Islam Practices

• Ashura


  A Shi'a festival that takes place on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year
• Ashura


  A day that the prophet Muhammad dedicated as one of fasting from sunset to sunset
• Events Ashura celebrates


  • The first is the day that Nuh (Noah) left the ark
  • The second is the day that Musa (Moses) was saved from the Egyptians by Allah
• Ashura


  Muhammad made this fast voluntary but for Shi'a Muslims it has remained a major festival
• At this time Shi'as remember the death of Hussayn on the 10th of Muharram 680CE. He was the grandson of Muhammad.
• He was massacred by Sunni forces at a battle in Karbala which led to the split between the two groups and is of central importance in Shi'a Islam.
• Shi'a participation in Ashura


  1. Public expressions of mourning and grief

  2. Some whip themselves on the back with chains, beating their head or ritually cutting themselves
• Many Shi'a make pilgrimages on Ashura to the shrine in Karbala that is believed to be Hussayn's tomb.
• The significance of Ashura

  • It is significant to Muslims because:
  • Hussayn's death is generally understood by Shi'a as a symbol of the struggle against injustice and oppression.
  • The mourning and whipping enable Muslims to link themselves with Hussay's suffering and death.
  • Many Shi'a believe this will help them on the Day of Judgement.
• Id-ul-Adha

  • known as 'Festival of Sacrifice' + happens at end of hajj every year. festival remembers time Allah provided ram for Ibrahim to sacrifice instead of son Isma'il.
• What happens during Id-ul-Adha?

  • many things done to prep for festival, following trads of Muhammad: animal selected for sacrifice, Bismillah(blessing in name of Allah) said over it.
  • once animal sacd, meat roasted + divided: 1/3 fam, 1/3 friends + rels, 1/3 poor.
  • at start, Muslims complete wudu + offer prayers usually at mosque and delivery of khutbah by Imam. Id prayers may be offered in an Eidgah (open air gathering place). 'Id Mubarek' exchanged as well as gifts.
• The significance of Id-ul-Adha

  • demonstrates Muslims' willingness to make sacrifices for Allah. also an opportunity to be thankful to Him for His provision.
  • helps to develop the sense of ummah, both in the gathering together for prayers and through the distribution of the meat.
  • also a sign of support for those on hajj and completing their animal sacrifices near Mecca.
• Id-ul-Fitr

  • the three-day festival of fast-breaking, beginning on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, the month of Shawal. happens at the end of Ramadan when the new moon is seen with the naked eye.
  • before the festival begins, Muslims will have paid zakah.
  • In the morning families attend the mosque for Id prayers where the Imam delivers a khutbah which often focuses on the duty to care for the needy.
• Celebration of Id-ul-Fitr

  • Families return to their homes after going to the mosque and gather with their friends for celebratory parties where they will enjoy specially prepared food, exchange gifts, buy new clothes and enjoy each other's company.
  • Muhammad called this festival the 'Day of Reward' as it comes after the hardships of sawm during Ramadan.
• The significance of Id-ul-Fitr

  • Muslims forget past disagreements and are thankful to Allah for all he does for them.
  • their thankfulness includes the success that Allah has given them in the completion of their fasting.
  • this enables them to look forward to their reward on the Day of Judgement.
  • Muslims will also visit the cemetery to remember those who have been separated from them by death. In this way, everyone is united in the celebrations.
• Id-ul-Ghadeer


  A Shi'a festival on the 18th of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah
• This is the day on which Muhammad delivered his last sermon
• Shi'a belief


  Muhammad appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor on this day
• What happened when Muhammad was travelling to Medinah


  1. Part of the Qur'an, now known as the 'verse of announcement', was revealed to him

  2. Muhammad stopped his journey at a place called Ghadir Khumm

  3. Muhammad made a speech in which Shi'a muslims believe Ali was given authority to lead the Muslims
• Shi'a interpretation of the events at Ghadir Khumm

  Ali was given authority to lead the Muslims
• Sunni interpretation of the events at Ghadir Khumm


  Muhammad was calling for Ali to be respected but not to be seen as his successor
• The significance of Id-ul-Ghadeer

  • it allows Shi'a Muslims to re-affirm their commitment to their first Imam, Ali.
• Sunnis don't celebrate Id-ul-Ghadeer
• How Shi'a muslims celebrate Id-ul-Ghadeer


  1. Perform rituals during the day

  2. Read specific prayers

  3. Narrate the account of the event in special gatherings
• Jihad

  • An Arabic word which means 'striving'. this striving takes 2 forms in Islam: greater Jihad and lesser Jihad.
  • greater Jihad is the inner struggle that a Muslim strives with to control bad desires and intentions.
  • lesser Jihad is an outer struggle and is often linked with a military struggle.
• Greater Jihad

  • a continuous process as each Muslim strives to follow 'the straight path' and please Allah. this happens in all Islamic duties as Muslims are learning to be obedient to Allah.
  • these duties help a muslim to increasingly live a faithful life, possibly even being prepared to die for their faith one day if it becomes necessary. their reward will be entering paradise after death.
  • achieving this requires Muslims to overcome many negative qualities, such as greed and anger. this then is the greater Jihad.
  • Greater Jihad is essential for all muslims and takes precedence over lesser Jihad.
• Lesser Jihad

  • about creating a good and fair muslim society and some also believe it to include holy war.
  • when speaking specifically about war, the Qur'an uses the word 'qital' rather than jihad. if lesser jihad is in the form of a war, then it should either be defensive or a war against an unjust regime.
• what did the muslim sect of Kharijites do?

  • they added Jihad to the 5 pillars of islam, making it 6.
  • this kind of belief is seen in the extremist Muslim groups, including Daesh and Al-Qaeda.
  • they use jihad as justification for killing or using violence against anyone who is not a muslim, also known as 'kafir'.
• Shahadah

  • the declaration of faith which contains 2 statements, or kalimahs:
• Shahadah


  The declaration of faith
• Statements/kalimahs in the Shahadah


  • There is no God but Allah
  • Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
• Shahadah


  Embodies the Muslim belief in Tawhid
• Declaring the Shahadah


  Professes the Muslim faith
• Shahadah


  1. Whispered to a newborn baby

  2. Should be the last words on a Muslim's lips before they die
• Saying the Shahadah


  A way for non-believers to convert
• Saying the Shahadah


  Must be accompanied by the intention to live by the will of Allah
• Anyone who abandons the belief in the Shahadah commits the sin of apostacy
• In Islamic countries, the commitment to their belief in Allah as the only true God means that other religions are usually forbidden from evangelising and gaining converts
• Salah


  Ritual Muslim prayer that is carried out 5 times a day. First duty believed to have been imposed by Allah.
• Salah prayer


  • In carrying out this prayer, Muslims regularly and without hesitation declare their faith in Allah
  • By offering Salah prayer Muslims also seek to gain Allah's favour