Islam beliefs and practices

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Makkah, one of the 5 pillars

Shahadah

Declaration of faith, should be the first and last thing a muslim hears

Zakat

Giving to charity, 2.5% of income

Salat

Prayer, preformed 5x a day for Sunni muslims

Sawm

Fasting, particularly during Ramadan

Prophethood (Risalah)

The term used to describe the messengers of Allah, beginning with Adam and ending with Muhammed (PBUH)

Adam

Was the first human and first Muslim. Given dominion over the earth by Allah. Disobeyed Allah and was banished from paradise (along with Eve) but confessed his sins and became the first prophet.

Ibrahim

Brought up in a polytheistic society but spread word of and believed in monotheism. Ancestor of Muhammed (PBUH), and had 2 sons. Was willing to sacrifice one of his sons to show his devotion to Allah. Built the Ka’bah (house of God) in Mecca.

Isa

Known as Jesus in the bible- not the son of God in Islam. Received one of the most important revelations (the Injul) and preformed many miracles. Crucified.

Musa

Moses in the Bible. Received the Al-Kitab (scripture) and the Al-Furqan (ability to know right from wrong) and was the only prophet to speak directly with Allah. Preformed miracles, including the parting of the red sea to free the Israelites from slavery.

Dawud

Killed Jalut and became king of the Israelites- story of David and Goliath in the Bible.

Ismail

Son of Ibrahim and a prophet himself. Seen as the ‘father of the Arabs’ and helped to build the Ka’bah in Makkah.

Muhammed (PBUH)

Called the Seal of the prophets- received Allah’s final the most important revelation (the Qur’an).

Was visited in a cave by the angel Jibril and given the first part of the Qur’an. Some say the complete revelation of the Qur’an took up to 23 years to be revealed.

Seen as a role model for Muslims- highly respected, but never worshipped.

5 pillars

Shahadah- declaration of faith

Salah- prayer 5x daily

Zakat- giving to charity- 2.5% of income donated

Sawm- fasting, especially during Ramadam

Hajj- pilgrimage to Makkah

6 articles of faith (Sunni)

Tawhid- belief in the oneness of God/Allah

Malaikah- belief in angels

Al Qadr- belief in predestination

Kutub- belief in the holy books

Akhirah- belief in the day of judgement and the afterlife

Nubuwwah- belief in the prophets

Five roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi’a)

Tawhid- belief in the oneness of God/Allah

Adalat- divine justice

Nubuwwah- belief in the prophets

Imamate- the authority of the Imans

Al Ma’ad- the day of Resurrection

Ten obligatory acts (Shi’a)

Salah- prayer 5x daily

Sawm- fasting, especially during Ramadam

Hajj- pilgrimage to Makkah

Zakat- donating money

Jihad- both lesser (fighting to defend Islam from enemies) and greater (internal or spiritual struggle)

Khums- 20% annual tax

Amr-bil-Maroof- encouraging people to do what is right

Nahil Anril Munkar- discouraging people from doing what is wrong

Tawaila- showing love for Allah and those who follow him

Tabarra- disassociation from Allah’s enemies

Key events of Hajj

Everyone wears the same robe made of plain white cloth to show equality.

Circle the Ka’bah 7 times anticlockwise

Drink water from the ZamZam well in memory of Hajira’s search for water for her son and to symbolise their reliance on Allah

Run between the hills of Safa and Marwah 7 times to replicate Hajira’s actions and remember her determination

Stop at Mount Arafat (where Muhammed gave his final sermon and judgement day will begin) to pray and ask for forgiveness

Spend the night at a valley between Arafat and Mina, and collect pebbles for the next day

Stoning of the devil (three pillars) to represent their rejection of sin and to replicate Ibrahim’s actions

Id-ul-Adha- the feast of sacrifice; celebrated by all Muslims, not just the ones on Hajj.

Day of judgement

When Allah’s purpose for the universe has been fulfilled, it will be destroyed.

Israfil will sound a trumpet and all dead bodies will be resurrected and gather on the plains of Arafat to be judged.

There will be a book of deeds for everyone, which they will read from so nothing can be hidden.

If the book is given to someone’s right hand, they will go to heaven (and left hand to hell).

The afterlife

A person dies, and their soul is taken by Azra’il (the angel of death)

They are then questioned by two angels- if they answer correctly, the soul sleeps through Barzakh (the state of waiting for judgement day) but if they answer incorrectly, their soul is tormented by angels.

Roles of angels

Act as messengers

Watch over/look after people

Record all deeds for the day of judgement

Welcome people into heaven and supervise the pits of hell

Angel Mika’il

Angel of Mercy and the giver of food and rain

Angel Jibril

Bringer of good news- delivered revelations to the prophets and told Maryam (Mary) she was pregnant with Isa (Jesus)

Jannah

Heaven- described as Paradise, or ‘gardens of pleasure’

Jahannam

Hell- described as a place of fire, brimstone and boiling water- a place of physical and spiritual suffering

Halal

Something permitted or allowed within Islam- for example, Halal foods

Haram

Something forbidden within Islam- for example, drinking alcohol

Ummah

The muslim community bound together by faith

Shariah

The word ‘Sharia’ means ‘straight path’. Sharia law is the set of rules which tells Muslims how to live their lives

Eid-ul-Adha

The festival of sacrifice- remembers Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.

Celebrated on the last day of Hajj- many muslims attend the Mosque, and in some countries slaughter an animal (in Britain this is done in a slaughterhouse)

The meat is shared equally between family, friends, and the poor- some muslims also donate to charity to celebrate

Eid-al-Fitr

Eid Al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadam- the day starts with prayers, and a big meal with family and friends is the main event.

Many Muslims will also exchange gifts to celebrate.

Ashura (Shi’a)

The day of remembrance- the day to remember/commemorate the death of Ali’s son Husayn. The 10 days before are a period of mourning.

Many Shi’a muslims wear black on this day, and there are often parades.

It is a day of solemn reflection- fasting is discouraged.

The night of power

The night when the angel Jibril first appeared to Muhammed- seen by many Muslims as the most important event in history.

The holiest night of the year- believed to be one night when angels come down to earth.

Muslims often try to stay awake the whole night to pray and/or study the Qur’an- the Qur’an says that prayer on this night is better than prayer for a thousand months.

Celebrated during Ramadam- on this day Muslims come together in the Mosque and it is believed that on this day Allah will forgive their sins.

The night journey

The prophet Muhammed was visited by two angels whilst sleeping, who purified his heart and filled him with knowledge and faith.
He then travelled from Makkah to Jerusalem in a single night on a strange winged creature called Buraq.
He then ascended to heaven and met the other prophets and Allah, who told him of the responsibility of all Muslims to pray 5 times a day (Salah).