1. the main points. simplified.
5 PILLARS:
the main points. simplified.

2. Pillar 1: Shahadah What is it? Why is it important?
Confess: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.
Why is it important?
Change in everyday life. All Muslims can now be united under ONE god.
What impact does it have on daily life?
It forms their entire life. This is the foundation of their faith.

3. Pillar 2: Salah What is it? Why is it important?
Salah is the requirements of Muslim prayer.
Why is it important?
It shows their dedication to Allah and their willingness to drop everything and worship Allah.
How does it impact their daily life?
They pray 5 times a day (morning, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening).
They must pray facing Mecca.
They must pray in a certain position.

4. Pillar 3: Zakah What is it? Why is it important?
Giving a certain percentage of their money to the poor.
Why is it important?
It shows that they are not trying to accumulate money just to have money. They are willing to share what they have with others – a foundation of Islam.
How does it impact their daily life?
They are allowed to be wealthy, but they also need to do something good with that money. They can’t just have it for the sake of being rich.

5. Pillar 4: Sawm What is it? Why is it important?
Fasting from food, drink, and worldly pleasures during the holy month of Ramadan.
Why is it important?
It reminds them of those less fortunate; it teaches them self-control; it allows them to “purify” their bodies.
How does it impact their daily life?
During the month of Ramadan it changes their lives entirely. They are restricted from living a normal life for 30 days.

6. Pillar 5: Hajj What is it? Why is it important?
A pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life.
Why is it important?
This is considered their holy land, the land of Muhammad. It is important for them to have that experience.
How does it impact their daily life?
Many Muslims must plan for this experience their entire lives in order to make it a reality, so it is constantly on their minds.

7. Your Assignment
Create a 5-entry journal as if you were a Muslim living in America today.
You must have 1 entry that relates to each of the 5 pillars and how they affect your life.
Each entry must be 8 sentences long.
The entries can span your entire life. So 1 can be when you’re 5 and one can be when you’re 95. Or they can all be within a week of each other – it’s up to you.