Five Pillars of Islam
Five pillars of Islam. Arkan al-Islam, or the five
responsibilities of every Muslim, are the five pillars of Islam. Shahadah,
the Muslim faith confession; Salah, or prayer, said in a certain way five
times a day; zakat, the charity tax that is levied on the poor and needy;
Sawm, who observes a fast during Ramadan; and the fundamental principles
of Islamic practice are the hajj, the major pilgrimage to Mecca, if
financial and physical circumstances permit. They are accepted by Muslims
everywhere, regardless of their ethnicity, region, or sect.
Although it is considered obligatory for all sincere male and female
followers of the last Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) to uphold the pillars.
Every religion has its own unique set of circumstances, and some adherents
are more dedicated than the others. Health, wealth, stage of life, Age,
work and family responsibilities, are all factors that can have an
impact.
Shahadah.
The primary tenet of Islam is shahadah, or confession of faith. By
reciting the creed "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad (S.A.W) is
the Messenger of God," Muslims demonstrate that God is one. The Muslim's
total acceptance of Islam and dedication to it are embodied in this
profound yet simple statement. This not only serves to remind Muslims of
the significance of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) but it also serves as a
hint to never ever connect with Allah through partners.
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All other tenets of the Islamic faith are centered on the belief in a
single Allah. The recital of the (shahadah) during each of the daily
five prayers, as well as many other crucial moments in the life of
Muslim serves as a constant indication of this fundamental belief for
Muslims. It is a sacred document that Muslims are expected to uphold
throughout their lives and embody in everything they do and
intend.
In the Athan, which is a prayer call, the Shahadah is recited.
Reciting the Shahadah marks an individual's entry into Islam and their
life as a Muslim when they wish to convert. The Shahadah is the first
thing a Muslim baby hears when they are born, and Muslims want the
Shahadah to be their last words when they die.
Salah.
Salah, also known as namaz, is the second pillar of Islam. All Muslims over the age of baligh (mature) are required to perform it every day. The Islamic faith is built on the belief that peoples have a direct connection with Allah. Salah is an essential part of the faith. For the five daily prayers, Muslims around the world gather in Makkah, Islam's holiest city, individually and collectively. Friday congregational service is another requirement. Even though salah can be performed by itself, it is more effective when performed with others or in a group. Prayer can be conducted indoors, outdoors, or even at work. However, Muslims are advised to perform salah in a mosque.
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The time of five prayers are between the sunrise and midnight,
but the time changes according to the lunar calendar based on the
time of year and where you are in the world. Ablution, or
cleansing of the physical self, is part of the Salah ritual to get
ready for prayer. This is called wudhu, and it's an important
first step that also gets rid of small sins.
The following are the arranged prayers:
I. Fajr; at dawn,
before the sun has fully risen
II. Zhuhr,
midday, after the sun has reached the highest point
III. Asr, in the
late afternoon before the sun sets;
IV. Maghrib,
shortly after sunset, when the sun is below the
horizon;
V. Isha
Between sunset and midnight,
There is no one greater than Allah in this world is an
important reminder of Salah, while it is an important act of
worship to Allah, it is not for anyone else's advantage in any
way, form or shape. The mind should not be distracted by
anything outside of the here and now during Salah. A great way
to demonstrate equality and humanity in Islam is for a group
of Muslims to pray together at their areas local mosque.
Zakat
Zakat is a term used in Islamic finance. It refers to the obligation to donate a portion of a Muslim's surplus wealth as one of the faith's pillars. Before Muslims can receive zakat, they must meet a certain threshold. The Payment of zakat induce a sense of communal responsibility and identity, just as the Salah (prayer) is both a personal and a communal obligation. In the same way that all Muslims are equally obligated to worship God, they are also obligated to address economic inequality by contributing an alms tax or poor tithe to the community.
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The sum is 1/40 of an individual's total wealth and
savings, or 2.5%.During the lunar year, zakat payments can
be made at any time. Zakat is obligatory in some Islamic
nations, but not in others. Because zakat is actually owed
to the poor by rich peoples who have received their
property as a reward from Allah, this is not considered
charity. Alms are considered to be utilized to help the
orphans, poor, and widows, debtors and free slaves, and
promote Islam, according to Islamic law and the Quran
(9:60).The government initially collected the zakat and
then redistributed it, but the individual later paid for
it. A number of governments, including Pakistan, the
Sudan, and Libya, have argued that the government has the
right to a zakat tax in recent years.
In current past few years, assistance has been given in
Syria, Gaza, Iraq, and Yemen, by Islamic funding
organizations, which motivate contributors to use their
services to alleviate assist and suffering refugees, the
victims of environmental disaster, the poor in urban
areas, and those in dispute zones. Despite the fact that
the most of the charities work in compliance with the
law, there are some that have been barred as a result of
declaration that they have used their assists to support
activities of terrorist. One of the most important
lessons of the Zakat is the recognition that nothing in
this world we acquire truly belongs to us, that it will
not go along with us to the other world, and that it
will not to be buried alongside us. It is our acts of
kindness toward those in need that, rather than our
wealth, will assist us in entering Jannah (Heaven), and
this should not be overlooked.
Fasting
The Sawm is the fourth tenet of Islam, also called
fasting during the month of Ramadan. In the Holy
Qur'an the fasting is commanded as a personal act of
profound prayer in which Muslims gain a more profound
understanding of Allah. Swam or Fasting is also a
self-disciplined exercise that makes a person more
sensitive to suffering of the poor.
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The sighting of the new moon marks the beginning of
the month Ramadan, in which the Holy book of Muslims
Qur'an was revealed to the Muhammad (S.A.W). After
that, Muslims are required to refrain from drinking,
eating and engaging in other sensuous activities
from daylight to dusk. Ramadan is a month full of
joy. After evening prayer, Muslims perform
additional nocturnal worship, tarawih, to break
their fast at sunset and fill the streets with a
sense of joy and community. The Eid ul-Fitr, is a
three days celebration considered a treat of
breaking fast marks the end of Ramadan.
Traditionally, it is a time for family get-togethers
and the holiday that children look forward to most
because they get new clothes and gifts. Even though
the fast is good for health, it is mostly used for
spiritual self-purification. A person who fasts not
only grows spiritually but also truly empathizes
with those who are hungry by being disconnected from
pleasures of world, even for a brief time
period.
Hajj.
Hajj, is the final or fifth pillar of Islam also
called yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims from all
over the world gather in Mecca during this time to
worship Allah and to carry out a number of rituals
to bolster their devotion and faith. In order to
enter a spiritual state of holiness pilgrims must
wear a plain white clothing known as Ihram. Because
no woman or man, poor or rich, traveller or
resident, is superior to another, Ihram helps foster
unity among the members of the Ummah who are in
attendance. In the eyes of Allah SWT, we all are
equal, nonetheless of our status, age, race or
ethnicity.
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Hajj takes place in the final or
12th month of Islamic calendar
that dates between 8th to the 12th of Dhul Hijjah.
It is a spiritual experience that brings you
closer to Allah SWT and is something that every
Muslim must undertake at least once in their
lifetime.
The Eid-ul-Adha festival comes after the Hajj,
which is when the Qurbani (sacrifice festival)
begins. At the time of sacrifice to make
devotion to Allah is related to the sacrifice of
Prophet Ibrahim. So there is no direct
connection between the Hajj pilgrimage and
Qurbani. The pilgrimage of the Hajj includes the
following activities:
-
Wearing the
Ihram (What exactly is the Ihram in Hajj?
The usual attire for
pilgrims when they arrive at Mecca)
-
In Masjid
Al-Haram performing Tawaf and Sa'ee,
-
Staying in
Mina, and praying there.
-
Spending the
night at Mount Arafat,
-
Staying in
Muzdallfah, and going back to Mina and
stoning the three devils
(Jamaraat).
-
Performing Eid-ul-Adha prayers,
-
Performing Udhiya / Qurbani, the
Sunnah of ibrahim
-
Shaving
his head. Women only need to clip some of
their hair.
-
Practicing
Tawaf-ul-wida
Not only is it essential to clarify misconceptions about Muslims' beliefs by being familiar with the five pillars and their significance to them, but it is also essential for maintaining productive relationships at work. Muslim co-workers, for instance, might ask for breaks and a place to pray, as well as assistance annual leave during the Hajj or during the fasting in month of Ramadan. These are issues that Muslims care about, not indicators of fundamentalism. Better comprehension of this can assist in overcoming preconception against Muslims.