Islam Beliefs, Teaching, Practices

• God controlls everything, everything happens for a good reason. Muslims say 'god willing' to show belief in this. 

• They don't worship idols (monotheistic) and make god most important part of their life. 

• God is imanent, transcedant, beneficient, omnipotent, creator., sustainer, owner of everything, all knowing, merciful, fair, just

• 99 names in Quran and Hadith (muslim sayings). Each describes a quality of God that he has revealed about himself. Some recite these when praying as it helps them connect. 

Sunnis follow the suunah (Quran and Mohammed's teachings). Abu Bakr (caliph) as leader. 

6 articals of faith:

• Angels
• Authority of Holy books
• Supremecy of God's will
• Day of judgement
• Prophets of God
• Tahwid- oneness of god and his unity

Sunnis believe that due to the supremecy of God's' will, he has already written everyones actions in a book of decrees

5 pillars:

• Shahhadah (Shema-Declaration of faith)
• Salah (Selah- Prayer)
• Zakat (Tzedakah- chairty)
• Sawm (Tzom- fasting)
• Hajj (pilgrimage)

Ashura is a voluntary fast day

Shias follow Ali, cousin of Mohammed. Imams as leaders (descendants of Mohammed)

5 roots of Usal-ad-din:

• Prophethood
• Justice of God
• Ressurection
• Imamate
• Tahwid

Shia Muslims believe that god knows what will happen, but doesnt make decisions for us, so we still have free will.

10 Obligatory Acts

• Salah
• Sawm
• Zakat
• Khums (used to be 20% of spoils of war to leader representing state of Islam but now 20% of excess earning. half to religious leaders, half to chairty)
• Hajj
• Jihad
• Amr-bil-muraf (encouraging to do good)
• Nahi Anil Munkar (discouraging doing wrong)
• Tawallah (being loving to frineds of god like Mohammed and imams)
• Tabarra- disassociating from enemies of god

Shia festival. Day of remembrance. Rememebering the day that the Israelites were freed from Eygpt. some believe it remembers the day that Noah escaped the ark after the flood. Shias fast sunset to sunset. 

Shias remember Hassayin, Mohammed's grandson. In places like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, this day is a national holiday. Public expression of grief and mourning take place. Some even pound thenselves in the head, cut themselves or whip themselves with chains to relate to Husayin's suffering. 

Recently, some Muslim authorities have started to disagree. They prefer re-enactments and plays. In London, several thousand Shia Muslims meet at Marble Arch to mourn and hear speeches. In cities, Shia men gather in the street and beat themselves. Many religious leaders suggest giving blood instead of cutting yourself. 

Many Pilgrims go to the shrine with Hisayin's tomb in it (in Iraq) but a leader saw it has potential threat to his regime and there have often been bombs (2004) so now there is often heightened security. 

Transalates to "there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his profit"

To convert, you must recite infront of a Muslim witness. Said also when baby is born, daily prayers, and if possible, the last thing a muslim says before they die. The other 4 pillars put Shahhadah into practice. 

Shia add another phrase 'and Ali is the friend of God'

Salah:

• Fajr- before sunrise
• Zuhr- After Midday (Shia combine this and asr)
• Asr- Afternoon
• Maghrub- After sunset (Shia combine this and Isha)
• Isha- Night

Daily prayers made up of Rak'ah. These are set sequences of actions and recitations. It changes a bit but the model is

• First chapter of Quran whilst standing
• "Glory be to my lord who is the greatest" 3 times while bowing
• Recitation praising god while standing
• "how perfect is my lord the most high" whilst kneeling with face touching the floor. (prostration)
• Sit while reciting "god is the greatest"
• Prostrate reciting "god is greatest"
• Formless personal prayers added to the end, with no language. 

Friday midday prayer (Jummah) is considered special. All male muslims have to attend a mosque, the imam will deliver a sermon. Friday is not a day of rest but they must leave work to attend Jummah. 

Muslims also pray at home. Perform wudu in a clean room, prayer mats facing mecca. Mainly women who have kids to look after. 

Belive that God commanded them to pray- motivates them to do what god wants. Unites muslims worldwide because all pray the same way. Reading Quran reminds Muslims of its importance. 

Ritual washing before prayer called wudu. If no water, can use sand or dust because it is only spiritual cleansing. 

Face mecca when praying, focusing on the place assosiated with god, just as their lives should be. All mosques have Mihrab, semi circular niche into wall facing Mecca. Muslims face Mihrab when praying

Special carpets, with seperate rows of prayer mats. Men and women either in different rooms or seperated by curtain. Lead by religious leader and voice often broadcast into womens room. 

• Supernatural spiritual beings who act as messengers of god. Pass god's word to prophets
• Good, pure and sinless. They have no free will. 
• Gaurdian angels write in book of deeds. Israfil blows trumpet of Day of Judgment. Angel of Death + helpers take soulds to God and escort them to heaven or hell. 
• Can take human form like when they appeared to Ibrahim and was kind and opened his home to them, and also to Maryam. 

Jibril- Archangel. Relayed the Quran to Mohammed while he meditated. Passed mutiple messages to him. 

Mika'il- Archangel, angel of mercy. Rewards people fpr the good they do. Responisble for rain, thunder and lightening. 

Anyone who is an enemy of angels is enemy of God. 

Rissalah is belief in prophethood. 25 prophets named in Quran but have been 124,000. Most important include Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, Mohammed. 

Adam was first prophet, created from dust of Earth. Regarded as father of mankind. God gave Adam understanding of all things. Adam taught angels the names of new objects and told them to bow out of respect. Iblis refused. He was thrown out of paradise and vowed to tempt humans to sin against God. He convinced them to eat fruit from forbidden tree and brought sin into world. 

Seen as role moel. Destroyed his fathers idols. They tried to burn him but he came out unblemished. 

Id-Ul-Adha celebrates his willingness to sacrifice Ishmael. 

Ka'aba was built by Adam, destroyed in flood, rebuilt by Ibrahim and Ishmael. Most holy place in the world. On Hajj, throw stones at pillars as Ibrahim did to Iblis. Run between 2 hills and drink water from Zamzam to remember how Hagar searched for water for Ishmael. Hajj must be done at least once in a muslims lifetime. Some communities provde finincial aid as it is a religous requirement. Takes place in last month of lunar year. most years there are around 3 million pilgrims. 

Origins: ibrahim had to take his wife and son to arabia with a fwe bits of nutrition. They ran out and were ill and dehydrated. Hagar ran up 2 hills and prayed. Ishmael struck his foot and water squirted out the earth. When ibrahim returned, he made the ka'aba. Mecca was establsihed using Ishmaels well but people began to worship idols and Mohammed stopped this. When Mohammed came with a group of muslims to stop idol worship, it was first pilgimage. 

Before Hajj, pilgrims must enter state called Ihram. (washing praying wearing special clothes) Men wear white to show purity, women wear a solid colour covering whole body but face 

Begins at Kaaaba. If possible touch it or raise hands to it. Some belive it is a meteorite from god, some that was given by god to cleanse Adam'ssins and allow him into heaven, that Jibril took it from a mountain or that it came fromparadise. Circle it 7 times and recite the pilgrim's prayer. Walk through path linking hills mentioned in Ibrahim story. Do circuit 7 times then return to Kaaba and drink water from the well of Zamzam. Walk 13 miles to Arafat. Halfway, stop for night at Mina, pray and read Quran

Arafat is where Mohammed preached his last sermon. Spend afternoon praying in the heat as reminder for what day of judgement will be like. Some stand all afternoon to prove how faithful they are. They then walk somewhere to spend the night and collect 49 stones on the way, to throw at the walls of mina, showing they repel evil. They then sacrafice an animal, or in UK buy one. Once full,  leftover meet given to poor. Then return to mecca and circle Ka'aba 7 times and return to Mina for 2 nights. Afterwards many visit prophet's mosque. A hajji is someone who has completed Hajj. 

• Creates more conciousness of God
• Teaches serentiy and humanity and self discipline
• Produces inner peace leading to good character traits
• Emphasises unity and equailty
• Reminds Muslims of examples set by biblical characters. 

Id-Ul-Adha forms part of Hajj but celebrated worldwide. Visit fam and friends and have festive meals. Animals slaughtered to remember Ibrahin's sacrifice. Normallly keep a third, a third to charity, a third to friends. In Britain a lot of people give money instead. People visit sick and exchange presents. 

Id-Ul-Fitr is festival of breaking the fast (ramadan). Thanking god for giving them strength to get through Ramadan. Also thanking for Quran. Either 1,2 or 3 days. Gather in mosques or big outdoor spaces to say special prayers. Focuses of firgivness and helping poor. In Britain a lot give money instead. People visit sick and exchange presents. 

Mohammed born in Mecca. Orphan so brought up by his uncle, Abu Talib. Married his employyer, Khadijah, at 25. Jibril first came to him on mount Hira. After that, Jibril slowly relayed the enitre Quran to him, through a series of revelations over 20 years. He then preached what he had learnt, and tried to get the people of Mecca to change their ways. He gathered 10,000 converts. Conquered Mecca and destroyed 360 idols in the Ka'aba. His teachings are found in Hadith and Sira. 

Islamic law: Shariah 

Imamate is divine appointments of Imams. There have been 12 imams, who all interpreted the Quran perfectly. Last was Mohmmed-Al-Mahdi who they belive is being kept alive and hidden somewhere on Earth by God. He will return with Isa. 

Ramadan is 9th and most important month. It was when Quran started being revealed to Mohammed. Throughout the month many people recite whole Quran in sections. 

They fast, don't smoke, dont have sex in daylight hours. Fast breaking meals often with friends or family with extra prayers and reading from the Quran. Commandemnt from Quran and people have fasted since 17th century. Ramadan is soul clensing and shows dedication (they can sacrifice physical needs). Some people dont fast due to health or age but if possible try to make up for it later. Another reason for fasting is to relate to poor and remindes muslims to give charity. 

Night of Power is a festival marking beginning of God's revelation to Mohammed. Date is not agreed on but believed to be an odd day in second half of ramadan. Quote in Qurann that tells muslims that observing the night of glort gives the benefits of worshipping a thousand months. Many muslims will subsequently stay up all night. 

They follow lunar calendar so can fall at any point of the year.

2.5% savings supposed to be given to poor. Many give at the end of Ramadan. Acknowledgment that all they have belongs to god. Also purifies the soul, ridding it of seflishnes and greed. 

Commandment in Quran and muslim scholars later worked out the figure 2.5%

Only muslims with savings greater than a certain figure are required to give Zakat. This is Nisab. It is either value of 87g of gold or 612g of silver. Most follow gold rule. Can be given directly to chairty, or to a box in mosque to give to the poor. Also encouraged to give charity all year round (sadaqua)

By doing this they are fufilling a duty given by god, not being greedy, having good attitutde towards money, strengthens communities, makes people feel compassion. 

Jihad is the struggle against evil. 

Greater Jihad: personal struggle to live in line with the faith. Means observing the 5 pillars. Muslims must also devote their lives to god by avoiding distractions like drugs, alcohol, greed and jelousy. Allows muslims to spirituallly improve and deepen relationship with god. 

Lesser Jihad: Less important. Outward struggle to defend islam from threat and protect their freedom to practice their faith. 

Several instances in Quran which appear to follow extrene violence, but this was when Islam was new, and completely under threat. 

Criteria for holy war

• Declared by fair religious leader
• Cant be used to convert people to Islam
• Has to be in response to enitre faith being threatened
• Cant be used to gain territory or wealth
• Must be last resort
• THESE DONT JUSTIFY TERRORISM

Afterlife (akhira) :
Still have conciousness in grave- in a state of waiting called Barzakh (awaiting day of judgement). As they lie in grave, questioned by 2 angels about their faith. If answer correctly they will get rewards.  Day of Judgement is when god's purpose for universe has been fuffilled. 

• Israfil will blow trumpet
• Earth will become Akhira
• Israfil will blow trumpet again
• Everyone resurrected and judged 
• Everyone receives a new body and their own book of life to read. If given in right hand, going to heaven, left hand means going to hell