islam practises☪️

• what are the five pillars ?

  1. shahadah
  2. zakah
  3. salah
  4. sawm
  5. hajj
• why are the five pillars important ?

  1. underpins a muslims life
  2. provide a framework for practising their faith
  3. fundamental
  4. muslims have to follow these in order to live a good life
• what is shahadah ?

  assertion of faith to all muslims and is the belief in the oneness of Allah
• when does shahadah occur ?

  1. person converts to islam
  2. whispered in a newborns ear
  3. ideally the last words of a muslim before dying
• why is shahadah important ?

  a commitment to live in accordance with its principles
• what is the significance of the shahadah ?

  1. declares a muslims belief in tawhid and risalah
  2. reflects the teachings in the quran and the denial of the christian belief
  3. marks a conversion from one faith to islam
• what is zakat ?

  charity directive from the quran and is to help others willingly as god knows all intentions
• how do different countries do zakat ?

  in western world muslims give cash and in islamic countries it’s paid as sharia law prescribes it
• what is the nikah threshold ?

  minimum amount that a muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat
• what is the significance of zakat ?

  1. purify and cleanse wealth
  2. sharing blessing of wealth prevents greed = moral development
  3. money benefits the giver and receiver
  4. fulfils one of the pillars
  5. act of stewardship
• what is salah ?

  five daily prayers and each salah is preceded by an adhan
• what is an adhan ?

  call to prayer
• how must salah be offered ?

  in arabic, from memory, using set prayers from the quran, sunnah and hadith
• how do shias pray ?

  three times a day as muhammed did this and makes it more practical. They also use a wooden block
• what is wudhu ?

  ‘ritual cleansing’
• what is niyyah ?

  the right direction before starting prayer
• what is tayammum ?

  if no water is available for wudhu then it can be performed if there is limestone or earth land available
• what does sujid mean ?

  kneeling down with the forehead touching the prayer mat showing total submission to god
• what is jummah prayer ?

  congregational prayer at noon on friday and for sunni muslims its compulsory. For shias it is not necessary in the absense of the twelve imam.
• what happens at jummah prayer ?

  an imam will deliver a khutbah on issues relevant to the community
• what is khutbah ?

  sermon
• what is nafl ?

  extra prayers performed at home which is more personal and a time to open up to god
• what is the significance of salah ?

  1. helps attain taqwa
  2. one of the five pillars
  3. established by muhammed and instructed in the quran
  4. helps avoid sins
  5. first question on day of judgement will be salah
• what is taqwa ?

  consiousness and fear of allah to guide us in obedience
• what is sawm ?

  fasting mostly during the ramadan period, ninth month of the islamic calendar
• what is sawm about ?

  remembering the ‘night of power’ when angel jibril revealed the quran to muhammad
• who are not expected to fast ?

  1. elderly
  2. young
  3. those travelling
  4. sickness
  5. those not reached puberty
• what are the benefits of sawm ?

  1. develops devotion to god
  2. concern and sympathy for the poor
  3. brings islamic community together to allah
• what should muslims not when fasting ?

  1. eat or drink
  2. smoke
  3. sexual activity
  4. bad thoughts
  5. bad deeds
• what is the significance of sawm ?

  1. one of the five pillars
  2. one of the ten obligatory acts
  3. foundational practise
  4. increases a persons appreciation for his provision
  5. develops gratitude
• what is hajj ?

  holy journey to mecca in saudi arabia and is held annually on the dhul hijjah and lasts for 5 days
• how is hajj established ?

  the rituals where established by muhammed who was born there, founded the kaaba and built it
• what is purpose of attending hajj ?

  1. birthplace of muhammed
  2. home of the kaaba which is the holiest
  3. sacred place on earth as it holds historical context
  4. ‘heart’ of islam
• what is the influence of hajj whilst there ?

  1. part of the untied ummah
  2. feel a sense of equality
  3. feel closer to god
  4. strengthened faith
  5. allows for a new start
  6. an emotional experience
• what is the long term influence of hajj ?

  1. stronger faith and relationship
  2. focused on religion more
  3. respected in community
  4. source of spiritual advice
  5. feel more at peace with life
• what do the ten obligatory acts consist of ?

  1. salah
  2. khums
  3. zakat
  4. sawm
  5. hajj
  6. jihad
  7. amr-bil-maroof
  8. nahi-anil-munkar
  9. tawalla
  10. tabarra
• what is amr-bil-maroof ?

  encouraging good actions
• what is nahi anil munkar ?

  discouraging evil actions
• what is tawalla ?

  associated with good people
• what is tabarra ?

  disassociated with evil people