Pillars of Islam – JSS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

The Five Pillars of Islam are the five basic duties that every Muslim must fulfil: Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj.

Behavioural objectives

1. List the Five Pillars of Islam in order.
2. State the meaning of the Shahadah and say why it is important.
3. Name the five daily prayers and state when each is performed.
4. State how much Zakat Muslims give and who can receive it.
5. Explain the rules of fasting during Ramadan.
6. Describe two important rituals of Hajj.

What is Islam?

Islam is a major world religion whose name means submission to the will of Allah (God) and peace.

• Muslim: a person who follows Islam.
• Five Pillars: the five important practices on which Muslim life is built.
• Purpose: they form the foundation of Muslim life and are acts of worship.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars of Islam are Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj, taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

• They are mentioned in the Quran and Hadith (the sayings and actions of the Prophet).
• Each one is an act of worship and a way to show devotion to Allah.

What is the first pillar, Shahadah?

Shahadah is the declaration of faith in Islam, the statement Muslims say to show that they are Muslim.

What are the words of the Shahadah?

• Arabic: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah”.
• Meaning: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

Why is the Shahadah important?

• Entry to Islam: it is the first step to becoming a Muslim.
• Daily prayers: Muslims repeat it during Salah.
• Newborn babies: the call to prayer, which contains the Shahadah, is whispered into their ears.
• Last words: Muslims try to make it the last words they say before death.
• Two basic beliefs: belief in One God and belief in Prophet Muhammad as His messenger.

How does the Shahadah affect Muslim life?

• One God: the person accepts Allah as the only God worthy of worship.
• Final prophet: the person accepts Muhammad as Allah’s final prophet and messenger.
• Teachings: the person agrees to follow the teachings of Islam.
• Community: the person joins the global Muslim community (Ummah).

What is the second pillar, Salah?

Salah is the ritual prayer that Muslims perform five times each day, a direct link between the worshipper and Allah.

What are the five daily prayers?

There are five daily prayers: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha.

What must a Muslim do before praying?

• Wudu: ritual washing to be clean.
• Qibla: face toward the Kaaba in Makkah.
• Cleanliness: wear clean clothes and pray on a clean surface.

What does the prayer include?

• Standing: the prayer begins in a standing position.
• Bowing: bending forward with hands on the knees.
• Prostrating: touching the forehead to the ground.
• Sitting: a seated position during the prayer.
• Recitation: verses from the Quran, especially Surah Al-Fatihah.
• Phrases: specific prayers said at each position.

Why is Salah important?

• Remembrance: it reminds Muslims of Allah throughout the day.
• Discipline: it helps Muslims develop discipline and focus.
• Unity: it brings Muslims together when they pray in congregation.
• Pillar of religion: a saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad calls prayer “the pillar of religion”.

What are the special prayers?

• Jumu’ah: Friday congregational prayer that replaces Dhuhr.
• Eid prayers: special prayers for the two major Islamic festivals.
• Taraweeh: extra night prayers during Ramadan.
• Janazah: funeral prayer.

What is the third pillar, Zakat?

Zakat is the giving of a portion of one’s wealth to those in need, a duty for Muslims who have enough wealth.

How does Zakat work?

• Nisab: the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must have before Zakat is due.
• Rate: 2.5% of qualifying wealth each year.
• Qualifying wealth: money, gold, silver, stocks and merchandise (livestock has its own rates).
• Timing: the Islamic lunar year is used to work out when Zakat is due.

Who can receive Zakat?

The Quran names eight categories of people who can receive Zakat.

1. The poor: people with very little.
2. The needy: people who cannot meet their basic needs.
3. Zakat collectors: those who collect and share the Zakat.
4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled: people being drawn closer to Islam or to peace.
5. Those in bondage: slaves and captives.
6. Those in debt: people who cannot pay what they owe.
7. In the cause of Allah: work done for the sake of Islam.
8. Travellers in need: people stranded far from home.

Why is Zakat important?

• Purity: it purifies wealth and the heart from greed.
• Poverty: it helps reduce poverty in the community.
• Brotherhood: it creates a sense of brotherhood and care.
• Ownership: it reminds Muslims that wealth belongs to Allah.
• Gratitude: it teaches thanks for blessings received.

What is Zakat Al-Fitr?

Zakat Al-Fitr is a small amount of food or money given by every Muslim, even children, at the end of Ramadan.

• Time: it is given before the Eid prayer.
• Who gives: every Muslim, including children.

What is the fourth pillar, Sawm?

Sawm is fasting from dawn until sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

What are the rules of fasting?

During the fast, Muslims must avoid the following.

• Eating and drinking: not even water.
• Marital relations: not during daylight hours.
• Smoking: not allowed during the fast.
• Bad behaviour: lying, fighting and backbiting.

Who must fast?

• Adults: all adult Muslims who are healthy and able.
• Children: not required to fast, but may practise to learn.

Who is exempt from fasting?

1. Travellers: they may fast later.
2. Sick people: they may fast later.
3. The elderly: those who cannot fast.
4. Pregnant or nursing women: they may fast later.
5. Women during menstruation: they make up the days later.

• Temporary inability: make up the missed days later.
• Permanent inability: feed a poor person for each day missed.

What happens on a typical day in Ramadan?

1. Suhoor: a pre-dawn meal before fasting begins.
2. Fasting: the fast continues all day while normal activities go on.
3. Iftar: breaking the fast at sunset, often with dates and water.
4. Taraweeh: special night prayers after Isha.

Why is Sawm important?

• Self-discipline: it teaches self-control.
• Empathy: it helps Muslims feel for those who are hungry.
• Generosity: it encourages charity.
• Community: families and neighbours share Iftar meals.
• Worship: it is a time for more prayer and Quran reading.
• Spiritual focus: it helps Muslims focus on their spiritual life.

What is Eid Al-Fitr?

Eid Al-Fitr is the festival of breaking the fast, celebrated at the end of Ramadan.

• Activities: prayer, visiting family, giving gifts and celebrating.

What is the fifth pillar, Hajj?

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia that a Muslim must perform once in a lifetime if physically and financially able.

• Time: it takes place in Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.
• Length: the rituals take about five to six days.

What are the rituals of Hajj?

1. Ihram: entering a special state of purity and wearing simple white garments.
2. Tawaf: walking around the Kaaba seven times.
3. Sa’i: walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times.
4. Standing at Arafat: praying on the plain of Arafat on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah.
5. Muzdalifah: collecting pebbles for the next ritual.
6. Rami al-Jamarat: symbolically stoning the devil.
7. Animal sacrifice: remembering Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
8. Final Tawaf: walking around the Kaaba one last time.

Why is Hajj important?

• Unity: Muslims from all over the world gather in one place.
• Equality: it reminds Muslims that all people are equal before Allah.
• Link to Ibrahim: it connects Muslims to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family.
• Character: it teaches patience, perseverance and submission to Allah.
• Renewal: it is a chance for spiritual renewal and forgiveness of sins.

What is Eid Al-Adha?

Eid Al-Adha is the Festival of Sacrifice, celebrated by Muslims worldwide at the time of Hajj.

• Prayers: special prayers are offered.
• Sacrifice: an animal is sacrificed and the meat shared with family, friends and the poor.
• Visits: people visit family and friends.
• Gifts: people give gifts.

How do the Five Pillars work together?

The Five Pillars work together to shape the life of a Muslim.

• Shahadah: establishes belief and identity as a Muslim.
• Salah: puts that belief into practice through daily worship.
• Zakat: extends that practice to care for the community.
• Sawm: deepens self-discipline and God-consciousness.
• Hajj: gathers Muslims from many nations in worship, for those who are able.

How do the pillars help Muslims?

• Remembrance: they help Muslims remember Allah through the day.
• Character: they build good character.
• Community: they build strong communities.
• Balance: they balance spiritual and worldly life.
• Practice: they help Muslims live according to Islam in a practical way.

What stories teach about the pillars?

What did Prophet Muhammad teach about prayer?

• Saying: “Prayer is the pillar of religion.”
• Example: he never missed prayers and prayed even when ill or travelling.

How generous were the Companions?

• Giving: the Companions of the Prophet were known for generous giving in charity.
• Amount: some gave half their wealth or more.
• Uthman ibn Affan: he once provided a whole caravan of supplies when the Muslim community was in need.

What was the Farewell Pilgrimage?

The Farewell Pilgrimage was the only Hajj performed by Prophet Muhammad, in the 10th year after moving to Madinah.

• Teaching: he showed Muslims how to perform the rituals correctly.
• Sermon: he gave his final sermon to thousands of followers.

How are the Five Pillars practised today?

How are they practised in Muslim-majority countries?

• Prayer times: in many places, shops and restaurants close for prayer.
• Ramadan: work hours change.
• Zakat: it may be collected by the government.
• Hajj: special facilities and arrangements are made for pilgrims.

How are they practised in non-Muslim countries?

• Prayer rooms: provided in some schools and workplaces.
• Ramadan: some workplaces allow flexible schedules.
• Zakat: community funds and organisations collect and share it.
• Hajj: travel agencies arrange Hajj and Umrah packages.

Are the Five Pillars all that matter in Islam?

No, the Five Pillars are the foundation, but Islam also includes much more.

• Beliefs: belief in angels, holy books and the Day of Judgment.
• Morals: moral teachings and ethics.
• Family and business: rules for family life and trade.
• Social life: guidelines for relations with others.

Why are they called “pillars”?

They are called pillars because they support the faith of a Muslim, as pillars support a building.

• Support: they hold up the faith of a Muslim.
• Completeness: without them, Islamic practice would be incomplete.
• Visible faith: they are the practical demonstrations of faith.

Evaluation

1. List the Five Pillars of Islam in order.
2. What is the meaning of the Shahadah, and why is it important?
3. Name the five daily prayers and state when each is performed.
4. How much of their wealth do Muslims give as Zakat, and who can receive it?
5. (a) In which month do Muslims fast, and what are two rules of fasting? (b) Describe two important rituals of Hajj.

Assignment

1. Write short notes on Zakat Al-Fitr and state how Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Fitr.