living the muslim life

• the fiver pillars - shahadah, salah, sawm, zakah, hajj
• Shahadah - deceleration of faith

  "And I bear witness that Ali is the friend of God."
• salah - five daily prayers in the home or mosque, facing makkah, Ablution (washing), Standing, bowing, prostrating and kneeling, Jummah prayer on Friday
• sawm - fasting during month of Ramadan, purpose is to get closer to Allah, associate with the poor, learn self-restraint, bond with the community.
• during sawm no food or drink from dawn until sunset, some people not required to fast e.g pregnant
• zakah - 'purification'of wealth, 2.5% of wealth given at end of lunar year, given by mosques to worthy causes, form of worship
• Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest place on earth, completed once in a lifetime, shows unity and equality, fresh start before Allah, being devoted to muslim life
• Jihad - Struggle/striving in the way of Allah
• Muhammad performed greater and lesser Jihad
• Greater Jihad - striving against evil within oneself, becoming better person + doing good deeds, the soul, the tongue, the pen
• Lesser Jihad - Striving against evil in the world – through physical or military means
• Id-ul-Adha - at the end of Hajj, festival of sacrifice, Muslims seek to show the same level of devotion to Allah
• Id-ul-Fitr - at the end Ramadan, Gratitude to Allah

  for being able to fast for the month, financial gifts given to the poor
• New clothes - "Id Mubarak"
• Id-ul-Ghadeer - Ali's leadership declared by Muhammad, Shi'a Muslims observe a fast on this happy day, 'The greatest Id', A speech and gathering at the mosque, Ghadeer – pond
• Ashura - Anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (grandson of the Prophet), Hussain was murdered for his faithfulness to the teachings Karbala (Iraq) pilgrimage, Wearing black
• Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a tradition - salah, sawm, hajj, zakah, khums, jihad, Amr bil ma'roof, Nahi anil munkar, Tawalla, Tabarra
• salah - Praying five times a day
• sawm - Fasting during Ramadan
• Hajj - Pilgrimage to Makkah
• Zakah - Alms given
• Khums - 20% of wealth given
• Jihad - Striving in the way of Allah
• Amr bil ma'roof - Encouraging good actions
• Nahi anil munkar - Discouraging evil actions
• Tawalla - Association with good people
• Tabarra - Disassociation with evil people