ISLAM 1

• Five Pillars of Sunni Islam


  • Shahadah: Belief in one God
  • Salah: Praying 5 times a day
  • Sawm: Fasting in the month of Ramadan
  • Zakat: Charity 2.5% of earnings
  • Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah
• 10 Obligatory Acts of Shia Islam


  • Salah: Prayer
  • Sawm: Fasting in Ramadan
  • Zakat: 2.5% of savings
  • Khums: 20% tax
  • Hajj
  • Jihad
  • Amr-bil-ma'ruf: Doing good
  • Nahi-anil-munkar: Preventing evil
  • Tawallah: Showing love for God
  • Tabarra: Not associating with enemies of God
• Preparation for Prayer


  • Face Makkah
  • Perform wudu (ablution) to be spiritually clean
• Importance of Prayer


  • Motivates Muslims to do God's will
  • Raka'at movements remind Muslims God is greater than them
  • Purifies Muslims and brings them closer to God
  • Completes one of the Five Pillars
  • Unites Muslims as they all pray in the same way
• Sunni and Shia Prayer


  • Sunnis pray 5 times a day, Shias combine midday and afternoon prayers so pray 3 times a day
  • Perform slightly different prayer movements called Raka'at
• Jumu'ah (Friday) Prayer


  • Most important congregational prayer, held midday on Friday
  • Men are expected to attend the mosque, women can pray at home
• Prayer in the Mosque


  • Special washrooms for wudu
  • Rows of prayer mats facing the mihrab (niche in the wall indicating the direction of Makkah)
  • Men and women pray in separate rooms
• Key Features of the Mosque


  • Dome represents the worldwide community of Muslims
  • Minaret is where the call to prayer is made
  • Mihrab indicates the direction of Makkah
  • Minbar is where the Imam delivers the sermon
• Sawm (Fasting)


  • Fasting during the month of Ramadan, when the Quran was revealed to Muhammad
  • The Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) is believed to be equivalent to worshipping for a thousand months
• The command to fast was first given in the Quran to Muhammad
• Benefits of Fasting


  • Shows self-discipline and obedience to God
  • Encourages Muslims to help those less fortunate
• Zakat (Almsgiving)


  • Sunni and Shia Muslims pay 2.5% of their income and savings once a year
  • Shia Muslims also pay Khums, a 20% tax once a year
• Sadaqah (Voluntary Giving)


  • Encourages Muslims to do good with their money
  • Helps purify their souls, remove greed and selfishness
  • Fulfills a duty to God
  • Strengthens the Muslim community by supporting the poor and weak
• Who Zakat is given to

  • Parents, close relatives, orphans, the needy, and travellers
• Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)


  • Every Muslim is expected to perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime
  • Remembers the actions of Prophet Ibrahim and his family who built the Kaaba
  • Emphasises equality and unity, brings Muslims closer to God
  • Sins are forgiven
• What happens during Hajj


  1. Enter state of purity (Ihram)

  2. Perform 7 circuits around the Kaaba

  3. Walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah

  4. Travel to Mount Arafat to pray for forgiveness

  5. Throw pebbles at the 3 pillars

  6. Sacrifice an animal as part of celebrating Eid al-Adha
• Jihad


  • Greater Jihad: Spiritual struggle to improve oneself and society in a way that pleases God
  • Lesser Jihad: Outward struggle to defend Islam, only fought for a just cause, in self-defense, and as a last resort after peaceful negotiations have failed
• Islamic Festivals


  • Eid al-Fitr: Celebration at the end of Ramadan, to thank God for giving strength to complete the fast
  • Eid al-Adha: Celebration of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, reminds Muslims to show complete obedience to God
• Ashura


  Mainly a Shia festival that remembers the death of Husayn at the Battle of Karbala, seen as a symbol of struggle against injustice and oppression
• Attributes of Allah


  • Tawhid: Oneness of God, adding partners to Allah is forbidden (Shirk)
  • Transcendent: God created the universe and is beyond it
  • Immanent: God is present everywhere within the world
  • Fair and Just: God treats everyone fairly
  • Merciful: God shows compassion and mercy
  • Omnipotent: God is all-powerful
• Sunni and Shia Islam


  • Sunnis believe the leadership should have passed to the older and wiser companions of the Prophet
  • Shias believe the leadership should have passed through the Prophet's family, particularly Ali
• Belief in Angels


  • Angels are spiritual beings who serve God, they can take human form
  • Examples: Jibril (Angel of Revelation), Mika'il (Angel of Mercy), Munkar and Nakir (Question Muslims in the grave), Israfil (Blows trumpet on Judgement Day)
• How Angels Influence a Muslim's Life

  • Influence them to follow God's message
  • Protect believers from evil influences
  • Record the deeds of humans
  • Reveal messages
  • Prepare them for death and Judgement
• Predestination


  • Muslims believe God has decreed everything that will happen, but humans still have free will and are responsible for their choices and behavior
  • A test from Allah, humans must make their own decisions
• Akhirah (Afterlife)


  • Barzakh: State of waiting in the grave until Judgement Day
  • Everyone resurrected and handed a book of their deeds
  • Those with good deeds go to Heaven (Jannah), those with bad deeds go to Hell (Jahannam)
• Prophethood (Risalah)


  • Prophet Adam: First man and prophet, created by Allah
  • Prophet Ibrahim: Fulfilled tests from God, rebuilt the Kaaba, taught belief in one God
  • Prophet Muhammad: One of Ibrahim's descendants, received the Quran
• Imamate (Shia Belief)


  • Shias believe the Imams have been appointed by God to provide divine guidance
  • There are 12 Imams that Shias believe in
• call on me and I'll answer you: 'Prayer'
• Fasting

  fasting is prescribed for you so that you may learn self restraint
• "There is no God but Allah": '(shanaaah)'
• Prayer, 5 pillars

  Pilgrimage to house of God is a duty to people who are able to
• "He is God the one": 'Tawhid'
• Praise to be God the creator of the heavens and the earth: 'Nature Of Allah'
• "record of their deeds will be laid Open"
• "only what God has decreed will happen to us"