iSyllabus for Schools Y.1.M.1.L.2

1.2 The 5 PillarsGod will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge,

in high degrees; and God is Aware of what you do (58:11)

Learning Objectives:By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

listthefivepillarsofIslamandgiveabrief descriptionofeach

understandtheimportanceofthe5pillars

explainwhythe5pillarsareimportantinthe livesofMuslims

Key Terms:Shahadah: TheMuslimdeclarationoffaithSalah: Performingprescribedprayersfive timeseachdayZakat: Almsgiving,givingcharitytobenefit thepoorandtheneedySawm: FastingduringthemonthofRamadan

Hajj: ThepilgrimagetoMakkah

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Shahadah

ThedeclarationoffaithisthefirstpillarofIslam.MuslimsbearwitnesstotheonenessofGodbyreciting,“ThereisnogodbutGodandMuhammad istheMessengerofGod.”

ThisisasimpleandyetmeaningfulstatementwhichshowsaMuslim’sacceptanceofandtotalcommitmenttoIslam.TheShahdah is recited in the Salah,orprayer,everydayanditisalsorecitedbyapersonwhonewlybecomesMuslim.

The 5 Pillars

TherearefivemaindutiesthateachMuslimmustfulfillinordertoliveagoodandresponsiblelifeaccordingtoIslam.

ThesefivepillarsofIslamarecalledShahadah,Salah,Zakat,Sawm and Hajj.Somearedoneeveryday,othersonceayearandoneofthemisdoneoncein aperson’slifetime.

Apillarisastructurethatisusedtosupportabuilding,withoutwhichthebuildingwouldcollapse.ThismeansthatthesefivepillarsarewhatIslamisbuiltupon.

ThesepillarsarethemostimportantMuslimpractices inIslam.Theyaredescribedbrieflyinthislessonandlookedatinmoredetailinthefollowingchapters.

TheProphetMuhammadssaid,“Islam is founded on five (pillars): declaring that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, establishing prayer, giving charity, making a pilgrimage to the House (the Ka’bah) and fasting in Ramadan.”

Activities: Discuss1 Howdothe5pillarsaffectourMuslims’lives?

2 Whichpillaristhemostimportant?

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Salah

PrayeristhesecondpillarofIslam.

IslamisbasedonthebeliefthathumanbeingshaveadirectconnectionwithGod.

MuslimsturntowardstheKa’bahinMakkahtopraytoGodatfivedifferenttimesduringtheday.

TheFajrprayerisperformedbeforesunrise,Dhuhr isprayedjustaftermidday,Asrisperformedintheafternoon,MaghribistheeveningprayerperformedjustaftersunsetandIshaisthenightprayer.

Muslimsmustalsowashthemselvesinacertainwaybeforepraying,thisiscalledWudu.

Althoughsalahcanheperformedalone,itismorerewardingtoperformitwithothers.TheFridayprayer,orJummah,takesplaceinamosque.

Zakat

AlmsgivingisthethirdpillarofIslam

SocialresponsibilityisakeypartofaMuslim’slife.LookingafterthepoorestandneediestmembersofacommunityrestsuponMuslimsgivingasmallproportionoftheirwealthandpossessionseveryyear.

Theamountofzakatapersonpaysisequalto 2.5percentoftheirwealth.

GivingzakatcreatescompassionandloveamongMuslimsanditmakesapersonmorethankfulto Godfortheirownblessings.

Sawm

FastingduringtheholymonthofRamadanisthefourthpillarofIslam.

ThefastisanactofworshipinwhichMuslimsseektoincreasetheirconnectionwithGod.Italsoremindsthepersonwhoisfastingaboutthesufferingsofthepoorandhungry.

DuringRamadan,Muslimsabstainfromeating,drinkingandothersensualpleasuresfromsunrise to sunset.

2

ISLAM

Activities: Write3 Chooseoneofthe5pillarsandwriteashort paragraphaboutit,inyourownwords.

4 Writedown3reasonswhypayingZakat isimportant

5 List4reasonswhyitisbettertopraySalah in theMosque

Hajj

ThepilgrimagetoMakkahisthefifthpillar.

TheHajjisperformedonceinalifetimebythoseMuslimswhoarephysicallyandfinanciallyabletomakethejourneytoMakkah.

ThemainritualsoftheHajjincludewalkingaroundthe Ka’bahseventimes,travellingseventimesbetweentwosmallhillscalledSafa and Marwah,standingandprayingforforgivenessataplacecalledArafahandsymbolicallythrowingstonesattheDevil.

Activities: Discuss6 WhydoMuslimsfast?

7 WhatdoestheversefromtheQur’an ‘enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong’ meaninyoureverydaylife?

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iSyllabus for Schools Y.1.M.1.L.2

3

Activities: Discuss8 Whatisthetitlegiventoapersonwhohas performedtheHajj?

9 WhatkindofpreparationsdoMuslimshaveto makebeforegoingtoHajj?

SUMMARYThe5pillarsformtheframeworkwhichevery

Muslimmustfollowinordertoliveagoodand

responsiblelifeaccordingtoIslam.

Did you know?

The five pillars were not

introduced or made

compulsory at the same

time…..(to be finished)

Faith and Identity

ThefivepillarsofIslamdefinethebasicidentity ofMuslims.

TheworldwideMuslimcommunityisbound togetherintermsoftheirfaith,beliefs,shared valuesandpractices.

ByacceptingandfollowingthefivepillarsMuslimsshowthattheyareputtingtheirfaithfirstandnotjusttryingtofitIslamintotheirbusylives.

NomatterhowsincerelyapersonmaybelieveinGodandtheProphetMuhammadstrue belief inIslamisshownbyputtingtheirfaithintoactionandpractice.

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4

ISLAM

QuestionsCirclethecorrectanswer(TrueorFalse)

1Itisbettertoperformtheprayerwithothers T/F

2 ZakatisonlygivenbyMuslimmen T/F

3InRamadan,Muslimsdonoteatfromsunsettillsunrise T/F

4VisitingtheProphet’ssMosqueispartofHajj T/F

Answerinthespaceprovided 5 Writedownthenamesofthefiveprayers.

6 When is the ShahadahreadbyMuslims?

7 Ifyouhave£120,howmuchzakatdoyouhavetopay?

8 WritedowntworitesoftheHajj.

9 HowdoesfastinghelpMuslimsthinkofothers?

10TheProphetssaid ‘Thefastisashield’,whatdoesthismean?

Homework• Findoutaboutthisyear’sHajjdeals.Choose3

travelagenciesandcomparetheirHajjpackages.

Compareprices,hotelstandardanddistance,

flights,andfoodoptions.