Islam Practices

Question 1

Give two ways which Shi’a Muslims celebrate the festival Ashura

Answer 1

• By re-enacting the events that led up to the death of Husayn
• Mosques provide free meals for people

Question 2

What is the name of the religious tax paid by only Shi’a Muslims?

Answer 2

Khums

Question 3

What are two contrasting understandings of Jihad?

Answer 3

• Greater Jihad

- Lesser Jihad

Question 4

Give a quote about the greater Jihad

Answer 4

“The effort against oneself” - Hadith

Question 5

Give a quote about the lesser Jihad

Answer 5

“ fight in the cause of God ”

Question 6

What would a Muslim do for the Greater Jihad?

Answer 6

Follow the Shariah law and the pillars

Question 7

What would a Muslim do for the Lesser Jihad?

Answer 7

Defend their religion or fight for it when commanded by a legitimate leader

Question 8

What are the conditions of the lesser Jihad?

Answer 8

• It must be in defence of Allah
• No harm must be done
• Peace must be restored
• It should not be done with aggression
• It should be a last resort

Question 9

What are two ways the Ka’aba is important in the Muslim Hajj

Answer 9

• Muslims circle around the Ka’aba 7 times which represents the single point which Muslims focus around - the oneness of God
• Pilgrims unite at the Ka’aba which unites the Ummah

Question 10

Two quotes about the Ka’aba

Answer 10

“A focal point for the people”

“ the sacred house”

Question 11

Quotes about Salah

Answer 11

Those who “pray regularly”“Most likely to be guided”
“The Lord answered”
“Answer the call of the caller”

Question 12

Give two rituals that Muslims perform during Salah

Answer 12

• Bowing down

- Crying out ‘God is great’

Question 13

Explain 2 contrasting understandings of Salah

Answer 13

• Sunni:
  they must pray the 5 daily prayers at 5 different times and they only
  combine prayers during hajj or whilst travelling
• Shi’a:
  they can pray at three different times during the day and they combine
  the afternoon and evening prayers

Question 14

What are the key differences between how Sunni and Shi’a Muslims practice prayer?

Answer 14

Sunni Muslims:
- they prostrate by putting their heads directly on to a prayer mat/or
they may use any clean place, etc.
Shi’a Muslims:
- use a special clay tablet to prostrate on which is usually made from clay from the land of Karbala where Hussein died

Question 15

What are the 5 different prayer times for Sunni Muslims?

Answer 15

Fajr - before sunrise
Zuhr - just after midday
Asr - afternoon
Maghrib - just after sunset
Isha - night

Question 16

How do Muslims prepare for prayer?

Answer 16

• By ablution called Wudu

- spiritual purification ritual

Question 17

In what direction do Muslims pray?

Answer 17

• Facing the holy city of Makkah
• They can see this direction by facing the Mihrab in the Qiblah wall of the mosque
• Or if they are outside the mosque they can use a special compass

Question 18

Quote about Wudu

Answer 18

“wash your feet up to the ankles”

Question 19

2 ways Salah is carried out in a mosque

Answer 19

• Lead by an Imam

- Men and women are separated

Question 20

What is Rak’ah?

Answer 20

• A sequence of actions and recitations

Question 21

2 actions of Rak’ah

Answer 21

• While standing, Muslims recite a chapter from the Qur’an

- They kneel with their forehead, nose, hand, knees and toes touching the floor (prostration)

Question 22

What are 2 things Muslims do when praying at home?

Answer 22

• Wudu

- Use a prayer mat

Question 23

Quote about Rak’ah

Answer 23

“So woe to them who pray but are heedless of their prayer” - encourages actions

Question 24

What is Jummah?

Answer 24

Friday prayer

Question 25

What are 2 Jummah practices?

Answer 25

- Muslims men must leave their work and attend the mosque | - Imams deliver a sermon that reminds Muslims of their duty to God

Question 26

3 Muslim beliefs about prayer

Answer 26

- Unites all Muslims as they pray the same way | - Creates an awareness of God which motivates them to do God's will

Question 27

2 contrasting Muslim beliefs about giving Alms

Answer 27

- Strengthens communities by making the rich support the poor - Gives Muslims a good attitude towards money ( learn to share and not be greedy with it )

Question 28

What is Zakah?

Answer 28

- The giving of Alms | - a compulsory 2.5% of savings a year

Question 29

What is the role of Zakah?

Answer 29

To help the poor

Question 30

Where did Zakah originate?

Answer 30

As a response to an instruction in the Qur'an

Question 31

Quotes about Zakah

Answer 31

- "God is well aware of what good you do" - "Alms are meant for the poor" - “zakat is for bringing hearts together”

Question 32

How is Zakah given?

Answer 32

- Can be donated directly to charities such as Islamic relief or Muslim aid - It can be put into a collection box in the mosque to be distributed among the poor

Question 33

What is Khums?

Answer 33

An optional 20% of the excess earnings of a Shi'a Muslim

Question 34

Quote about hajj

Answer 34

" a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it"

Question 35

What are the origins of Hajj?

Answer 35

- 4000 years ago Ibrahim was asked by God to take and leave his wife and son in Arabia - They became dehydrated - Ishmael struck his foot on the ground and water began to gush up from the Earth - When Ibrahim returned, God asked him to build a shrine dedicated to him - The Ka'aba was built by Ibrahim and God told him to make it a pure place of worship and to call people to perform hajj there

Question 36

What are 3 actions that Muslims perform during Hajj?

Answer 36

- They enter a sacred state of Ihram - They circle the Ka'aba 7 times - They travel to Arafat after circling it

Question 37

What is the significance of Mina?

Answer 37

contains the location where pilgrims perform the stoning of the devil in its valley

Question 38

What is the significance of Arafat?

Answer 38

the place where Muhammad gave his final sermon

Question 39

What is the significance of Muzdalifah?

Answer 39

where the Day of Judgement will take place

Question 40

What are the order of locations during Hajj?

Answer 40

Arafat -> Muzdalifah -> Mina

Question 41

What do Muslims do at Arafat?

Answer 41

they pray while hoping to be forgiven for their sins

Question 42

What do Muslims do at Muzdalifah?

Answer 42

They collect pebbles, which are required for the following day

Question 43

What do Muslims do at Mina?

Answer 43

They stone the Devil

Question 44

How do Muslims enter a sacred state of Ihram?

Answer 44

Muslims change their clothes to white cloths to show equality They perform ritual washing

Question 45

Why do Muslims circle the Ka'aba?

Answer 45

To demonstrate the unity of the believers as they focus their lives around one point - God

Question 46

why is Hajj important?

Answer 46

- Shows self-discipline - Emphasises unity and equality - Makes the Hajji a better person as it transforms them spiritually

Question 47

Why is Id ul Adha significant?

Answer 47

- marks the end of Hajj | - Muslims remember the trials of the prophet Ibrahim, who was asked to sacrifice his son in a dream by God

Question 48

Quote about Id Ul Adha

Answer 48

"My son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you"

Question 49

How do Muslims celebrate Id Ul Adha?

Answer 49

- By giving money to the poor | - Community celebrations which involve exchanging presents with their family and friends

Question 50

Why is Id ul Fitr significant?

Answer 50

- Is a day of thanksgiving to Allah for the Qur'an | - Celebrate the fact that Muslims have completed the Fourth Pillar of Islam -sawm

Question 51

Quote about Id ul Fitr/ Sawm

Answer 51

"present during that month should fast" | "Night of glory is better than a thousand months"

Question 52

How do Muslims celebrate Id Ul Fitr?

Answer 52

- by paying a special Zakat - have a large meal to celebrate the end of fasting during Ramadan

Question 53

Why is Ashura significant?

Answer 53

- commemorates the death of Hussein, Ali’s son, in battle | - Ashura is a reminder of the suffering the Shi’a community has experienced, as they have been persecuted as a minority

Question 54

What are the 5 pillars of Islam?

Answer 54

- Shahadah - Salah - Zakah - Sawm - Hajj