Islam Practices Flashcards
(61 cards)
what are the 5 pillars of Sunni Islam
shahadah - declaration of faith
salah - obligatory prayer ( sunnis 5 x a day) and (shia 3x a day)
Zakat - compulsory giving
Sawm - fasting during Ramadan
Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca.
what are the 5 pillars of Sunni Muslims
shahadah - the declaration of faith ( and is also the first pillar of the 5 pillars)
zakat - obligatory giving
sawm - fasting during Ramadan
salah - obligatory prayer
hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca
why are the 5 pillars important to Sunni muslims
- they are called the 5 pillars as they build the foundations of Muslim life - guide muslims on the steps to success to jannah
- they form a framework that unites Sunni Muslims
- they bring Sunni Muslims closer to God and ensure they focus on Him everyday - as these practices have been derived from the Qur’an which is the infallible, revealed word of God and so you are able to honour God to develop a relationship with him so that His wishes for you ( live eternal life in Jannah ) are fulfilled
- they help Muslims achieve the estalogical reward of life after death in Paradise
what are the 10 obligatory acts of Shia Islam
-sawm
-salah
- Hajj
-Zakat
- Khums - 20% taxation
- Jihad - striving to overcome evil
- Amr - Bil - Maroof - encouraging good actions
- Nahi Anil Munkar - discouraging evil actions
- Tawalla - showing love for God and people who follow him
- Tabarra - disassociation with enemies of God
what are the 2 types of Jihad
Inner Jihad ( struggle ) - discipline within yourself, daily striving to be a good Muslim against selfish , internal evils
Outer Jihad ( struggle ) - defending the religion from external threat - by Holy war
why are the 10 obligatory acts for Shia Muslims important
- they guide Shia Muslims on how to live their life
- they unite all Shia Muslism and give meaning to their life
- they help Shia Muslims achieve the reward of Paradise after death and avoid the punishment of hell
- they help Shia Muslims to focus their lives on God = pleasing God
what is the quote for the Shahadah ( Sunni version)
” there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”
what is the quote for the Shahadah ( Shia )
” There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah and Ali is the friend of God”
- shia muslims, the shahadah is a belief rather than a practice
why is Shahadah important for MUslims
- expresses the core beliefs of islam as the Shahadah is considered to provide the foundations for the other four pillars which tell a muslims how to live according to the beliefs expressed in the Shahadah
- The Shahadah is recited at key moments in a Muslim’s life, such as birth, conversion, and death.
It serves as a reminder of the purpose of life: worshiping Allah and following His guidance.
Dying with the Shahadah on one’s lips is considered an ideal ending, as it symbolizes complete devotion to Allah.
-The Shahadah unites all Muslims worldwide, regardless of sex, ethnicity, or language.
Every Muslim recites the same Shahadah in Arabic, reinforcing the idea of a single Ummah (community) bound by faith in Allah and allegiance to the teachings of Muhammad.
It encapsulates the essence of Tawhid (the oneness of Allah), which is the foundation of Islamic belief and practice.
By reciting the Shahadah, Muslims affirm their commitment to live by Allah’s will, which shapes every aspect of their lives.
when is the Shahada said
- whispered into newborn baby ears so it’s the first thing they hear
- recited during the call to prayer and salah
- repeated when someone wants to convert to Islam with a witness, e.g. the imam present
- said before death to demonstrate commitment to Islam
what are the steps for salah
- must be offered in arabic and from memory, using set prayers from the qur’an , sunnah and haddith
- salah usually begins with Takbir : “ Allah is the greatest”
- start with wudu ( ritual washing and cleansing - physically and soiritually cleansed)
- establish right niyyah ( right intentions )
- men should as far as possible offer salah in a mosque
what are the reasons to disagree that the Shahada is the most important pillar
- all pillars are equally importants. they are all duties that should be performed, one cannot be singled out from the others = it is why it is called the 5 pillars - they all serve as a guidance to llead Muslims to desired place
Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, is seen as the pinnacle of Islamic worship, where all Muslims stand equal before Allah regardless of status or wealth.
The Qur’an commands this act: “And proclaim to the people the Hajj; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:27).
The spiritual renewal and unity experienced during Hajj exemplify Islam’s emphasis on collective worship and submission, arguably making Hajj more profound in importance than the Shahada.
The Interdependence of the Pillars
The Shahada is foundational, but its significance is realized through the fulfillment of the other pillars. Without practicing the remaining pillars, the declaration of faith risks being a hollow statement.
Each pillar reinforces another; for instance, Salah reflects the Shahada in action, Zakah embodies its social responsibility, and Hajj manifests its ultimate submission. Thus, the other pillars have greater functional importance in living out Islamic faith.
when are the times that sunni muslims do salah
sunrise
noon
afternoon
sunset
night
when are the times that shia muslims do salah
3 x a day
BUT They combine noon/afternoon prayer and sunset/night. prayer together making it more practical and this is what muhammad sometimes did
what are some quotes used for salah
” call on me and i will answer you “ - Surah
” turn your face in the direction of the sacred Mosque” - surah
” remember God so that you may prosper” - Surah - By muslims praying 3x - 5x a day God helps mus lims to remember God often
” i created mankind to worship me” - Surah
what is Qibla
refers to the direction of Mecca, which Muslims face when they pray , wherever they are
what is a difference between shia and sunni muslims in the way that they each pray
SUNNI : PRAY 5X A DAY
SHIA : PRAY 3X A DAY BUT OFFER THE NOON / AFTERNOON PRAYER TOGETHER AND NIGHT/SUNSET PRAYER TOGETHER
SUJUD FOR SHIA - SHIA MUSLIMS KNEEL DOWN TOUCHING THEIR FOREHEAD TIUCHING A WOODEN BLOCK
SUJUD FOR SUNNI - KNEEL DOWN WITH FOREHEAD TOUCHING THE PAYER MAT
what is rak’ahs and recitatinos
- movements and words in a sequence ( rak’ah ) with has a number of different physical positions
what does islam mean
submission to God
what does Sujud show
total submission to God and his teachings - the idea of bowing down and prostrating = EMBELLISHES GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE
what is a similiarity between the way shia and sunni muslims pray
both do a total of 17 sequences of prayer each day by way of rak’ahs and recitations
what are some quotes to support the importance of prayer
” when the call to prayer is made hurry towars the reminder of God and leave off your trading.. that is better for you “ - surah
” the whole earth has been made a place of worship” - hadith
” prayer is better than sleep “ - hadith
what is a quote to support that praying at mosque is better than at home
” prayer with the congregation is 27 times better than prayer performed by oneself” - hadith
what is dua
personal prayer, prayer off invocation , supplication , request