ISLAMIC PRACTICES

Question 1

what are the 5 pillars of sunni islam

Answer 1

1. shahadah - declaration of faith
2. salah - obligatory prayer
3. zakat - compulsory giving to charity
4. sawm- fasting during ramadan
5. hajj - pilgrimage to mecca

Question 2

how many times a day do sunni muslims pray

Answer 2

5

Question 3

why are they called the pillars of islam

Answer 3

they are the foundations of muslim life - give structure,framework,understanding

Question 4

what are the 10 obligatory acts of shi’a islam

Answer 4

1. salah - prayer
2. sawm - fasting
3. zakat - giving to charity
4. hajj - pilgrimage to mecca
   5.khums - 20% taxation
5. jihad - striving to overcome evil
6. amr-bil-maroof - encouraging good actions
7. nahi anil munkar - discouraging evil actions
8. tawalla - association w good people
9. tabarra - disassociation w evil people

Question 5

what is the shahadah for shi’a muslims

Answer 5

a belief not a practice

Question 6

what do shi’a muslims add to the shahadah

Answer 6

and ali is the friend of god

Question 7

what is the shahadah for sunni muslims

Answer 7

There is no god but allah and muhammad is his messenger

Question 8

significance of the shahadah for newborn babies:

Answer 8

whispered into the ears of newborn babies - first thing they hear - introduction to faith

Question 9

significance of shahadah for near-death people:

Answer 9

said before death to demonstrate a commitment to the religion of islam

Question 10

example of when the shahadah is recited

Answer 10

during call to prayer and salah

Question 11

quotation about salah practice

Answer 11

turn your face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque Surah 2:144

Question 12

difference of salah for shi’a and sunni muslims

Answer 12

shi’a - 3 times - muhammed sometimes did this
sunni - 5 times

Question 13

what are the rak’ahs and recitations

Answer 13

movements and words in prayer

Question 14

what is the sujud position of the rak’ah

Answer 14

keeling down with the forehead touching the mat (wooden block for shi’a)
shows total submission to God

Question 15

difference between du’a and salah

Answer 15

salah - formal prayer 5 times a day / ( or 3)
du’a - personal prayer

Question 16

what does the hadith say about prayer

Answer 16

‘prayer is better than sleep’

‘prayer with the congregation is 27 times better than prayer performed by oneself’ (better to pray at mosque)

‘the whole earth has been made a place of worship’ (can pray anywhere)

‘pray in your houses - do not make them like graveyards’

Question 17

what is jummah prayer

Answer 17

friday prayers at the mosque at noon
compulsory for men to be at mosque , women can do it at either home or mosque

Question 18

why is prayer important for muslims

Answer 18

one of 5 pillars
established by muhammad + instructed by qur’an
way of establishing direct relationship w god
helps maintain taqwa (god-consciousness)
helps them avoid sin
first question on day of judgement is about salah - prayer = important to get to Paradise
strengthens community

Question 19

what does the qur’an say about sawm

Answer 19

‘fast until nightfall’
‘fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill, or on a journey, then on other days’

Question 20

what does the qur’an say about those exempt from sawm

Answer 20

those who do not fast should do so at another time and/or help the needy
helps muslims remember importance of the qur’an ( first revealed during Ramadan)

Question 21

benefits of sawm

Answer 21

devotion to god
develops sympathy for the needy (link to zakat)
develops self-discipline
brings community together

Question 22

what is zakat

Answer 22

2.5% of your income and savings to charity
purifying your wealth

Question 23

what is the nisab threshold

Answer 23

the minimum amount that a muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat

Question 24

what do shi’a muslims have in addition to zakat

Answer 24

khums

Question 25

what is khums

Answer 25

20% of profit earned by shi'a muslims

Question 26

importance of khums

Answer 26

gives special recognition to muhammad + leaders in shi'a islam used to help build islamic schools / projects helps those in need 1 of 10 obligatory acts

Question 27

importance of giving zakat

Answer 27

to purify and cleanse your wealth sharing blessings of wealth with others prevents greed money benefits both giver and reciever - giver will recieve 100x the amount given in the afterlife + satisfaction of giving everyone gives zakat = no poor in world - stewardship fufills your duty + the 3rd pillar of islam

Question 28

what does the qur'an say about hajj

Answer 28

'pilgrimage to the house is a duty owed to god by people who are able to undertake it'

Question 29

why do muslims go to mecca

Answer 29

birthplace of prophet muhammad home to the ka'ba - most holy place + direction you face when you pray 'heart' of islam

Question 30

how do muslims show unity on hajj

Answer 30

wear same clothes - ihram tawaf - circling the ka'ba 7 times all together anticlockwise

Question 31

what is tawaf

Answer 31

circling the ka'ba 7 times in anticlockwise direction

Question 32

what is sa'y

Answer 32

running between the hills of safa and marwa - just as Hajar did when searching for water for her son Ismail

Question 33

why do muslims drink from the zam zam well whilst on hajj

Answer 33

remember how god sent a miracle (the spring) when Hajar was searching for water for her son

Question 34

what do muslims do at mount arafat on hajj

Answer 34

the 'stand' where muslims praise allah, read from the qur'an and adk for forgiveness this is where adam and harwa were reunited and muhammad gave his final sermon

Question 35

what do muslims do at mina (jamarat)

Answer 35

1. collect and throw stones at three pillars - shows the rejection of the devil/evil 2. an animal is sacrificed , mens heads are shaved, women cut a lock - celebrate Eid ul Adha ( Feast of Sacrifice) - hair is cut as symbol of purity

Question 36

what do muslims do at madina on hajj

Answer 36

pray at the prophets mosque - place of first mosque and muslim community set up by allah all prayers will be heard and accepted by god here

Question 37

what is good about praying at madina

Answer 37

all prayers will be heard + accepted

Question 38

what do muslims do at the end of hajj

Answer 38

return to the great mosque + peform tawaf (circling) again - see holist shrine for one last time

Question 39

why is hajj important for muslims

Answer 39

qur'an says its obligatory for all who are 'physically able and can afford it' een as powerful demonstartion of unity of the ummah get to see ka'ba - strengthen faith opportunity for sins to be forgiven

Question 40

what is greater jihad

Answer 40

inner struggle - the duty of every muslim to live a good life and be faithful and obey the commands of islam

Question 41

examples of showing greater jihad

Answer 41

following 5 pillars working for social justice studying qur'an doing good deeds attending mosque regularly resisting temptation, greed and envy

Question 42

what is lesser jihad

Answer 42

military struggle - carried out according to strict rules for the purpose of defending them

Question 43

examples of performing lesser jihad

Answer 43

fought for a just cause fought as a last resort authorised by accepted muslim authority minimum amount of suffering caused ends when enemy surrenders innocent civilians not attacked aims to restore peace and freedom

Question 44

when did muhammad show lesser jihad

Answer 44

fighting in holy wars

Question 45

what does the qur'an say about jihad

Answer 45

'fight in gods cause against those who fight you , but do not overstep the limits' 'those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged ' The best jihad is the struggle against your own soul." – Hadith

Question 46

what does the qur'an say about ramadan

Answer 46

'it was in the month of ramadan that the qur'an was revealed as guidance for mankind... so any one of you who is present that month should fast' 'so you may become righteous'

Question 47

what is Id Ul Adha

Answer 47

Festival of Sacrifice

Question 48

what does Id Ul Adha commemorate

Answer 48

Ibrahims willingness to sacrifice his son when god asked him to.

Question 49

what does Id Ul Adha teach muslims

Answer 49

they must have willingness to sacrifice anything to gods wishes.

Question 50

what is Id Ul Fitr

Answer 50

end of ramadan

Question 51

what does Id Ul Fitr celebrate

Answer 51

time to celebrate allah for his hekp in getting through the month of fasting. time to express gratitude, wear new clothes and exchange gifts zakat becomes due

Question 52

what celebratory meal do muslims have on Id Ul Fitr

Answer 52

Eid Mubarak

Question 53

what is Ashura

Answer 53

tenth day of Muharran , first month of islamic calendar commemoration of Hussayns death, Alis son, grandson of prophet muhammad

Question 54

what is Ashura

Answer 54

a day of fasting and mourning - remembers how nuh left the ark and how musa and the isralites were saved from the egyptians muhammad hd observed fasting jews and so adopted the practice

Question 55

what is ashura for shi'a muslims

Answer 55

a day of mourning hussains death - grandson of prophet muhammad wear black no music allowed

Question 56

why are festivals important to muslims

Answer 56

gives a sense of identity and belonging to the religion remember past events and important people within the religion strengthen the ummah unite muslim communities/families connect muslims w the worldwide community share islamic beliefs mark key events in the islamic calendar - create tradition express gratitude come closer w god strengthen your faith