New
New
Year 11
Edexcel B

Shahadah as one of the Five Pillars

I can explain the Shahadah as part of the Five Pillars and its importance for Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel B

Shahadah as one of the Five Pillars

I can explain the Shahadah as part of the Five Pillars and its importance for Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'Shariah' means 'the straight path' and halal actions are those that are permitted for Muslims.
  2. The Five Pillars are important practices for both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.
  3. The Shahadah is the declaration of faith for Muslims and forms part of the Five Pillars.
  4. The Shahadah states there is only one God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.

Keywords

  • Halal - actions or things which are permitted within Islam, such as eating permitted foods

  • Haram - any actions or things which are forbidden within Islam, such as eating forbidden foods

  • Shahadah - the statement of faith in Islam

  • Shariah - a set of moral and religious rules that guide Muslims, based on the teachings of the Qur'an and the Hadith

Common misconception

The Shahadah is only said by Sunni Muslims.

The Shahadah is important to all Muslims, but some Shi'a Muslims state that 'Ali is a friend of Allah' in addition to the statement that Sunni Muslims say.


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

If pupils are not aware of the debate around the succession after the death of the Prophet Muhammad that has informed some differences in practices between Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam, then pupils could cover this before any lessons which introduce these differences.
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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5 Questions

Q1.
What is a key difference between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims?
they believe in different prophets
Correct answer: they disagree on who should have led the Muslim community after Muhammad
they follow different holy books
Q2.
Why is the Qur’an considered to be the most important source of authority in Islam?
it contains laws from Muslim scholars
it only contains stories
Correct answer: it is believed to be the literal word of Allah
Q3.
Which of the following best describes the role of prophets in Islam?
Correct answer: they deliver messages from Allah
they are worshipped alongside Allah
they write their own holy books
Q4.
What is the term for the worldwide Muslim community?
the Hadith
Correct answer: the Ummah
the mosque
Q5.
Muslims believe in life after death, known as .
Correct Answer: Akhirah, akhirah

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The Five are important acts of worship for Sunni Muslims.
Correct Answer: Pillars, pillars
Q2.
Which two religious groups share a belief in the Five Pillars?
Jews and Christians
Hindus and Buddhists
Correct answer: Sunni and Shi'a Muslims
Q3.
What does the term 'shariah' mean in Islam?
'the fruits of paradise'
Correct answer: 'the straight path'
a celebration
Q4.
Which Pillar of Islam does the Shahadah belong to?
prayer
pilgrimage
Correct answer: declaration of faith
charity
Q5.
Why is the Shahadah considered the most important practice in Islam?
it is performed only once a year
it involves giving money
Correct answer: it expresses the core belief of the religion
Q6.
What do some Shi’a Muslims add to the Shahadah?
the name of Hussein
Correct answer: the statement that “'Ali is the friend of Allah”
another name for Muhammad