Islam Rituals

Birth

1. Outline how children are welcomed into the Muslim faith?
2. What is the Aqeeqah?

1.  The first words a newborn should hear are "God is great, there is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Come to prayer.") They are whispered into the right ear of the child by his or her father. The babies first taste should be a sweet treat, for example the parents could chew a piecce of date and rub the juice on the babys gum. This helps the babys digestive systems to develop. After seven days the babies head is shaved to show that the child is the servant of Allah.

2.  The aqeeqah is also held on the seventh day, this invovles the slaughter of sheep. As sheep are sacrificed and the meat is handed out to relatives and neighbours and also given to the poor.

Marriage

1. Outline the basic elements of an Islamic wedding ceremony?

-  The bride is given a mahr from her grom as part of the marriage contract. It is known as a token commitment of the husbands responsibility. It must be paid in cash to the bride at the time of the wedding or at a later date. The contract is written and signed by the bride and groom and their two respective witnesses. The written contract is then announced publicly.
The nikah (wedding) is addressed with a marriage sermon by the Muslim celebrant who is officiating the wedding.  Nikah is considered as an act of worship. It is the conduct it inna mosque keeping the ceremony simple. The marriage ceremony is a social and religious event.

Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

Watch each of the Videos and provide answers to the questions;

Use this website to answer question one; (Name each Pillar)

Pillar #1: Shahaadah

• What is the meaning of the declaration of faith? 

To promise you love for Allah

• Why do you think that this statement is a significant part of being a Muslim?

They only choose to worship one God and follow it to assure their faith and love for Allah

Video – Islam_vid_muslimpray.mov

Pillar #2: Salah

• Describe the process that Muslims go through to prepare to pray.

Before praying you must wash yourself clean, and pray on a mat with your shoes off

• Describe the process of praying in Islam. How many times each day, and when, do Muslim pray?
• Fajr – Prayed before sunrise
• Dhuhr – Prayed early afternoon
• Asr – Prayed late afternoon
• Maghrib – Prayed at sunset
• Ishaa – Prayed approximately one and a half hours after the Maghrib prayers

• What do the prayers sound like?  What do the movements look like? 

Singing and chanting, the main movement is a bow like move that is in time with the sound of the prayer

• In which direction do Muslims pray? Why do they face this way?

They face Mecca because this is their spiritual homeland

• What are some of the things Muslims say during prayer?

They say ‘God is greater’ and wave their hands back to say they are here with God and leaving everything behind them

• Why do Muslims pray?

To respect their God like any other religion would do and connect with Allah

Video – Islam_vid_zakat.mov

Pillar #3: Zakaat

• What is Zakaat?  What is emphasized in Zakaat?

The Zakaat means to give alms to the poor, Muslims are supposed to donate to a fixed amount of their property to charity every year.

• Why do Muslims make donations?  How much money is a person expected to give to charitable causes? 

2.1 % ,because they believe the Allah made rich and poor people and everyone deserves money.

• What is the relationship between prayer and money?

In the Quran it is mentioned that to provide for others equally you must donate and share what you may have but others do not.

• How is Zakaat different from ordinary charity that Muslims might give?

The Zakaat is usually done in the month of Ramadan because they feel they will get more blessings when they donate to charity

Video - Islam_vid_islam_celeb.mov

Pillar #4: Sawm

• As part of the Muslim religion, what does it mean to fast? 

Fasting brings Muslims to greater awareness of God’s presence

• Why do Muslims fast?

Sharing the suffrage of the poor and to purify your soul

• What and when is Ramadan?  

9^th month of the calendar

• What is Eid al-Fitr? 

Videos – Islam_vid_hajj (part 1 & 3)

Pillar #5:

• How often must Muslims participate in Hajj? 

Must go once in their lifetime (depending on finance or health)

• Where do Muslims go during Hajj? 

Mecca in Saudi Arabia

• What and where is the Kaaba?  Describe this place. 

In Mecca, Saudi Arabia is a huge spiritual place which can hold 750,000 people to pray together

• How many Muslims participate in Hajj?

              ¼ of the size of the New York

• What is the goal of Hajj? 

The worship of God

• What does it mean to enter spiritual purity? What is the purpose of the special garments?

This means a consciousness or intention for women to perform Hajj. The special garments means wwearing no underwear, jewellery, perfume or deodorant. The purpose is to equalize each other and to enter a state of consciousness where you don’t argue with anyone or be intimate with your partner so that people focus on God.

• How does Mubarek describe his experiences as a pilgrim?

He was glad to be there and realize that this is what he had been praying towards

• What is the significance of Abraham to pilgrims?

Abraham is known to have raising the foundations of this holy house

The Quran

1.      What does the word Quran translate to in English?

Recitation            

2.      What is the purpose of the message sent to Mohammad why was it sent again?

     Gods own message to the world to remind people of the message already received by the Jews and Christians –Gods guidance for human kind

3.      How is the message sent to Mohammad different to the messages already sent to the Christians and the Jews? It is in Arabic

4.      Is the message in the Quran the same message as in the Bible? Yes

5.      Name two other prophets mentioned in the Quran. Abraham and Jesus

6.      How was the message passed on to others in the beginning? It was an oral/aural transmission

7.      Why was the original message not written down by Mohammad? He was not literate in Arabic

8.      What language is used for the Quran? Arabic

9.      Which city did Islam originate? Mecca

10.  What dose ‘Muslim’ mean? Those who submit to God

11.  How does the Quran differ from the Bible in the story of the death of Jesus? Belief Jesus was not crucified but lifted to God another man who looked like him was crucified

12.  What does the Quran say about warfare? Muslims may defend themselves only when there is a threat. They should be merciful to those they capture – as Muhammad was when he took over Mecca.

Symbols of Islam

The star and the Crescent

They are the accepted symbols of Islam since the eighteenth century they appear on several flags of Islamic nations. Even before the time of Muhammad they were found on the Ka’aba and it is said that Muhammad allowed these symbols to remain intact when he ordered the removal of the idols in the Ka’aba.

No Symbols of Allah

Islam has always insisted that there should be no idols and no images of Allah. An Islamic mosque is devoid of all statue and all paintings this is in contrast to Christian Churches. Islamic Artists have compensated for this restricted by developing beautiful work and calligraphy.

Bismillah (in the name of Allah)

One of the most prominent symbolic designs is the motif with the words Bismillah (in the name of Allah). All the Suras of the Qur’an except one begin with the words ‘In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate...’ so the first word of these Suras has been taken and variously depicted in extremely ornate styles.

Auburn Gallipoli Mosque

Where was it? What did you do and see at the mosque?

What did u learn? Identify major items /facts

What you gained from the experience?

 The Auburn Gallipoli Mosque was located in Auburn, Sydney
At the mosque we where taken into the main hall where we sat down and listened to a Muslim Lady talk about the religion of Islam and its values and beliefs. 

 I learnt that it was the biggest mosque in Australia seating 2000 people, and that all the artwork and main features such as the carpet, tiles and decorated walls are all from Turkey and the walls where handpainted by men from Turkey which took 6 months to be completely done. 

 I gained knowledge about a different religion besides my own and how different two religions can be, it was an interesting day that I really enjoyed.

Facts about Islam

What does Islam mean?

Islam means submission and comes from a word meaning peace. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God.

What were the origins of Islam?

645AD, Muhammad was influential in this creation.

How does someone become a Muslim?

By saying, ‘There is no god apart from God’ and, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of God. By saying this, the believer announces his/her faith in all God’s messengers and the scriptures they brought.

How do Muslims practice their religion?

They pray 5 times a day, and respect their God by praying at home or at the mosque

What is the Ka’ba?

Ka’ba is the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build over four thousand years ago. The building was made of stone which is believed to be the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam.

What were the highlights of Muhammad’s life?

What is the Quran?

The quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorised by Muhammad and then dictated to his Companions and written down by scribes.



The Kaba



The Quran

Islam Introduction

Islam Introduction Questions

1a)  The words Islam and Muslim both mean submission

b) Muslims believe that Allah made everything

c) The Muslim holy book is called the Qur’an

d) A star and crescent moon is the symbol of Islam

2a) Why should a Muslim submit to Allah?

A Muslim should submit to Allah because he is their God

b) Explain what Muslims think about Muhammad

They respected him greatly as a prophet though they do not submit to Muhammad. The Muslims did not think he was Allah.

3a) Find the symbol of Islam. Explain why it is used?

b) Islam began in the Middle East. Find out the names of two Muslim countries

India and Bangladesh