Islam Crash Course Flashcards
(112 cards)
1
Q
The Qur’an
A
- The holy book of Islam
- Muslims believe it is the true Word of God exactly as it was given to Muhammad
- Made up of verses called ayahs
2
Q
What else do Muslims look to other than the Qur’an?
A
They look to the example set by the prophet Muhammad in order to determine how to live their lives. The Sunnah records the actions of Muhammad, while the Hadith records his sayings.
3
Q
How was Sharia law made?
A
With reference to the Qur’an, Sunnah and Hadith, Muslim lawyers have put together a set of laws for Muslims to follow, this is known as Sharia.
4
Q
Who are Imams?
A
Muslims are also guided by their religious leaders, who are known as Imams in Sunni tradition of Islam or Mujtahid in Shi’a tradition of Islam.
They are the leaders of the mosque.
5
Q
Why did Sunnis and Shi’a Muslims not get along?
A
Shi’a Muslims believe that Muhammad identified Ali as his successor and that he was the first of Twelve Imams who led the faith.
Sunni Muslims believe that Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s friend and father-in-law, was the rightful successor to Muhammad.
6
Q
The 6 Articles of Faith (Sunni)
A
- Tawhid (oneness of Allah): this includes Muslims beliefs about Allah and the supremacy of Allah’s will
- Malaikah - Beliefs about the angels of Allah
- Kutub - Beliefs about the books of Allah
- Prophets (Rasuul) - Beliefs about the messengers of Allah
- Akhirah (afterlife) - Muslims believe that this life is only a test for what happens after death. They believe in a Last Day, when Allah will judge people on their deeds and will either reward or punish them
- Al-Qadr (predestination): Muslims believe that everything in the universe follows a masterplan set by Allah.
7
Q
5 roots of religion in Shi’a tradition
A
Al-Tawhid - belief in oneness and unity of God
Al-Adl - belief in divine justice
Al-Nubuwwah - belief in prophethood
Al-Imamah - belief in Imams
Al-Ma’ad - belief that Muslims will be resurrected and judged by God.
They also believe in Al-Qadr
8
Q
What is the Muslims belief in Caliphs?
A
- After Muhammad’s death the majority of Muslims at the time declared Abu Bakr his successor, and he was known as the first Caliph.
- After Abu Bakr died other leaders (caliphs) were appointed, the fourth caliph to be elected was Ali.
- Shi’a Muslims, however, regard Ali as Muhammad’s true successor and they refuse to acknowledge the three caliphs before him because they believe that Muhammad identified Ali as the rightful leader.
9
Q
Difference between Imams in Sunni and Shi’a Islam
A
In Sunni tradition the Imam leads prayers in the mosque, but in Shi’a tradition Imams are the successors of Muhammad.
10
Q
Al-Imamah (Shi’a)
A
- The Shi’a belief in the twelve Imams chosen by Allah, who were the direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
- The Imams are believed to be infallible and inspired by Allah.
- The Imamah is protected by Allah from committing any sin in order to keep the religion true and pure.
11
Q
What is the role of the Imams for Shi’as?
A
To interpret the Muslim (Shari’ah) law that was told to Muhammad by Allah and to explain any issues arising from it.
12
Q
What is the twelfth Imam?
A
- The twelfth Imam is believed to be in occultation (hiding) and is waiting to reappear at God’s appointed time
- Shi’a believe that the 12th Imam is still a living, breathing human
- God will send him back as a Messiah to bring peace to the world
- The Second Coming of Jesus is a sign that the twelfth Imam will appear in Makkah (the holy city of Islam) at the Kaaba
13
Q
What is the belief in Divine Justice (Al-Adl)?
A
All Muslims believe that Allah is just, but for Shi’a Muslims Divine justice is one of the five roots of religion.
- God knows what humans are going to do before they do it, but he doesn’t force them to act in any particular way
- There are many parts of life which are within our power, but there are some parts which aren’t within our power
- Those things for which we can be advised, praised or blamed are within our power
- Therefore, it’s wrong to say that Allah is responsible for our sin and good deeds, whether we are obedient or disobedient to Allah or whether we hold true or incorrect beliefs.
Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah is always right and just. Sometimes Allah may act in ways that are beyond our understanding, but ultimately the world has been created to be fair and just.
14
Q
What do Sunni Muslims think about Al-Adl?
A
Sunni Muslims question these beliefs, arguing that there is no objective (that is) right and wrong, but that everything Allah does is right simply because he does it.
They do believe in predestination, where Allah determines all human action.
15
Q
Detail about Tawhid (oneness)
A
- The most important of all Islamic beliefs
- The belief that Allah is the One God, He alone created the Earth and sustains it
- Tawhid encompasses all beliefs about the Nature of Allah
16
Q
Key Muslim beliefs about Allah
A
- Infinite: The One God without beginning or end and He wasn’t created and can’t be destroyed
- He is omnipotent and omniscient: Allah created the whole universe, controls everything in it, will one day bring the world to an end and he sees all creation
- Merciful and benevolent: He helps humans by sending messengers in the form of the prophets to help people understand how to live a life following His will
17
Q
Continuation of Muslim beliefs about Allah
A
- Transcendent but also immanent: He is much greater than humans and beyond human understanding but he’s also close to them and involved in their lives
- Fair and just: Muslims believe that this life is a test for what will happen to them after death. On the Day of Judgement they believe Allah will judge their actions in life and punish or reward them.
18
Q
Bismalah
A
Every chapter of the Qur’an, apart from 9 begins with, “In the name of God the merciful, the Compassionate”
19
Q
What does Tawhid mean for Muslims?
A
- Belief in Tawhid has a significant effect upon Muslim believers because they give their whole lives completely to the will of Allah
- Tawhid enables the believer to understand that everything they have is by the will of Allah, and that they’re fully dependent on him
- Placing anything above Allah is idolatry, this is the sin of Shirk and is considered the worst of all sins
- Knowing Allah is the ultimate provider can enable a Muslim to be content with their life
20
Q
Why can’t Muslims create images of Allah?
A
This may lead to idolatry, Shirk and an inaccurate representation of Allah.
21
Q
Detail about Prophethood (Risalah)
A
- Risalah, or prophethood, is the means of communication between Allah and humans
- A prophet is a messenger, chosen by Allah to teach, guide and train people to follow Him
- Risalah is therefore immensely significant to Muslims
- The last and most important book of Allah’s guidance is the Qur’an, which was revealed through the Prophet Muhammad
22
Q
Why are prophets important in Islam?
A
- Through them Allah calls all people to worship him alone
- They give guidance on how to follow Allah and live in a way that pleases him
- Every prophet is of equal status
- Each is a messenger chosen by Allah to deliver His guidance, and that is what’s important to Muslims
23
Q
What is the ‘Seal of the Prophets?’
A
- Muslims believe that Muhammad was the final prophet
- He is referred to in the Qur’an as the ‘Seal of the Prophets.’
- He provided the final revelation of Allah to his people in the form of the Qur’an.
- The words of the Qur’an remain unchanged and as such are the direct words of Allah to Muslims today
- Wise prophet
- Shi’a Muslims also believe that Muhammad is the ‘Seal of the Prophets’
24
Q
What is the ‘Seal of the Prophets?’
A
Muslims believe that Muhammad was the final prophet and he is referred to in the Qur’an as the ‘Seal of the Prophets.’
25
What are the 5 books in the Kutub?
- Tawrat, (Torah), revealed to Musa (Moses)
- Zabur (Psalms), revealed to Dawud (David)
- Injil (Gospel), revealed to Isa (Jesus)
- Suhuf Ibrahim, (the scrolls of Ibrahim), revealed to Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Qur'an revealed to Muhammad
26
Tawrat (Torah) of Musa
- The holy book revealed directly by God to the Prophet Musa.
- Contains the Ten Commandments and sets out the ‘judgement of Allah’ on non-believers.
27
Zabur (Psalms) of Dawud
- Contains psalms, or poetic prayers of praise and worship.
- Revealed to King Dawud
28
Injil (Gospel) of Isa
- Injil is a book believed to have been given by God to the Prophet Isa (Jesus).
- Muslims believe that the meaning of this book has been altered by people over time, like all of the holy books prior to the Qur’an.
- Rather than teaching that Isa was the son of God, as in Christianity, Muslims believe that the Injil reveals the coming of the Prophet Muhammad.
29
Sahifah (Scrolls of Ibrahim)
- Contains the scrolls of Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Also known as ‘Suhuf’
- These are part of the early religious scriptures of Islam.
- It is believed that they are now lost, but contained Allah’s revelations to the Prophet Ibrahim, which were written down by him and his followers.
30
Name 6 of the 99 names of Allah
- The Merciful
- The Omnipotent One
- The Creator
- The Great Forgiver
- The Embodiment of Justice
- The Impartial Judge (Equal Judge)
31
Which holy book is believed to be the only pure, unchanged version of God’s word?
The Qur'an
32
Why are the other books in the Kutub believed to be inaccurate?
The other books were written down after the death of the prophets and so the contents are believed to be distorted. They don't contain the literal words of Allah because it's mixed with human words.
33
Adam
- Adam was the first man created by Allah
- Created in the image of Allah
- Allah created him using the dust off the ground, which he combined with water to form clay, breathing life into him by His spirit
- Adam was given knowledge of the created world and the ability to make choices
- Hawwa is Eve and she lived with Adam in Jannah (Paradise)
- Allah gave them one rule: not to eat from one specific tree.
- Iblis (Satan) succeeded in tempting them to eat from the forbidden tree
- They felt guilty and asked for Allah's forgiveness, which he gave to them
- Allah expelled them from al-Jannah to live on Earth
- He promised to give them His guidance so that they could be obedient to Him
34
Iblis (Satan)
- Iblis believed he was better than Adam because he was made from fire but Adam was made from dust
- Allah expelled Iblis from his presence
- Iblis seeks to misguide Adam and and all his descendants
35
Ibrahim
- 'Man of truth'
- He was born in a polytheistic family in Babylon
- Allah chose him to be a prophet
- Ibrahim told his father and the people of Babylon they were wrong to worship idols, but they rejected his message and sent him out of Babylon
- Ibrahim had his first son Isma'il with his second wife Hajar and then another son Ishaq, with his wife Sarah
- Allah tested Ibrahim's faith by telling him to sacrifice his son Isma'il
- Despite being told three times by Iblis not to do it, Ibrahim resisted by throwing stones at him
- Allah honoured Ibrahim's faith and produced a ram as an alternative sacrifice
- At the end of every salah (prayer) Muslims recite a special prayer (du'a') asking Allah to bless Ibrahim and his family
36
Hanif
Believer in one God
37
Isma'il
- The son of Ibrahim
- Allah required Ibrahim to leave his son with his mother, Hajar, at the place where the Kaaba now stands in Makkah
- Ibrahim left them there with some dates and a flask of water and remained obedient to God
- The flask of water ran out and Hajar ran 7 times between 2 hills (Safa and Marwa) in search of water
- As she was about to leave for the 8th time, Isma'il began to kick the ground with his heel and from this spot water miraculously started spurting from the ground.
- This source of water is called the Zamzam well
- After Hajar's death, Ibrahim visited Isma'il and together they rebuilt the Kaaba
38
What happened to the Kaaba after Ibrahim rebuilt it?
Over time, people began to worship idols at the Kaaba instead of the one God, Allah. However, Muhammad restored the Kaaba to its original purpose when he converted Makkah to Islam.
39
Musa
- Musa's mother put him in a basket in the Nile river to help him escape from Pharaoh
- Pharaoh's wife adopted Musa and hired a nanny to care for him - this was Musa's own mother
- Musa fled Egypt when he killed an Egyptian
- Allah called him to be his messenger and told him to return to Egypt.
- Allah revealed the Tawrat (Torah) to Musa
40
Dawud
- Prophet and eventually King of the Israelites
- He killed Goliath
- Talut (Saul), the king, rewarded Dawud and made him commander of the army
- Talut soon became jealous of Dawud
- When Talut was killed, Dawud became king
- Allah revealed the Zabur (Psalms) to him
41
Isa (Jesus)
- Sunni Muslims believe that Isa is the Messiah, who will return on the Day of Resurrection at the end of the world and bring together true Muslims
- According to the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad), Isa will establish Islam in the end times and will make war until all religions except Islam are destroyed
Shi'a believe that the Twelfth Imam is the Messiah and the Second Coming of Jesus is a sign he will come out of occultation (hiding).
42
Very Important: Life of Muhammad
- Last prophet of Allah
- His life is an example that Muslims today follow because he demonstrated how to obey Allah
- Sent by Allah to declare the truth of Islam
43
Important facts about Muhammad's life
- Born in Makkah, Arabia in around 570 ce
- His parents had died by the age he was six
- Born in poverty but he didn't complain
- After the death of his grandfather he was brought up by his uncle
- He was ILLITERATE - couldn't read
- He worked as a trade person for money
- This was an uneducated and dishonest job but Muhammad was trustworthy
- He saw loads of money exploitation where people made and sold idols
- There were people worshipping idols (polytheism)
- He was working for a wealthy woman called Khadijah who proposed to him and they got married
44
What is inerrance?
Inerrant - infallibility of the Qur'an, different to the other Kutubs
45
What was Muhammad's involvement in Makkah?
- Makkah was a holy city
- Once a year Arab tribesmen came there on pilgrimage
- In Makkah there was a cube-shaped building called the Kaaba, containing 360 idols
- One year the Kaaba needed rebuilding after bad floods and Muhammad helped
- There was an argument as to who would place the sacred black stone from Jannah on the East wall of the Kaaba
- It was agreed that the first person to come in the morning would place the black stone and it was Muhammad
- Everyone was delighted that Muhammad placed the stone since he was respected for his honesty and trustworthiness
- Muhammad's role in bringing about peace in such situations is significant to Muslims believers
- He became a monotheist, rejecting all idols and worshipping only Allah
- This is the central belief of Islam today, Tawhid
46
What happened during the Night of Power?
Angel Jibril appeared to Muhammad and commanded him to read but he couldn't. Jibril squeezed him so tightly and commanded Muhammad to read again. He did this 3 times and finally he recited the verses as if they had been written on his heart. Jibril declared him as the messenger of Allah.
47
Continuing Muhammad's life
- He began to preach publicly, sharing the words he believed Allah had revealed to him
- The followers of Muhammad increased but so did the opposition
- In 622ce he left Makkah and travelled to the city of Yathrib (this journey is known as the Hijrah)
- The community at Yathrib became the first to be run on Islamic principles
- This migration marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar
- Muhammad ruled Yathrib which became known as Madinah
- During this time Muhammad gave instructions on prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage
- Much of the guidance he gave quoted the words of Allah as revealed in the Qur'an
48
Why were there battles and when did these take place?
Between 624ce and 630ce there were battles between the people of Makkah and the Muslims of Medinah. The Muslims of Medinah were triumphant and all the idols of Makkah were destroyed.
49
How does Muhammad's life link to the 5 pillars of Islam?
- Allah told Muhammad to pray 5 times a day (Salah)
- Muhammad had empathy for the poor since he was brought up in poverty himself (Zakat)
- Muhammad's birth and death burial was in Saudi Arabia (Hajj)
50
When did Muhammad die?
632 AD
51
Why couldn't Muhammad have distorted the Qur'an like the other prophets?
He was illiterate (he couldn't read).
Allah tried to convey the message of Islam to all the other prophets but it became distorted or destroyed. But not with Muhammad, the final prophet.
52
Angels (Malaikah)
- The first thing Allah created was angels
- Created from Nur (Divine Light)
- They exist to carry out the will of Allah and don't have free will
- Muslims believe that the angels are there to help them and that it's through them that Allah communicates with His human messengers on Earth
53
What angel appeared in human form?
The angel Jibril appeared in human form to Maryam (Mary)
54
Who are the four angels?
- Jibril
- Izra'il
- Mika'il
- Israfil
55
Jibril
- Chief angel
- Brought God's message to Muhammad
- He sometimes took the form of a man
- Muhammad's the only one who saw him in his natural form
56
Izra'il
- 'Angel of Death'
- Allah tells him to take a human's life when it's time for them to die
- Separates a human soul from its body
- For non-believers Izra'il is dreadful
- For believers, Izra'il takes them to paradise
57
Mika'il
- Guardian of heaven
- Sends rain, lighting and thunder to earth by the command of Allah
58
Israfil
- He will blow the trumpet to announce the Day of Resurrection at Allah's command
- The first blast will destroy everything
- The second blast will bring every human back to life
59
What do other angels also do?
- Recording the deeds of humans, both good and bad.
- These angels are known as the honourable scribes.
- Each person has been assigned two recording angels.
60
What is Niyyah?
A Muslim's intentions and heart.
61
Predestination (al-Qadr)
- Muslims believe that everything that happens in this world is planned by Allah
- Allah has foreknowledge of all things
- Muslims believe that nothing happens unless it is the will of Allah
- Muslims don't have free will since Allah decides for them
Important - will effect a Muslim's life
(They cannot choose to do something if Allah has not already chosen that path for them)
62
Life after death (Akhirah)
- Humans were put on Earth as representatives of Allah are expected to act as stewards of His creation and to make the world as God wills it
- The guidance on how they should do this is in the Qur'an and the example of Muhammad's life
- How well they follow this guidance will decide how they're judged in the afterlife
- After death will come the Day of Judgement
- At a time of Allah's choosing the dead will be resurrected to life
- Each person will be judged by Allah, starting with the prophet Muhammad
63
Barzakh (period of waiting)
- In between an individual's actual death and the DOJ there is believed to be a period of waiting called Barzakh
- Some believe that the soul's experience in Barzakh will be affected by the life that person has led, either good or bad
- Others believe that the soul is given a temporary body which will be light or dark to reflect the good or bad in their life
- So the soul will know what its final judgement will be because of the temporary body it's been given
64
The Day of Judgement
- Sunni believe that Isa will reappear as the Messiah
- Shi'a believe that the 12th Imam, who is in occultation will reappear and Isa will join him to bring the religion of Islam in its true form
- Allah's judgement on this day will display perfect justice
- Those who are Muslim will go to Paradise forever
- Those who aren't Muslim will be sent to the fires of hell, known as Jahannam
- Allah is merciful and even a bad person may enter Paradise eventually, after being punished
65
What will Heaven be like?
The reward will be paradise, a state of joy and beauty, happiness and peace. The Qur’an describes it symbolically as a green garden, full of foliage and flowers and the sound of water and birdsong.
66
What will Hell be like?
A place of punishment and eternal suffering. It is a burning fiery pit filled with everlasting torment.
67
What is Martyrdom in Islam?
- For some Muslims, standing for and defending their faith may lead to martyrdom
- The person is killed while defending or struggling for (jihad) their faith
- Dying this way will allow people to enter the presence of Allah immediately
68
What are the 5 pillars of Islam?
Shahadah: declaration of faith
Salah: five daily prayers
Zakah: giving of wealth as a tax to the poor and needy
Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan
Hajj: pilgrimage
69
What are the Ten Obligatory Acts for Shi'a Muslims?
1. Salah (all)
2. Sawm (all)
3. Zakat (all)
4. Hajj - applies to all
5. Jihad - applies to all Muslims
6. Khums - 20 per cent annual tax
7. Amr-bil-Maroof - commanding what is right
8. Nahi Anil Munkar - forbidding evil
9. Tawalla - expressing love towards good
10. Tabarra - expressing disassociation from evil
1-4 is obligatory for Sunnis but not for Shi'as
6-10 is for Shi'as only
*Notice how the Shahadah isn't here
70
Shahadah - declaration of faith
- Extremely important as this is what makes a Muslim
- Not an action, it is the declaration of faith
- 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger'
- It is through declaring the Shahadah that a person professes the Muslim faith
- The Shahadah is whispered to a newborn baby so that it's the first words they hear
- Should be the last words on a Muslim's lips before they die
- Saying this declaration is the way for non-believers to convert to Islam
71
Salah
- The ritual Muslim prayer that's carried out five times every day
- First duty believed to have been given by Allah
- When they pray they're in direct communication with God
- By carrying out this prayer Muslims regularly declare their faith in Allah
- Muslims also seek to gain Allah's favour
72
What are the timings for each of the five daily prayers?
Fajr - morning prayer, just before sunrise
Zuhr - midday prayer in the early afternoon
Asr - late afternoon prayer
Maghrib - prayer just after sunset
Isha - night-time prayer
73
Call to prayer (adhan)
- Before every salah there is a call to prayer known as the adhan
74
What are the steps in Wudu?
This is the ritual washing that a Muslim must do before Salah prayer
Steps:
1. Hands are washed
2. Mouth is washed 3 times
3. Nose is washed 3 times
4. The whole face is washed 3 times
5. Both arms, starting with the right, are washed 3 times
6. The top of the head, ears and nape are washed
7. Both feet, starting with right, are washed
75
What are Rak'ahs?
- Prayer often takes the form of cycles of movement, called rak’ahs
- Each cycle involves saying “Allahu akbar”, which means “God is great”, multiple times
- It also includes recitation of the first surah (chapter) of the Qur’an
76
Give three movements undertaken by Muslims during prayer
- Hands are raised to ears whilst saying 'Allahu Akbar'
- Bowing
- Prostrate on the ground
77
What is Jumu'ah prayer?
- Every Friday, instead of Zuhr prayer the Jumu'ah prayer is offered at mosques
- Male Muslims must make every effort to attend and women can attend but they'll pray in a separate room.
- Gathering together in this way is a reminder of the wider Muslim (Ummah) community
- Muslims must have the correct qibla when they pray meaning they should face Makkah eastwards
- During Jumu'ah, the imam delivers a sermon called a khutbah
78
Shi'a prayer
- They also pray 5 times a day but they are allowed to join together Zuhr and Asr
- And Maghrib and Isha
- So it may appear that they pray 3 times a day
- They prostrate themselves on things that are counted as part of the Earth like a piece of wood
- But Sunnis touch their heads directly on the mosque's carpeted floor
- Shi'a believe it's wrong to prostate to Allah on something artificial
- The fact that Muhammad used a mat made of natural fibres supports this Shi'a belief
79
Private acts of worship: Du'a (Supplication)
- Du'a is private
- Means 'asking'
- A Muslim will bring their own special concerns to Allah
- May include thanksgiving to Allah, or requests for his forgiveness or help
- By carrying out du'a prayer a Muslim is seeking Allah's guidance as he tells them to and they're showing faith in Allah's immanence
- Can be said at any time of the day
80
What are prayer beads used for?
- Passed between the thumb and forefinger of the believer
- Has either 33 or 99 beads
- Used to recite the 99 names of Allah or to repeat phrases 33 times
- Some Muslims don't agree with using prayer beads because Muhammad didn't use them
81
Zakah/Zakat
- As Muhammad was orphaned at a young age, he had a real concern for the needs of the poor and disadvantaged
- Muslims give 2.5% of their wealth once a year to the poor
- In Muslim countries the government collects it in the same way as tax
- In other countries like the UK, Zakat is collected by local mosques and charities to be given to the needy
- Means 'purification'
- Purifies a person's heart of greed
82
Where does Zakat go to?
- Islamic schools
- Travellers/pilgrims
- Mosques
- Charity
83
What is Sadaqah?
- As well as Zakat, Muslims may choose to make further voluntary donations, known as Sadaqah
- Giving Sadaqah is a sign of a Muslim's sincerity to their faith
- Any amount may be given at anytime to anyone, flexible
84
Khums
- Shi'a give khums as one of the 10 obligatory acts
- Annual tax
- Not paying is the same as disobeying God
- Used to help the poor, religious schools and teachers
85
Sawm
- Fasting in Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year
- This is the month when it's believed the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad
- Muslims go without food, drink, smoking, bad deeds and sex during the daylight hours for the whole month
- In the evening the fast is broken
- By participating in Sawm with an attitude of repentance, Muslims believe their sins will be forgiven by Allah
- They develop self-discipline
- They will be thankful to Allah and more dependent on Him
- By the end of Ramadan the whole of the Qur'an will have been read during Taraweeh (special prayers)
86
Who is exempt from Sawm?
- The sick
- Pregnant
- Children below twelve
- Travellers
87
Last 10 days of Ramadan and the Night of Power
- The final ten days of Ramadan are important because the Hadith says it was during this time that the NOP occurred
- Muslims will aim to worship Allah as much as possible
88
When does Ramadan end?
- The new crescent moon indicating the start of the month of Shawwal brings an end to Ramadan and Sawm
- Marked with the celebration of Id-ul-Fitr meaning Festival of Fast Breaking
89
Sawm in Islamic and non-Islamic countries
- In Islamic countries the pace of everyday life slows down since doing everyday work is harder during fasting and hot weather
- In non-Muslim countries it can be even more challenging
- Young people at school may need to be excused from doing PE
90
Hajj
- Hajj is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia and to the Kaaba
- Performed in the last month of the Islamic calendar
- Those who are physically unable and don't have the financial resources are exempt from Hajj
- Compulsory for a Muslim to go at least once in their lifetime
91
The Origins of Hajj
- Ibrahim's wife Hagar and his son Isma'il were left in the desert
- The Zamzam well was miraculously produced
- Allah told Ibrahim to build a monument at this site, the Kaaba
- Later on Muhammad destroyed the idols in the Kaaba (not the Kaaba itself)
- Dedicated the structure to Allah
- Muslims retrace the path that Muhammad and his followers travelled during Hajj
92
What is Ihram?
Men wear two lengths of white cloth and women wear traditional clothing with face and hands uncovered. This is so everyone is seen as equal.
93
What is the Kaaba?
- In the courtyard of the Sacred Mosque in Makkah is the Kaaba
- Large, black, cube-shaped structure
- Ibrahim was told by Allah to build this monument but some Muslims believe that before that Adam built it
- Muslims try to kiss the Black Stone as they circle the Kaaba
- In 630 ce Muhammad removed all the idols from the Kaaba
94
What is the importance of the Black Stone?
- Some believe it was given to Ibrahim by the Angel Jibril
- Others think it's a meteorite sent down from heaven
- There's an indentation in the centre where Muslims have worn it down with their kisses
95
Tawaf
- Muslims begin their pilgrimage in the Holy Mosque
- On his final visit to Makkah, Muhammad visited the Kaaba and this is copied by the pilgrims
- In an act of drawing closer to Allah, pilgrims circle around the Kaaba 7 times in an anticlockwise direction
- This circling is known as 'tawaf'
- Before this Muslims say the niyyah, a prayer of intent
- On each circuit around the Kaaba Muslims will try to touch or kiss the Black Stone just like Muhammad did
- Will be reciting the Qur'an and other prayers
- Tawaf is a powerful demonstration of Muslim unity and of their desire to worship Allah
- After completing 7 circuits Muslims will move to the Station of Ibrahim to pray
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Sa'y
- The running between two hills known as As-Safa and Al-Marwa
- They will move seven times between the two hills in re-enactment of Hagar's search for water
- Some pilgrims take home water from the Zamzam well
*Hajar is Arabic and Hagar is English
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Arafat
- After Fajr (dawn prayer) at Mina the pilgrims travel to the Mount of Mercy at the Plain of Arafat
- Pilgrims are there from midday to dusk
- They face towards the Kaaba, just as it is believed that Muhammad did
- Scorching heat so some have umbrellas
- It it here that the pilgrims plead for forgiveness for their sins
- One of the most important rituals during Hajj
- From here Muslims move to Muzdalifah
- They will collect 49 stones for use at Mina
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Mina
- 'Stoning of Iblis' takes place
- 3 very wide and high walls symbolising Iblis
- 7 pebbles are thrown at each stone over 3 days
- This recalls the time when Ibrahim resisted Iblis by stoning him
- The pilgrims are showing their own rejection of evil and Iblis
- Represents their desire to withstand temptations and remain faithful to Allah
- Pilgrims who can afford it offer an animal sacrifice
- This is a further reminder of Allah's provision to Ibrahim of a ram instead of Isma'il
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What doe Hajj mean for Muslims?
- Greater sense of ummah (community) as they have worshipped together with more than 2 million Muslims
- Closer to Allah, especially from their experience at Arafat
- Lasting sense of awe
- Relieved of the weight of sin after asking for Allah's forgiveness
- This may drive them to be more obedient Muslims in their everyday life
- Joyous at completing Hajj as commanded by Allah
- More certain of going to Paradise (al-Jannah) after death
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Id-ul-Adha
What is it:
- 'Festival of Sacrifice'
- Major Muslim festival
- Muslims on Hajj make an animal sacrifice and so do Muslims all over the world
- In Muslim countries it's a national holiday, unlike the UK
- Shows a Muslim's willingness to make sacrifices for Allah
What is remembers:
- The time when Allah provided a ram for Ibrahim to sacrifice instead of his son Isma'il
How it's celebrated:
- Animal is sacrificed
- The festival begins with prayers at the mosque and a khutbah from the imam
- Gifts are exchanged
- One-third of the meat from the animal is given to the poor
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Id-ul-Fitr
What is it:
- Festival of ending the fasting of Ramadan when the crescent moon appears
- Muslims give a special charity to atone for any mistakes they may have made during fasting
How it's celebrated:
- In the morning families attend the mosque for Id prayers
- Imam will deliver a khutbah (sermon)
- Gather with friends for celebratory parties
- National holiday in Muslim countries
- Enjoy food, gifts, clothes, company
- Muslims look forward to their reward on the DOJ after completing Ramadan
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Id-ul-Ghadeer
What is it:
- Shi'a festival
- To celebrate the day when Muhammad delivered his last sermon
- Believed by Shi'a Muslims that on this day Muhammad appointed Ali as his successor
How the festival is celebrated:
- They perform rituals during the day
- Read specific prayers
- National holiday in Islamic countries like Iran
- Presents, celebratory meals
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Ashura
What is it:
- Celebrated by Sunni and Shi'a for different reasons
- A day that Muhammad dedicated to fasting
What is remembers:
- The day that Nuh (Noah) left the Ark
- The day that Musa (Moses) was saved from the Egyptians by Allah
- Muhammad made this fast voluntary but for Shi'a Muslims it's a major festival
- Shi'a Muslims remember the martyrdom of Hussayn, the son of Ali and grandson of Muhammad
How it's celebrated:
- Many Shi'a Muslims participate in public expressions of mourning
- Some Shi'as whip and beat themselves to link themselves with Hussayn's suffering
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Jihad
- Means 'striving'
- Islam is a religion that teaches peace
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Greater Jihad
- The inner struggle that a Muslim strives with in order to control bad intentions.
- Need to live a disciplined live to bring pleasure to Allah
- More important than Lesser
- They need to overcome the negative qualities in their life
- If they live a good life, Allah will reward them with Paradise after death
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Lesser Jihad
- An outer struggle and is often linked with a military struggle
- Creating a good and fair Muslim society
- Some believe it to include war
- If Lesser Jihad is in the form of war it should be defensive or a war against an unjust regime
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How does the Night Journey relate to Salah?
- Muhammad was visited by two archangels while he was asleep, who purified his heart and filled him with knowledge and faith.
- He travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem in a single night on a strange winged creature called Buraq.
- From Jerusalem he ascended into heaven, where he met the earlier prophets, and eventually God.
- During his time in heaven Muhammad was told of the duty of Muslims to recite Salah (ritual prayer) five times a day.
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What is another sin other than shirk in Islam?
Apostasy - rejecting the Shahadah
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Public and Private acts of worship
Public:
- Attending the mosque
- Salah
- Rak'ahs
- Wudu
- Jumu'ah prayer
- Wearing a hijab
- Adhan
Private:
- Du'a
- Shahadah: a sign of worship, you're living it out
- Prayer beads with 99 names of Allah
- Zakat
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What do Muslims believe about free will?
- The belief in free will is essential in Islam.
- This is because, for Muslims, life is a test from Allah.
- Therefore, all human beings must make their own decisions, on which they will be judged by Allah.
- On the Day of Judgement, God will have knowledge of the faith and actions of every person, which are recorded in the Book of Life.
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What do Muslims believe about Akhirah?
- Allah decides when a person dies
- Most Muslims believe that when they die, they will stay in their graves until the DOJ
- On that day, they will be raised from their graves and brought before Allah and judged on how they lived their earthly lives.
- When a person dies, their soul is taken by Izra'il, the Angel of Death.
- God sends two angels to question the waiting soul.
- If the questions are answered correctly, the good soul then sleeps during Barzakh.
- If the questions are not answered correctly, the soul is tormented by angels, known as punishment of the grave.
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