test 3: living the muslim life

• to be faithful muslims, what do sunni muslims need to follow?

  the five pillars
• what is the declaration of faith called?

  shahadah- there is no god but allah, and muhammad is his messenger
• what is salah

  prayer five times a day
• what is zakah, and what does it encourage?

  charitable giving generosity and compassion
• what is the obligation to fast during ramadan called, and what does this teach?

  sawm self- discipline, which brings muslims closer to allah
• what is hajj?

  pilgrimage to makkah
• to be faithful muslims, what do shi'as need to follow? which four articles of faith so shi'as share with sunni muslims?

  the ten obligatory acts salah sawm zakah and hajj
• what khums?

  a tax shi'as pay each year on any 'profit' (excess money) they earn, at a rate 20%. it goes towards supporting islamic education and anyone descended from muhammad who's in need.
• what are the two types of jihad?

  the 'greater' jihad is muslims' personal struggle to live a good life, and the 'lesser' jihad is muslims' struggle to defend islam against its critics
• what are amr-bil-maroof and nahi anil munkar?

  the phrase mean "enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong" (qur'an 9:71)- it asks muslims to encourage good deeds and avoid bad ones
• what do tawalla and tabarra mean?

  they mean 'love' and 'aloofness'- muslims should love those of follow allah and they should associate themselves with anyone who's an 'enemy' of allah or muhammad
• what's the difference between sunnis and shi'as salah?

  sunnis only combine the prayers if they have a very good reason that prevents them praying at five separate times, e.g. if they're travelling. shi'as combine some prayer, so they tend to pray three times a day rather than five- but they still say all the same prayers.
• name one aspect a prayer cycle (rak'ah) includes.

  saying 'alluha akbar' ('god is great') multiple times, as well as reciting the first surah of the qur'an (known as the fatiha) and other verses from the qur'an.
• when are most men obliged to go to prayers (jummah) at the mosque?

  friday.
• what's the purpose of salah?

  it keeps muslims in close contact with allah and encourages moral and spiritual discipline.
• what does salah keep muslims from committing and increase?

  shirk and increases taqwa (reverence for allah).
• what is wudu and why is it important?

  washing before prayer. muslims must be pure and clean when approaching allah, both physically and spiritually.
• what direction should muslims face when they pray?

  makkah in saudi arabia when praying. the direction of makkah is called the qiblah.
• what is the rak'ah?

  a set prayer ritual. it may be repeated several times at each prayer session. each rak'ah involves standing, then kneeling, then putting your forehead to the ground as a sign of submission to allah.
• how are shi'a prayers different?

  shi'as touch their foreheads to a clay or wooden tablet during the rak'ah- they believe putting their forehead on something natural is what muhammad advised.
• when at the mosque, why do women and men pray separately?

  people concentrate on allah rather than on the opposite sex.
• why is zakah beneficial and what does it encourage?

  it makes the distribution of wealth fairer and helps those in need. it encourages generosity.
• when must muslims fast?

  between sunrise and sunset during the month of ramadan.
• name one of the exceptions to the obligation to fast.

  children don't have to fast until they're about 12 years old. old people (there's no specific age) don't have to fast either. people can be excused for medical reasons. women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating can also be excused. it's fine to take medicine which has to be regular, e.g. antibiotics. if you're on a journey, you can be excused too.
• as well as not eating or drinking, what else must muslims give up during sawm? name one.

  listening to music, sex and smoking. muslims should also try particularly hard to avoid bad thoughts or actions.
• what is ramadan a time of?

  both physical and moral self-discipline, and a time of obedience to allah. it's supposed to help muslims understand hunger, and so makes them more willing to help others.
• why is ramadan also a time of thanksgiving?

  for the qur'an.
• why is laylat al-qadr (the night of destiny or power) important?

  many muslims believe allah will forgive their sins on this night.
• how often must muslims make the hajj/ pilgrimage?

  at least once in their lifetime, as long as they can afford it and they're healthy enough to cope with the journey.
• give one reason why makkah is a holy place?

  adam, ibrahim and isma'il are all associated with makkah and muhammad lived there.
• why do all pilgrims wear simple white clothing (ihram)?

  so they're equal before allah.
• state three facts about the ka'aba?

  it's in makkah. it's a giant stone cube covered with black cloth. some muslims think ibrahim and isma'il built it as a place of worship. others think adam built it. it's the holiest place in islam. muslims must do seven circuits anticlockwise of the ka'ba, touching the stone if possible- this ritual is called the tawaf.
• name two more aspects that is involved in hajj.

  a pilgrim must make seven journeys between the hills of safa and marwa (where hajar, ibrahim' s wife and servant, searched for water for their son isma'il). this part of the pilgrimage is called the sa'y. pilgrims then draw water from the zamzam well, which allah made for hajar. then pilgrims must go to mount arafat to stand and pray for allah's forgiveness. this is where muslims believe adam was forgiven after being thrown out of eden and also where the day of judgement will take place. (part 1).
• name two more aspects that is involved in hajj.

  the pilgrims spend the night at muzdalifa, a valley between arafat and mina, where they collect pebbles. the pebbles are then thrown at three pillars in mina, to symbolise driving the devil away- ibrahim is believed to have once thrown stones at shaytan (the devil). this happens on id ul-adha. (part 2).
• what do many muslims find the hajj does?

  helps their faith and increases unity between muslims. some hadith say it cleanses the hajji of all sins.
• what does jihad literally mean?

  'striving' or 'struggle'.
• why is the greater jihad the greater struggle?

  it's the greater struggle because it's individual and personal. if you're not a good muslim, it's harder to help make the world better (lesser jihad).
• give an example of how the lesser jihad can make the world a better place.

  part of this means struggling against wrongs such as poverty and injustice.
• what does the qur'an and islamic law say about actual fighting regarding the lesser jihad?

  it should only be in self-defence and not against people who aren't fighting (non-combats). qur'an 4:75 says muslims should fight on behald of people being oppressed.
• why does the qur'an refer to defending islam against its enemies?

  when islam begun, muslims fought to survive as people of other religions persecuted them.