Islam Rituals

Birth click here

Outline how children are welcomed into the Muslim faith?
When a child is born, the words "God is great, there is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Come to prayer." is whispered into the baby's right ear by their father.

What is Aqeeqah?
A celebration carried out on the 7th day after the baby has been born known as 'Aqeeqah'. In this celebration, a sheep is slaughtered.

Marriage click here

Outline the basic elements of an Islamic wedding ceremony.
Marriage (nikah) in Islam is not a sacrament and is revocable. A gift of Mahr is given to the bride from the groom and is a token of the husbands responsibility. It is usually paid at the time of the marriage or a later date. The marriage assembly is carried out by a state appointed Muslim judge (Qadi) who records the marriage contract and it is then filed with the Mosque and local government for record. After the ceremony, the groom holds a banquet (walima) where al relatives, neighbours and friends are invited in order to make them aware of the marriage.

Symbols of Islam

The Star and 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 Muhammed they were found on the




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 statues and all paintings this is in contrast to Christian Churches. Islamic artists have compensated for this restricted by developing beautiful work and calligraphy

Bismillah

One of the most prominent symbolic designs it the motif with the words Bismillah (in the name of Allah). All the Suras of the Qur'an except one begins 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.




Suras


Chapters of the Qur'an, there are 114 chapters, each one is shorter than the one before it. The Qur'an is thought to be the completed message that began with Judasim and Christianity.