Respect for Qur’an (8)
- Placed on higher shelf
- Wrapped in clean cloth
- No speaking or noise while reading
- Right frame of mind
- Wash hands before use
- Placed on a stand
- No food or drink whilst reading
- Women should not read whilst having a period
Sawm
4th pillar of islam and a duty for all muslims unless ill or travelling
- Fasting from dusk til dawn for 1 month (ramadan)
- Fasting demonstrates a persons will and desire to control the body and exercise self discipline and spiritual reflection
- Suhar is eaten before dawn and Iftar breaks the fast at dusk
- Muslims gather at a mosque for extra night prayers
- All muslims should attend Laylal-ul-qadr (night of power)
- Commanded by God in the qur’an
- United muslim communities
- Helps people identify with the poor and inspire and refresh personal faith
Zakat
3rd pillar of islam and is the purification of wealth by an annual payment of 2.5% of additional wealth
- Sign of cleansing and purity and an opportunity to share wealth
- Can be given to the poor, needy, travellers and muslim aid agencies
- Obligatory act of worship
Saddaqah- Voluntary payment or good action for charitable purpose
Halal and Haram Diet
Halal- Permittet within Islam
Haram- Forbidden within islam
- Animals must be healthy and clean when slaughtered. Zubih is the islamic way of slaughter and must be done by a muslim
- Life is sacred so killing of animals for food must be taken in the name of God - ‘bismillah’ is said before a slaughter
- Alcohol, pork products, Gelatine=Haram
Nature and Oneness of God
Tawhid- Muslims belief in the oneness of Allah
- Islam is a monotheistic religion
- Qur’an states ‘There is no deity except him’
- God is universal to all people
(Topic includes - Submission, Grester Jihad, Shahada, shirk, 99 names of God)
99 names of God (Allah) (7)
Allah is :
• Transcendence- beyond all things; not limited by the rules of nature
• Immanence- close by
• Omnipotence- all powerful
• Merciful- always loving
• Creator- the cause of all existence
• Just - Not subject to human emotions
• Beneficence- Always kind
Shahada
1st pillar of islam the belief in one and only almighty God
- Declaration of faith which consists ‘There is no God except Allah, prophet muhammad is the messenger of Allah’
- Announced in the adhan
- Recited in each 5x of prayer
- 1st words whispered into a new born baby’s ear
- Last words spoken into the ears of the dying
Greater Jihad
- Personal struggle to do what is right for God
- Desire to commit to perfect muslim life :
• Follow 5 Pillar • Rise above one’s own greed and selfishness • seek justice and fairness for all • practise path set out by prophet Muhammad - Control personal desires and battle against laziness through prayer and discipline
- Encourage what is right
- Respect beliefs of others and live in peace and harmony
Prayer / Salat
2nd pillar of islam in which muslims have to pray 5x a day
- Performed :
• after wudu (outward signs of cleanliness needed)
• After preparation - declaring intentions (Niyyah) to deliberately focus on God
• On fridays at a mosque when Muslims gather for Jummah prayers (no women)
- Most important way to worship God
- Adhan is call to prayer performed by a muezzin
- Du’ah is varying forms of personal prayer
Symbolism and Significance of Prayer positions (5)
- Rabat is a sequence of movements following a set pattern which makes up the prayer routine
- It symbolises acknowledges majesty of God and shutting out all other distractions
- Demonstrates respect and love for God
- Indicates complete submission to God
- To strengthen ummah
Sunnah
Actions of Muhammad
- 2nd most important source of authority for muslims
- Teachers perfect path of how Muslims should live
- Inspiration to all muslims
Hadith
Sayings of Muhammad
- Recorded by his family and companions
- Includes his last sermon before his death which instructed followers to obey the Qur’an and Sunnah
- Major source of islamic law
The Qur’an
- Gives rules on haram and halal diets
- Advice on showing kindness to parents
- Gives instructions on keeping promises
- Reminds followers to help the poor
- Teachers how to pray
- Helps guide every action and thought
- People who know the Qur’an off by heart are known as a ‘hafiz’
Reasons for the prohibition of images of God
God is one and has o helpers
Only God is to be worshipped, so all possible distractions from the worship of him are removed
Ant images or pictures of animals or natural objects might become the object of worship and are therefore shirk.
Any human image is also forbidden
Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are also likely to belittle or be disrespectful and should be avoided
What are the sequence of movements that make up Rakat
- Stand quietly reciting prayers from the Qur’an
- Bow low with hands on knees
- Prostrate on the floor in submission to God
- Kneel, with feet folded under body
- Stand reciting prayers once facing to the right and once facing to the left
Praying at the mosque
- Muslims like to pray at a mosque especially for congregational friday prayers (Jummah)
- Praying todether strengthens the ummah
- Preparation of Wudu and Niyyah are undertaken before praying
- Women pray in a seperate area to at the back of the prayer room
- Usually a sermon given by an imam
- Hadith includes that agnels starnd at the doors of the mosque and note down the names of those who attend Jummah prayers
What do the prayer positions symbolise (5)
- Acknowledging the majesty of God and shutting out all other distractions
- Demonstrates respect and love for god
- Indicates complete submission to God
- Shows an attitude of humility
- Demonstrates respect for other worshippers and for guardian angels
