1. ISLAM: a summary

2. PART ONE
TAWHID AND SHIRK

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. TASK BREAK

9. PART TWO
THE FIVE PILLARS

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

11. 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”

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. TASK BREAK

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

20. 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)

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

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. TASK BREAK

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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. Task Break

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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)

36. 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

37. 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

38. TASK BREAK

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. TASK BREAK

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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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

48. TASK BREAK