Islam 5 Pillars Flashcards
Why are the five pillars important in Islam?
The Five Pillars are the five most important duties for all Muslims. They are the fundamental practices of Islam on which everything else is built, and are seen as the key to living a perfect Muslim life.
Why are The Ten Obligatory Acts important in Muslim faith?
The Ten Obligatory Acts combine the Five Pillars with some additional duties. These are followed by Twelver Shi’a Muslims.
Name The Five Pillars of Islam.
- Shahadah – the declaration of faith
- Salah – prayer
- Zakah – charitable giving
- Sawm – fasting
- Hajj – pilgrimage
Why is The First Pillar of Islam Shahada important?
Shahadah is important to Muslims because it expresses the core beliefs of Islam.
The Shahadah is considered to provide the foundation for the other four pillars, which tell a Muslim how to live according to the beliefs expressed in the Shahadah.
To become a Muslim, a person only has to sincerely recite the Shahadah in front of Muslim witnesses.
The Shahadah is recited many times during a Muslim’s life.
If they are born into a Muslim family, it is the first thing they hear.
If possible, it is also the last thing they say before they die.
The Second Pillar of Islam Salah - Prayer
How many times a day do Muslims pray?
Sunni Muslims pray five times a day.
Shi’a Muslims three times a day.
What is ‘wudu’?
Muslims perform ritual washing (wudu) before they pray to make themselves spiritually clean.
Which direction do Muslim face, when they pray?
Muslims always face the city of Makkah when they pray.
Name the five times of prayer for Sunni Muslims.
Fajr: just before sunrise
Zuhr: just after midday
Asr: afternoon
Maghrib: just after sunset
Isha: night
Name the three time Shi’a Muslims pray.
- Fajr: just before sunrise
- Zuhr: just after midday Asr: afternoon
- Maghrib: just after sunset Isha: night
Shi’a Muslims combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and sunset and night prayers, so they pray the same prayers but only pray three times a day.
How do Muslims prepare for prayer and why is this important?
Muslims perform ritual washing (wudu) before they pray, to make themselves spiritually clean.
Muslims wash their faces, hands and feet under running water.
Mosques have two special rooms set aside for this, one for women and one for men.
If water isn’t available, Muslims can ‘wash’ themselves using sand or dust instead.
This illustrates the fact that wudu is about becoming spiritually clean, not physically clean.
Wudu is important because the purification of wudu helps Muslims to fully focus on God in their prayers.
Explain the direction of prayer for Muslims and why is this important?
Muslims face the city of Makkah when they pray.
In a mosque, the mihrab indicates the direction of Makkah.
This is a small niche in the qiblah wall, which is the wall that faces Makkah.
Muslims use this to face the right direction when they pray.
Muslims can also use a special compass to indicate the right direction.
Why is it important?
Praying in the same direction means that all Muslims are focusing on one place associated with God.
How do Muslims pray in the Mosque?
Many mosques have carpets that look like rows of prayer mats, giving each person their own space to pray.
Prayers in the mosque are led by an imam, who is positioned at the front of the congregation, facing the mihrab.
Men and women pray at the same time but in separate spaces.
The imam will lead the prayers from the men’s prayer room, but his voice is usually also broadcast in the women’s prayer room, so he can lead everyone’s prayers together.
Define rak’ah
Rak’ah is the number of set sequences of actions and recitations in a prayer.
Define Jummah Prayer
The Jummah prayer is a special prayer that is held at midday on Friday.
Men are expected to attend a mosque for this prayer, but Muslims are otherwise allowed to pray at home if they want to.
Why is prayers important for Muslims?
God commanded Muslims to pray, so it is important for Muslims to observe this pillar of Islam.
Prayer is also important because it unites Muslims and brings them closer to God.
