The Five Pillars of Islam

Objectives​: I will be able to describe the basic beliefs of Islam and explain the meaning of
each of the Five Pillars of Islam. I will compare and contrast the Five Pillars of Islam with the
duties of Catholicism.

Materials​:

● Station Note Taking Guide for students

● Primary Source Documents for each student station
● Construction paper (11x17)
● Colored pencils
● Rulers

Technology​:

● Computer
● SmartBoard
● Personal student devices

Procedures​:

1. Whole Group Share​: What do you know about Islam?

2. Introductory Video​: Students will watch “​5 Pillars of Islam - part 1 | Cartoon by
Discover Islam UK” (​https://youtu.be/9hW3hH9_7pI​) and “5 Pillars of Islam - part 2 |
Cartoon by Discover Islam UK” (​https://youtu.be/_bujwCZ9RHI​)

3. Small Group Activity​: Students will work in small groups of 4-5 and rotate between
five stations (see below) and complete 5 Pillars of Islam note taking guide.

a. Declaration of Faith (Appendix A-B)

b. Ritual Prayer (Appendices C-G)
c. Obligatory Expenditure (H-I)
d. Fasting Ramadan (J-M)
e. Pilgrimage to Mecca (N-P)
 4. Individual Activity​: Using their notes, students will create a visual representation of
the Five Pillars of Islam.

5. Pair Activity:​ Students will create a double bubble comparing and contrasting Islam with
Christianity. (​**You can substitute any other religion the students are familiar with or have
been studying.**)

Resources:

www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/islam08.socst.world.glob.lppillars/the-five-pillars-of-islam/
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/accessislam/lessonplan2.html
http://www.discoverislam.co.uk/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/muslims/beliefs.html
 THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

PILLAR DESCRIPTION/ NOTES PICTURE

The
Declaration of
Faith

Ash -
Shahadah
 STATION 1: DECLARATION OF FAITH
With your group, examine Appendices A-C and discuss the following questions.
Complete the note-taking guide when you are done.

● What is the Shahadah?

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

● How is this statement similar to other religions you have studied? How is
different?
 STATION 2: DAILY PRAYER
With your group, examine Appendices C-G and discuss the following questions.
Complete the note-taking guide when you are done.

● What is the process that Muslims go through to prepare for prayer?

● How often do Muslims pray? When?

● What do the prayers sound like?

● What do the movements look like?

● What direction do Muslims face while praying? Why?

● Why do Muslims pray?

● How is prayer in Islam similar or different to prayer in other religions?

Explain.
 STATION 3: CHARITY
With your group, examine Appendices C-E and discuss the following questions.
Complete the note-taking guide when you are done.

● What is Zakaat?

● How much is a person expected to give?

● Why do Muslims make donations?

● Do you know of any other religions that ask believers to donate money? Is it
similar or different?
 STATION 4: FASTING
With your group, examine Appendices C-E and discuss the following questions.
Complete the note-taking guide when you are done.

● What does it mean to fast?

● Why do Muslims fast?

● How does fasting alter people’s spiritual state of mind?

● What and when is Ramadan?

● What is Eid al-Fitr?

● Do you know of any other religions that fast? How is it similar? How is it
different?
 STATION 5: PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
With your group, examine Appendices C-E and discuss the following questions.
Complete the note-taking guide when you are done.

● Where do Muslims go during Hajj? Why?

● How often must they go there?

● Who must participate in Hajj?

● What is the significance of Abraham to pilgrims?

● What other religions incorporate the idea of pilgrimage? How is it similar?

How is it different?
APPENDIX A
Scan the following QR code or go to the website below.

https://goo.gl/sQvrT
APPENDIX B
The first Pillar of Islam is called ​shahada. It is a brief prayer proclaiming the oneness of God
and faith in Islam. Children memorize the shahada, an action which introduces them into the
Islamic community. The shahada simply states:

"There is no God but Allah,

and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."

Here is the shahada written in Arabic. (Like Hebrew, Arabic is written from right to left.)

Arabic was Muhammad's native tongue, the language in which he claimed to have received
the​Koran. Many devout Muslims from outside Arabic-speaking countries will learn the
language in order to read the ​Koran in its original form. In fact, some Muslims consider any
translation of the scripture totally unacceptable. Here is a map of Arabic-speaking countries.

Source: ​http://www.waupun.k12.wi.us/Policy/other/dickhut/religions/31%20Five%20Pillars%20of%20Islam.html
APPENDIX C
Scan the following QR code or go to the website below.

https://goo.gl/KBd8q
APPENDIX D

Hassan II Mosque - Casablance, Morocco

Photograph taken by Ms. Elliott
APPENDIX E

Hassan II Mosque - Casablance, Morocco

Photograph taken by Ms. Elliott
APPENDIX F
Scan the following QR code or go to the website below and watch the video.

https://goo.gl/Xclv1x
APPENDIX G

Source: ​https://pixabay.com/en/prayer-islam-iran-muslim-religion-1008385/

Source: ​http://www.waupun.k12.wi.us/Policy/other/dickhut/religions/31%20Five%20Pillars%20of%20Islam.html
APPENDIX H
Zakah, the third pillar, provided a steady source of charity because it is required, though
additional giving is voluntary. One way of giving is to donate the money from a business on a
regular and permanent basis, for example, from the sale of fruit from an orchard each year.
These goods and money may be put into a foundation, as a kind of contract with God, or a trust
fund that would last as long as the source lasted. By comparison, today in the U.S. wealthy
people and organizations of many faiths give money to charitable foundations for hospitals,
education, the arts, and other purposes.

Source: ​https://cmes.uchicago.edu/sites/cmes.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/Global/WHFUA-Era5-landscape2-basicbeliefsexcerpt.pdf

Zakat

Zakat is the compulsory giving of a set proportion of one's wealth to charity. It is regarded as a
type of worship and of self-purification. Zakat is the third P
​ illar of Islam​.

Zakat does not refer to charitable gifts given out of kindness or generosity, but to the systematic
giving of 2.5% of one's wealth each year to benefit the poor.

The benefits of Zakat, apart from helping the poor, are as follows:

● Obeying God
● Helping a person acknowledge that everything comes from​God​ on loan and that we do
not really own anything ourselves
○ And since we cannot take anything with us when we die we need not cling to it
● Acknowledging that whether we are rich or poor is God's choice
○ So we should help those he has chosen to make poor
● Learning self-discipline
● Freeing oneself from the love of possessions and greed
● Freeing oneself from the love of money
● Freeing oneself from love of oneself
● Behaving honestly

The 2.5% rate only applies to cash, gold and silver, and commercial items. There are other rates
for farm and mining produce, and for animals.

Source: ​http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/zakat.shtml
APPENDIX I

Scan the following QR code or go to the website below and watch the video.

https://goo.gl/9n7HxA
APPENDIX J

Source: ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
APPENDIX K

Source: ​https://www.asia.si.edu/explore/teacherResources/islam.pdf
APPENDIX L
Scan the following QR code or go to the website below and watch the video.

https://goo.gl/uiK2Vi
APPENDIX M
Sawm

Sawm is fasting. It's the fourth of the F

​ ive Pillars of Islam​.

Muslims are required to fast during ​Ramadan​, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

During the 29/30 days of Ramadan all adult Muslims must give up the following things
during the hours of daylight:

● Food or drink of any sort

● Smoking, including passive smoking
● Sexual activity

Muslims who are physically or mentally unwell may be excused some of these, as may
those who are under twelve years old, the very old, those who are pregnant,
breast-feeding, menstruating, or travelling.

If an adult does not fast for the reasons above they should try to make up the fast at a
later date, or make a donation to the poor instead.

Muslims do not only abstain from physical things during Ramadan. They are also expected
to do their best to avoid evil thoughts and deeds as well.

There are many good reasons for this fast, including:

● Obeying God
● Learning self-discipline
● Becoming spiritually stronger
● Appreciating God's gifts to us
● Sharing the sufferings of the poor and developing sympathy for them
● Realising the value of charity and generosity
● Giving thanks for the Holy Q
​ ur'an​, which was first revealed in the month of
Ramadan
● Sharing fellowship with other Muslims

Eating in Ramadan

During Ramadan many Muslims will try to eat a large meal called ​suhur just before dawn.
When daylight is over, most Muslims will ​break or o
​ pen the fast with dates or water,
following the example of the ​Prophet Muhammad​, before having a proper meal later.

The evening meals during Ramadan are occasions for family and community
get-togethers.

Eid ul-Fitr

The month of Ramadan ends with the festival of ​Eid ul-Fitr​. This is marked by dressing
up and visiting the mosque for prayer, and with visits to family and friends for celebratory
meals.

Ramadan and the Western calendar

Because Islam uses a lunar calendar, the month of Ramadan comes around 11 days
earlier each successive year, so there is no Western season associated with Ramadan.

Source: ​http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/sawm.shtml
APPENDIX N
Scan the following QR code or go to the website below and watch the video.

https://goo.gl/4IHU0G
APPENDIX O

Source: ​https://pixabay.com/en/mecca-saudi-arabia-kaaba-holy-656774/

Source: ​https://pixabay.com/en/mosque-masjid-saudi-arabia-1075807/
APPENDIX P
Scan the following QR code or go to the website below and watch the video.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/saudiarabia_mecca