Islam

Worship• The Islamic place of worship is

a Mosque• When Muslims go to a mosque, there is a

place either outside the mosque or just inside where they take off their shoes and carry out a cleaning ritual.

• Within the mosque there are separate areas of worship for men and women.

• When everyone is in the mosque they sit to show an equal status.

Prayer • Muslims are meant to pray five times a day

equally spread apart so that god is always present in their mind.

• When they pray they should face towards Mecca.

• Prayer is also known as Salat.

Mecca/Mekah• As previously mentioned when

Muslims pray they face Mecca. • Muslims must at least make one pilgrimage to

Mecca at least once in their lifetime. (providing they are financially and physically able)

• The pilgrimage is done from days 8-13 of the 12th month.

• The reason they go to Mecca is because it was declared a site of pilgrimage by the Prophet Muhammad in 630.

Dietary Laws

• Foods come in to two categories: Halal (Lawful) and Haram (Unlawful)

• Meat from swine is not allowed• Alcohol is not allowed• Animals must be slaughtered in the permitted

(clean) way. The slaughter must be carried out by a certified and qualified Muslim as a special prayer is chanted.

Quran• The Quran is the holy

book for Muslims. • They read the Quran from

left to right.• It is available in 40 languages but Muslims are

taught to learn and recite it in Arabic. • When Quran’s first came out, they were rare

so Muslims had to learn it by heart.

5 Pillars of Worship• Shahada – A person becomes a Muslim by making

the basic statement of testimony or witness• Salat – A formal ritualised prayer performed at 5

specified times in the day• Zakat – An obligatory charitable contribution

theoretically due annually from every Muslim• Saum – Fast from dawn to dusk each day during the

9th month • Hajj – At least once in their life, each Muslim must

make a pilgrimage to Mecca

Fun Facts!

• Islam is the second largest religion in the world.

• There are about 2 million Muslims in Britain.• In Arabic, Islam Means ‘Submission to the will

of God’• After saying ‘Prophet Muhammad’ you need

to say ‘peace be upon him’