The Five Pillars of IslamThe Five Pillars of Islam

88thth Grade Social Grade Social StudiesStudies

What are the Pillars?What are the Pillars?

Religious DutyReligious Duty All religions have All religions have certain duties that certain duties that believers have to believers have to perform to be perform to be associated with that associated with that particular faith.particular faith.

The Five Pillars are The Five Pillars are five actions that five actions that Muslims try to Muslims try to accomplish accomplish throughout their throughout their lives.lives.

ShahadaShahada First Pillar: Shahada First Pillar: Shahada

(Witness)(Witness) In this pillar all Muslims In this pillar all Muslims

must simply state their must simply state their faith in Allah and faith in Allah and express that there is express that there is no God but Allah.no God but Allah.

Muslims fulfill this Muslims fulfill this obligation through obligation through prayer everyday by prayer everyday by repeating the phrase repeating the phrase “There is no God but “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet”is his prophet”

SalatSalat Second Pillar: Salat Second Pillar: Salat

(Prayer)(Prayer)This Pillar is praying five This Pillar is praying five

times a day. There are times a day. There are set prayers which set prayers which

Muslims should say, Muslims should say, and all Muslims should: and all Muslims should:

face Mecca in Arabia face Mecca in Arabia when praying when praying

pray on a prayer matpray on a prayer mat wash before they pray wash before they pray

pray with fixed pray with fixed movements, which movements, which

include kneeling with include kneeling with the forehead placed on the forehead placed on

the ground in front. the ground in front.

ZakatZakat

Third Pillar: Zakat Third Pillar: Zakat (Charity)(Charity)

Each month, Muslims Each month, Muslims are supposed to give are supposed to give

a sum of their a sum of their income for charity. income for charity. In some countries it In some countries it can be as much as can be as much as

10% of your monthly 10% of your monthly income. In this way, income. In this way,

they believe that they believe that their wealth is their wealth is “made pure.” “made pure.”

SawmSawm

The Fourth Pillar: The Fourth Pillar: Sawm (Fasting)Sawm (Fasting)

Muslims must not Muslims must not eat food and drink eat food and drink during the month during the month

of Ramadan during of Ramadan during daylight hours.daylight hours.

They do this to They do this to experience what experience what the less fortunate the less fortunate go through.go through.

HajjHajj

Fifth Pillar: Hajj Fifth Pillar: Hajj (Pilgrimage)(Pilgrimage)

At least once in At least once in their lives, all their lives, all Muslims who are Muslims who are physically and physically and financially able financially able must make a must make a pilgrimage to the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.holy city of Mecca.

Non-Muslims are Non-Muslims are forbidden from forbidden from entering the city.entering the city.