RE - Islam : Practices
Worship
Duties and festivals
Sawm (Fasting)
Zakah (Giving Alms)
Festivals and commemorations
The Five PIllars (Sunni)
The Ten Obligatory Acts (Shi'a)
(1 replacement + 5 additional)
Shahadah (only Sunni)
Salah
Zakah
Sawm
Hajj
Khums
Jihad
Amr bil maroof
Nahi anil munkar
Tabarra
Tawalla
Declaration of faith
'There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah'
Shows belief in Tahwid, foundation of other 4 pillars
Repeating daily shows obedience and dedication to God
Recited in the call to prayer (adhan)
Fasting, especially during the holy month of Ramadan
Praying five times a day
Charitable giving
Pilgrimage
20% tax, half goes to charity, and half to religious leaders
The struggle to maintain the faith and defend Islam
Encouraging people to do what is good
Discouraging people from doing what is wrong
Not associating with the enemies of God
Showing love for God and people who follow him
Both greater and lesser Jihad
Salah (prayer)
Prayer with and in worship of God, performed under conditions set by the prophet Muhammad
Sunni Muslims pray five times a day, whereas Shi'a Muslims pray three times a day
Preparation
Ritual washing before prayer (wudu) either with water or with sand and dust
'Spiritually clean' and helps Muslims to full focus on God in their prayers
Facing the direction of the city of Makkah
Mihrab indicates the direction of Makkah
This is a small niche in the qiblah walla
Or a special compass can be used
All Muslims are focusing on one place associated with God
Rak'ah
Follows actions of
Standing and reciting Qur'an
Bowing
Standing and making a recitation
Prostrating
Reciting while sitting and then while prostrating
Shows respect
Shows complete obedience to God
Jummah
Special communal prayer held every Friday at midday
All men must attend
Imam will give a sermon afterwrads, reminding Muslims about their duties to God
Significance
Unites Muslims around the world, as they all pray in the same way
Reminds Muslims that God is greater than them
Significance of fasting
Origins
Duties (During daylight hours)
Benefits of fasting
Exceptions + Reasons
Night of Power
Significance of Zakah
Origins
How and why it is given
Khums in Shi'a Islam
The night in which the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
(NOT special revelation!!!)
More important, Jummah or Salah?
Jummah
Salah
Friday is a holiday in Muslim countries
Whole day dedicated to it
Special attention given to Jummah
Sermon which teaches a moral story and is more vital to guiding a Muslim
Jummah does not take precedence over Salah, Salah still occurs on Fridays
Salah is part of the 5 pillars and performed daily
Can not be performed individually
Develops condcept of brotherhood as it gives opportunity for people to meet and socialise
Mentioned in Qur'an
Therefore fasting is obeying Allah
Following the example of Muhammad
Allows them to empathise with those who go hungry, the less fortunate, and may inspires them to pay charity or invite others to share evening meal with them
Allah gives them strength to overcome hunger
Reminds them that Allah first gave the Qur'an during this month
Cleanses the soul, and practices self restraint from material possessions
It was during Ramadan - the ninth month of the Islamic calendar was revealed to Muhammad
Abstain from food and drink
Get up before sunrise to eat and drink enough to get them through to sunset
Extra prayers and readings from the Qur'an after evening meal
Not smoke or copulate
Health reasons
Pregnant women
Mothers nursing babies
Children
Those who are ill
Women who are on their periods
Muhammad said 'All sins are forgiven for those who fast'
Golden Rule : 'None of you truly believe until he wishes for his brothers what he wishes for himself' Prophet Muhammad
Response to Qur'an instruction 'Whatever you give should be for ... the needy and travlellers. God is well aware of whatever good you do'
Later worked out to be 2.5% by Muslims scholars
Only Muslims with savings greater than a certain figure are required to give Zakah
Zakah can be donated directly to a charity or put into a collection box in the mosque to be distributed among the poor
Benefits of receipt
Prayer should make Muslims feel cocncern for others
Zakah puts this into action
Giving Zakah is a sign of a true Muslim
In Shi'a Islam
Refers to the excess income or earnings that a Shi'a Muslim makes
Instead of spoils of war as it used to mean
Id-ul-Adha
Id-ul-Fitr
Ashura
The celebration at the end of Ramadan, marking the ending of fasting
Families and friends comes together to hold parties and eat together, wearing new clothes and decorating their houses
Thanking Allah for giving Muslims the ability and willpower to fast
It is a time to ask for forgiveness and practise empathy for those who are not as fortunate - many pay Zakah at this time
Festival of sacrifice which lasts for three days and takes place at the end of the Hajj
It reminds Muslims of Allah asking Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael
Proved his faith and submission to Allah, who provided a sheep in his sons place
In the UK
Usually just a day, taken off
In the UK
Encouraged to make their own sacrifices and remember Allah's importance and centrality in their fatih
Animal sacrifice is not possible
Muslims need to arrange for an animal to be sacrificed for them by a halal butcher
Shi'a Muslims
Sunni Muslims
Day of repentance for sins
Commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn in battle
Day of mourning
Celebrated by
Plays about Husayn's death
Some may choose to whip themselves to remember his martyrdom
Celebrated by
Some may fast
Commemorate the prophet Nuhb's (Noah) being able to leave the Ark after the flood and Musa leading his people out of Egypt
In addition - Sadaqah
Giving money and time to charity at ANY point in the year, and isn't compulsory
'Alms are meant for the poor, the needy'