ISLAM: a summary

PART ONE TAWHID AND SHIRK

Tawhid: MOST BASIC MUSLIM BELIEF ABOUT GOD TAWHID = “ONENESS” OR “UNITY” OR “THE ABSOLUTE” OR “THE ALONE Acceptance that ALLAH by definition is SUPREME “He is Allah, the One, Allah is Eternal and Absolute. None is born of Him, He is unborn. There is none like unto Him” (surah 112)

Tawhid includes the following beliefs Allah is outside time and space (TRANSCENDENT) Allah is compassionate and merciful All people owe gratitude to the ONE CREATOR Allah is IMMINENT, close & listening to prayer

As a result of a belief in TAWHID: MUSLIMS MUST Have faith and surrender to the Will of Allah NOT give priority to anyone else over Allah (including State leader, employer or relative) Act modestly and show humility Be responsible to Allah for their actions Trust in Allah’s Will and Plan Have courage & know that Allah may test them Know they are at one with the Universe, and be Stewards of Creation

TAWHID therefore: TEACHES THAT NOTHING IS LIKE ALLAH AND NOTHING CAN BE COMPARED TO HIM THE WORST SIN IS TO BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS NOT SUPREME – THIS CONCEPT IS CALLED SHIRK (THE OPPOSITE OF TAWHID)

SHIRK occurs when Tawhid is broken A Muslim believes in his/her ownership of things/people (All is borrowed from Allah) People are proud or arrogant. (talent/ability is a gift not your own merit) People are ignorant of, or deny, Allah’s supremacy People complain to Allah or beg for favours (all is planned by a Compassionate Allah)

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PART TWO THE FIVE PILLARS

THE FIVE PILLARS S H A D L Z K W M J

THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT PILLAR : SHAHADAH SHAHADAH IS THE MUSLIM DECLARATION OF FAITH (TO BE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY) “THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH, MUHAMMED IS THE PROPHET OF ALLAH”

THE SECOND PILLAR : SALAH SALAH IS PRAYER FIVE TIMES PER DAY LEARNT FROM THE AGE OF 12 WUDU (RITUAL WASHING WITH WATER) INCLUDES WASHING THE FEET, HANDS, MOUTH AND NOSTRILS BEFORE PRAYER

THE THIRD PILLAR : ZAKAH ZAKAH IS GIVING OF ALMS TO HELP SICK, POOR OR NEEDY (IT IS THEIR RIGHT) COMPULSORY, (INDIVIDUAL CHOOSES WHO TO GIVE IT TO) MINIMUM OF 2.5% OF DISPOSABLE INCOME INDIVIDUAL HAS TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS TO ALLAH ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT

THE FOURTH PILLAR IS SAWM SAWM IS THE OBLIGATION TO FAST DURING RAMADAN RAMADAN IS THE NINTH MONTH OF THE MUSLIM LUNAR CALENDAR CELEBRATES MUHAMMAD RECEIVING THE REVELATION OF THE QUR’AN NO FOOD OR DRINK (OR CIGARETTES) DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS THE DAY ENDS WITH THE SHARING OF FOOD WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS

THE FIFTH PILLAR : HAJJ HAJJ MEANS THE PILGRIMAGE TO MAKKAH AT LEAST ONCE IN A LIFETIME (IF HEALTHY AND WEALTHY ENOUGH) MEN WEAR TWO UNSOWN WHITE COTTON SHEETS, WOMEN ARE COVERED IN WHITE FROM HEAD TO TOE PILGRIMS ARE EQUAL DURING HAJJ

WHAT DO THE PILLARS TEACH? COMPASSION EQUALITY GRATITUDE SELF-DISCIPLENE SUBMISSION SHAHADAH YES SALAH ZAKAH SAWM HAJJ

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WORSHIP AND PRAYER SOLIDARITY, DISCIPLINE, SUBMISSION PART THREE WORSHIP AND PRAYER SOLIDARITY, DISCIPLINE, SUBMISSION

ALL LIFE IS WORSHIP SALAH IS COMPULSORY PRAYER EXTRA PRAYER IS CALLED DU’A WHICH CAN BE DONE ANYTIME 99 BEADS MAY BE USED (99 NAMES OF ALLAH)

PRAYER x 5 SUNRISE NOON MID AFTERNOON AFTER SUNSET LATE AT NIGHT

THE CALL TO PRAYER THE CALL TO PRAYER (adhan) MADE BY THE MUEZZIN FROM THE MINARET OF THE MOSQUE

PREPARATIONS FOR PRAYER IDEALLY IN A MOSQUE (IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, WITH A PRAYER MAT IN A CLEAN PLACE) FOLLOWS WUDU (FOR PURITY AND CLEANLINESS) PRAYER SHOULD FACE MAKKAH (DIRECTION OF MAKKAH CALLED QIBLAH) WOMEN AND MEN PRAY SEPARATELY

PRAYER EMPHASISES COMMUNITY RAKAH IS THE SET RITUAL FOR PRAYER DONE TOGETHER IF MORE THAN ONE MUSLIM PRESENT (SALAT-AL-JUMAH) FRIDAY PRAYERS ARE IMPORTANT & THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN 40 PRAYING TOGETHER

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THE MOSQUE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE PART FOUR THE MOSQUE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE

A MOSQUE OR MASJID IS A HOUSE OF PRAYER and COMMUNITY THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) SAID THAT ANY CLEAN PLACE COULD BE USED FOR WORSHIP Some MOSQUES are simple, some very grand All have a DOME representing the UNIVERSE and at least one MINARET All also have a place for WUDU May also be used as a MADRASSAH or mosque school Also has rooms for preparation of the dead for burial

WHO MUST ATTEND? The mosque is the ideal place for worship ALL MEN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND JUMAH UNLESS THEY ARE ILL OR TRAVELLING WOMEN DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND MOSQUE BUT MAY DO SO. THERE ARE SEPARATE FACILITIES AND WOMEN MAY ONLY LEAD OTHER WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN PRAYER

MOSQUE DESIGN : THE DOME SYMBOLISES THE UNIVERSE, CREATED AND RULED BY ALLAH If there are four minarets and a dome, they represent the 5 pillars of Islam The dome amplifies the voice and helps in the circulation of air Sometimes beautifully decorated inside and out although not of expensive materials

Inside the Mosque Beautiful mosaic ceramic tiles or richly coloured calligraphy often decorate the mosque Decoration usually contains deliberate mistake to show that only Allah is perfect No-one is allowed to depict Muhammad or Allah Figurative art is banned as idolatory A MINBAR or pulpit from which the IMAM will lead prayers A MIHRAB (a special niche) shows the direction of Makkah

The role of the IMAM IMAN means faith but IMAM means “IN FRONT The IMAM leads prayers (may be a woman if no men are present) Faces the QUIBLAH and behind him, the whole JUMU’AH (congregation) stand shoulder to shoulder Not paid position for prayers, but may be paid for other duties Not ordained but may feel called, certainly a respected individual. Usually teaches Arabic and may also be a KHATIB who preaches the KHUTBAH at Friday prayers

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The 4th Pillar is SAWM and teaches: PART FIVE FASTING The 4th Pillar is SAWM and teaches: Gratitude, compassion, physical/moral self-discipline and total obedience to Allah

SAWM: a reminder TEACHES UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS FASTING BETWEEN SUNRISE AND SUNSET DURING RAMADAN NO FOOD, DRINK, SMOKING OR SEX NO ANGRY WORDS, SWEARING, LYING, GOSSIPING, OR BAD BEHAVIOUR TEACHES UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS TEACHES DISCIPLINE AND OBEDIENCE SHOWS THAT ALLAH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BODILY NEEDS

SAWM: WHO IS EXCUSED CHILDREN UNDER 12, PREGNANT & NURSING MOTHERS THOSE WHO ARE ILL / OLD OR FOR MEDICAL REASON PEOPLE ON A JOURNEY (HAVE TO MAKE UP DAYS LATER)

WHAT IS RAMADAN? NINTH LUNAR MONTH CELEBRATES THE RECEIVING OF THE QUR’AN, SO IS ALSO A TIME OF THANKSGIVING AS WELL AS FASTING THE QUR’AN IS READ FROM BEGINNING TO END DURING PRAYERS DURING RAMADAN MUSLIMS AWAIT PUBLIC SIGNAL THAT THE NEW MOON HAS BEEN SIGHTED

THE END OF RAMADAN THE END OF RAMADAN IS CELEBRATED BY A FESTIVAL CALLED ID-UL-FITR IN THE MOSQUE THERE ARE SPECIAL PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING MARKED BY PARTIES, PRESENTS AND A FEAST MUSLIMS SHOULD GIVE EXTRA CHARITY BY GIVING TO THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO FEAST

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Occurs annually and each Muslim should make the journey at least once PART SIX HAJJ Occurs annually and each Muslim should make the journey at least once

Hajj : facts Every able-bodied Muslim is expected to carry out the Hajj at least once If unable to do so, they may pay someone else to go in their place Men who have made the journey are HAJJI, women are HAJJAH During the twelfth month of the Muslim lunar calendar

Hajj : facts Muslims visit several sites in and around Makkah, carrying out various tasks such as stoning IBLIS (the tempter) The most important of these is circling the KA’BAH Many also go on to visit MADINAH HAJJ SHOWS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF COMMITMENT

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THE QUR’AN THE EXACT WORDS OF ALLAH REVEALED TO MUHAMMAD PART SEVEN THE QUR’AN THE EXACT WORDS OF ALLAH REVEALED TO MUHAMMAD

THE QUR’AN IS REVERED AND TREATED WITH RESPECT FOR MUSLIMS IT IS REVERED BECAUSE: A COMPLETE RECORD OF ALLAH’S WORDS GIVEN DIRECTLY ACCURATE AND UNCHANGED COMPLETE GUIDE TO ISLAMIC LIFE ALWAYS IN ARABIC

THE QUR’AN IS REVERED AND TREATED WITH RESPECT FOR MUSLIMS IT IS RESPECTED AND THIS IS SHOWN BY : KEEPING THE QUR’AN WRAPPED AND CLEAN WASHING HANDS BEFORE TOUCHING IT PLACING IT ON A HIGHER SHELF THAN OTHER BOOKS PLACING IT ON A SPECIAL STAND TO BE READ

THE GUIDE TO ISLAMIC LIFE: All are accountable to ALLAH THE QUR’AN TELLS MUSLIMS: WHAT TO BELIEVE And also HOW TO LIVE BY THE SHARI’AH LAWS THAT GOVERN DAILY LIFE

SHARI’AH TELLS MUSLIMS WHAT IS HALAL (ALLOWED) and WHAT IS HARAM (FORBIDDEN) INCLUDES THE DRESS LAWS WHERE THE BASIC PRINCIPLE IS MODESTY AND CLEANLINESS ALSO THE FOOD LAWS WHICH INCLUDES NO PORK, NO BLOOD OR FAT, AND NO ANIMALS THAT EAT MEAT

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