The Five Pillars

Question 1

What are the 5 Pillars of Islam?

Answer 1

1. Shahadah
2. Salah
3. Zakah
4. Sawm
5. Hajj

Question 2

What is the Shahadah?

Answer 2

Decalration of faith

‘There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’

Question 3

What is Salah?

Answer 3

Compulsory prayers five times a day

Question 4

What is Zakah?

Answer 4

Purification of wealth by payment of annual welfare due

Question 5

What is Sawm?

Answer 5

Month of fasting

Question 6

What is Hajj?

Answer 6

Pilgrimage to Makkah

Question 7

What are the names of the 5 compulsory prayers?

Answer 7

• Fajr - between dawn and sunrise
• Zuhr - after mid-day
• ‘Asr - between alte afternoon and sunset
• Maghrib - between sunset and the end of daylight
• ‘Isha - night until dawn

Question 8

What age are Mulsims when they are expected to do Salah?

Answer 8

All Muslims should try to do this no matter what age they are.

Question 9

What do all Mulsims do before they pray?

Answer 9

Peform Wudu - a ritual washing

Question 10

Why do Muslims perform Wudu before prayer?

Answer 10

• Highly spiritual ritual
• Physically and spiritually clenses
• Ummah - connects all Muslims to the greater Muslim comunity as they are all doing the same ritual that has always happened and is still happening today

Question 11

What happens during Wudu?

Answer 11

1. Wash hands
2. Rinse mouth 3x
3. Rinse nose 3x
4. Wash face 3x
5. Wash arms up to the elbows 3x
6. Run wet hands through hair and ears 3x
7. Wash both feet up to the ankles 3x

Prepares the body mind and soul for prayer

Question 12

Why do all Muslims perform the same prayer ritual?

Answer 12

Ummah - connects them to the greater Muslim/Islamic community - everyone is equal and does the same thing at the same time.

Unity and unifying

Links the now with the past as this is what has always happened

Question 13

What happens during the Salah (prayer)?

Answer 13

1. Takbir - say ‘God is great’ raising hands to head
2. Qiyyam - cross hands right over left
3. Ruku - bowing. During ruku Muslims say ‘glory be to God, the Most Great’ 3 times
4. Stand again
5. Sujud - prostration with 7 parts of the body on the floor. Forehead and nose, both hands, both knees and toes. Repeated 3 times
6. To end the prayer Muslims turn to the right saying ‘Peace be upon you, and the mercy and the blessings of Allah’. This is said to the Angels which Muslims believe accompany each human being to record their actions. The good sits on the right and the bad sits on the left.

Question 14

What is Niyyah?

Answer 14

Having the right intention before doing something.

Muslims do this before prayer - they put aside all thoughts and concentrate exclusively on God.