There are five pillars of Islam that make up the framework of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.
1.) The Profession of Faith or (Shahada) is the verbal commitment and pledge that there is only one God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Shahada is the Muslim profession of faith, expressing the two simple, fundamental beliefs that make one a Muslim.
It is also recited in the muzzein's call to prayer, included in the salat (daily ritual prayer) and incorporated in Sufi contemplative prayer. It is also recited in the moments before death.
2.) Prayers or (Salat). Muslims pray five times a day. Before dawn, mid-day, afternoon, after sunset and night. Facing toward the Kaaba which is considered the House of God, in the Great Mosque in Mecca. The muslims pray wherever they are when prayer time arrives. On Fridays in the afternoon, Muslims are encouraged to pray as a gathered community in congregational mosques and listen to a sermon in their local language. The prayers are said in the language of their revelation, Arabic.
Salat must always be preceded by washing the face, hands, and feet. This can be done with sand when water is not available.
Salat may be performed individually, but it carries special merit when done with other Muslims.
3.) Charity or (Zakat) is an annual payment of a certain percentage of muslim wealth, which is also distributed to the poor. A proportion of a Muslim's net worth, not just his or her income is prescribed as a donation for the welfare of the community, whether that community is made up of Muslims, non-Muslims or both.
Zakat is the amount of money that every adult, mentally stable, free, and financially able Muslim, male and female, has to pay to support specific categories people.
The word Zakat means both purification and growth.
4.) Fasting or (Sawm) occurs every day from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual contact. They must also avoid cursing, lying, cheating and otherwise abusing or harming others. Fasting is total abstinence from food, drinks, and unlawful actions during the entire month of Ramadan.
Reasons for fasting would be:
Obeying God
Learning self-discipline
Becoming spiritually stronger
Appreciating God's gifts to us
5.) Pilgrimage or (Hajj) The journey to Mecca is for every Muslim who can afford to make it. At Hajj, every pilgrim carries out specified rituals at specific times. At any other time of year, Muslims can perform similar prayers and rituals and then complete a lesser pilgrimage. The performance of pilgrimage to Mecca is required once in a life time if means are available.
The Hajj consists of several ceremonies, meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith
Also to commemorate the trials of prophet Abraham and his family.
Evidence From The Text:
"...calling for the faithful to unroll their rugs and bow their heads west in prayer. Hassan never missed any of the five daily prayers." (pg 69)
ISLAMIC PRACTICES
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
There are five pillars of Islam that make up the framework of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.1.) The Profession of Faith or (Shahada) is the verbal commitment and pledge that there is only one God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
2.) Prayers or (Salat). Muslims pray five times a day. Before dawn, mid-day, afternoon, after sunset and night. Facing toward the Kaaba which is considered the House of God, in the Great Mosque in Mecca. The muslims pray wherever they are when prayer time arrives. On Fridays in the afternoon, Muslims are encouraged to pray as a gathered community in congregational mosques and listen to a sermon in their local language. The prayers are said in the language of their revelation, Arabic.
3.) Charity or (Zakat) is an annual payment of a certain percentage of muslim wealth, which is also distributed to the poor. A proportion of a Muslim's net worth, not just his or her income is prescribed as a donation for the welfare of the community, whether that community is made up of Muslims, non-Muslims or both.
4.) Fasting or (Sawm) occurs every day from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual contact. They must also avoid cursing, lying, cheating and otherwise abusing or harming others. Fasting is total abstinence from food, drinks, and unlawful actions during the entire month of Ramadan.
Reasons for fasting would be:
5.) Pilgrimage or (Hajj) The journey to Mecca is for every Muslim who can afford to make it. At Hajj, every pilgrim carries out specified rituals at specific times. At any other time of year, Muslims can perform similar prayers and rituals and then complete a lesser pilgrimage. The performance of pilgrimage to Mecca is required once in a life time if means are available.
Evidence From The Text:
"...calling for the faithful to unroll their rugs and bow their heads west in prayer. Hassan never missed any of the five daily prayers." (pg 69)Works Cited:
Hooker, Richard. (July, fourteenth 1999). Islam. Retrieved from http://wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/5PILLARS.HTMShahada: confessions of faith. (March, seventeenth 2004). Retrieved from http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/practices/shahada-faith.htm
Islami city. (January). Retrieved from http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/Zakat/
Robinson, B.A. (February, 22 2002). About Isalam: the hajj: pilgrimage to mecca. Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org/isla1.htm