Lesson video

Hello.

My name is Mrs. Afshan.

Today, we are going to explore the importance of prayer in the life of Muslims. Specifically, we'll learn about Salat, the daily prayers, and how it helps Muslims find harmony with Allah and within themselves.

We will also look at how different Muslims pray, where they pray, and why this practise is so important to them.

The lesson is called Salat: Finding Harmony through Daily Prayer, from the unit Muslims: How Does Prayer and Fasting Help Muslims Find Harmony? The learning outcome of today's lesson is I can describe how and why many Muslims pray five times a day.

By the end of today's lesson, we will be able to explain how Muslims pray at certain times during the day and why it's important to them.

We will look at how it helps them stay close to God, remember to do good deeds, and feel peaceful.

Let's get started.

These are the key words we will be exploring in our lesson today.

The words are Salat, the Muslim daily prayer said five times a day.

Qiblah, the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, to which Muslims turn when praying.

And Makkah, the most holy place for Muslims where the religion started.

Shall we have a go at reading them? Let's do my turn and then your turn.

This will help us read them.

The first word is Salat.

Salat.

Qiblah.

Qiblah.

Makkah.

Makkah.

Great work! We have three cycles in our lesson today, but first, we'll start with learning about what is the daily prayer in Islam called? Here's Noor.

No is a British Sunni Muslim who prays five times a day.

For Noor, praying is very special.

It helps her feel close to Allah and brings her into harmony with Him, filling her heart with peace.

Noor explains what prayer means to her worldview.

She says, "Salat is the Arabic word for the daily prayers Muslims perform and it is the second pillar of Islam.

It is one of the most important things that Muslims do to show their love and respect for Allah." Time for a check for understanding.

What is the Arabic word for the daily prayers that Muslims perform? Is it Makkah, Salat, or Qur'an? What do you think? Have a go.

That's correct.

It's called the Salat.

Let's take a moment to say together.

The word is Salat.

That's correct.

Salat is the most important form of worship for Muslims. Can anyone guess why? That's right? Because it helps them maintain their relationship with Allah.

Noor explains a little bit more about the Salat.

She says, "Both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims pray five times a day." She also says they pray at different times of the day, like in the morning before the sun rises, during the daytime, and at night before they sleep.

Time for a check for understanding.

How many times do Sunni and Shi'a Muslims pray in a day? Is it three times, five times, or two times? What do you think? That's correct, five times a day.

Now let's look at the five prayers that make up Salat.

Muslims pray at specific times of the day.

Here are the names of the five prayers: Fajr, early morning before the sun rises.

Dhuhr is performed at midday when the sun at its peak.

Asr, in the afternoon.

Maghrib, just after sunset.

And Isha is performed at night before going to bed.

Each prayer is a chance for Muslims to pause, reflect, and feel close to Allah.

These moments help bring peace to their busy lives.

Let's check if you got that.

What is the first Salat of the day for Muslims? Listen carefully.

Is it Asr, or Maghrib, or is it Fajr? Have a think.

That's correct.

It's Fajr.

Fajr is the first Salat of the day for Muslims. Well done.

It's time for our task.

The first task is to match the names of the daily Salat to their timings.

I have done two examples for you, like the Fajr prayer, which is performed early in the morning, and Dhuhr at midday.

Can you match rest of the Salat to the timings? You can post the video now and come back to check your answers with me.

Let's check our answers.

Match the names of the daily Salat to their timings.

Let's start with Asr.

Performed in the afternoon, that's correct.

Then comes the Maghrib.

It is performed in the evening.

And finally, Isha prayers at night.

Well done! You did that really well.

Now we know how many Muslims perform daily prayers at different times.

Now let's find out where can Muslims pray? Muslims, like other religious people, pray to God, Allah.

They can pray Salat in many places.

Many Muslims pray Salat in a mosque because it is a special place to worship Allah together.

It's where they can pray, listen to the Qur'an, and feel part of a big family of Muslims. Here's an image of a prayer Salat performed in a mosque.

This is Rasool, a Shi'a Muslim from Leeds.

Rasool talks about where he performs his daily prayers.

He says, "I often pray Salat at the mosque and it makes me feel close to Allah.

The mosque is a peaceful place where we pray together side by side.

Bowing and listening to verses from the Qur'an reminds me to be kind and do good.

Time for another check.

What do Muslims listen to while praying Salat in a mosque? Is it verses from the Qur'an, or verses from the Bible, or stories from the Hadith? What do you think? That's correct.

They listen to verses from the Qur'an.

Well done.

Many Muslims not just pray at mosque, but they also pray Salat at home because it is a peaceful place to worship Allah with their family.

They also believe that it's where they can pray together, recite verses from the Qur'an, and feel close to Allah and each other.

Let's find out what Noor says about the Salat.

She says, "I pray Salat at home, and it helps me talk to Allah.

I like praying with my family altogether in one place.

Bowing and reciting verses from the Qur'an teaches me to be caring and make good choices." Time for another check.

Muslims can only pray Salat in a mosque.

True of false? Have a think.

False.

You got that right.

Why? Because we have already learned that Muslims can pray in a mosque and at home as both places are very special to them and the places where they can worship Allah.

Great work! Now let's look at other places where Muslims can pray.

Although the mosque is a very special place for many Muslims to pray Salat, they can also pray at home or outside in open areas.

The most important thing is to make sure that they are clean and facing the direction of the qiblah in Makkah.

Time for our next task.

Hope you are ready.

Here's Sam.

Sam says, "Muslims can pray Salat in a mosque." Is Sam correct? List other places where Muslims can pray Salat.

You can post the video now and come back to check your answers with me.

Let's check our answers.

Let's find out if Sam is correct and also list the places where Muslims can pray Salat.

Yes, that's correct.

Sam is correct because Muslims can pray Salat in a mosque.

Muslims can also pray at home.

And Muslims can pray outside in open spaces as well, but they have to make sure they are clean and facing the direction of the qiblah in Makkah.

Great if you listed all places where Muslims can pray Salat and also reminded what they need to do before they pray Salat: to make sure they are clean and facing the direction of the qiblah in Makkah.

Well done.

Now let's go and learn about how do different Muslims pray.

Let's start.

This is Rasool.

Rasool explains how prayer is a part of his faith.

Rasool says, "Both Shi'a and Sunni Muslims believe in the same God, Allah, and both pray five times a day, but sometimes they do things a little differently." Let's find out how.

Rasool explains: "Shi'a Muslims are allowed to combine their five prayers into three prayer times, while most Sunni Muslims pray five times a day." Also, Shi'a Muslims do a few different actions when they pray and they use a small stone called a turbah to touch their foreheads to during prayers, just like in the image.

And also some Sunni Muslims perform Salat with their hands clasped, qabd, while Shi'a Muslims usually pray with their hands at their sides, sadl.

Let's see if you got that.

What is the turbah used by Shi'a Muslims? Is it a small stone, or a special prayer, or a small mat? What do you think? That's correct.

Turbah is a small stone used by Shi'a Muslims. Well done.

These differences that we've looked at today show the diversity within Islam, but the core practise of Salat remains the same for everyone.

Muslims do wudu before they pray.

Have you ever washed your hands before something important? Just like that, Muslims do wudu, which is a special way to get ready for Salat, where Muslims wash certain parts of their body.

It helps Muslims to be clean and feel closer to Allah before they pray.

Let's find out what Noor says about the wudu.

She says, "Doing wudu is how I get ready to pray Salat and talk to Allah.

I wash my hands, mouth, face, arms, head, and feet, and it makes me feel clean and happy inside." Time for another check for understanding.

What do Muslims need to do before they can start praying Salat? Is it perform wudu, read a book, or wear new clothes? What do you think? That's correct.

They have to perform wudu, get cleaned, and ready to pray Salat.

Now let's look at what Noor says about this special place.

Noor says that there is something very special about how Muslims pray Salat.

When Muslims pray Salat, they always face a city called Makkah, which is in Saudi Arabia.

It's a holy place for Muslims Time for another check.

Muslims face Makkah when performing Salat.

True or false? True.

That's correct.

Why? Let's have a think.

Because facing Makkah when praying is important because it points them towards the Ka'bah, which is a special place for all Muslims. Well done.

Let's take a closer look and find out a little bit more about the qiblah.

This is the direction towards the Ka'bah in Makkah.

Facing the qiblah, which is direction of prayer towards the Ka'bah in Makkah, is an important part of performing Salat for Muslims. And how would they find out the direction of the qiblah? Rasool shares that many Muslims use a compass to help find the direction of the qiblah.

It shows that Salat is really important to Muslims no matter where they are.

Let's see if you got that.

What is the qiblah? Is it a type of prayer Muslims say, or the direction Muslims face when they pray, or is it the place where Muslims gather to pray? Have a think.

That's correct.

Qiblah is the direction Muslims face when they pray.

You got that right.

Time for our task.

This is Jun.

Jun is not sure about the things that Sunni and Shi'a Muslims do the same and differently when they pray.

Can you help Jun understand? List two similarities and two differences between the way Shi'a and Sunni Muslims pray.

You can pause the video now and come back when you're ready.

Let's check our answers.

List two similarities and two differences between the way Sunni and Shi'a Muslims pray.

Let's talk about similarities first.

Both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims pray five times a day, and both face the Ka'bah in Makkah while performing their prayers.

Now let's look at the differences.

Shi'a Muslims use a small stone called a turbah to touch their foreheads to during prayer while Sunni Muslims do not.

Shi'a Muslims do not fold their hands during prayer while Sunni Muslims do.

Well done if you spotted those similarities and differences.

Great work! So let's reflect.

What does Salat do for Muslims? Why is it so important? Through daily prayer, Muslims find harmony.

It's not just about performing rituals.

Salat helps Muslims feel at peace with Allah and with themselves.

By taking time each day to pray, they pause and reflect.

They align themselves with their faith and live in a way that brings balance to their lives.

Do you remember how Noor describes Salat? She said it helps her feel close to Allah and brings her peace and filling her heart with harmony.

Let's summarise our learning.

Today, we've learned that Muslims daily prayer is called Salat, and many Muslims pray five times a day.

We've also learned about wudu.

Doing wudu and facing the qiblah, which is the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, is an important part of performing Salat for Muslims. We've also learned that Muslims can pray Salat in a mosque, at home, or outside in open spaces, but they have to make sure that they are clean and they are praying on a clean ground and facing the direction of the qiblah in Makkah.

Great job today.

You did an excellent job learning about how Salat brings the connection with Allah, bringing inner peace and a sense of harmony for Muslims. Well done.

Keep up the fantastic work.

And I hope to see you in our next lesson.

Bye.