Isw1 MN Nadha

Assignment No.
01
IS/W/1
Islamic studies
Nadha Nisthar
[email protected]
Bright Future E-Learning Academy
January 2024
[A] Write about *5 Pillars of Islam* & explain about them.
The most important Islamic practices are the five pillars of Islam.The five pillars of Islam are:
1. Shahadah - the Muslim creed / statement of faith.
2. Salah - Muslims must pray five times a day.
3. Zakat - giving to those in need.
4. Sawm - fasting during Ramadan.
5. Hajj - making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah.
1
1. SHAHADA
Shahada is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam. Some see it as the most important belief within
Islam as it sums up what a Muslim should believe in and it supports the other four pillars.
Shahadah is the belief that “there is no God but Allah- and Muhammad is his messenger”. All
people converting to Islam must say these words to become part of the Islamic faith.
Another important aspect of the Shahadah is that it teaches Muslims to follow in Muhammad’s
footsteps. By doing this, they follow the correct path, which will help them to become the best
Muslim they can be.
The Shahadah is important for the following reasons:
▪ It is repeated during Salah.
▪ It is recited in the adhan.
It is whispered to new born babies. Muslim parents aim for these to be the first words a newborn
hears.
Muslims aim for it to be the last words they hear or say before they die.
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2. SALAH
Salah is the second of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is the belief that Muslims should pray five
times each day. Prayer is important as it allows Muslims to communicate with Allah, listen to
Allah and follow in the footsteps of the prophets.
Prayer is performed five times each day because of what the Qur’an says about prayer: Establish
prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the
Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. (Qur'an 17:78).
There are five key things that Muslims must do when they come into contact with Allah through
salah. These are:
▪ Perform wudu.
▪ Pray five times each day at set times.
▪ Face Makkah.
▪ Perform certain actions which include standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting.
▪ Recite in Arabic.
When a Muslim prays, the intention (niyyah) behind the prayer must be right, otherwise Allah
will know and the prayer will be meaningless. Although Muslims are expected to pray five times
each day, they are allowed to perform more prayers. For example, they might say extra prayers
asking for forgiveness.
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3. ZAKATH
Zakah is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is giving money to the poor. Muslims believe
that it is their duty to ensure Allah’s wealth has been distributed equally as everyone is the same -
Allah created everyone equally. If a Muslim decides not to follow the pillar of Zakah, it may
affect how they are judged in the afterlife. This could make it more likely that they will be sent to
Hell (Jahannam) rather than Paradise (Jannah).
Zakah means ‘that which purifies’. By giving money to charity, Muslims can cleanse their
wealth. It is important that Muslims do not get attached to unnecessary things such as money and
possessions. Islam teaches that focusing on wealth and material possessions does not make a
good Muslim.
Zakah refers to a Muslim giving 2.5% of their earnings to charity, after they have paid for what is
necessary to support themselves and their family. This means that people who are too poor are
not required to suffer hardship in order to give Zakah. Muslims see wealth as ultimately
belonging to Allah, and giving Zakah helps to make people more equal. Helping one another is
also seen as helping Allah. Zakah donations help Muslims to purify their souls by not being
greedy. It is said that the giver of the money will receive a ‘hundred-fold’ back in the afterlife.
This means that the giver of the money will receive back a hundred times what they gave as
Zakah during their life.
Some Muslims perform Zakah by giving directly to a charity. Others contribute to donations in
the mosque, which then distributes the money to people in need.
As well as donating money in a mosque, some Muslims choose to invest time or money (known
as Sadaqah) in a chosen charity of their choice. They do this in order to please Allah. However,
there are some limitations to how Muslims can donate their time and money. According to Surah
9 in the Qur’an, Zakah can only be used for the following:
▪ Helping the poor.
▪ Helping people in need.
▪ Freeing prisoners, enslaved people or captives.
▪ Helping people out of debt.
4
4. SAWM
Sawm is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam. It happens during the ninth month of the lunar
calendar, during Ramadan. Ramadan is special because it is believed to be the month in which
the Prophet Muhammad began to receive revelations of the Qur’an.
During Ramadan, Muslims give up food, liquid, smoking and sexual activity during daylight
hours. Ramadan lasts for 29 or 30 days each year. Because Islam uses a lunar calendar, the
month of Ramadan comes around 11 days earlier each year, so there is no Western season
associated with Ramadan.
Muslims are also expected to do their best to avoid evil thoughts and deeds. The break from the
routine of preparing and eating meals leaves time for extra prayer, contemplation of God and
reading the Qur’an.
The following Muslims are not expected to fast:
▪ Children who have not reached puberty
▪ Women who are menstruating.
▪ Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
▪ People who are physically unwell.
▪ The elderly.
During Ramadan, if a Muslim misses a day of fasting then they are expected to make this up at
the end of Ramadan or donate some extra money to charity. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims
often spend time with family and friends.
5
5. Hajj
Hajj is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is the pilgrimage to Makkah. All Muslims are
expected to go on Hajj once in their lifetime if they are physically, financially and mentally able
to. It happens during the 12th month of the lunar calendar.
Hajj is a gathering of Muslims from all over the world, who take part in an act of worship. No
matter who they are, this act of worship brings all Muslims together as one. Everyone is expected
to wear an ihram which is special clothing made from two sheets of white cloth. This is so that
everyone is seen as equal, regardless of who they are. It also symbolises Muslims having only
the bare essentials needed to live, and it allows them to leave material things behind them.
Makkah is in Saudi Arabia. This is where the Prophet Muhammad was born and had his first
revelation from Allah.
There are several things that Muslims must do during the Hajj. These are:
▪ Wear Ihram.
▪ Walk around the Ka’bah seven times (Tawaf).
▪ Walk quickly between As-Safa and Al-Marwah on the outskirts of Makkah.
▪ Visit Mina for midday prayers.
▪ Stand at Arafat from noon to sunset.
▪ Collect pebbles from Muzdalifah.
▪ Stone the pillars in Mina.
▪ Celebrate Id-ul Adha

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Assignment No.

Bright Future E-Learning Academy

1. Shahadah - the Muslim creed / statement of faith.

2. Salah - Muslims must pray five times a day.

3. Zakat - giving to those in need.

4. Sawm - fasting during Ramadan.

5. Hajj - making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah.

The Shahadah is important for the following reasons:

▪ It is repeated during Salah.

▪ It is recited in the adhan.

▪ Pray five times each day at set times.

▪ Helping the poor.

▪ Helping people in need.

▪ Freeing prisoners, enslaved people or captives.

▪ Helping people out of debt.

The following Muslims are not expected to fast:

▪ Children who have not reached puberty

▪ Women who are menstruating.

▪ Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

▪ People who are physically unwell.

▪ Walk around the Ka’bah seven times (Tawaf).

▪ Walk quickly between As-Safa and Al-Marwah on the outskirts of Makkah.

▪ Visit Mina for midday prayers.

▪ Stand at Arafat from noon to sunset.

▪ Collect pebbles from Muzdalifah.

▪ Stone the pillars in Mina.

▪ Celebrate Id-ul Adha

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