The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundation of our faith — the actions that hold our deen together. For adults, they’re familiar and clear. But for children, these big ideas can feel abstract unless we make them tangible and engaging.
Teaching the Five Pillars doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few creative strategies, you can help children understand, visualise, and remember these key parts of Islam with joy and confidence.
How to Teach Kids the Five Pillars of Islam Through Visuals
Children grasp ideas best when they can see them. Explain that the Five Pillars are like the pillars that hold up a house -without them, the house would fall.
You could:
- Draw or build a simple “pillar” model with blocks, each labelled with one pillar.
- Create a “My Five Pillars” craft using paper tubes or cut-out shapes.
- Use visuals from the Primary Ilm Five Pillars page to show how each pillar supports our faith.
This concrete visual helps kids understand that Islam stands firm because of these five practices.
Teach Each Pillar Step-by-Step
Instead of introducing all five at once, focus on one pillar per session. This gives children time to absorb and reflect.
- Shahadah: Talk about believing in Allah and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – try and relate everyday things back to Allah and the Prophet. For example: Where did this apple come from? What should we say before eating etc.
- Salah: Practice simple actions of prayer with younger children or set up a prayer area.
- Zakah: Use small coins or sweets to show how giving helps others.
- Sawm: Discuss fasting and the special reward that Allah will give for fasting. Also touch on the numerous health benefits of fasting.
- Hajj: Look at a Hajj map together and talk about what Hajj looks like today. Discuss the story of Ismail (as) and his mother Hajar.
The Primary Ilm Five Pillars Page includes ready-made crafts and worksheets to go with each pillar, saving hours of prep time for teachers and parents.
Use Stories and Real-Life Examples When Teaching the Five Pillars
Stories make learning come alive. Share simple real-life examples that match each pillar – like how we pray five times a day, how Allah accepts our duas and the real life impact of giving zakah.
You can also narrate the following hadith:
A Bedouin once came to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked,
“Tell me what Allah has made obligatory upon me in Islam.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied: “To worship Allah and not associate anything with Him, to establish Salah, to give Zakah, to fast in Ramadan, and to perform Hajj if you are able.”
The man said, “I will do only what is obligatory upon me and nothing more.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “If he is truthful, he will succeed.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Children love to relate these lessons to their own lives. Encourage them to share how they can practise each pillar in their own small way.
Keep Lessons on the Five Pillars Hands-On and Reflective
The goal isn’t just memorisation — it’s connection. Let children draw, build, act, or colour what they’ve learned. Then ask gentle reflective questions, such as:
- “Why do we pray?”
- “How do we feel after helping others?”
- “What can we do to make Allah happy?”
The more personal the lesson feels, the more it sticks.
The Five Pillars are more than facts to memorise — they’re actions to live by. By teaching them through visuals, stories, and simple activities, we can help children see how each pillar strengthens their relationship with Allah.
Start your lesson with our Five Pillars Page – filled with crafts, visuals, and reflection tasks that make Islamic teaching both easy and meaningful. Download this plan to help you get started.
Access the Five Pillars Resources Here by Signing up to the Primary ilm membership.
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