Sahih al-Bukhari

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: What are the five pillars of Islam, and why do you think Muslims regarded each as important?
• 2.: The Hadith, as the entry states, “describe the faithful believer as one who does not harm other Muslims by word or deed.” Yet in contemporary life, reports of terrorist acts perpetrated by Muslims in which Muslims die have become almost routine. How can these actions on the part of some Muslims be reconciled with the teachings of the Hadith?
• 3.: The Arabic word jihad is commonly seen today in newspapers and on news reports. What is the meaning of this term? How do the Hadith interpret jihad?
• 4.: Why would an American Muslim turn to the east while praying? What historical circumstances account for this practice?
• 5.: In what ways might this document be similar to the Pirke Avot of Judaism? In what ways are the two documents different?