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The Pillars of Islam |
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They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the
needy, self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Makkah
for those who are able. 1) FAITH There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His
messenger. This declaration of faith is called the Shahada,
a simple formula which 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.' A message of guidance has come through a
man like ourselves. 2) PRAYER Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers
which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the
worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no
priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran,
chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Quran,
and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal
supplication can be offered in one's own language. Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and
thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to
worship together in a mosque, 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 daily life. A translation of the Call to Prayer is: 3) THE 'ZAKAT' 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 means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our
possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need,
and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages
new growth. A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, 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 charity.' The Prophet 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.' 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 charity.' 4) THE FAST - Ramadan 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. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from
puberty, although many start earlier. Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, 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 hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life. 5) PILGRIMAGE - HAJJ The annual pilgrimage to Makkah - the Hajj - is
an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able 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:
simple garments which 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 circling the Ka'ba seven times, and
going seven times between the mountains of Safa and
Marwa as did Hagar during her search for water.
Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafa
and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a
preview of the Last Judgment. In previous centuries the Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today, however,
The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim calendar. |
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