Islam is the second largest religion in the

Islam is the second largest religion in the world. Followers of Islam are called Muslims believe there is one true God called Allah is the Arabic word for God.

Five Pillars of Islam Muslims follow the five pillars of Islam, which are an important part of their lives. There are particular things which every Muslim has to perform and helps them to put their faith into action. 5 Pillars of Islam Shahadah: declaration of faith. By reciting this a person enters Islamic faith. Salah: Muslims pray five times a day. Zakat: giving money to charity. Sawm: Muslims fast for one month each year, a period called Ramadan. Hajj: Muslims make a special journey called a pilgrimage when they travel to Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia.

What is Ramadan? Ramadan is a period of ritual fasting. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and Muslims across the world will fast during daylight hours. Ramadan marks the time when the Quran, their holy book, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

What Happens During Ramadan, Muslims fast. This means they are not allowed to eat or drink during daylight hours. Muslims will often have a meal called suhoor before sunrise and another called iftar after sunset. Young and elderly people, and people who are ill, don’t have to fast as fasting is not easy. Ramadan is a time to share with families and a fast will usually be broken with a large family meal together.

What Happens During Ramadan When fasting and feeling hungry and thirsty, it reminds Muslims of people in the world who are less fortunate than them. They begin to understand what it must be like for people who don’t have much to eat. Sometimes they give money to the poor. The month of Ramadan is very special and Muslims visit the Mosque more to read the Quran. They also go to special services where the Quran is read. It is a time to think about their lives and to try and behave more like Allah would want them to.

Eid al-Fitr At the end of Ramadan, when Muslims no longer have to fast, there is a special holiday, called Eid al-Fitr. It lasts for three days and Muslims celebrate the breaking of the fast. The festival begins when the first sight of the new moon is seen in the sky. Muslims give food to the poor, which is called Zakat, the third pillar of Islam. They spend time with their families, eating a large meal and giving presents to each other.