The 'Five Pillars' of Islam are the
foundation of Muslim life:
Faith or belief in the Oneness of God (Allah)
and the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh);
Establishment of the daily prayers;
Concern for and almsgiving to the needy;
Self-purification through fasting; and
The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are
able.
Iman or Faith
"There is none worthy of worship
except God (Allah) and Muhammad is the messenger of God." This
declaration of faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula that
all the faithful pronounce. The significance of this declaration is
the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God,
and this is achieved through the teachings and practices of the Last
Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh).
Salah or Prayer
Salah is the name for the obligatory
prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link
between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority
in Islam and there are no priests. Prayers are led by a learned
person who knows the Qur'an and is generally chosen by the
congregation.
Prayers are said at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and
nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. These
five prescribed prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are said
in Arabic, the language of the Revelation. Personal supplications,
however, can be offered in one's own language and at any time.
Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim
may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and
universities. Oftentimes visitors to the Muslim world are struck by
the centrality of prayers in daily life.
A translation of the Adan or Call to Prayer is:
God is Great.
God is Great.
God is Great.
God is Great.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer!
Come to prayer!
Come to success!
Come to success!
God is Great!
God is Great!
There is none worthy of worship except God.
Zakah. The financial obligation upon Muslims.
An important principle of Islam is that everything belongs
to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.
The word zakah means both "purification" and "growth." Our
possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in
need and for the society in general. Like the pruning of plants,
this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.
Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakah individually. This
involves the annual payment of a fortieth of one's capital,
excluding such items as primary residence, car and professional
tools.
An individual may also give as much as he or she pleases as
sadaqa-h, and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can
be translated as "voluntary charity" it has a wider meaning.
The Prophet said, "Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is
an act of 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 of the Prophet asked: "What if he is not able to work?"
The Prophet said: "He should help the poor and needy." The
Companions further asked: "What if he cannot 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 an act of charity."
Sawm or Fasting
Every year in the month of Ramada-n,
all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown--abstaining from food,
drink, and sexual relations with their spouses.
Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are
menstruating, pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast
and make up an equal number of days later in the year if they are
healthy and able. Children begin to fast (and to observe prayers)
from puberty, although many start earlier.
Although fasting is beneficial to health, it is mainly a method of
self-purification and self-restraint. By cutting oneself from
worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person focuses on
his or her purpose in life by constantly being aware of the presence
of God. God states in the Qur'an: "O you who believe! Fasting is
prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you that you
may learn self-restraint." (Qur'an 2:183)
Hajj or Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage to Makkah (the hajj)
is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially
able to do so. Nevertheless, over 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.
The annual hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year
(which is lunar, not solar, so that hajj and Ramada-n fall sometimes
in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes:
simple garments that strip away distinctions of class and culture,
so that all stand equal before God.
The rites of the hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include going
around the Ka'bah seven times, and going seven times between the
hills of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar (Hajir, Abraham's wife) during
her search for water. The pilgrims later stand together on the wide
plains of 'Arafat (a large expanse of desert outside Makkah) and
join in prayer for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought as a
preview of the Day of Judgment.
The close of the hajj is marked by a festival, the 'Id al Adha,
which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim
communities everywhere. This and the 'Id al Fitr, a festive day
celebrating the end of Ramadan, are the two holidays of the Islamic
calendar.
