New
New
Year 11
Edexcel B

Sawm as one of the Five Pillars

I can explain how and why Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel B

Sawm as one of the Five Pillars

I can explain how and why Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan is known as 'sawm'.
  2. The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
  3. Fasting involves abstaining from food and drink between sunrise and sunset.
  4. The Night of Power is when the first revelations of the Qur'an came to Muhammad in the cave of Hira.
  5. Sawm can have a great impact on the life of a Muslim as an act of discipline.

Keywords

  • Fasting - not doing certain actions such as eating or drinking

  • Iftar - a meal in the evenings, which is the breaking of the fast for that day during the month of Ramadan

  • Night of Power - the night that the first revelation of the Qur'an came to the Prophet Muhammad

  • Ramadan - the month when Muslims take part in an obligatory fast

Common misconception

All Muslims must fast without exceptions or exemptions.

Those who are ill, elderly, younger than puberty, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating, and travelling do not have to fast. Missed fasting days can be made up after the month of Ramadan and/or donations made to charity in their place if needed.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Sawm as one of the Five Pillars, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students can research how different Muslim sports personalities manage their fasting obligations. Some may choose to break their fasts during competitions and on games days and make up that fast later, or make a charitable donation, while others may not
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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.
What does the Shahadah declare?
Correct answer: the oneness of God and Muhammad as his messenger
the Five Pillars of Islam
that angels are above humans
Q2.
When might a Muslim recite the Shahadah?
only during Friday prayers
only during Hajj
Correct answer: at birth, death and in daily life
Q3.
Why is the Shahadah considered as the first of the Five Pillars?
it is the easiest to perform
Correct answer: it shows commitment to the Muslim faith
it includes prayer instructions
Q4.
What is the name of the ritual washing performed before prayer?
rak’ah
Correct answer: wudu
zakah
Q5.
How many times a day is salah performed?
three
Correct answer: five
seven
Q6.
Which of the following is true about Jummah prayers?
only women must attend
they are held every Friday at sunset
Correct answer: men are required to attend; women may choose to attend

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why is Ramadan considered a sacred month in Islam?
it marks the end of Hajj
it includes Eid ul-Fitr
Correct answer: it marks the first revelation of the Qur’an
Q2.
Which of the following best describes the Islamic practice of sawm?
reading the Qur’an aloud
Correct answer: refraining from food and drink during daylight
donating food to the poor
Q3.
What is the name of the meal Muslims eat before sunrise during Ramadan?
Correct answer: suhoor
iftar
zakah
Q4.
Which of these people would not be expected to fast during Ramadan?
Correct answer: a breastfeeding mother
a healthy adult male
a teenager who has reached puberty
Q5.
Why does the timing of Ramadan change each year in the Western calendar?
it follows seasonal cycles
it begins on the same date every year
Correct answer: it is based on the lunar cycle
Q6.
During the last ten nights of Ramadan, many Muslims commemorate the Night of , when the Qur’an was first revealed.
Correct Answer: Power, power

Additional material

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