The Five Pillars of Islam

How are Muslims expected to follow God’s will?What is the significance of the Five Pillars of Islam?

‘Islam is based on Five Principles’

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

‘Islam is based on five pillars: To testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (shahada); to pray (salat); to pay the alms-tax (zakat); to perform the Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj); to fast during the month of Ramadan (sawm)’

‘Islam is based on Five Principles’

The Five Pillars are:

1. The Attestation of Faith (Shahadah)

2. The Ritual Prayer (Salat)

3. The Poor-due (Zakat)

4. The Fast of Ramadan (Saum)

5. The Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

• The test whether or not a person believes in God and His Prophet lies in their behaviour.

• "And those who do not make their decisions in accordance with that revealed by Allah, they are the disbelievers." (5/44).

• Those who believe and follow God's law will be rewarded on the Day of Judgement.

• What does following God's law entail?

Shahadah

• The first pillar of Islam is the declaration that there is no God but God and that Muhammad is His prophet.

• "Tawhid", the oneness of God is absolutely central to Islam.

• Tawhid also means that all life is a unity, there is no separation between worldly and spiritual matters.

• Worship is a part of a person's everyday life and each individual can achieve perfection in this life.

• Muslims believe that man's original nature is good. Qur'an 95/4-5 says: "We moulded man into a most noble image and in the end We shall reduce him to the lowest of the low: except for the believers who do good works, for theirs shall be a boundless recompense."

• So if a person consciously realises God's Oneness and submits to His laws he or she retains or regains that original perfection.

Salah

• It is a spiritual exercise by which a person approaches God. Before prayer one must purify themselves physically by ablution and spiritually by dismissing all evil thoughts.

• Spiritual

• Physical

Five times a day

• Salah is compulsory prayers five times a day

• Fajr – between dawn and sunrise• Zuhr – after mid day• ‘Asr – between late afternoon and sunset• Maghrib - between sunset and the end of

daylight• ‘Isha’ – night until dawn

What is the point of Salah?

• The performance of prayer helps to develop a person's obedience to God, brings order to life and strengthens the will.

• Kneeling and prostration represent submission and humility before God.

• Prayer in congregation, especially the Friday prayer helps to promote social and spiritual links among Muslims.

Salah

• Muslims can pray to Allah anywhere but the command is to pray five times a day. Some times prayer may take place inside the mosque and sometimes at home or a workplace

• The essentials are that at the set times Muslims should face the Kab’ah in Makka and pray in a clean place.

• They need a means of telling the time, especially if they are in a non Muslim country where there may be no call to prayer, and they need to no the direction of Makka

Salah

• The prayer times were arranged originally so as to avoid any idea that Muslims were worshipping the sun or sunrise, noon or sunset

• They are worshipping the creator of the sun Allah:

• “O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters” (Surah 7:31)

Wudu

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaKb2zX1QBs

Wudu• Muslims must prepare themselves with a ritual sequence

called wudu 0 meaning ‘to wash’– The person says, ‘In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the

Merciful’– The hands are washed– The mouth is rinsed three times– Water is sniffed into the nostrils then blown out. This is repeated

three times– The face is washed three times using both hands– The right arm and then the left is washed three times– The hair, neck and ears are wiped over with wet hands– The right foot and then the left is washed to the ankle– Finally the person makes the declaration of faith, ‘I bear witness

that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’

• This is an outward cleansing which symbolises the purity of the heart and soul. In the desert, travellers may use sand for ablutions if water is not available.

• After sexual intercourse a full bath – ghusl – is needed before prayer

• Muslims cover their heads before praying. Men wear a small cap called a topi and women wear a burka, which is a shawl.

• The direction of the ka’bah in Makka is shown by the mihrab in the qiblah wall in the mosque

• If Muslims are unable to say their prayers at the correct time for a valid reason, they can say a number of prayers together at the next set time.

• Salah is fard (obligatory)

• Muhammad said “ If one of you had a river right by his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think that there would be any dirt left on him? They said ‘Not a trace’. He said, ‘ That is how it is with the five prayers; by means if them God washes away sins

What does the Qur’an say

So (give) glory to Allah, when ye reach eventide and when ye rise in the morning;

Yea, to Him be praise, in the heavens and on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the day begins to decline

(Surah 30: 17-18)

So woe to the worshippers

Who are neglectful of their prayers

(Surah 107: 4-5)

• Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of they Lord, before the rising of the sun and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of hours of night, and at the sides of the day; that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy. (Surah 20:130)

• The Qur’an also requires that prayer should be done with the right intention and should also be accompanied by good deeds:“Those who (want but) to be seen (of men)

But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbourly needs

( Surah 107: 6-7)

Ra’kah

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgNhvnoujW0

Ra’kah

• Salah consist of an introduction and two, three or four cycles movements according to the time of the day:

• Fajr 2• Zuhr 4• ‘Asr 4• Maghrib 3• ‘Isha’ 4• Each cycle a ra’kah and is made up of a routine

involving reciting whilst standing (qiyam), bowing (ruku) or prostrating (sajda)

Essay Plan

• Brainstorm the following exam question:

• Explain the important features of the way Muslims perform Salah

• “Performing Salah is the most difficult part of being a Muslim” Discuss