The Five Pillars of Islam

1. The Five Pillars of Islam

2. Warm-up Get out a piece of paper and write what you see in this picture. What do you think it represents? Why?

3. Shahada (Faith) Shahada: the Muslim profession of faith (“there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”). A single honest recitation of the Shahada in Arabic is all that is required for a person to become a Muslim. This recitation is called Kalima. The recitation must be earnest to be of value. Scholars have come up with ways to know if it is indeed meaningful and of heart. “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.”

5. Salat (Prayer) The Islam pray five times a day: early morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and in the evening. Islams take prayer very seriously and if someone doesn’t pray the penalty is very high. And there is no reason or excuse to not pray. Islams purify their body before praying. The process is that they wash their face, arms, feet, hands and etc. with water or sand. There are four types of praying: Fardh, Sunnah, Wajib and Nawafil.

7. Siyam (fasting) In the the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, all muslims fast from dawn until sundown. Although fasting can be healthy, Muslims see it as a purification of the spirit. Fasting puts the person in the place of those who have nothing to eat and so he grows spiritually for having given up comfort.

8. After fasting is over, Muslims…

9. Charity (Zakat)

10. Giving to poor is called charity or almsgiving. • If a Muslim have remaining wealth over the year this Muslim needs to give some to other people that don`t have. • The Muslims believe that helping the poor by giving money or food, purifies and increases the value and wealth of the giver. • In addition the zakat cleans the heart of selfishness and opens it to liberty.

11. This act of giving is considered by the Muslims a form of worshiping Allah. • These people are considered by Muslims people that need almsgiving: • Poor people : who have few belongings • Destitute people : who have absolutely nothing • Zakat collectors : for their work in collecting and distributing the Zakat • Muslim converts : who may be estranged from their families and in need of help • Slaves : to free them from slavery in times/places where slavery has existed • Debtors : to help free them from insurmountable debts • Those working in the path of Allah : soldiers fighting a just war to defend the Muslim community • Wayfarers : who are stranded during their travels

12. Those working in the path of Allah : soldiers fighting a just war to defend the Muslim community • Wayfarers : who are stranded during their travels • The zakat is obligatory for Muslims to worship God, but voluntary charity is called Sadaqah.

13. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

14. Mecca or Makkah is one of the oldest cities of the World. • The believe of the Muslims is that God ordered to built a house of worship on Earth so Adam, the first man on Earth built this sacred house. • The Qur`an tells that Abraham a Hebrew and his wife Hagar an Egyptian took their son to Makkah. • Abraham and his son built or rebuilt the Ka`ba, which is a cubic sacred house.

15. People were not allowed to build houses near the Ka´ba. • Before Muhammad, in the time of Qusayy ibn Kilab, a leader, peoplestarted living near it, but the houses needed to be round and small in comparison to the Ka´ba. • According to the archaeologist tell that the Ka`ba was rebuilt various times by the different tribes that had it. • At the time of Muhammad his tribe, the Quraysh was in charge of the Ka`ba.

16. This pilgrimage is an annual routine that Muslims need to do at least once on lifetime. • There is seven acts or rites a Muslim should do on the pilgrimage: • The clothing should be white for men, women can go in any color but preferably white. • Circumambulate the Ka´ba by kissing the Black Stones. • Pray on the Station of Abraham while running between the safa and marwa it worship Hagar on the search of water when she and her family arrived to Makkah. • Listen a sermon in which a meaning of Hajj is named. • Visit and stay for a night at the Valley of Mina and the plains and hills of Arafat, it represents the reunion of Adam and Eve.

17. Listen a sermon in which a meaning of Hajj is named. • Visit and stay for a night at the Valley of Mina and the plains and hills of Arafat, it represents the reunion of Adam and Eve. • Sacrifice an animal like Abraham almost sacrified his son as faith and love to God. • Throw stones at the pillars representing the three attempts of the devil of persuading Abraham not to sacrifice his son.

18. Were you paying attention? On a piece of paper please draw a picture of what you think each pillar represents. Also write one sentence explaining why the Five Pillars are so important to Muslims.

19. MLA Citations CARM , Matthew J. Slick, 1995 – 2010, CARM ( Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry ), 10/ 11/10 • http://carm.org/five-pillars-of-islam A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam, I. A. Ibrahim, 1996-2002, N/A, 10/18/10 • http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-16.htm Sacred Destinations, Holly Hayes, 2005-2010, Sacred Destinations, 10/15/10 • http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/mecca-kaba The Rainbow Family, Carol Rainbow ,01/06/1997-04/08/2007, RE Agreed Syllabus for Oxfordshire, 10/14/10 • http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/carolrb/islam/fivepillars.html About.com, N/A, 2007, The New York Times Company, 10/13/10 • http://islam.about.com/od/zakat/p/zakat.htm Islamic Perspectives, Dr. Ahmad Shafaat, 1985, N/A, 10/10/10 • http://www.islamicperspectives.com/Hajj.htm