the 5 pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

Pillar; 1 - Shahada

What is the meaning of the declaration of faith? 

Declaring that you only believe in one god Allah

Why do you think that this statement is a significant part of being a Muslim?

It is the central belief of the Islamic faith

Pillar; 2 - Salah

Describe the process that Muslims go through to prepare to pray.

Must watch and cleanse yourself.

Describe the process of praying in Islam. How many times each day, and when, do Muslims pray?

5 times per day at sunrise, noon, after sunset and before they go to bed.

What do the prayers sound like?  What do the movements look like? 

They pray in Arabic. And they sing their prayers.  They can sit down and must kneel with their head on the ground

In which direction do Muslims pray? Why do they face this way?

They face Mecca in Australia that is North west.

What are some of the things Muslims say during prayer? 

That they are less than god, that there is only one god, ask Allah to assist them in their troubles and say thank you to Allah.

Why do Muslims pray?

When they pray they believe they have direct connection with god.

Pillar; 3 - Sawm

What is Zakaat?  What is emphasized in Zakaat?

Zakaat is giving money and charity to the poor, must give 2 and a ½ %. The Koran emphasis the need to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. The more you give to the poor more you receive from Allah.

Why do Muslims make donations?  How much money is a person expected to give to charitable causes? 

They are expected to help people less fortunate then thmenselves as part of their religion. The more you give the more Allah gives to you. If you do not make donations if you can afford it than you are not truly part of their religion.

What is the relationship between prayer and money?

They believe that you cannot be a true believer without giving to the poor. It is mentioned 92 times in the Koran

How is Zakaat different from ordinary charity that Muslims might give?

It is the big give at the end of every year.

Pillar; 4 - Zakat

As part of the Muslim religion, what does it mean to fast? 

Fasting is a way of showing their faith and restricting yourself in order to show faith and purify their souls

Why do Muslims fast? 

To show their faith remind themselves of their good fortune and be grateful for the food and water Allah has blessed you with.

What and when is Ramadan?   What is Eid al-Fitr? 

Eid al-fits is the celebrations at the end of the fasting

Pillar; 5 - Haji

How often must Muslims participate in Hajj? 

Every Muslim must go once if health and finance allows.

Where do Muslims go during Hajj? 

To Mecca which is situated in Saudi Arabia

What and where is the Kaaba?  Describe this place. 

Kaaba is the square in the middle of the mosque mecca. It is supposedly the house of God.

How many Muslims participate in Hajj?

Most Muslims; but around 2 million Muslims per year.

What is the goal of Hajj? 

To show your commitment to Allah and present yourself to god. To reestablish your strong connection to your faith

What does it mean to enter spiritual purity? What is the purpose of the special garments?

To level everyone and make everyone equal status.

How does Mubarak describe his experiences as a pilgrim?

He said that he felt more at one with his faith and god. He said that he felt connected and that his scope was widened as he was made aware to many more perspectives. He was proud to be himself.

What is the significance of Abraham to pilgrims?

Abraham made the first pilgrimage to Mecca.

The 5 Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

By Acacia Jennings & Jessica Collings

1. List the five pillars of Islam         

The five pillars of Islam are:

1.      The Testimony of Faith:

2.      Prayer:

3.      Giving Zakat; Support of the Needy

4.      Fasting the Month of Ramadan

5.      The Pilgrimage to Makkah

2. From where did the pillars originate? The pillars originate from Allah telling Muhammad the 5 pillars of Islam. The Five pillars of Islam are the laws all Muslims should aim to live their lives by.

3. Describe one of the pillars in detail.

The testimony of faith – to become a Muslim you must do the testimony of faith wish is saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.”  This saying means “There is no true god deity but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”  The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son.  This testimony of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which should be said with conviction in order to convert to Islam.  The testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam.

4. Compare the five pillars with similar activities in other religions.

The five pillars of Islam do compare to other religions and faiths as many religions do have prayer as an element of prayer. Fasting is different to many religions however some do something similar such as lent which is a restriction.

5. How does Australian culture cause difficulties in fulfilling the pillars?

-          Limited Mosques

-          Lifestyle different

-          Not practical

6. Are there peculiar ways different cultures or nationalities practice their faith?

Yes each culture and religion has significant ways in which they practice their faith this is due to that all religions and cultures are different in many ways and share different beliefs therefore will prayer and worship their god in a different way.

Over view of the Islamic Faith

Islam- By Jessica Collings & Acacia Jennings

1.  What does 'Islam' mean?

Islam is the name given to the people that worship Allah and practice the Islamic faith. The people that are Islam’s are called Muslims

2.  What were the origins of the Muslim religion?

Muhammad the Muslim Prophet received a message from God (Allah). Allah told Muhammad all about himself and the surroundings. This introduced all of the Islamic beliefs and the 5 pillars of Islam. At the time there were already two thriving religions Christianity and Judaism. This means that at first when Muhammad told people of his meeting with God and as he attempted to spread the new religion many people thought he was mad. The believers and the ones that had faith in Muhammad are the Muslims Today.

3. How was it different from religious beliefs in Arabia pre-Mohammed?

Before Muhammad most of people in Arabia were pagans, some Christians and a few Jews.
The belief in having freedom of faith was the main value before Muhammad. Pagans in Arabia believed in many Gods.

4.  How does someone become a Muslim?

Simply by saying “La ilah illa Allah, Muhammad rasoolu Allah.” Which means “I testify that there is no true god (deity) but God (Allah), and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of God.”

 By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought
5.  How do Muslims practice their religion?

 Muslims pray to their God named Allah five times per day. Once before sunrise, once before lunch, once after lunch, one as the sunsets and one before they go to bed. Before doing anything they ask Allah to be with them in their decision. Female Muslims must wear a Hijab that covers their entire body besides their face, toes and fingers. The Hijab becomes compulsory after or during puberty. Men must wear appropriate clothes such as pants below the knee. Muslims also have a month in which they fast between dawn and dusk.

6. What is the Ka'ba?

The ka’ba is the cube shaped box, inside Mecca. The pilgrimage to Mecca, Muslims walk around the ka’ba.

7. What were the highlights of the life of Mohammed? How did he become a prophet?

Mohammed was the first prophet of Islam. He was visited by the angel Gabrielle and was told his role in the Islamic faith. Mohammed was given the Koran and was told the five pillars of the Islamic faith which was: Prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, the hajj and giving to the poor. Mohammed is very important to Muslims just like Jesus is very important to Christians.

8. What is the Quran?

The Quran is the holy book of the Islamic faith. It is written in Arabic and read at the five daily prayers.
9. Are there any other sacred sources?

The mosques are also used to learn the religion as Arabic writings are written all over the mosques, recalling the 99 names of Allah, their god.

10. What is jihad?

 The jihad is used 41 times in the Koran. The world translates to struggle which refers to striving to the way of god.

Mosque Activity

Mosque Activity

During the excursion complete the following questions. Once completed hand to your religion teacher.

A Muslim's place of worship is a building called a Mosque.

·        What is an alternative word for mosque?                Temple or a house of God

Most Mosques are divided into two main sections: a courtyard and a main hall.

The call to Prayer

·        Who is the Mu'azzin or Muezzin?        A person whom calls/sings people to come to pray

·        What duty does he perform?                        Sings passages from the Koran      

·        From where does he perform this duty?       The head of the Mosque or the Mineretts

·        What is the Adhan?                               Mislim prayer when they present and sacrifice themselves to their God Allah

·        What is a more common term used for Adhan?  Prayer Worship

·        How often is it performed?                  5 times per day

In the courtyard

·        What occurs in the courtyard?           Washing and purification

·        What is the significance of a fountain or washing area? Be pure for prayer

·        The ritual of wudu is performed at this fountain. Describe this ritual and its purpose. Wudu is the process that you aare cleaned beginning with the face followed by the arms up to the elbow then the hair and lastly the foot up to the ankle.

·        Why are shoes removed before entering the Mosque? Hygene and respect for the Mosque.

In the main hall

·        How is the main hall decorated?                   Colourful, floral, symmetrical, geometric patterns as well as writing from the koran

·        Why are there no statues or paintings?        No one knows what Alla looks like and it is a sin to worship someone or thing other than Alla

·        Where do the worshippers sit?                                   On the rugs

·        Who worships in the main hall?                       The men

·        Where do women worship?                           Upstairs

·        Why?                                                                    Feel more comfortable, less self conscious while praying so that no one gets distracted.

·        What role do women play in the mosque?  Education of foreigners and Muslim children

·        What is the qibla wall?                                     Wall that faces Mecca

·        What is its purpose?                                          To know where to face when paying and house the mihrab to increase the preachers voice

·        What is placed in this wall?                             The Mihrab

·        What is the mihrab?                                          A dome that echos

·        Where is it found?                                              On the qibla wall

·        Describe a typical mihrab?                             A semicircular stone dome structure

·        What is its significance?                                               Faces Mecca

·        What is the minbar or mimbar?                      The Staircase

·        Where is it placed in the mosque?                 Next to the Mihrab on the qiba wall

·        When is it used?                                                 Fridays and Muslim holidays

·        Make a list of the features on the outside of the building that distinguishes a mosque from other religious traditions' places of worship.

·        The mosque was a large building complete with several dome roves and two protruding towers. On the inside it was highly decorated in colourful, floral, symmetrical, geometric patterns as well as writing from the koran

Gallipoli Mosque

I believe the trip to Auburns Gallipoli Mosque was worthwhile because I was surprised by the number of uneducated people in our year which regarded Muslims simply as terrorists and had forgotten the kindness and the complexity of the Islamic faith. Many of the traditions I had originally found obscure seemed to make sense and be valid. For example I originally associated wearing the Hijab as a compulsory thing that looked funny and would have been a hassle. Once we were educated by Muslim Lady at the Mosque I realized that she wore the Hijab by choice and because she felt self conscious without it on. It was worn to prevent becoming obsessed over what someone looks like. Some of the traditions and beliefs she expressed to me seemed plausible and I liked the idea of them such as God having no form. I thought this was nice because in many religions they believe human beings to be “the” almighty beings. I think that this is self centred and I like the idea that the God (Allah) can hold any form.  Some of the down sides of the excursion were that we were sitting down the entire time. I believe it would have been nice to do a Muslim dance or go for a tour of the Mosque as well as being talked to. Some of the beliefs I disagreed with were that we were nothing to God and that God plans our life like we are ants.