A presentation to: Shakeel Hafez Safeguarding & Integration Manager Tel:

5 Pillars of Islam  Islam means submission to God and one who submits to God is called a Muslim  The five Pillars of Islam help Muslims put their faith into practice 1.Shahadah: declaration of faith 2.Salah: prayer 5 times a day 3.Zakah: giving to poor 2.5% of savings 4.Sawm: Fasting for the month of Ramadan 5.Hajj: pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, once in a lifetime

Islamic Calendar  Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar  Islamic calendar has 12 lunar months, each beginning with the new moon  A lunar month is either 29 or 30 days long  Islamic calendar therefore has about 354 days, 11 days shorter than Gregorian Calendar

Fasting and Benefits  To abstain from food, drink (including water) and sexual activities during Fasting hours  Business as usual  Fasting teaches patience and self discipline  Fasting helps reflect on plight of poor and needy  Fasting helps to cleanse the body and mind

How do Muslims Fast?  Muslims keep Fast from dawn to sunset for a whole month  This means no eating or drinking during daylight hours  Everyone wakes up before daybreak to eat a meal called ‘Sehri’  Everyone gathers at sunset to break their Fast called ‘Iftari’

Who should Fast?  Fasting is obligatory on:  All Muslims, male and female, once they attain age of puberty  Those who are mentally and physically fit and Fasting will not cause them harm  Those who are not travelling

Who may not Fast?  Young children (however they may start Fasting for practice)  People who are travelling on long journeys  People who are ill (physically or mentally)  Women who are menstruating, pregnant or breast-feeding

Taraweeh/Lailat-ul-Qadr  Every night during Ramadan there are special prayers called ‘Taraweeh’. These are performed in congregation at local mosques. Imams usually recite the whole Qur’an in 30 parts, one every night.  There is one special night in the last ten days called ‘The Night of Power’. This is the night when the Qur’an was first revealed.  So during the final ten days many Muslims increase prayers at night.

Eid-ul-Fitr  End of Ramadan (first day of the next month, Shawwal) is called Eid-ul-Fitr  This is celebrated by dressing up, joining congregational prayer, and visits to family and friends for festive meals  Children are usually given money or presents

SMSC and Schools  Ramadan awareness training  SMSC and assembly themes  Prayers during Ramadan  Physical Education  Examinations during Ramadan  Parents’ evenings and after school functions  Exemption from Fasting  Medication  Detentions and after school activities  Swimming during Ramadan  Sex and relationship education