Master the Five Pillars, daily Salah, Ramadan fasting, Zakah giving, Hajj pilgrimage, and how Islamic practices unite believers worldwide.
5 minutes to recall the Five Pillars and key Islamic practices.
Five Pillars (Sunni & Shi'a): Universal Islamic obligations. Foundation of Islamic practice.
1. Shahadah: Profession of faith. 2. Salah: Five daily prayers. 3. Sawm: Ramadan fasting. 4. Zakah: Almsgiving (2.5%). 5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca (if able).
Ten Obligatory Acts (Shi'a): Five Pillars plus: Wilayah (authority of Imam), Tawallah (love of Imam), Tabarra (disassociation from enemies), Jihad, Amr bil Maruf (commanding good), Nahi an al Munkar (forbidding evil).
Arabic: "La ilaha illallah, Muhammad rasulallah"
Translation: "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is His messenger."
Significance: Recited at conversion. Core of Islamic identity. Testifies to monotheism and Muhammad's prophethood.
Usage: Five times daily in Salah. Whispered in newborn's ear. Last words many Muslims speak at death.
Times: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), Isha (night). Prayer times vary by location and season.
Wudu (ritual purification): Washing face, hands, arms, head, feet. Spiritual preparation before prayer.
Rak'ahs (units): Each prayer has set number of bows and prostrations. Fajr (2), Dhuhr (4), Asr (4), Maghrib (3), Isha (4).
Direction: Always toward Ka'bah in Mecca (Qiblah). Unites believers worldwide in prayer.
Community: Jummah (Friday congregational prayer at midday) most important. Men generally attend mosque; women may participate.
What: Abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from Fajr (dawn) to Maghrib (sunset) throughout Ramadan (9th Islamic lunar month).
Purpose: Develop self-discipline, spiritual awareness, empathy for poor, obedience to Allah.
Exceptions: Children, elderly, sick, pregnant/nursing women, travelers may defer or skip. Make up fasts later if able.
Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power): Occurs in last 10 nights of Ramadan. Night Qur'an first revealed. Considered 1,000 nights in blessing. Intense prayer and recitation.
Eid ul-Fitr: Festival breaking fast. Celebration with family, special food, new clothes, giving to poor. Marks Ramadan's end.
Amount: 2.5% of accumulated wealth over one year (lunar year).
Nisab (threshold): Minimum wealth required to pay Zakah. Varies by commodity (gold, silver, crops).
Recipients: Poor, needy, debtors, wayfarers, slaves, converts, Islamic workers, those fighting oppression.
Spiritual dimension: "Zakat" means purification. Purifies remaining wealth. Shows social responsibility. Corrects wealth inequality.
Khums (Shi'a): One-fifth (20%) of surplus wealth after expenses. Additional to Zakah. Supports scholars and community needs.
Sadaqah: Voluntary charity beyond Zakah. Encouraged constantly. No minimum amount.
Requirement: Once in lifetime if physically and financially able. Usually 5 days minimum. About 2 million pilgrims annually.
Sacred state (Ihram): Pilgrims enter state of sanctity. Wear plain white garments. Avoid luxury, violence, sexual activity. Equal before Allah regardless of wealth.
Key rituals: Tawaf (circumambulate Ka'bah seven times). Sa'y (run between hills seven times). Standing at Arafat (central act). Stoning of Jamarat (reject Satan's temptations).
Eid ul-Adha: Festival of Sacrifice. Commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice son. Animal sacrifice; meat distributed to poor.
Greater Jihad: Internal spiritual struggle. Controlling desires, pursuing righteousness, personal growth in faith. Personal battle against ego and sin.
Lesser Jihad: Physical struggle or fighting. Defense against oppression. Permitted only under strict conditions in Islamic law. Never aggressive.
Misconceptions: Jihad does not mean terrorism. Jihad does not mean only violent. Most important Jihad is spiritual.
Conditions for Just War: Defensive only, declared by authority, exempt non-combatants, limited means, peaceful settlement preferred.
Celebrates end of Ramadan. Special prayers at dawn. Family gatherings, new clothes, special food. Giving to poor (Zakat al-Fitr). Joyful celebration.
Commemorates Abraham's sacrifice. Animal slaughter. Meat to family, friends, poor. Occurs during Hajj. Major festival in Islamic calendar.
Ashura: 10th day of Muharram (1st Islamic month). Marks martyrdom of Imam Hussein (grandson of Muhammad) at Karbala (680 CE).
Shi'a practice: Mourning rituals, processions, passion plays, chest-beating. Expression of grief and solidarity with Hussein's suffering.
Spiritual significance: Remembrance of sacrifice for faith. Identifies with Hussein's resistance to tyranny.
Answer: Shahadah (faith), Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Zakah (alms), Hajj (pilgrimage).
Answer: Develops self-discipline, spiritual awareness, empathy for poor, obedience to Allah. Happens during Ramadan.
Answer: 2.5% of accumulated wealth. Goes to poor, needy, debtors, wayfarers, converts. Purifies wealth and aids community.
Answer: Ihram (sacred state), Tawaf (circumambulate Ka'bah), Sa'y (run between hills), Standing at Arafat, Stoning of Jamarat.
Answer: Greater: internal spiritual struggle. Lesser: physical defense. Both are legitimate; greater is more important.
Daily: Five Salah prayers, Shahadah recitation, Qur'an reading.
Monthly: Zakah planning and payment.
Yearly: Ramadan fasting, Eid celebrations, potential Hajj.
Lifetime: Hajj pilgrimage, Islamic education, community involvement, moral development.
Exam focus: Know Five Pillars in order. Understand wudu, rak'ahs, Qiblah for Salah. Know Ramadan dates vary by lunar calendar. Understand Zakah calculation (nisab, 2.5%). Know Hajj rituals and significance. Distinguish Greater/Lesser Jihad clearly.