Islam Practices

• The Five Pillars of Islam

  Five duties that every Muslim must follow in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam
• The Five Pillars of Islam


  • Shahadah
  • Salah
  • Zakah
  • Sawm
  • Hajj
• The Five Pillars of Islam

  Five duties that every Muslim must follow in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam
• Shahadah


  The Muslim declaration of faith
• The Five Pillars of Islam


  • Shahadah
  • Salah
  • Zakah
  • Sawm
  • Hajj
• "Enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong."
• Salah


  Prayer, compulsory for Muslims to pray five times a day if they are eligible to do so
• Shahadah


  The Muslim declaration of faith
• Zakah


  Charitable giving, encourages generosity and compassion
• The Shahadah is the declaration of faith or the key statement of belief of Muslims. Muslims are expected to know the declaration of faith.
• Salah


  Prayer, compulsory for Muslims to pray five times a day if they are eligible to do so
• Sawm


  The obligation to fast during Ramadan, teaches Muslims self-discipline, bringing them closer to Allah
• The Shahadah is usually said a few times each day. It is said at birth as the first words a baby hears, and Muslims aim for these to be the last words they say before death. The Shahadah forms the foundation of the other four pillars.

  A non-Muslim can convert to Islam by saying the Shahadah and meaning it sincerely.
• Zakah


  Charitable giving, encourages generosity and compassion
• Hajj


  The pilgrimage to Makkah, compulsory at least once in a lifetime for Muslims as long as they are fit and healthy and can afford to make the trip
• The Salah are the five daily prayers, which can be done anywhere. Each of the prayers is performed at a specific time of day:

  • Fajr - just before sunrise
  • Zuhr - just after midday
  • Asr - late afternoon
  • Maghrib - just after sunset
  • Isha - between sunset and midnight
• Sawm


  The obligation to fast during Ramadan, teaches Muslims self-discipline, bringing them closer to Allah
• t the mosque, men and women pray in separate rooms while performing a series of movements in a sequence. This involves bowing and kneeling as well as prostration and reciting praises to God.

  Salah encourages self-discipline and keeps Muslims in close contact with Allah. It is a sign of solidarity with all other Muslims and it shows that everyone is equal in their worship of God.
• Hajj


  The pilgrimage to Makkah, compulsory at least once in a lifetime for Muslims as long as they are fit and healthy and can afford to make the trip
• Muslim preparation before praying


  1. Perform washing ritual (Wudu)

  2. Face the city of Makkah

  3. Niyyah - conscious intention to pray
• Sunni Muslims only combine the five daily prayers if they have a good reason to, for example if they are travelling.

  Shi'a Muslims have more freedom to combine certain prayers, such as the midday and afternoon prayers. Therefore they may only pray three times a day.

  Shi’a Muslims also often use natural elements when praying. For example, some place a piece of clay at the spot where their head will rest.

  The movements that Sunni and Shi’a Muslims make during prayer can also differ.
• Wudu


  Washing ritual to be spiritually clean
• Jummah refers to communal prayers held on a Friday just after noon at a mosque. Getting together is meant to develop the feeling of unity among the Muslim community.

  The imam gives two sermons and a series of rak’ahs is performed. Men are obliged to go to Jummah unless they are ill or too old to attend. Women do not have to go to Jummah and instead may choose to pray at home.
• Wudu


  • Involves washing faces, hands and feet under running water
  • If water is not available, sand or dust can be used
  • Seen as a sign of spiritual washing
• Mihrab


  Marks the direction of prayer in a mosque
• Sawm is the obligation on Muslims to fast between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan.

  The fast is broken at sunset, often with a sweet food such as dates, before a bigger meal is eaten. This is known as iftar.

  Those who should not fast

  • Children under the age of 12.
  • Old people.
  • People with medical conditions.
  • Women who are pregnant or menstruating.
  • People who are travelling.

  If it is possible to do so, Muslims who have missed a few days of the fast make up for it by fasting for the same number of days after Ramadan has ended.
• Prayer mat compass


  Used to determine direction of prayer outside a mosque
• Ramadan is a time for both physical and moral self-discipline. It is a time of obedience to Allah and a time of understanding hunger.

  The Qur’an teaches that, during this time of religious purity, Muslims should not listen to music, have sex or smoke. Muslims also try to avoid bad thoughts and actions. The holy month of Ramadan is also about spending extra time studying the Qur’an and attending mosque, as well as making an extra effort to help those in need.
• Niyyah


  Conscious intention to pray
• Prayer starts with a declaration of niyyah, showing that the worshipper is making an intentional effort to set time aside to communicate with God
• Laylat al-Qadr


  The Night of Power, the night that the Angel Jibril first appeared to Muhammad and began revealing the Qur'an
• Zakah


  The practice where a Muslim gives 2.5 per cent of their wealth over a certain amount to charity, after they have paid for what is necessary to support themselves and their families
• Laylat al-Qadr is celebrated during Ramadan as it is seen as a time of thanksgiving for the Qur'an
• Laylat al-Qadr


  • It is the holiest night of the year
  • It is described as better than a thousand months (Qur'an 97:3)
• People who are too poor will not be required to suffer hardship to give Zakah
• How Muslims celebrate Laylat al-Qadr


  1. Stay awake for the whole night praying and studying the Qur'an

  2. Come together to celebrate in the mosque

  3. Believe it is a time when Allah will forgive their sins
• Muslims give to charity


  Because they see wealth as a loan from Allah
• "Alms are meant only for the poor, the needy, those who administer them, those whose hearts need winning over, to free slaves and help those in debt, for God’s cause, and for travellers in need."
• Giving Zakah


  Helps Muslims to purify their souls by not being greedy
• During the month of Ramadan, the whole of the Qur'an is read from beginning to end