seen as shirk

What Ashura means for Shias

Reminder of suffering the Shi'a community has experienced as they have been persecuted as a minority, Shi'as emphasise belief in imamate (Hussain part of imamate)

What Ashura means for all Muslims

Sunni: mourn loss of life within Prophet's family

Shi'a + Sunni: refer to it as day of atonement, when Israelites were freed from slaver in Egypt

Remember fast that Moses made in gratitude for God parting the red sea --> Israelites can escape from pharaoh