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PTE > Islam Practices > Flashcards

Islam Practices Flashcards

1
Q

What are the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam?

A
  • Shahadah (declaration of faith)
  • Salah (prayer)
  • Zakah (charitable giving)
  • Sawm (fasting)
  • Hajj (pilgrimage)
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2
Q

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

A
  • Salah (prayer)
  • Sawm (fasting)
  • Zakah (charitable giving)
  • Khums (20% tax on income)
  • Hajj (pilgrimage)
  • Jihad (struggle to maintain fath and defend Islam)
  • Amr-bil-Maruf (encouraging people to do good)
  • Nahi Anil Munkar (discouraging people to do wrong)
  • Tawallah (be loving towards friends of God, inc. Muhammad and Imams)
  • Tabarra (disassociating from enemies of God)
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3
Q

What is the importance of the Five Pillars?

A
  • the five most important duties for a Muslim
  • Key to living a perfect Muslim life
  • supports main principles and beliefs
  • show obedience + dedication to God
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4
Q

What is the Shahadah? (The actual words)

A

“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”

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5
Q

Why is the Shahadah important?

A
  • Muslim declaration of faith
  • expresses core beliefs of Islam
  • foundation for all the other pillars
  • to convert simply recite the Shahadah sincerely in front of Muslim witnesses
  • recited many times during a Muslim’s life - prayer, as soon as they are born, at death
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6
Q

What extra phrase do Shi’a Muslims add to the Shahadah and why?

A

“and Ali is the friend of God”
- shows their belief that Ali (Muhammad’s cousin) was the true successor to Muhammad

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7
Q

How many daily prayers are there for Muslims?

A
  • Sunni: 5
  • Shi’a: 3 (some prayers are combined)
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8
Q

What are the 5 prayer times?

A
  • Fajr - sunrise
  • Zuhr - midday
  • Asr - afternoon
  • Maghrib - sunset
  • Isha - night
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9
Q

What are the differences between Sunni and Shi’a prayer?

A
  • Shi’a Muslims combine midday and afternoon prayers + sunset and midnight prayers while Sunni Muslims pray all 5 separately
  • different movements between the 2
  • Shi’a Muslims believe in using natural elements for prayer - they pray with a clay tablet at their forehead
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10
Q

How do Muslims prepare for prayer?
(what, how, importance)

A
  • they perform a ritual wash before they pray - wudu
  • wash face, hands and feet under running water
  • this is done in 2 special rooms in the mosque (one for men, one for women)
  • do it in a bathroom at home
  • if no water is available Muslims can wash themselves with sand or dust - wudu is about becoming spiritually clean, not physically clean
  • importance: it allows Muslims to focus on their prayers
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11
Q

Qur’an quote on wudu?

A

“You who believe, when you are about to pray, wash your face and your hands up to the elbows, cover your heads, wash your feet up to the ankles and, if required, wash your whole body” - Qur’an 516

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12
Q

what is the direction of prayer, how is it achieved, and why is it important

A
  • face the holy city of Makkah
  • in a mosque: qiblah wall (faces Makkah) with the mihrab (small niche in the qiblah wall) shows which direction to face during prayer
  • elsewhere: use a special compass to show direction
  • importance: praying in same direction = all Muslims focus on one place associated with God
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13
Q

Qur’an quotes on importance of praying correctly

A
  • “your Lord says, ‘Call on me and I will answer you’” - Qur’an 40:60
  • “Believers, when the call to prayer is made on the day of congregation, hurry towards the reminder of God and leave off your trading” - Qur’an 62:9
  • “Woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer” - Qur’an 107:4-5
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14
Q

What is prayer inside a mosque like?

A
  • there are rows of carpets that look like prayer mats - each person has their own space
  • prayers led by an imam - at the front of the congregation facing the mihrab
  • men and women pray at the same time but in different prayer rooms
  • imam leads the prayer in the men’s prayer room but his voice is also broadcast into the women’s prayer room
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15
Q

what is a rak’ah?

A
  • one prayer cycle - multiple of them make a full prayer
  • it is set sequences of actions and recitations

Basic actions:
1. stand and recite Qur’an chapter 1
2. bow (respect to God) and recite “Glory be to my God who is the very greatest” 3 times (Arabic)
3. stand and recitation praising God
4. prostration (obedience to God) - kneel with hands, knees and toes touching the floor - “How perfect is my Lord the most high”
5. sitting then prostrating - “God is the greatest”

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16
Q

what is Jummah prayer?

A
  • special communal prayer held every Friday at midday
  • men = mandatory, women = come if they want but not necessary
  • after prayer imam gives sermon - about duties of a Muslim to God
  • this is the only time a Muslim needs to go to the mosque - otherwise can pray at home
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17
Q

Hadith quote about Jummah prayer

A

“On every Friday, the angles take their stand at every gate of the mosques to write the names of the people chronologically and when the Imam sits they fold up their scrolls and get ready to listen to the sermon” - Hadith

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18
Q

why is prayer/Salah important to Muslims?

A
  • bowing and prostrating remind Muslims God is greater than them
  • unites Muslims globally - they pray the same way
  • motivates Muslims to do God’s will
  • helps Muslims to become closer to God
  • Muslims have been commanded by God to pray
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19
Q

what is the most important month in the Islamic calendar and why?

A

Ramadan - it is when Angel Jibril started revealing the Qur’an to prophet Muhammad (on the Night of Power) - because of this Muslims fast n Ramadan and observe Sawm

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20
Q

Qur’an quote on fasting during Ramadan

A

“It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind… So any one of you who sees in that month should fast” - Qur’an 2:185

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21
Q

What happens during fasting in Ramadan?

A
  • Muslims get up before sunrise to eat and drink enough to keep them going until sunset
  • not allowed food, drink, smoking, sex and other bad habits during daylight hours
  • fast is broken at sunset
  • evening meal is often shared with family and friends and followed by extra prayers and readings from the Qur’an
  • the gates of hell are believed to be closed during Ramadan
  • Muslims often give Zakah (charitable giving) during this time
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22
Q

what are the exceptions to fasting in Ramadan

A
  • children, ill, pregnant, breastfeeding and travellers
  • BUT they should make up for it later
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23
Q

why is fasting during Ramadan so important?

A
  • lots of self-discipline required - shows obedience and dedication to God
  • fasting inspires Muslims to help those in poverty who can’t afford to eat and drink
  • it is one of the 5 pillars of Islam
  • it is a chance to study the Qur’an more and become closer to God
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24
Q

What is the Night of Power?

A
  • It is when Angel Jibril first appeared to Muhammad and started revealing the Qur’an
  • Qur’an 96:1-5 describes how Jibril instructed Muhammad to start reciting his words
  • the exact date is unknow, but believed to be on one of the odd-numbered dates in the second half of Ramadan
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25
Q

Qur’an quote about the Night of Power?

A

“What will explain to you what the night of Glory is? The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months” - Qur’an 97:2-3

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26
Q

what do Muslims do to observe the Night of Power and why?

A
  • they try and stay awake through the entire night on each of the dates it is estimated to have happened
  • they pray and study the Qur’an
  • observing the Night of Power is thought to give the benefit of worshipping for 1000 months
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27
Q

what is Hajj?

A

it is the annual pilgrimage that starts and ends in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Every Muslim must complete it at least once in their life

28
Q

wat is a pilgrimage?

A

a journey to a holy site for religious reasons - an act of worship and devotion

29
Q

what are the origins of Hajj?

A
  1. 4000 years ago - God told Ibrahim to take his wife Hajira and son Is’mail to Arabia
  2. God told Ibrahim to leave them alone with some food and water
  3. after a few days the supplies ran out and they both became hungry and dehydrated
  4. Hajira ran between 2 hills (Safa and Marwah) 7 times looking for water, then she collapsed
  5. Hajira prayed o God for help - then when Is’mail struck his foot on the ground, water began to come out of the earth
  6. Hajira and Is’mail survived by trading water for supplies - the water became known as the well of Zamzam
  7. when Ibrahim returned, God told him to make a shrine dedicated to him - the Ka’aba - a pure place of worship where people should perform Hajj
  8. the city of Makkah grew and people forgot God’s instructions to Ibrahim - idol worship in the Ka’aba
  9. 628CE - Muhammad went from Madinah to Makkah with lots of Muslims to convert the city to Islam - the first pilgrimage in Islam
30
Q

Qur’an quote about Hajj?

A

“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it” - Qur’an 3:97

31
Q

what is the Ka’aba?

A

the holiest place in Islam - it is a cube-shaped building in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah

32
Q

what are the prerequisites for someone to go on Hajj?

A
  • be Muslim
  • have the right intentions - full commitment, belief, focus
  • be physically fit - take the strains and rigour of the journey
  • be able to provide for any loved ones left behind
  • be able to pay for Hajj honestly (no betting, etc.)
33
Q

What should someone not do when they go on Hajj?

A
  • kill any living creature
  • cut hair/nails
  • wear jewellery, perfume or make-up
  • have sexual relationships
  • do anything unnecessary
34
Q

How do Muslims prepare for Hajj?

A

they enter a state of Ihram (a state of holiness)
- ritual washing and prayer
- men wear 2 pieces of white cloth
- women wear a white dress that covers everywhere except the face

importance:
- white = purity
- same clothes = unity and equality before God

35
Q

what are the stages of Hajj

A
  1. Arrive in Makkah and circle the Ka’aba
    - circle it 7 times anti-clockwise
    - touch the black stone/raise hand to acknowledge it
    - recite pilgrim’s prayer “Here I am Lord, at your service. Praise and blessings to you.”
  2. Walking between the 2 hills - Safa and Marwah
    - walk 7 times between the 2 hills, Safa and Marwah
    - then drink water from the Zamzam Well
  3. Standing at Arafat
    - 13-mile journey - stop halfway at Mina to pray
    - where Muhammad preached his last sermon
    - stand and pray under the hot sun all afternoon to show the depth of their faith
  4. Spend the Evening at Muzdalifah and throuw pebbles at Mina
    - at Muzdalifah pilgrims collect 49 pebbles to use the next day + offer Mahgrib and Isha prayers
    - at Mina pilgrims throw pebbles at 3 stone pillars (Jamarat) - they represent temptation
    - sacrifice an animal for Id-ul-Adha if they can - leftover meet given to the poor
    - cut off some hair
  5. Reutrn to Makkah
    - circle Ka’aba 7 times again
    - spend 2 nights at Mina again
36
Q

what is the significance of each stage of Hajj?

A
  1. Circling the Ka’aba
    - the stone is believed to be te only remaining peace from the original Ka’aba
    - believed to come from Paradise for Adam from God
  2. Walking between the 2 hills
    - remembers Hajira’s search for water and the miraculous appearance of the Zamzam well
  3. Standing at Arafat
    - physically demanding - shows devotion to God
    - believed that God will forgive the sins of all at Arafat as long as they a sincerely sorry for their sins
  4. throwing the pebbles at Mina
    - stone pillars represent the devil
    - throwing the pebbles = rejecting sin and temptation and evil
    - sacrifice = Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his own son
    - cutting hair = following Muhammad’s example
  5. Returning to Makkah
    - chance to reflect on God and his blessings before Hajj ends
37
Q

what is the significance of Hajj?

A
  • fulfills a religious obligation
  • shows self discipline and dedication to God
  • brings someone closer to God
  • produces inner peace
  • sins are forgiven
  • Muslims are reminded of prophet’s good examples
  • emphasises equality and unity
38
Q

what does Zakah involve?

A

Mulsims must give 2.5% of their savings to charity every year - it is believed to purify their souls by removing selfishness and greed

39
Q

who gives Zakah?

A

all Muslims with savings above a certain amount (the nisab) - 2.5% to be given yearly

40
Q

who receives Zakah?

A
  • can be donated directly to a charity eg. Muslim Aid or Islamic Relief
  • can be collected by a mosque and distributed among the needy
41
Q

why is Zakah important?

A
  • Muslims are fulfilling a duty to God
  • strengthens Muslim community by helping the poorest and weakest
  • encourages Muslims to have a good attitude towards money and use their wealth pleasingly to God
  • it is a purification that can bring Muslims closer to God
42
Q

Qur’an quote about Zakah?

A

“Whatever you give should be for parents, close relatives, orphans, the needy, and travellers. God is well aware of what good you do” - Qur’an 2:215

43
Q

what is Khums?

A
  • it is given in addition to Zakah by Shi’a Muslims
  • started as a requirement for Muslim armies to donate 20% of the spoils war to their religious leaders
  • now Shi’a Muslims give 20% of their savings
  • 1/2 is for religious leaders, 1/2 for charity or the poor
44
Q

what is Sadaqah?

A

when Muslims voluntarily give their money and time to charity at any point in the year

45
Q

Qur’an quote about donating to charity?

A

“Alms are meant only for the poor, the needy, those who administer them, those whose hearts need winning over, to free slaves and help those in debt, for God’s cause and for travellers in need” - Qur’an 9:60

46
Q

what is Jihad?

A
  • it is the struggle against evil
  • Muslims must strive to improve themselves and society in a way that would please God
47
Q

what is Greater Jihad?

A

the inward personal struggle to live according to the teachings of Islam to improve oneself spiritually and deepen one’s relationship with God

48
Q

which is more important, greater Jihad or lesser Jihad?

A

Greater Jihad

49
Q

what does Greater Jihad involve?

A
  • observing the 5 pillars of Islam
  • studying the Qur’an
  • putting God above everything else
  • avoid temptations - eg. drugs and alcohol
  • avoid negative traits - eg. greed and jealousy
  • help and care for those in need
50
Q

Qur’an quote on Greater Jihad?

A

“This is my path, leading straight, so follow it, and do not follow other ways” - Qur’an 6:153

51
Q

what is Lesser Jihad?

A

it is the outward struggle to defend Islam from threat (especially important in the early days of Islam when Muslims were being persecuted)

52
Q

what is a holy war?

A

it is fighting for a religious cause

53
Q

what are the criteria for a holy war to take place?

A
  • must be approved by a fair religious leader
  • fought in self defense in response to a threat
  • not to gain territory or wealth
  • not to convert people to Islam
  • fought only after all peaceful methods to resolve the conflict have been tried and failed
54
Q

when can lesser Jihad/holy war be used?

A
  • as a last resort when the faith is under attack
  • Islam teaching says it can never justify terrorist attacks
55
Q

what is Id-ul-Fitr?

A

it is a Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan

56
Q

what is Id-ul-Adha?

A

it is a Muslim festival that marks the end of Hajj and celebrates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his own son to God

57
Q

what are the origins of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha?

A
  • both started by Muhammad when he arrived in Madinah after fleeing form persecution in Makkah
  • Muhammad told those in Madinah to set aside 2 days of festivities, Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha
58
Q

How do Muslims celebrate Id-ul-Fitr?

A
  • gather together in mosques/large outdoor spaces and say prayers together
  • imam’s sermon = forgive any disputes from throughout the year and instead focus on helping the poor
  • decorate homes, wear new clothes, eat special foods and exchange cards and presents
  • visit local cemetery to remember and pray for lost family members
  • UK - Islamic businesses may give time off to celebrate
59
Q

what is the importance of Id-ul-Fitr?

A
  • Muslims celebrate the end of a month of fasting
  • Can give thanks to God for giving the strength to complete the fast
  • can thank God for giving his wisdom and guidance in the Qur’an (first revealed to Muhammad)
60
Q

How do Muslims celebrate Id-ul-Adha?

A
  • special prayers in the mosque + sermon on the theme of sacrifice
  • visit family and friends and have a meal together - effort made to include everyone
  • Muslims who can, inc. on Hajj, will slaughter an animal
  • UK - buy an animal from the local slaughterhouse and share meat with family and friends
  • traditionally some meat is given to the poor but today most donate money to the poor instead
61
Q

what is the importance of Id-ul-Adha?

A
  • celebrates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God (Qur’an Surah 37) - reminds Muslims of the importance of complete obedience to God
  • celebrates the completion of Hajj - very demanding + strengthens a Muslim’s faith
  • allows Muslims around the world to connect with those on Hajj, even if they can’t be there themselves
62
Q

What is the Day of Ashura?

A
  • Shi’a Muslims: very improtant festival that remembers Husayn’s death at the Battle of Karbala (aka the Day of Rememberance)
  • Sunni Muslims: the Day of Atonement, not as important or solemn for them as for Shi’a Muslims
63
Q

why do Shi’a Muslims celebrate Ashura and why is it important?

A
  • it is a day of great sorrow because it commemorates the death of Husayn, the son of Imam Ali and grandson of Muhammad
  • Husayn died in the battle of Karbala (10th Oct 68CE, Karbala, Iraq) between his supporters (~70 men, women + children) and the much larger army of Caliph Yazid I
  • Husayn and most of his supporters were killed
  • Husayn’s death = symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression
64
Q

Why do Sunni Muslims celebrate Ashura and what does it mean for them?

A
  • it is known as the Day of Atonement
  • some: celebrates the day the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt
  • others: celebrates the day Noah left the ark after the flood
65
Q

How do Shi’a Muslims commemorate Ashura?

A
  1. perform plays and re-enactments of the story of Husayn’s death
    - help to remember the events at Karbala
  2. take part in public expressions of grief and mourning
    - London - thousands gather at Marble Arch to listen to speeches and take part in a procession of mourning
    - some British cities - men gather in streets and beat their chests as a mourning ritual
    - some do self-flagellation - cut themselves and shed blood to connect with Husayn’s death and suffering
    - some Shi’a leaders condemn this and say donate blood instead
  3. in Iraq, many visit Husayn’s tomb
    - believed to be in the Mashhad al-Husayn - a shrine in Karbala
    - many go on pilgrimage there each year for Ashura
66
Q

how do Sunni Muslims observe Ashura?

A
  • fast for the day
  • give to charity
  • show extra kindness to family + the poor
  • recite prayers
  • learn from Islamic scholars

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