Practice Significance/Importance Contrasts Quotes Five Pillars of Sunni Islam They support the key beliefs of Islam You should be able to contrast them 1. Shahadah: Declaration of Faith as pillars support a building. They with the Ten Obligatory Acts and “There is no god but Allah and are seen as the key to living a good also to explain the differences Muhammad is his messenger.” Muslim life, give Muslims a sense of between Sunni and Shi’a practices in 2. Salah: Prayer group identity as a community who relation to Salah, Zakah, Sawm and 3. Zakah: Charitable Giving share faith and actions. Enable Hajj. 4. Sawm: Fasting during Ramadan Muslims to show loyalty and 5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah obedience to Allah. Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi’a Islam Given to the Shi’a Muslims by the You should be able to contrast them Include numbers 2-5 of the Five Pillars Twelve Imams, who are seen as the with the Five Pillars and also to plus: leaders chosen by Allah to lead Islam explain the differences between Khums: 20% tax on profits after Muhammad’s death. Sunni and Shi’a practices in relation Jihad: The struggle to maintain faith and The acts help Muslims to know how to Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj. to defend Islam to behave on a daily basis, enabling Amr-bil-Maruf: encouraging people to them to please Allah and to feel do what is good closer to him. Nahi Anil Mumkar: Discouraging people They give guidance to Shi’a Muslims from doing what is wrong about how to overcome challenges Tawallah: Being loving towards the in their lives. friends of Allah They are a core element of Muslim Tabarra: avoiding association with the identity, which makes them feel enemies of Allah connected to other Shi’a Muslims. Shahadah: declaration of faith and its The Shahadah states the absolute In Shi’a Islam, an extra phrase is “There is no god but Allah and place in Muslim practice. core belief of Muslims and without it added to the Shahadah: “…and Allah Muhammad is his messenger.” This is a statement of the most one cannot be a Muslim. It should is the friend of God.” This reflects important belief in Islam: “There is no be the very first and very last thing the belief that Ali, son-in-law and God but Allah and Muhammad is his that a Muslim hears in their life, cousin of Muhammad, is seen as the messenger.” Muslims will repeat it at showing that belief in God and true successor of Muhammad. numerous occasions during their lives Muhammad is the most important including the daily prayers. It should element of Islam. also be the first thing said to a baby at birth and it is the only thing anyone It supports the other five pillars – must say in order to convert to Islam. without this belief, they are meaningless actions. Salah its significance: It is important as it is one of the Five A Sunni Muslim will pray on five “When you are about to Muslims pray five times a day (before Pillars and one of the Ten Obligatory separate occasions each day pray, wash your faces and sunrise, after midday, afternoon, after Acts and therefore follows the will of whereas a Shi’a Muslim will combine your hands up to the elbows, sunset, night), in a clean place, facing Allah. two pairs of these prayers and pray wipe your heads, wash your the direction of Makkah. It creates a greater awareness of three times each day. feet up to the ankles and, if They must carry out ablutions (ritual Allah and motivates Muslims to do A Sunni Muslim will bow their head required, wash your whole washing), known as Wudu, before Allah’s will. The frequency of it right down to the floor whereas a praying. Hands, heads, feet and face means that Muslims are continually Shi’a Muslim will rest their forehead body.” Qur’an are all washed. reminded of what Allah wants from on a clay tablet. The prayer involves recitations including them. “Believers! When the call to the first chapter of the Qur’an and Fully bowing down before Allah prayer is made on the day of ‘Glory be to my Lord who is the very demonstrates ultimate respect and congregation, hurry towards greatest’ as well as movements known veneration. the reminder of God and as rak’ahs which include standing, Washing before prayer leave off your trading.” bowing and kneeling with head to the demonstrates both physical and Qur’an floor (prostration). spiritual cleanliness – being fully Salah can take place at home, in the prepared for prayer. mosque or elsewhere. The Friday midday prayer is the most important of the week and is known as the Jummah prayer. All male Muslims should go to Mosque and the prayer will be followed by a sermon from the Imam. Women may go to the Mosque but don’t have to. Sawm: It is important as it is one of the Five “What will explain to you what Muslims should fast between sunrise Pillars and one of the Ten Obligatory the night of glory is? The night and sunset every day during the month Acts and therefore follows the will of of glory is better than a of Ramadan. This includes going Allah. thousand months.” Qur’an without food or drink and also avoiding The purpose is to focus on God with “It was in the month of smoking, sex, bad habits etc. a pure soul, demonstrating self- Ramadan that the Qur’an was Exceptions (who don’t have to fast) discipline and sacrificing physical revealed as guidance for include pregnant women, children, needs for God. mankind… So any one of you those who are ill, people who are Prayers said on the Night of Power who is present that month travelling. These people may not be are seen as having the power of a should fast.” Qur’an strong or healthy enough. People thousand months’ worth of worship. “Read! In the name of your travelling will make up missed fast days You need to know the bold quote Lord who created: He created another time. (Qur’an 96:1-5) which explains what man from a clinging form (a The reason that this happens in the was said to Muhammad on the night blood clot). Read! Your Lord is month of Ramadan is that this was the of power. the most Bountiful One who month when Allah first revealed the taught by means of the pen, Qur’an to Muhammad. The first who taught man what he occasion that this happened is known as didn’t know.” Qur’an 96: 1-5 the Night of Power. Zakah: the role and significance of It is important as it is one of the Five giving alms including origins, how and Pillars and one of the Ten Obligatory why it is given, benefits of receipt, Acts and therefore follows the will of Khums in Shi’a Islam. Allah. Hajj: the role and significance of the It is important as it is one of the Five pilgrimage to Makkah including origins, Pillars and one of the Ten Obligatory how hajj is performed, the actions Acts and therefore follows the will of pilgrims perform at sites including the Allah. Ka’aba at Makkah, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah and their significance Jihad: different understandings of jihad: the meaning and significance of greater and lesser jihad; origins, influence and conditions for the declaration of lesser jihad. Festivals and commemorations and their importance for Muslims in Great Britain today, including the origins and meanings of Id-ul-Adha, Id-ul-Fitr, Ashura