The five pillars
In Catholicism, what is the name of the state of final purification for those who die in God’s grace but are still imperfectly purified?
Answer: What is Purgatory?
Question: This is the primary liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased, often including the Eucharist.
Answer: What is the Funeral Mass (or Requiem Mass)?
Question: In Islam, this is the Arabic word for the "Garden" or Paradise.
Answer: What is Jannah?
Question: This Islamic term refers to the direction of prayer (toward Mecca), which is also the direction a body is faced when buried.
Answer: What is the Qibla?
Question: In Catholicism, what is the name of the state of final purification for those who die in God’s grace but are still imperfectly purified?
Answer: What is Purgatory?
Question: Muslims are required to perform this ritual prayer five times a day while facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
Answer: What is Salat?
Question: This prayer service is usually held the evening before the funeral and provides a time for the community to gather in prayer and support for the family.
Answer: What is the Vigil (or Wake)?
Question: In Catholicism, what are the "Four Last Things" that every soul must face?
Answer: What are Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell?
Question: This aromatic substance is often burned during a Catholic funeral to symbolize the prayers of the faithful rising to God.
Answer: What is Incense?
Question: In Islam, what is the name of the intermediate state or "barrier" where the soul resides between death and the Day of Resurrection?
Answer: What is Barzakh?
Question: This pillar refers to the obligatory charitable giving of a portion of one's wealth to help the poor and needy.
Answer: What is Zakat?
Question: During the funeral liturgy, the casket is often sprinkled with this as a reminder of the deceased's Baptism.
Answer: What is Holy Water?
Question: In Islamic belief, on the Day of Judgment, deeds are weighed on this "Scale."
Answer: What is the Mizan?
Question: In Islam, the funeral prayer performed by the community in a standing position is known as this.
Answer: What is Janazah (Salat al-Janazah)?
Question: What are the names of the two angels in Islamic tradition who question the deceased in the grave?
Answer: Who are Munkar and Nakir?
Question: During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe this pillar by abstaining from food and drink from dawn until sunset.
Answer: What is Sawm (Fasting)?
Question: This specific rite takes place at the graveside or interment facility and marks the final act of the community in caring for the body.
Answer: What is the Rite of Committal?
Question: In Catholicism, what is the term for a sin that is so grave it destroys the life of grace in the soul and, if unrepented, leads to Hell?
Answer: What is a Mortal Sin?
Question: In Catholicism, what is the name of the large candle placed near the casket that represents the light of the Risen Christ?
Answer: What is the Paschal Candle?
Question: What is the Catholic term for the "face-to-face" vision of God that constitutes the eternal happiness of Heaven?
Answer: What is the Beatific Vision?
Question: This is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca that every able-bodied Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime.
Answer: What is the Hajj?
Question: This white cloth is placed over the casket during the funeral, symbolizing the "white garment" received at Baptism and the equality of all in the eyes of God.
Answer: What is a Funeral Pall?
Question: Islam teaches that the "Book of Deeds" is given to the righteous in this hand, signifying their salvation.
Answer: What is the Right Hand?
Question: True or False: Traditional Islamic practice generally forbids the use of elaborate coffins, opting instead for simple white shrouds (Kafan).
Answer: What is True?
Question: In Islamic eschatology, what is the name of the narrow bridge spanning over Hell that every person must cross on Judgment Day?
Answer: What is the As-Sirat?