Islam - Practices

Question 1

5 pillars of Islam

Answer 1

Shahadah, Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj

Question 2

Obligatory Acts in Shi’a Islam

Answer 2

No Shahadah (only a belief), Khums (20% extra Zakah), Jihad (both Greater and Lesser)

Question 3

The Shahadah

Answer 3

“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah” - Qur’an
Shi’a Muslims add: “And Ali is the friend of God”

Question 4

3 parts of Salah (Prayer)

Answer 4

Pray in direction of Makkah
Wudu for spiritual cleansing
Rak’ahs to show submission to Allah

Question 5

2 reasons for the importance of Jummah prayer (Friday prayer)

Answer 5

Develops brotherhood in the Ummah
“When the call to prayer is made on the day of congregation, hurry towards the reminder of God and leave behind your trading” - Qur’an

Question 6

Allah commanding Muslims to perform Salah

Answer 6

“Prayer is obligatory for the believers at the prescribed times” - Qur’an
“Performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times” - Qur’an

Question 7

Praying as a congregation

Answer 7

Hadith teaches that it is better to pray in a congregation than alone

Question 8

3 reasons for prayers (quotes)

Answer 8

“Prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing” - Qur’an
“Call on me [Allah] and I will answer you” - Qur’an
“Truly your Lord is generous and shy. If his servant raises his hands to him, he becomes shy to return them empty” - Qur’an

Question 9

Reason to pray anywhere

Answer 9

“The whole Earth has been made a place of worship” - Hadith

Question 10

Number of times to pray in a day

Answer 10

Sunni Muslims - 5 times, Shi’a Muslims - 3 times

Question 11

Allah commanding Sawm

Answer 11

“Fasting has been prescribed to you” - Qur’an
“It is the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as a guidance to mankind. So any of you who is present that month should fast” - Qur’an

Question 12

Exemptions from Sawm

Answer 12

Elderly, children, pregnant women

Question 13

4 activities during Ramadan (+ quote)

Answer 13

Fasting during the day, only eating after sunset and before sunrise
“It is in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as a guidance to mankind. So any of you who is present in this month should fast” - Qur’an
Reading the entire Qur’an throughout the month
Praying to Allah
Thanking Allah for the Qur’an and his guidance

Question 14

Importance of Night of Power

Answer 14

“The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months” - Qur’an
A thousand months is similar to a human lifetime, so the Night of Power is more significant than your whole life

Question 15

Amount of Zakah paid

Answer 15

Sunni Muslims - 2.5%, Shi’a Muslims - 2.5% + 20% (Khums)

Question 16

Reasons to pay Zakah (quotes)

Answer 16

“Zakah is a right that the poor have upon the rich” - Hadith
“None of you truly believe until he wishes for his brothers what he wishes for himself.” - Qur’an
“Alms are for the poor, the needy…” - Qur’an
“Those who believe, do good deeds, keep up their prayer, and pay the prescribed alms will have their reward with the Lord” - Qur’an

Question 17

Reasons for Hajj (+ quote), who isn’t obliged to do Hajj

Answer 17

Allah commands Hajj - “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it” - Qur’an
Shows discipline and obedience to Allah
Spiritual growth, brings Muslims closer to Allah
People who are too poor or aren’t in a good enough condition don’t need to do Hajj (e.g. young children, elderly, pregnant women, severely sick people, people with severe asthma)

Question 18

Clothes at Hajj

Answer 18

All wear white to symbolise spiritual purity - State of Ihram

Question 19

Significance of Makkah

Answer 19

Where Adam and Eve were reunited

Question 20

Actions at Kaaba

Answer 20

Circled 7 times and touch the Kaaba (last remaining stone from original Kaaba)

Question 21

Actions at Mina

Answer 21

Throw pebbles to reject the devil and evil

Question 22

Actions at Arafat

Answer 22

Pray under the hot summer sun (some will stand)

Question 23

Greater Jihad

Answer 23

Every Muslim’s inner struggle to resist temptations and follow the will of Allah
This also means they do the 5 Pillars of Islam, bringing them closer to God

Question 24

Quote for Greater Jihad

Answer 24

“This is my path, leading straight, so follow it, and do not follow other ways, for they will lead you away from it” - Qur’an
“No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another” - Qur’an (shows that Greater Jihad is a personal struggle)

Question 25

Lesser Jihad

Answer 25

The outward struggle to defend one's faith, family, or country from threat Lesser Jihad cannot be used to justify terrorism that targets innocent civilians

Question 26

Quote and reason for Lesser Jihad

Answer 26

"Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged" - Qur'an Muhammad fought in battles, which is Lesser Jihad

Question 27

Quote that could apply to both Lesser and Greater Jihad

Answer 27

Those who have believed, migrated, and striven for God's cause, it is they who can look forward to God's mercy" - Qur'an

Question 28

Strict following of Lesser Jihad

Answer 28

"God does not love those who overstep the limits" - Qur'an "If the enemy is inclined towards peace, do make peace with them, and put your trust in Allah" - Qur'an

Question 29

Conditions of Lesser Jihad

Answer 29

Self-defence No intentional harm to the innocent It must be in defence of Allah Peace must be restored Mercy must be shown

Question 30

Id-ul-Adha (+ quote)

Answer 30

Celebrates the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for God "Who could be better in religion than those who direct themselves wholly to God, do good and follow the religion of Abraham, who was true in faith? For God took Abraham as a friend" - Qur'an

Question 31

Action during Id-ul-Adha

Answer 31

Animal slaughtered to remember sacrifice - one third kept by family, one third given to relatives, one third donated to the poor (or money given)

Question 32

Id-ul-Fitr

Answer 32

Celebrates end of Ramadan and gives thanks to Allah for strength he gave to fast Id-ul-Fitr is "only a festival whose fasts Allah accepts and whose prayers he acknowledges"

Question 33

Action during Id-ul-Fitr

Answer 33

Go to the mosque for special prayers Families meet and have a feast

Question 34

Ashura - Sunni Islam

Answer 34

The day of atonement, where all sins can be forgiven It is optional to fast

Question 35

Ashura - Shi'a Islam

Answer 35

Mourn the death of Imam Husayn at Karbala They may beat their backs with chains and wear black to symbolise grief

Question 36

Quote for Ashura (Shi'a Islam only)

Answer 36

"Whoever performs the pilgrimage to the holy shrine of the Imam Husayn... is the one who visited God in his throne" - Imam Reza