Muslim practices

• 6 key Sunni beliefs

  Allah (tawhid)

  Prophets (risalah)

  Angels

  Holy books

  Predestination (al qadr)

  Life after death (akhirah)
• 10 obligatory acts (Shi'a)


  Salah

  Zakah

  Sawm

  Hajj

  Khums

  Jihad

  Amr bil maroof

  Nahil Anril munkar

  Tawalia

  Tabarra
• 5 roots of usul al din

  Tawhid

  Adalat

  Prophethood

  Resurrection

  Imamate
• Why is the shahadah important to Muslims

  Saying it makes you a Muslim and reminds you you are a Muslim

  It is very important as it tells you the key beliefs about Allah and Mohammed eg omnipotent, omniscient, everlasting, creator of everything
• Why do shia muslims pray 3 times a day?

  "e r p a t s d t t d o t n"

  "Establish regular prayers at the Sun's decline till the darkness of the night..." (Quran)
• Why do sunni muslims pray 5 times a day?


  Muhammed's night journey to heaven revealed that muslims should pray 5 times a day
• Why is salah important to muslims?

  - Salah is one of the 5 pillars and completing the 5 pillars is a duty of muslims and shows you are obeying Allah and as a good muslims you will be rewarded in paradise after you die.

  - Praying strengthens your faith as it brings you closer to Allah as you combine your body and soul worship through your prayer positions and words.

  - strengthens the ummah because by praying together, you realise that being a muslim makes you part of the world-wide family that is there to support and help you. As everyone prays in the same way which shoes equality.
• T 5 p r s a w r d

  The 5 prayers removes sins as water removes dirt (hadith)
• A p b t A Y a d w w

  All praise be to Allah You alone do we worship (1:1)
• Why do Muslims fast?

  O b y m f s t y m l s r

  - The Quran says that it develops self discipline so you can resist temptation and committing sins.

  - "O believers, you must fast so that you may learn self restraint"

  - Muhammed's own example
• Why is sawm important to muslims?


  - one of the 5 pillars which is a duty for muslims to complete and it shows obedience to Allah

  - strengthens your faith as it brings you closer to Allah as you have more time to pray and read Quran and focus on Allah which shows your commitment.

  - makes you a better muslims as you develop self control and helps you overcome greed and selfishness.

  - strengthens the ummah

  - commemorates Quran being given on night of power, copies his example.
• facts about zakah


  - compulsory unless you are too poor

  - paid once a year during Ramadan as people are already fasting so giving to those less fortunate comes more naturally as you are appreciating what you already have

  - must be done in secret without showing or telling others.

  2.5% of savings
• who should receive zakah

  1. the poor

  2. the needy

  3. employees of zakah
• why do muslims give zakah?

  r i h w b i A a h w f t l o h.."

  - surah 2 in the quran says

  " righteous is He who believes in Allah and his wealth for the love of him..."

  - Muhammed's own e.g because in the early days of Islam when they were two battles many people were widowed or orphaned, so he provided for them.
• W p t z o h w w h i e r f h

  "Whoever pays the zakah on his wealth will have its vil removed from him"
• why is zakah important to muslims?


  - one of the 5 pillars

  - giving zakah strengthens your faith as it reminds you that wealth can be evil and cut you off from Allah so giving charity helps you remember that Allah is the real owner of any money or possessions as He is the creator of the universe.

  - Zakah makes you a better muslim as it creates honesty as you give in secret so it helps you overcome greed and selfishness
• a t w h g a s a s i n i t w o A - g t t o a p p


  and those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment
• Khums money is split into 6 ways:


  - Allah

  - relatives of Muhammed (now goes to religious teachers)

  - muhammed

  - orphans

  needy

  anyone away from home and has no money to return
• what does hajj mean


  to set out with a definite purpose (pilgrimage to makkah in saudi arabia)
• facts about hajj

  - 8-13th dhul hijjah

  - a person in the age of responsibility and of sound and mind, they can afford it

  - Muhammed was born in in makkah and did hajj there
• muslims wear ihram because...

  - visible sign of being set apart from daily life and 100% focused on Allah.

  - dressing simply is a sign of humility before Allah

  - similar to baby clothes or funeral shrouds so reminds you that you are just before Allah, no money or status

  - white = purity so no sin

  - ummah as all are wearing it in eyes of Allah
• why do muslims circle the kabah 7 times

  - all muslims pray towards it and it emphasises the ummah

  - first house of worship established for mankind

  - walking in the footsteps of great muslims eg ibrahim
• al safa and al marwa


  - run between two hills 7 times which is reenacting hajars search for water after ibrahim sent her and ismail away. this reminds us that Allah provides for all even when all seems lost and hopeless and we should be searching for that which gives true life i.e Allah
• Muzdalifah


  camp between makkah and arafat prayers here and small stones are picked up to be thrown at mina
• arafat (24km from makkah) small hill


  - Must be here for the stand which is from noon to dusk for it to count.

  - Stand before Allah and pray and beg for forgiveness for your sins. Pray, meditate and focus on Allah alone.

  - It is the most important part of Hajj as it is a reminder of the day of judgment when a muslim will answer to Allah for their life.

  - Muhammed's last sermon took place here and it stressed that all muslims are equal and that following the quran and his e.g would guide them to the straight path.

  - Muslims are copying Adam and Eve's actions as they prayed here and Allah forgave them.
• Mina


  - small stones thrown at 3 pillars and there is a sacrifice of an animal and 1/3 is given to the poor

  - the stoning represents stoning the devil and rejecting evil and bad habits we have e.g greed

  - reminder of ibrahim's test of faith and when he threw stones at shaytan when he was tempted by him reminds muslims that life is a test of faith

  - reminds muslims that meat is a great gift from allah shows commitment to Allah as its expensive.
• why is hajj significant to muslims

  - one of the 5 pillars so its a duty for muslims

  - strengthens your faith as you are forgiven at arafat so it re energises your faith and makes you more committed to being a better muslim.

  - sura 20 promises forgiveness of sins if you make the stand of arafat just like adam and eve were forgiven

  - activities of hajj make you a better muslim as it encourages qualities of sharing, generosity, equality, patience, etc

  - strengthens the ummah
• greater jihad


  everyday struggle and challenge to be a good muslim e.g waking up for fajr, sawm, learning arabic
• lesser jihad


  fighting to defend islam or fellow muslims. This must be through non violent means to start with but then physical violence is allowed.
• conditions for lesser jihad


  - must be declared by a religious leader

  - must not be used for gain e.g wealth, land, resources

  - mustn't be used to force people to join islam
• lesser jihad is good


  muslims fought and won in the battle of badr with 300 muslims against 1000 non muslims
• lesser jihad is bad

  - 9/11 and flying planes into the two towers of new york shows that violence isn't the last resort as muslims were killed, innocent people were killed
• f f t s o A t t f a y b d n a t f b A d n l t a

  Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight against you but do not attack them first because Allah does not love the transgressors
• eid ul adha


  remembers ibrahims willingness to sacrifice his son ismail as a test of faith from Allah. However Allah sent down a sheep to take his place

  - attend mosque for eid salah and listen to sermon about why sacrifice is important

  - some muslims sacrifice an animal and the meat is divided between family, friends and the poor.
• eid ul fitr


  marks the end of ramadan

  - wear best clothes, party forgive people you have fallen out with. money is given to the poor.
• ashura sunni muslims


  - remember nuh leaving the ark after the flood and Allah saving Musa and the israelites from Pharoah

  - optional day of fasting and some eat nuh's pudding
• ashura shia muslims


  - day of mourning and grief for husayn ibn ali (one of the 12 imamate) who died in the sunni and shia battle

  - it is a day of sadness, wear black mourning clothes, some men slap their chests or some do bloodletting, though some shia muslims discourage this as it creates a negative image of Shia muslims.