Download central beliefs and practices

central beliefs and practices
© One World Week 2009
What is Islam?
Judaism, Christianity and Islam: a shared heritage
Who was Muhammad (peace be upon him)?
The Five Pillars of Islam
Pillar 1: Shahāda (testament of faith)
Pillar 2: Salah (formal prayer)
Pillar 3: Zakah (mandatory charity)
Pillar 4: Ramadān (fasting)
Pillar 5: Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)
© One World Week 2009
What is Islam?
Islam literally means
submission to one
God, Allah.
The message of Islam is to believe in and worship only
one God, and to believe in His:
Revelations
Angels
Prophets
Pre-destination
Day of Judgement
Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) received Allah’s final
revelation, through the intercession of Angel
Gabriel (Jibril), over 1,400 years ago.
This revelation is the Qur’an.
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Judaism, Christianity and Islam:
a shared heritage
Islam teaches that the Qur’an is a confirmation and
completion of the same message sent by Allah, to a line of
prophets, beginning with Adam and including Abraham
(Ibrahim), Noah (Nuh), Moses (Musa) and Jesus
(Isa),peace be upon them.
© One World Week 2009
Judaism, Christianity and Islam:
a Shared Heritage
Jews and Christians are referred to in the
Qur’an as people of the Book.
The Qur’an states the commonality
between the three Abrahamic faiths, and
instructs them to work together.
‘Say: ‘O people of the Book! Come to
common terms between us (Muslims) and
you…(Jews and Christians)’
(Qur’an, 3:64)
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Muslims believe Muhammad 570-622 CE (peace be upon him), was the last
in a line of messengers appointed by God to spread the same message: to
worship only one God, Allah, and to live a just life according to His Will.
Muslims believe that Allah revealed a series of messages to Muhammad (peace
be upon him), through the intercession of the Angel Gabriel (Jibril).
Together, these messages form the Qur’an; a guidance on how to live
according to Allah’s law.
Muslims follow Muhammad’s name with the phrase
‘peace be upon him’ as a sign of respect and love.
Muslims also use this phrase for other prophets.
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Who was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?
Muslims view Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) character and the way he lived
his life as a perfect model. For this reason, Muslims strive to follow his example.
Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) life is well documented.
His sayings (Hadith) and actions (Sunnah), were meticulously memorised by
his companions during his lifetime. They were compiled and written shortly
after his death.
Qur’an and Hadith are both primary sources of law
and guidance in Islam, with the Qur’an being the
actual Word of God.
© One World Week 2009
The Five Pillars of Islam
The main beliefs and expressions of Islam are known as the ‘five pillars’ of the faith.
Pillar 1: Shahāda (testament of faith)
Pillar 2: Salat ( formal prayer)
Pillar 3: Zakah ( mandatory charity)
Pillar 4: Sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadān)
Pillar 5: Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)
© One World Week 2009
Pillar 1: Shahāda
testament of faith
The Shahāda is the testament of faith; it is the essence of Islam:
In order to become a Muslim, one needs only to
recite the Shahāda with sincere belief and with
witnesses present.
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Pillar 2: Salah
formal prayer
What is Salah?
Salah is the formal Islamic prayer.
Performing Salah five times a day, is
obligatory upon all Muslims who have
reached the age of puberty and are
physically and mentally able to perform it.
What does the act of Salah involve?
An intention in one’s heart to worship Allah.
Performing ablution (wudu) as a pre-requisite to prayer.
Facing the direction of the Ka’bah in Makkah.
Recitation of part of the Qur’an in its original Arabic.
A set of prescribed positions including prostration to Allah.
Salah may be performed alone, or in congregation
in a mosque or anywhere else which is clean.
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Pillar 2: Salah
formal prayer
When do Muslims perform Salah?
Salah is performed five times a day, at prescribed times:
Fajr (dawn)
Dhuhr (just after midday)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghrib (just after sunset)
Isha’a (nightfall)
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Pillar 2: Salah
formal prayer
What is the purpose of Salah?
Performing Salah enables the believer to dedicate
time to connect with Allah and to focus on Him.
Performing Salah five times a day at set intervals, is a
continual reminder to the believer of his or her faith
and purpose in life.
Through performing Salah, Muslims believe one is
more likely to remain steadfast in upholding a just life,
and less likely to stray from the straight path of Islam.
© One World Week 2009
Pillar 3: Zakah
mandatory charity
Zakah means purification and
comes from the Arabic verb
zaka, which also signifies ‘to
thrive’, ‘to be wholesome’ and
‘to be pure’.
Muslims ‘purify’ their
wealth by giving a portion
of it every year in charity.
It is obligatory for every Muslim household to give 2.5% or 1/40 of its income
to charity, provided it has a certain level of wealth in excess of its basic
needs (nisab). This mandatory alms tax is called Zakah.
Many Muslims give to charities like Islamic Relief, which distribute Zakah
and other charitable donations on their behalf, to the most needy.
© One World Week 2009
Pillar 4: Ramadān
fasting
The Qur’an was first revealed
to Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him) during the month
of Ramadān.
For this reason, Ramadān is
the holiest month in the
Islamic calendar.
The Qur’an prescribes healthy Muslim adults to fast during Ramadān.
It also states that people of the Book were instructed to fast.
‘Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed
for people before you ...’
(Qur’an, 2:183)
Islamic fasting requires a Muslim to abstain from food and drink,
between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
Fasting also requires a Muslim to abstain from sexual relations, to be
more conscious of Allah through increased prayer and recitation of
Qur’an and to abstain from cruel thoughts, words and actions.
© One World Week 2009
Pillar 4: Ramadān
fasting
The act of fasting:
Draws the believer closer towards consciousness of Allah.
Promotes self-discipline.
Heightens awareness of those living in poverty.
During Ramadān, Muslims also give
money to charity.
Islamic Relief, a faith based
humanitarian agency, distributes
millions of pounds to those in need.
Muslims multiply their generosity
at this time of year.
At the end of Ramadān is a three day festival, Eid-ul-Fitr.
Typically at this time, special Eid prayers are offered at the
mosque, families come together and presents are exchanged.
© One World Week 2009
Pillar 5: Hajj
pilgrimage to Makkah
Every year, over 3
million pilgrims will
perform their Hajj in
Makkah at the same
time.
Making the pilgrimage to Makkah is obligatory
upon believers at least once in their lifetime,
provided that they have the financial and
physical means to do so.
The pilgrimage is a form of worship. Pilgrims will give up
worldly concerns for its four day duration, to focus on Allah.
© One World Week 2009
Pillar 5: Hajj
pilgrimage to Makkah
The pinnacle of Hajj occurs on the third day, when all
pilgrims gather together on the plain of Arafat, 9 miles
outside of Makkah, from midday until after sunset.
This time is spent in prayer, in reciting the Qur’an and in
begging forgiveness from Allah.
At the heart of Makkah is the Ka’bah which is
central to the pilgrimage and is believed to be a
sacred house originally built by Prophet Abraham
(Ibrahim, peace be upon him).
As part of the Hajj, pilgrims walk around the
Ka’bah.
The Ka’bah
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Pillar 5: Hajj
pilgrimage to Makkah
Hajj pilgrims also perform many other rituals which
commemorate actions of Prophets Muhammad and
Abraham (Ibrahim), peace be upon them both.
The pilgrimage renews a sense of brotherhood and solidarity; of
being part of a global Muslim community. Men wear two sheets
of white cloth, called ihram, and women wear simple, modest
clothing. This dress code symbolises the equality of all to Allah.
© One World Week 2009
Sources:
‘The Qur’an: a new translation’ (Oxford University Press, 2005)
M.A.S. Abdul Haleem
University of Southern California, USC-MSA Compendium of
Muslim Texts
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/
(June 2009)
‘Islam: central beliefs and practices’
Written and compiled by Sarah Kilou
Researcher / Writer
One World Week
Edited in partnership with Samia Ahmed
Senior Development Education Co-ordinator
Islamic Relief
© One World Week 2009