The five pillars of Islam
They are the frameworks for any Muslim's life. There
are five pillars that one can build his house (of faith) on. The foundation of
that house is submission to God. One must start with the foundation then
continue upward, by submitting and accepting the oneness of Allah, His
Messengers and His true commands, then start building up. One step at the time,
one must continue upward or forward not downward or backward.
1. The Testimony of faith (Shahada)
'There is no God worthy of worship except One God
(Allah) and Muhammad is His Messenger'.
This declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a
simple formula that all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la
ilaha illa'Llah - 'there is no god except God'; Ilaha (god) can refer to
anything, which we may be tempted to put in place of God - wealth, power, and
the like. Then comes illa'Llah:' except God, the source of all Creation. The
second part of the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the
Messenger of God'. This is the first step one takes in Islam, then should try
to improve and advance.
2. Prayer (Salah)
'Salah' -link in English- is the name for the daily
prayers, which are performed five times a day, this way, Muslims are given a chance
to be more God conscious. In standing, bowing and prostrating like
others in the daily prayer, one recognizes both physically and spiritually that
we are all the same before the one God. Doing the same thing other Messengers
-such as; Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammmad peace be upon them- did to worship
or to pray to God. It also teaches Muslims that they need to pray to God daily not
only when they have to or need to. One can perform extra prayers,
however 'Salah' are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, after sunset and at
nightfall, and the weekly congregation formal prayer on Friday noon. The
choice of the weekly prayer to be on Friday was determined by God
in chapter 62 of the Quran entitled Al-Jumu’a, which is Arabic for
"Friday".
There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no
priests, so any learned person, who knows the Quran and the prayers well, is
accepted by the congregation to lead the prayers.
These prayers 'Salah' contain verses from the Quran,
personal supplication can be offered as well. Although congregational ‘Salah’
is preferable in a Mosque (the Muslims worshipping place), a Muslim may
pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities.
Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in the
daily life.
3. The 'Zakat' (Poor due)
One of the most important principles of Islam is
that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human
beings in trust. The word zakat literally means both 'purification' and
'growth'. Setting aside a proportion for those in need purifies our possessions.
Like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new
growth
Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat
individually and it does not have to go through specific channels, but one can
give directly to the poor, even in his family to strengthen family ties.
For most purposes this involves the payment each
year of 2.5 %. Not of one's income, but of his saved money. A
pious person may also give as much as he pleases as sadaqa (donation), and does
so preferably in secret.
Although the word sadaqa can be translated as
'voluntary charity' or 'donation', in Islam it has a wider meaning. The Prophet
said: 'Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity'. The Prophet
also said;
"Charity is a necessity for every Muslim'. He
was asked: 'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work
with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings
in charity'. The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The
Prophet said: 'He should help poor and needy persons (physically)’, They
further asked 'What if he can not do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should
urge others to do good'. The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The
Prophet said 'He should check himself from doing evil. That is also a
charity".
4. Fasting
Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast
from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual
relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are
pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number
of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must
feed a needy person for every day missed. Although many start earlier as a
practice, Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty.
Although fasting is most beneficial to the health physically, it is regarded
principally as a method of self-purification. By cutting oneself off from
worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy
with those who go -involuntarily- hungry, as well as growth in one's spiritual
life.
In observing the month of Ramadan, Muslims follow
the lunar calendar, which was the way God taught man how to count time
-months and years- from the beginning<. That's why many civilizations
-ancient and modern- associate counting ttime with the moon. The word
"Month"; in chronology, is the conventional period of lunation, i.e.
the passage of the moon through all of its phases. In many other references of
religion and history, we find that all the messengers of God had taught
their followers nothing -about time and calendars- except observing the
"lunar calendar".
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah -The Hajj- is an
obligation only for those who are able physically and financially to perform
it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Makkah each year from every
corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different
nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors,
the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year, which is
lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer,
sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes: for men it is simple white
garments that strip away distinctions of class, color, national origin and
culture, so that all stand equal before God, no royalty, just loyalty to the
one God and His command. Such a trip is never forgotten by Muslim's mind
and is often thought of as a preview of the Day of Judgment. All are the same
before The One Judge.
Related articles:
·
Prayers and worshipping in Islam (Salah or
Salat)
· Why do Muslims pray that way? Take a brief introduction to Muslims’ way of worshipping and learn more about praying and worshipping in Islam and for the meaning of the word Mosque (Muslims worshipping place).
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