Transcript Five Pillars of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam
The Pillars
Arabic Name
Shahadah
Salah
Zakah
Sawm
Hajj
Meaning
Declaration of
faith
Ritual Prayer
Welfare
payment to
needy
Fasting in
Ramadan
Pilgrimage to
Makkah
(Mecca)
How often
must this be
done??
Throughout
your life
Five times
daily
Once a year
One specified
month a year
Once in a
lifetime
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Called the Five Pillars of Islam because they
support Islam, just as physical pillars hold up a
roof
Muslims believe God commanded them to do
these duties for their own good
Shahadah
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Translation: There is
no god but Allah, and
Muhammad is the
Prophet of Allah
Duty to declare the two
great beliefs of Islam:
Oneness of God and
prophethood
Muslims are to make
sure the words of the
Shahadah can be seen
and heard across the
Muslim world
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Words appear on Flags, mosque walls, in public
buildings and in homes.
They are the first words a baby hears after birth,
repeated in the call to prayer, used in prayers
and should be the final words a Muslim speaks
or hears before death
Anyone who stands in front of witnesses and
makes this statement of faith considered a
Muslim
This is the foundation of Islam while other 4
pillars are putting Shahadah into practice
Some Shi’ah Muslims add “…and Ali is the Friend
of God.” to the end of the Shahadah
Salah
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This Pillar commands
Muslims to pray 5 times
daily arranged about
sunrise and sunset
Shi’ahs combine the
afternoon and evening
prayers, leaving three
prayers daily
Prayer is announced by a
call to prayer
Traditionally from
minarets, but now even
phones and radio used
Fajr
Just before sunrise
Zuhr
Just after midday
Asr
Afternoon
Maghrib
Sunset
Isha
Night
Salah - Wudu
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Muslims commanded to prepare for prayer
by a purification ritual called Wudu
Mosques provide fountains or rooms
Specific way in which this should be done
Main purpose is to prepare spiritually
http://youtu.be/XwXbRsE-xKY
Salah con’t…
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Muslims turn to face Makkah when they pray
Unifying by focusing mentally and physically on a single
point on earth
Can pray anywhere, as long as it is clean.
Many prefer to pray with other Muslims or in a mosque
The sequence of actions and words in prayer is called
rak’ah
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Stand and recite the first chapter of the Qur’an
Bow to show how great god is
Prostrate to show complete obedience to God
Jumuah prayer is the Friday midday prayer lead by an
Iman who leads prayer and delivers a sermon
Du’a prayers are personal prayers and can be in own
language
Zakah
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Is a duty for Muslims that can afford it
Pay 2.5% of savings to the community
Muslims believe that money is clean if obtained
in accordance to God’s law and have paid God
what they owe
Put in Collection boxes at mosques or to a
Muslim charity
Some prefer to give it to a person directly
In some Muslim countries the government
collects Zakah
Can be spent in a way that support Islam and is
allowed by God’s law
Muslims who can’t afford to pay are instead
directed to be generous with their time and
effort
Sawm
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Fasting in the month of Ramadan
Physical and spiritual exercise
Not allowed to eat, drink, smoke of have
sex between dawn and dusk
Those with good reason do not fast –
pregnant, nursing, very young, sick,
travelers
Also known as month of the Qur’an –
during his month it was revealed
Some Muslims set targets for studying the
Qur’an
Eid ul Fitr
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Eid ul Fitr is a festival celebrating the end
of the fast after Ramadan
Presents, new clothes, and a feast
characterize this event – a sense of
family/community involved
Iman will give sermon reminding Muslims
it is their duty to:
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Care for all living beings
End hatred and anger
Help he poor and needy
Hajj
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Hajj is the pilgrimage to
Makkah
Happen once in a life time
for those that are healthy
and wealthy enough
One week each year up to
three million Muslims come
to the Ka’aba as part of the
ritual
Ka’aba is a cube shaped
stone building in the center
of the Great Mosque of Islam
in Makkah
Qur’an says it is the first
house of worship
Hajj con’t…
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Ka’aba is covered in black cloth (the Kiswah)
with verses embroidered on it
In the structure is a black stone that fell from
heaven – was white and turned black due to sin
Hajj involves series of rituals in/around Makkah
– instructions in the Qur’an and sunnah
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Ihram – All pilgrims must wear special clothing.
Males wear two sheets of white cloth and females
clothes of a single colour covering entire body, except
the face
Shows unity between race and class amoung Muslims
Changed into before entering Makkah and worn until
pilgrimage is complete – people buried in clothes
Hajj rituals
Makkah
- Circle the Ka’aba 7 times counterclockwise
reciting pilgrim’s prayer
- Touch or greet black stone when passing
- Then walk from the hills of Safa to
Marwath
seven times
Return to Ka’aba to collect water from
well of Zamzam (bottled)
Prepare for 13 mile walk to Arafat (hot
temps and long journey)
Arafat
 All pilgrims meet there on
ninth day of month to
perform Wuquf
(ceremony of standing) –
if fail to get there in time
must repeat pilgrimage
 This is site of
Muhammad’s last sermon
 Sermon is delivered on
loud speakers
 Day of prayer and
reflection
Muzdalifah
 Journey to Mina is broken at Muzdalifah
 Pilgrims must collect 49 stones on journey
 As of 2008 they were given pre-packed pebbles in plastic
bags
Mina
 In Mina there are three stone pillars called Jamarat
representing evil or temptation
 Pilgrims throw their stones at them showing they reject
evil
 Followed by a feast of sacrifice, Eid ul Adha (celebrated
by Muslims around world)
 Now sacrificed meat is packaged for pilgrims to give to
poor
 Pilgrims return to Makkah for final circling of Ka’aba
Significance of the Pillars
Training program that develops ideal Muslim
character – strengthens Islam
 God commands Muslims to carry out duties –
follow example of Muhammad in doing so
RUSH
R – Remind Muslims about the teachings of Islam
U – Unite Muslims and strengthens links between them
S – Support development of God-consciousness
H – Help Muslims put God first in everything they do
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