The Five Pillars of Islam and Hajj

What is the first pillar of Islam?

Shahada-Testimony, A creedial statement that identifies a Muslim. “There is no god except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.

What is the second pillar of Islam?

Salah-Prayer, a ritualistic prayer in public done 5x a day with each prayer requiring a cleansing before praying. You face the Kaaba shrine during this time.

What is the third pillar of Islam?

Zakat, a non-negotiable charity of 1/40 of your net worth. Charity can be in the form of buying a slave to free them, and the highest form of charity is giving a person who don’t know money in which they didn’t know you gave the money.

What is the fourth pillar of Islam?

Sawm-fasting, Fasting during the month of Ramadan (9th month). For 30 days, you fast from food, water, and accidental enjoyment. You also read the entire Quran. At the end of the month, you celebrate the Eid al-Fitr or the festival of release.

What is the Hajj?

You make a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca to the Kaaba Shrine if you are able to.

What are the 4 major requirements before you start the Hajj?

You have to pay all debts, you have to have a will, you have to tell your loved ones goodbye, and you have to get a Hajj visa.

How do you start the Hajj?

You start the Hajj with Ihram in which you take a full body bath and you put specialized clothing with no jewelry being worn

What happens the first day of the Hajj? Explain the reason behind it.

You will go to the shrine of Kaaba and circle 7 times, You have to run between the hills of Safa and Marwa 7 times, and You have to drink from the Zamzam Well. You run between the hills because it commemorates Higar running between the hills looking for water, and you drink from the well since Higar was saved by God because of the well.

What happens the second day of the Hajj? Explain why this is done.

You stand outside of Mount of Arafat from sunrise to sunset because it is where Adam and Eve forgave each other. Furthermore, it is where God forgave Adam and Eve.

What happens on day 3 of the Hajj?

You will pick rocks to throw at 3 different pillars 7 times. At the end of the day, Eid al-Adha is celebrated in which an animal is sacrificed and eaten to celebrate God’s mercy.

What happens Day 4 of the Hajj?

You still celebrate Eid al-Adha, and men will shave their head and women will cut their hair

What happens on Day 5 of Hajj?

You circle the Kaaba shrine 7 times.