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      Salah in the mosque and home

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how and why Muslims perform salah, both at home and in the mosque.

      Key learning points

      1. Muslims are instructed to pray five prayers each day.
      2. Muslims can pray in any place that is clean and may pray alone or together with others.
      3. There is some diversity in practice between how Sunni and Shi'a Muslims may pray.
      4. Friday congregational prayers are held at the mosque and known as Jummah prayer.

      Keywords

      • Jummah - Friday prayers in the mosque, where a sermon (khutbah) is heard

      • Mosque - it is a communal place of worship for a Muslim community, also known as a masjid

      • Rak'ah - actions and ritual movements made during salah (prayer) consisting of recitations, standing, bowing and prostration

      • Wudu - ritual washing, or ablution before praying and/or touching the Qur'an

      Common misconception

      Only Shi'a Muslims may combine prayers so that the five obligatory prayers are said three times.

      Sunni Muslims are also permitted to combine prayers when needed, such as when travelling, ill or due to hardship.

      Teacher tip

      Students may benefit from a visit to a mosque, or from looking at guides to mosques found online to see some key features which support Jumnah and daily prayers, such as the ablution area, the direction of prayer, the stand where sermons are given and the prayer space.

      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

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Shariah means the path and guides Muslims on how to live a good life.

      Correct Answer: straight, Straight

      Q2.
      Which two groups share a belief in the Five Pillars?

      Jews and Christians
      Correct answer: Sunni and Shi'a Muslims
      Protestants and Catholics

      Q3.
      To become a Muslim, one must recite the with belief.

      Correct Answer: Shahadah, shahadah

      Q4.
      Which Pillar of Islam does the Shahadah belong to?

      Charity
      Prayer
      Correct answer: Faith Declaration

      Q5.
      What addition do some Shi'a Muslims make to the Shahadah?

      They mention Jesus
      Correct answer: They mention Ali
      They mention the prayer direction

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Islam is built upon pillars that support a Muslim’s faith and actions.

      Correct Answer: five, 5

      Q2.
      Which of the following is NOT one of the five daily prayers?

      Asr
      Fajr
      Correct answer: Eid

      Q3.
      Muslims can pray in any place that is , as long as it is suitable.

      Correct Answer: clean, Clean

      Q4.
      Which of the following best describes the prayer differences between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims?

      Sunnis pray more prayers
      Correct answer: There are small variations in how they pray
      Shi'a Muslims don't pray facing Mecca

      Q5.
      When are Sunni Muslims allowed to combine prayers?

      Only in Ramadan
      Correct answer: When traveling or facing hardship
      Only on Friday's

      To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Salah in the mosque and home, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...