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Basic 4 · Religious and Moral Education · Religious Worship

Forms of Islamic Worship

In this topic you will name and describe the forms of worship in Islam, including the Five Pillars.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name the Five Pillars of Islam
  • Describe the five daily prayers
  • Show respect for Islamic worship

What you already know

  • Forms of Christian worship

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Religious Practices
Sub-strand
Religious Worship
Indicator
B4.2.1.1.1 – Name the various forms of worship

Introduction

Five times a day, the call to prayer (adhan) is heard from the mosque. Muslims perform ablution and pray facing Makkah.

1. The Five Pillars of Islam

Five Pillars
PillarMeaning
Shahadadeclaring faith: there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger
Salatpraying five times a day
Zakatgiving a share of wealth to the needy
Sawmfasting during the month of Ramadan
Hajjpilgrimage to Makkah, if able

2. The Five Daily Prayers

Salat times
PrayerTime
Fajrdawn
Dhuhrmidday
Asrafternoon
Maghribsunset
Ishanight
Muslims praying in rows on prayer mats in a Ghanaian mosque
Figure 1: Islamic worship Draw a prayer mat and write the five daily prayers.Photo: Ibn Dagara, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3. Other Forms

  • Jumu'ah: the Friday congregational prayer
  • recitation of the Qur'an
  • ablution (wudu) before prayer

New words

Five Pillars
The five main duties of Islam.
Salat
The five daily prayers.
Sawm
Fasting during Ramadan.
Zakat
Giving to the needy.
Hajj
Pilgrimage to Makkah.
adhan
The call to prayer.

Summary

  • Islam has Five Pillars: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj.
  • Muslims pray five times a day.
  • Jumu'ah is the Friday congregational prayer.
  • Muslims perform ablution before prayer.

Class activity: Pillars Chart

  1. Look at the Qur'an, prayer mat and mosque photographs.
  2. Make a chart of the Five Pillars.
  3. Explain one pillar to the class.

You need: Qur’an, Prayer mat, Printed photographs of worship in a local Ghanaian mosque, Islamic worship-action cards

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. How many times a day do Muslims pray?

    • A. Five
    • B. Three
    • C. Seven
    • D. Once
    Show answer
    Answer: FiveThat is Salat.

  2. 2. Fasting during Ramadan is called…

    • A. Sawm
    • B. Hajj
    • C. Zakat
    • D. Shahada
    Show answer
    Answer: SawmSawm means fasting.

  3. 3. The prayer at sunset is…

    • A. Maghrib
    • B. Fajr
    • C. Dhuhr
    • D. Isha
    Show answer
    Answer: MaghribMaghrib is at sunset.

  4. 4. Hajj is a pilgrimage to Makkah.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueMuslims go if they are able.

  5. 5. Jumu'ah is held on Sunday.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt is held on Friday.

  6. 6. The call to prayer is the ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: adhanIt comes from the mosque.

  7. 7. Name the Five Pillars of Islam.

    Show answer
    Answer: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj.These are the pillars.

  8. 8. Why do Muslims perform ablution before prayer?

    Show answer
    Answer: To be clean and pure before standing before Allah.Purity is required for prayer.

Homework

  1. Ask a Muslim friend or neighbour to explain one of the Five Pillars.