FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Who is the founder of Islam?

The prophet Muhammad, who was born in A.D. 570 at Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is often considered the founder of Islam. He was the last prophet to be sent by Allah.

There were many prophets before Muhammad including: Noah, Abraham (Ibrahim), Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses (Musa), Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesús.

What does Islam mean?

The Arabic word ‘Islam’ means submission and obedience, and derives from a word meaning ‘peace’.

What is Islam based on?

Islam is based on the ministry of a man named Muhammad and on the words that Allah gave to the world through Muhammad.

Allah is the name Muslims use for the supreme and unique God, who created and rules everything. The heart of faith for all Muslims is obedience to Allah’s will.

What do Muslims believe?

The basic belief of Islam is that there is only one God, whose name in the Arabic language is Allah.

Muslims have 6 main beliefs

Belief in Allah as the one and only God.
Belief in angels.
Belief in the holy books. their holy book is the Qur’an.
Belief in the Prophets (special messengers).
e.g. Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Isa (Jesus).
Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet.
Belief in the Day of Judgement…
The day when the life of every human being will be assessed to decide whether they go to heaven or hell.
Belief in Predestination…
That Allah has already decided what will happen.
Muslims believe that this doesn’t stop human beings making free choices

The Muslim building for communal worship is called a mosque.

What are the five Pillars of Islam?

These are five duties that every Muslim is obliged to perform. The five pillars of Islam help Muslims put their faith into action.

Shahadah: declaration of faith
Salah: prayer
Muslims are required to pray five times a day, washing themselves before prayer and facing in the direction of Mecca while praying.
Zakat: giving a fixed proportion to charity
Muslims are required to give away a percentage of their earnings to those less fortunate, regardless of their religion.
Saum: fasting during the month of Ramadan
Muslims fast for one lunar month each year, a period called Ramadan. During this time, Muslims reflect on their behaviour and strive to purify their thoughts.
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca
If it is financially possible, Muslims are required to travel to Mecca once in their lifetime.