Adults pathway · Level 1 · Course 1 · Islamic studies

Discovering Islam: the foundations

For new Muslims and curious visitors: the shahada, the six pillars of faith, the five pillars of Islam, wudu and the prayer step by step, and good character. Simple, gradual, with sources.

All courses

4 units12 lessons~205 min total

Course outline

Unit 1

Welcome and the shahada

1
1. What is Islam?The meaning of the word Islam and the three dimensions of the religion in the hadith of Jibril: Islam, faith and excellence.
15 min
2
2. The shahada: the testimony of faithThe text of the shahada, how to say it and the meaning of its two parts.
15 min
3
3. Becoming MuslimHow one enters Islam, what happens next, and how to move forward step by step with the centre's support.
15 min

Unit 2

The six pillars of faith

1
1. Believing in AllahThe oneness of Allah (tawhid), His names and attributes, and Surah Al-Ikhlas.
15 min
2
2. Angels, books and messengersThree pillars of faith: the angels, the revealed books and the prophets, from Adam to Muhammad ﷺ.
20 min
3
3. The Last Day and destinyLife after death, the judgement, and belief in destiny, which goes hand in hand with effort and responsibility.

Unit 3

The five pillars of Islam

1
1. Overview of the five pillarsThe shahada, prayer, zakat, fasting in Ramadan and pilgrimage: what each one stands for.
15 min
2
2. Purification and wuduWhy cleanliness matters, the steps of wudu, and what breaks it.
20 min
3
3. The prayer step by stepThe five prayers and their number of units (rak'at), the conditions, and how one rak'a unfolds, with its words.

Unit 4

The character of a Muslim

1
1. Good characterGood character at the heart of the message: the example of the Prophet ﷺ and what he taught.
15 min
2
2. Living your faith every dayIntention, consistency, repentance and community: landmarks to carry on after this course.
15 min