Five Pillars of Faith
The Five Pillars of Faith (Arkan al-islam) account for the basic practices of a Muslim. The Five Pillars are essentially a system of ritual that calls Muslims to be constantly aware of their duties towards Allah and to fulfil the pillars in their lives. Some pillars are to be followed each day, some each year and some once in a lifetime.
5 Pillars of Faith
*outline each of the five pillars
- Shahada - Islamic confession of faith
- Salat - Performance of daily prayers
- Zakat - Charity, particularly almsgiving
- Sawm - Fasting
- Hajj - Pilgrimmage
- Shahada
Shahada is the Islamic confession of faith. Its recitation signals commitment to Islam and allows one into the Muslim community.
‘There is not god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger’
- is a declaration of faith and monotheism and a statement of the uniqueness of Islam
- Salat
The performance of daily prayers
- Muslims must pray 5 times each day
- must pray facing Mecca, particularly the Kaaba
- movement in prayer symbolises a believer’s submission to Allah
- helps maintain connection to Allah
- enables Muslims to put their daily affairs behind them and enter the spiritual presence of Allah
- Zakat
Is charity and almsgiving
- includes concepts such as growth or purification
- Muslims must give to the poor each year at a set rate of 2.5% of a Muslim’s annual savings goes to almsgiving
- Zakat is a reminder that everything Muslims have is given to them by Allah and that they should not be attached to wealth and possessions
- almsgiving is a way to thank Allah
- Sawm
The fourth pillar is fasting
- for one month each year Muslims must not eat, drink or have sex between dawn and sunset
- fasting helps Muslims empathise with the poor and provides them with a chance to learn sel-control and to reists bodily desires
- also develops and demonstrates an appreciation of the blessings of Allah
- Ramadan is the holiest time of the year and fasting is an act of religious devotion
Hajj
The fifth pillar is pilgrimmage
- it is central and essential
- Hajj is expected to be performed once in their lifetime
- the wearing of white deonotes equality
- the pilgrim circumbulates the ka’aba 7 times
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Connection between the 5 Pillars as submission to Allah
5 Pillars of faith demonstrates adherents submission to the will of Allah. The shahada attests to believers commitment to a very pure ideal monotheism - the worship and connection with one God.The daily prayers reaffirm that every day is a gift from Allah and believers should keep their mind on him. Almsgiving stresses a wider commitment by believers to the world and those who live in poverty. Fasting demonstrates devotion to Allah by learning to overcome the basic needs of the body and the ego as a show of faith. Pilgrimmage takes believers back to the momentous events that accomapnied the birth of Islam.
Tahwid (unity/oneness of God)
The key doctrine and belief in Islam is the concept of monotheism. Allah is understood to be eternal, mighty and omniopotent and unlike any creation, and Muslims should worship only Allah. The shahada states ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet’
- Allah cannot be represented in visual or symbolic form.
The Quran
- is the central sacred reality of Islam, the holy scripture and ultimate source in Islam
- primary source of Allah’s revelation, is the sourcebook of Islamic principles and values
- tahwid (monotheism), rusal (prophethood), resurrection (al-qiyamah), justice
- revealed to Muhammad over 23 years, from his first revelation to his death
- contains 114 surahs
identify the importance of the Quran
- revelations from Allah and literal word of Allah
- the first and last sounds that a Muslim hears in life
- essential guide for the like of Muslims
- direct word of Allah, the interpretor of the universe and human beings, and the embodiment of Allah’s will
- the universal source of all Islamic beliefs, practices and ethics
- shapes adherents beliefs, practices, and worldview, providing a comprehensive guide for personal and communal life
- literal words of Allah, most divine source of authority, incontestable, incorruptible (Surah 2:2) “ This is the book of Allah, there is no doubt in it”
- used for formal and informal worship
The Hadith
- recorded sayings, actions and approvals of the Prophet
- provide additional guidance on interpreting the Quran and understanding how to live a righteous life
- collection of sayings, actions, approvals and descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad
identify the importance of the Hadith
- actions and sayings of Prophet Muhammad
- precedent for Islamic law
- second source of guidance for Muslims
- provides additional guidance and clarification about various aspects of Islamic teachings that are not explicitly covered in the Quran
- serves as a supplement to the Quran, helping Muslims understand how to apply the Quran’s teachings in different situations
- highlights the importance of following the example of Muhammads sayings and actions
examine extracts from the Quran and Hadith which demonstrate the principle beliefs of Islam
Tawhid {one God}
Rusul {messengers of Allah}
Akhira {Heaven/Hell}
Al-Qiyamah {Resurrection}
Muhammad as final messenger & role model for Muslim Life
- known to be the seal of the prophets
- ## the Quran encompasses Muhammad as the seal of the Prophets “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and last of the prophets.” (Surah 33:40)
explain why the Prophet Muhammad as the final messenger is the model for Muslim life
- Muhammad is seen as the perfect example of Islam due to his total surrender and submission to Allah
- he was chosen as a prophet by Allah to convey the message of Islam
- first Muslim and a fearless preacher and warrior for Allah and Islam
- Muslims are encouraged to follow his example in living Islam and perfecting their character
- ‘For every people there is a messenger’ (Surah 10:47)
Muhammad’s character
- Known as the walking Quran > embodiment of all its teachings in human form
- Man of prayer, spiritual searcher > close to Allah before the revelations began
- Social, political reformer > cared for the poor, abolish slavery and infanticide and improved conditions for women in Pre-Islamic Arabia
quotes
Surah 112 ‘ O Prophet He is Allah - One and Indivisible {Tahwid - Belief in the Oneness of Allah}
Surah 6:103 ‘No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision. For He is the Most subtle, All-Aware’ {Tahwid - Belief in the Oneness of Allah}
Surah 41 ‘Your good actions will benefit only you, while evil harms only the person who does it’ (Akhira)
Hadith ‘None have the right to be worshipped by Allah’ (Tahwid)
Hadith ‘Whoever turns from my sura is not from me’ (Rusul)
Hadith ‘Anyone who believes in God and the last day of judgement, should not harm his neighbour’ (Akhira)
Surah 33:40 “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and last of the prophets.”
