Framework for faith

The Five Pillars of Islam are known as Arkan, which means ‘supports’. They form a solid framework for faith and daily life for the Muslim community worldwide. The Five Pillars are mandatory, as written in the Holy Qur’an, the sacred text for Muslims, and are both a challenge and a strength to Muslims. The challenge is to live life by these five rules. The strength is in the knowledge that this is what Allah wants, so by acting on them a Muslim is doing the right thing. The following activities are centred around some of the qualities of the Arkan, such as contemplation, generosity and thoughtfulness, self control, and travelling with meaning. They are also about the importance of a framework of rules in our lives. The text on the Arkan can be looked at and discussed by all groups, as it is an important step to understanding the commitment of Muslims to their faith.

Essential facts

The Five Pillars of Islam are essential for all Muslims to understand and to follow.

1. Shahadah

This is a declaration of faith: