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Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Islam Practices
 Five Pillarsin Sunni Islam
 Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi’s Islam
 Shahadah
 Salah
 Sawm
 Zakah
 Hajj
 Jihad
 Festivals
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Five Pillars of Sunni Islam


The pillars support the main
principles and beliefs of Islam.

These are kept by both Sunni


and Shi’a Muslims.

Shahadah (declaration of faith)


is always first.

The other 4 are actions


Muslims carry out because of
their faith

They are all equal


Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi’a Islam

These form part of the 5 pillars


Which one is missing?
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Shahadah
The Saudi ‘There is no God but Allah
Arabia flag Muhammad is His messenger’
includes the
Shahadah
Shi’a add:
‘Ali is the beloved of Allah and rightful
trustee of the Prophet, and his immediate
successor’
It is said every day as part of the Adhan (call to
prayer), so Muslims hear it 5 times a day. The words must be said from heart
Also said every evening before sleep

Whispered into the ears of newborns and uttered at


death.
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Salah - prayer
Sunni Muslims pray 5 times a day (Shi’a pray 3 times)

‘When you are about to pray, wash your faces and


your hands…….’ (Qur’an 5)

Muslims prepare for payer by ritual washing


called wudu. There are special rooms for this.

Muslims face the holy city of Makkah. All


mosques have a mihrab built into the qiblah wall
which shows the direction.

Prayer is led by an imam. Men and women pray in


separate rooms.
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Salah - prayer
Daily prayers are made up of rak’ah – this is a set sequence of actions
and recitations in Arabic.
Standing Recite the first chapter of the Qur’an

Bowing In Arabic ‘Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest’ – 3 times

Upright Praise God

Prostration Forehead, nose, hands, knees and toes on floor.


Recite in Arabic: ‘How perfect is my Lord the most high’
Sit Recite in Arabic: ‘God is the greatest’

Kneeling Turn to right and left reciting in Arabic: ‘Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings
of God’
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Salah - prayer
Friday prayer is called Jummah – all men should attend. They should
leave their work and return once prayer and the sermon is over.
Prayer at home – is fine so long as in a clean room and facing Makkah.

'Believers! When the call to prayer is made on the day of congregation, hurry towards the reminder of God and
leave off your trading’ (Qur’an 62)

Influence and significance


• God commanded Muslims to pray
• Creates greater awareness of God
• Motivates Muslims to do God’s will
• Unites Muslims across the world
• Bowing reminds them that God is greater and more important than they are
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Sawm – fasting during Ramadan


O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting….. that you may
become righteous’ (Qur’an 2:183)

NO!!!
Food, drink, sexual relations, TV or video games between sunrise and sunset
Bad thoughts and actions

YES!!! Considerate behaviour towards others, more time in the mosque, reading of the
Qur’an

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic


Brings Muslims closer to God
calendar (the month that the Night of Power

Benefits
Time to refocus
took place)
Reminder of the poor and hungry
Young, pregnant women and elderly are exempt
Self discipline, determination, humility and
Can take medication
courage
Travellers can make up time later
Sense of community
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Zakah – Charitable giving


‘Zakah is for bring hearts together’ (Qur’an)
Know that whatever of a thing you acquire, a fifth of it is for Allah,
for the Messenger, for the near relative, and the orphans, the needy,
and the wayfarer. (8:41)

• Wealth is from Allah and should be shared.


• 2.5% of income is paid to the Mosque for them to distribute to community causes.
• Helping others is helping Allah
• If everyone gave zakah there would be no poverty in the world
• The giver and receiver both benefit – the giver will receive a ‘hundred-fold’ back in the afterlife

Shi’a Islam:
Zakah = test of rich and to provide for poor. The law taxed certain things but the list is difficult in modern times.
Khums – 20% tax of annual surplus – split – used for Allah, Muhammad and relatives of Muhammad,
orphans.
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Hajj
• Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah. Muslims must make the journey
once in their lifetime as long as they can afford it and they’re healthy.
• It has to happen in the Muslim month of Dhu’l-Hijja (approx. Aug in
2018)
• Adam, Ibrahim and Muhammad are all associated with Makkah, so it’s
a holy place.
• The Ka’aba is a giant stone cube covered with black cloth (built by
either Adam or Ibrahim)
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Hajj
Preparation Ihram – 2 white cloths All Muslims equal before Allah (like Judgement Day)

Great Mosque Tawaf (going around the Ka’aba 7 times) Shows love for Allah

Zamzam well Well provided by Allah – seen as miracle Shows Muslims are dependent on Allah to provide
for them

As-Safa and Al-Marwa Walk 7 times between 2 hills. Refelcting on Hajar’s Allah didn’t give up on Hajar
search for water

Mt Arafat Pray from noon till sunset. Adam and Hawaa were Muslims hope for forgiveness for their sins
reunited here and it’s where Muhammad gave his Camp in desert at Muzdalifa and collect stones
last sermon.
Mina – throw stones at the 3 jamarat Stones represent the 3 times that Ibrahim was Symbolic of rejecting evil and Shaytan themselves
tempted by the devil when Allah asked him to
sacrifice his son. Angel Jibril ordered Ibrahim to
throw stones,
Madina Site of the first mosque All prayers here will be heard by Allah

Great Mosque Commit tawaf again Total commitment to Allah.


Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Hajj – influence and importance


• Muslims feel sense of the ummah
• Equality can be humbling
• Emotional
• Could affect how they think about life
• Sins forgiven – fresh start with more focus on faith
• When home they are more respected for having completed Hajj

‘Pilgrimage to the House is a duty towards


God upon humankind, for those who can
find a way there’ (Qu’ran)
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Jihad – struggle for faith


One of the 10 Obligatory Acts for Shi’a Muslims

Greater Jihad – striving to be a better Muslim. How? Follow 5 pillars,


forgive, work for social justice, etc

Lesser Jihad – defending Islam, making the world a better place. How?
Restoring peace, can take up arms (Holy War), showing mercy, fighting should be in
self defence,

"The person who struggles so that Allah’s word is supreme is the one serving Allah’s
cause"
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Festivals – Eid ul-Fitr


• Eid ul-Fitr is the most important festival in the Islamic calendar and was started by the Prophet
Muhammad himself. It is also known as 'The Feast of Breaking the Fast' and is celebrated by Muslims
worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan. Eid ul-Fitr takes place on the first day of the tenth month of
the Islamic lunar calendar, and Muslims are not permitted to fast on that day.
• Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but also thanking Allah for the Qur'an, which was
first revealed towards the end of Ramadan, and for the strength Allah has given them to exercise self-
control throughout the previous month of fasting. If necessary, they will ask Allah for forgiveness if they
failed to keep the fast at any point.
• In the UK, Muslims may take the day off work or school to join in the celebrations.
• Muslims wear their best clothes, decorate their homes and spend time celebrating with their friends
and family.
• Some Muslims may give money to the poor so that they can also enjoy the day.
• Communal celebration services are held both outdoors and in mosques, there are processions through
the streets and a special celebratory meal is eaten - the first daytime meal Muslims will have had in a
month.
• Eid ul-Fitr is a time for families, friends and neighbours to spend time together and share food
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Festivals – Eid ul-Adha


• the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar. The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness
to sacrifice his son when ordered to by Allah.
• Allah appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son Isma'il as an act of obedience.
The Devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son.
• As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice in his place. This shows
Ibrahim's obedience to God. It is important for Muslims to remember that God does not want the animal or its meat;
God wants Muslims to show that they are devoted to him.
• Eid ul-Adha is a public holiday in Muslim countries, but Muslims in the UK may take the day off work or school to
celebrate this festival.
• By taking part in this festival, Muslims show that they too are prepared to sacrifice their lives for God. The festival is
celebrated in the following ways:
• A sheep or goat may be sacrificed as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to Allah. In the UK, the animal must be killed at
a slaughterhouse. The meat is shared out among family, friends and the poor, each getting a third share.
• Muslims go to the mosque for prayers, dressed in their best clothes and thank Allah for the blessings they have
received.
• It is obligatory to give money to charity to be used to help the poor so they too can celebrate.
• Eid ul-Adha is significant to Muslims today as it reminds them of Ibrahim's obedience, prompting them in turn to
consider their own obedience to God. Muslims may ask for forgiveness for times when they have not been fully
devoted to God and pray for strength to be devoted in the future.
• It is also a time when they visit family and friends as well as offering presents
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Festivals - Ashura
Shi’a – it remembers the day that Husayn was killed in battle (he was Ali’s son
- Muhammad’s grandson).
The 10 days leading to the day are a period of mourning – black cloths may be
shown in mosques.
Shi’a feel sadness
Sometimes there are processions that are used as protests against injustice (Shi’a
have been persecuted as the minority)

Sunni – remember the prophet and it’s more about reflection and atonement
– sins forgiven if repented.
Christianity Beliefs and Teachings - Revision

Key words
Shahadah Salah Sawm Hajj Zakah

Khums Jihad Amr-bil-Maruf Nahi Anil Munkar

Night of Power Jummah Makkah Rak’ah Ramadan

Wudu Eid ul-Fitr Eid ul-Adha Ashura Ka’aba

Mina Arafat Tawalla Tabarra Muzdalifah

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