New
New
Year 10
AQA

How and why Muslims perform salah

I can explain why there are five daily prayers and why Muslims greet the angels with 'salam' during prayer.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

How and why Muslims perform salah

I can explain why there are five daily prayers and why Muslims greet the angels with 'salam' during prayer.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Salah is performed as five daily prayers.
  2. According to Muslim tradition, the five daily prayers were set by Allah during the Night Journey.
  3. During salah, Muslims offer peace to the angels who record their deeds.
  4. Muslims are 'called' to prayer from mosques with the words of the adhan.

Keywords

  • Adhan - the Islamic call to prayer, announcing that it is time to pray

  • Deeds - actions a person does, good or bad

  • Salam - Arabic term meaning 'peace' and is a greeting in Islam

  • The Night Journey - the miraculous journey of the Prophet Muhammad to Jerusalem

Common misconception

Only Sunni Muslims perform the five daily prayers of Islam.

All Muslims perform the five daily prayers, but most Sunni Muslims perform the five daily prayers at five different times, while most Shi'a Muslims combine the five prayers into three prayer times. Sunni Muslims also sometimes combine them, however.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: How and why Muslims perform salah, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students can mindmap how the practice of salah in Islam links to important foundational beliefs for both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The Pillars are the essential practices all Muslims follow to express their faith.
Correct Answer: Five, five, 5
Q2.
Muslims follow the actions which are permitted according to Islamic law.
Correct Answer: halal, Halal
Q3.
What does ‘Sharia’ mean in Islam?
The path to paradise
Correct answer: The straight path for living
The book of prayers
Q4.
Which statement about the Shahadah is true?
Correct answer: It declares there is only one God and Muhammad is His messenger
Only Sunni Muslims say the Shahadah
It is a prayer said only during Ramadan
Q5.
Which of these is not one of the Five Pillars?
Prayer
Fasting
Correct answer: Holy war
Q6.
Some Shi’a Muslims add which phrase to the Shahadah?
Correct answer: Ali is a friend of Allah
Peace be upon him
God is greatest

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Muslims believe the five daily prayers were given to Muhammad during the Journey.
Correct Answer: Night, night
Q2.
Muslims greet the on their shoulders during prayer because they record their deeds.
Correct Answer: angels, Angels
Q3.
Although Muslims pray five times daily, the reward is said to be as great as prayers.
Correct Answer: fifty, Fifty, 50
Q4.
What is the purpose of the adhan?
Correct answer: To announce the start of prayer times
To remind Muslims to fast during Ramadan
To call people to community meals
Q5.
Why do Muslims perform five daily prayers?
To match the number of angels watching them
Because it is a tradition started by the Prophet Musa
Correct answer: They were set by Allah during the Night Journey
Q6.
Only Sunni Muslims perform the five daily prayers of Islam.
True – Only Sunni Muslims pray five times daily
Correct answer: False – All Muslims pray five times, but timings may differ
False – Shi’a Muslims do not pray regularly

Additional material

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