Islam- practices Flashcards
(27 cards)
5 pillars of Islam
Shahadah- declaration of faith
Salah- obligatory prayer
Zakat- compulsory giving
Sawm- fasting during Ramadan
Hajj- pilgrimage to Mecca
What is the importance of the 5 pillars?
- called Five pillars because they form the foundation of Muslim life
- provide a framework beliefs and actions that unite Sunni Muslims
- give structure to daily life
Why are the 10 obligatory acts important to Shi’a Muslims?
- guide Shi’a Muslims in how to live their everyday lives
- unite all Shi’a Muslims and give meaning to their lives
- help Shi’a Muslims achieve the reward of paradise after death and avoid the punishment of hell
Shahadah
There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger
- reminds Muslims of the oneness of God- Tawhid- viewed as a fundamentally important Islamic belief
- reminds Muslims of the importance of Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an
What is the importance of the Shahadah for Muslims?
- whispered into ears of new-born babies so it is the first thing they hear
- recited during the call to prayer and Salah
- repeated when someone wishes to convert to Islam
- said before death (demonstrate a commitment to the religion of Islam)
Is Shahadah the most important pillar? 12 marker
Agree:
- declaration of faith- in order to be a Muslim and practice the other pillars, this pillar has to come first. It sums up the Islamic faith. It is the first of the five pillars- first words you hear as a Muslim. This suggests it comes before/underpins the other pillars. Lasy the foundation
- spoken throughout the day (e.g call to prayer) and throughout your life (At birth and just before death), showing its importance
Disagree:
- all the pillars are equally important, they are all duties that could be performed, one cannot be singled out from the others
- salah is more important as it happens 5 times a day and its about making regular communication with God, it is more practical.
Zakat is more important as it helps others in a practical way, doing things to help others as this is rewarded by God. Although contrast this: the reason your doing Zakat is because of the Shahadah (key first pillar, no God but Allah)
Salah
- be offered in Arabic from memory using set prayers from the Qur’an
- must begin with wudu (ritual washing and cleansing physically and spiritually)
- offered at home my men and women
- Muslims must face direction of Mecca when they pray
Salah quotes
“turn your face in the direction of the sacred mosque”
“call on me and I will answer you”
Jummah prayer (friday prayer)
“when the call to prayer is made on the day of congregation hurry towards the reminder of God”
- congregational prayers at the mosque on noon on friday
- best attended of week
for Sunni Muslims it is seen as compulsory for men and believed best rewards come from this
- imam delivers a sermon on an issue relevant to the community
- Muslims can learn from the iman and worship together developing community
- brings forgiveness of sins
Prayer at home
- salah can be performed at home
Hadith says “pray in your houses- do not make them like graveyards” - perform extra prayers
- personal and time for opening up to God who is always there to heal prayers
- may ask for help, forgiveness and support
Why is prayer important for Muslims?
“prayer is better than sleep”
- it is one of the 5 pillars emphasising it is essential
- prayer is established my Muhammad and instructed in the Qur’an
- way of establishing a direct and lasting relationship with God
- first question a Muslim will be asked on the Day of Judgement is about Salah - prayer is important in order to achieve paradise
What are the benefits of Sawm?
“fast until nightfall”
- develops devotion to God- brings you closer to him
- develops concern/sympathy for those in need
- develops self discipline and self control
Sawm is about remembering the “Night of Power” when Angel Jibril revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad. It is the end of Ramadan
Why is Sawm important for Muslims?
- it is one of the 5 pillars and 10 obligatory acts. It is a foundation practice for Muslims
- develops devotion to God and brings you closer to him. Increases your appreciation for his provision and develops gratitude
- a “blessing not burden” it helps develop self restraint and is thought to have health benefits
- shows obedience to God and hill will
- helps Muslims to remember the importance of the Qur’an which was first revealed during Ramadan
Zakat quote
“whatever you spend with a good heart, give it to parents, relative, orphans, helpless and travellers in need. Whatever good you do, Allah is aware of it”
What ate the benefits (importance) of giving Zakat?
- to purify and cleanse your wealth- giving makes the remaining money “clean”
- sharing the blessing of wealth with others prevents greed- moral development
- money benefits both giver and receiver - giver will receive a hundred-fold back in afterlife and they should also feel satisfaction of giving
- if everyone gave zakat there would be no poor in the world- stewardship
What is the importance of Khums?
- gives special recognition to Muhammad, his descendants and leaders within Shi’a Islam
- used to help build Islamic schools or projects chosen by Shi’a leaders
- help those in need
Why do Muslims go to Mecca?
- it is the birthplace of prophet Muhammad
- home to the Ka’ba the holiest place and the direction Muslims face when they pray
What is the impact/influence on Muslims going to Hajj?
- feel part of the united ummah as 3 million pilgrims visit per year
- feel a sense of equality
- feel strengthened in their faith as they have to pray and circle the Ka’ba
- forgiveness of sons allows for a fresh start and new beginning aw they visit Arafat which is the mount of mercy
- more respected in the community
- source of spiritual advice
What are the rituals performed on the Hajj?
- Journey to/arrival on Hajj: Muslims put on ihram (white seamless robes) to accentuate they have entered the state of ihram which shows unity and equality as they are all dressed identically. It strengthens feeling of commitment and community within ummah
- Great Mosque: Tawaf- circle the Ka’ba seven times in an anticlockwise direction. This demonstrates unity if all Muslims together in submission to Allah and shows love to Allah
Why is Hajj pilgrimage important for Muslims?
“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it”
- Qur’an says it is obligatory for all Muslims who are physically able and can afford it (Surah)
- Seen as a powerful demonstration of the unity of the ummah, with Muslims from different denominations and countries converging in one place for the purpose of worship
What is Greater Jihad?
Inner struggle
- duty of every Muslim to live a good life, be faithful to God and obey the commands of Islam
done by:
- following 5 pillars
- working for social justice
- studying the Qur’an
- doing good deeds
What is lesser Jihad?
Military struggle
Caries out according to strict rules for the purpose of defending Islam
- fought for a just cause (Muhammad himself fought in holy wars)
- fought as a last resort
- authorised by accepted Muslim authority
- minimum amount of suffering should be caused
“Fight in Gods cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits. God does not love those who overstep the limits”
Which Jihad is the most important?
“those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged- God has the power to help them”
- both found in the Qur’an which is considered by Muslims to contain the infallible complete word of God
- most Muslims agree that Greater Jihad is the most important (as it is stressed in the Qur’an)
- greater Jihad is a personal battle which is understood by many to be the true meaning of the term
- even though Muhammad was involved in military battles he supported Greater Jihad are more important
- however there may be occasions when Islam/the name of Allah is threatened and it may be appropriate/seen as necessary to defend Islam. Islam does not have set conditions for this, which shows it can happen
Id-Ul- Adha (end of Hajj)
- remembers Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son when God asked him to. Story is found in Surah 37 and reminds Muslims of the test of faith faced by Ibrahim and how they should apply this to their own lives as well as the mercy shown by God. Muslims remember their own willingness to sacrifice anything to God’s wishes. They celebrate with the sacrifices of an animal, which is shared among family, friends and the poor. Prayers and cards are given
