The Five Pillars Of Islam Explained

Islam And The Five Pillars Of Islam
Religious praying has been a staple in many religions to communicate to a higher being or for self
spiritual cleansing. Catholicism, for example, uses a rosary as an artifact to recite certain prayers,
and for the Jewish community they pray three times daily to observe Judaism. Islamic praying is a
different story. Muslims around the world perform the Five Pillars of Islam to appease their faith.
The Five Pillars of Islam have specific names for each pillar in chronological order; The Shahada,
Salah (also spelled Salat), Zakat, Saum, and Hajj The Salah, the second of the Five Pillars, is the
Islamic prayer performed five times a day at specific times. Performing the Salah is a way for
muslims to connect with Allah, who they regard as their one true God. The story on how Salah came
to be was from none other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad himself in which he declared that he
had a vision, or a dream, that he rode a white animal, called the Buraq, from Mecca to Jerusalem
and from that location he ascended towards heaven itself. Once arrived he was greeted by Moses
who then took him to God's presence. From there Muhammad asked God if he could shorten the
daily number of prayers, which used to be fifty, to only five per day. Because of this vision, the
reason for reciting five prayers daily came to be. It was authenticated in the Qur'an as being a true
circumstance, however it is not legitimately documented in the Qur'an. Before performing the Salah,
a procedure is
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The Five Pillars Of Islam
Have you ever wondered how the world's second biggest religion, Islam, works? In Islam, there is
something called the Five Pillars of Faith that are a central part of Islam. Also, in Islam, they have
some beliefs that they follow, but that are also followed by other religions. Then, Islam, has a special
month of the year that they call Ramadan and during this time they have to do certain things that
also help the needy. Islam is a very big religion. It has many beliefs and events each year that help
Muslims in their daily lives.
In Islam, there is something called the Five Pillars of Islam that are a central and crucial part of
Islam. First, In source 3 paragraph 8 it says "There are five important actions that Muslims must do
to worship God. They are known as the Five Pillars of Islam. A pillar is a supportive column. One
pillar is shahada, or a declaration of faith. Muslims must say that There is no god but Allah, and
Muhammad is his Messenger. The next pillar is prayer. Muslims pray five times a day. Another
pillar is zakat, or giving to charity. The last two are pillars are fasting and pilgrimage. A pilgrimage
is a trip to a holy place. Muslims are supposed to make a trip, or hajj, to the city of Mecca, Saudi
Arabia. They must go there at least once in a lifetime if they are able to." This relates to the topic
because it proves that the pillars are important to the lives of Muslims because the pillars are the
things that guide some of their lives and it also tells them

The five pillars of Islam are five official acts considered mandatory for all Muslims. The Quran
presents them as a structure of devotion and a sign of obligation to faith. One most accomplish them
all to live a good and responsible life according to Islam. These pillars comprise of: Shahada which
means the declaration of faith, preforming the five daily prayers, giving money to the needy and the
poor, cleansing the soul through fasting during the month of Ramadan, the pilgrimage once in a
lifetime to Mecca for those who are able.
The first pillar of Islam, is Shahada, it is the most essential expressions of Islamic beliefs. The
Shahada consists of two depositions. The first, "There is no god but God," affirms belief in a single
divine reality. The second, "Muhammad is the messenger of God," affirms submission to God
through accepting that Muhammed is the messenger of God. This simple yet deep declaration
signifies acknowledgement not only of Allah and his prophet, but of the entirety of Islam. As one of
the Pillars, the Shahada must be narrated accurately and loudly with full understanding and internal
acceptance at least once in every Muslim 's lifetime. Moreover, it emphasizes the monotheistic
nature of Islam.
The second Pillar, the prayer, also known as Salat. Adult Muslims are expected to pray five times a
day: at dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, and evening. Each Salat does not take more than five
minutes to perform. Having particular times every day to be close to

Importance Of The Five Pillars Of Islam
There are the Five Pillars of Faith within Islam, all of which partake in an extremely important role
in the lives of worldwide Muslim adherents. They include Shahada (referring to beliefs), Salat
(prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting/Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage). The Five Pillars of Islam
are all different acts of worship to show devotion to Allah that transform and develop individual
adherents, and powers the foundation of Islam and its core teachings. Within the sacred texts of
Islam, there are many Surahs (chapters) of the Qur'an and extracts from the Hadith that clearly
demonstrate the importance of the Five Pillars of Islam to adherents worldwide and their lives.
Shahada is the declaration of faith for Islam, Salat strengthens faith and reminds Muslims that Allah
is above all else, Zakat maintains the selflessness of Muslims, Sawm develops self–control and rid
sins, and Hajj serves as a penance while strengthening the connection of adherents worldwide and
Allah.
The First Pillar of Islam, Shahada, is important to Muslim's lives because it is the first step of
becoming a true, devoted adherent of Islam, the declaration of faith. Shahada is the Islamic
testimony that acknowledges the absoluteness and oneness of God (Tawhid) and the role of his
messenger Muhammad. It reminds adherents (of their purpose:) that their day should be spent
worshipping only him (monotheism) and shows Muslim's utter commitment to their religion/faith,
demonstrating the core teachings of

Five Pillars Of Islam And Islam
Five Pillars of Islam All great things are built on a solid and strong foundation. The religion of Islam
is no different. The foundation on which Islam was built is known as The Five Pillars of Islam.
These are the essential duties that are required of all Muslims. The pillars are the shahadah
(declaration of faith), salah (establishment of the five ritual prayers), zakah (almsgiving), sawm
(fasting the month of Ramadan), and hajj (pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca). These five pillars
are in the central religious text of Islam, the Qur'an, and are presented as "the framework for
worship and a sign of commitment to faith" (Esposito, "Pillars of Islam"). The pillars are often
compared to a creed such as those seen in Christianity. While the two are similar in regards to the
first pillar, they differ in that the five pillars of Islam are acts or practices that Muslims must perform
while a creed, as defined by Merriam–Webster dictionary, is a brief authoritative formula of
religious belief. Shahadah, salah, zakah, sawm, and hajj are the five obligations all Muslims have to
satisfy to live a respectable life according to Islam. They are the framework and foundation of a
Muslim's life. The first pillar, shahadah, is the declaration of faith. "La ilaha illa Allah wa–
Muhammad rasul Allah". This translates to "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the
prophet of Allah." This is the shahadah. All faithful Muslims recite this and one must recite this
sincerely, with

The Religion of Islam What is religion? Religion is a particular system of faith and worship. Islam
began in Arabia around the year 610 and was taught by the prophet, Muhammad. The religion of
Islam was started by Muhammad. The followers and believers of the Islam religion are called
Muslims. Islam is the world's second–largest religion and considered the fastest growing major
religion when compared to the other 4 main religions. Islam has an estimated 1.7+ billion followers.
Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that upholds that God is unparalleled. Monotheism is
the belief in one God. The Arabic word for God is Allah. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the
only monotheistic religions. Those are also the only main religions who have prophets. Islam is very
unique in the way they practice their religious rituals because during the month of Ramadan they
fast (a willing self–restraint on some/all food and or drinks for a period of time). ... Show more
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The Five Pillars of Islam are the basic acts that Muslims must follow. Shahadah is the first pillar of
Islam and you must recite the Muslim profession of faith, "There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is his messenger." Salat, the second pillar of Islam, means you must perform ritual
prayers in the proper way five times each day. Zakat is the act of paying a charity tax to comfort
people in need. Sawm is the fourth pillar of Islam and it requires you to fast during the month of
Ramadan. The final pillar of Islam, Hajj, is the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. With
practice of the Five Pillars of Islam it makes you a true follower of

Five Pillars Of Islam
When it comes to the various religious movements in existence, one common point which they tend
to have certain theological tenets which define such a religion. Within Christianity, this can be seen
with the doctrines espoused by the Apostles Creed while in the Bahai faith it can be seen in the core
ideas of unity. This general concept is also found in Islam where Islamic theology is largely based
upon the notion of the five pillars which plays an important part in the lives of adherents. Such
pillars include bearing witness, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage each of which expected
for the faithful Muslim to practice in his life since they provide the framework towards practical
Islam. Thus examining the five pillars will allow one ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With regards to the first pillar, a person acknowledges the power that Allah has over them and via
conversion becomes a Muslim. When it comes to how this principle functions within the life of a
Muslim, it can best be described as doing so by the recognition of Allah. Knowing that there is a
true higher power over your life affects the way that one lives since whatever they do is in light of
such a higher power. The second pillar which also lays a strong part in the life of Muslims would
have to be that of prayer. The impact on life in this area is quite obvious to see since Muslims are
simply required to say five prayers daily and certain ones at certain times. However while the actual
practice may seem simple, it is important to remember that the practice of prayer is quite powerful
for believers of any faith. Many Muslims view such prayer as being a powerful experience which
allows them to worship Allah which in turn provides them with strength. The next pillar which
strongly affects the life of Muslims would have to be the charitable act of almsgiving. This act is
accomplished through charitable giving which is done on the basis of the wealth of the Muslim who
is in question and is done to the benefit of others such as by helping the poor and taking care of the
places of worship. The fourth pillar which is applicable to the lives of Muslims would have to be the
practice of Ramadan which is followed within the 9th lunar month of the Islamic calendar. This
practice is relatively straight–forward since it can basically be summed as a practice where Muslims
are required to abstained things such as smoking, sex, drinking, and eating except in permitted
times. Although it should also be noted that many Muslims may be exempt from the required
observance of Ramadan in certain situations like those

Essay on The Five Pillars of Islam
Islam is a religion of peace. There are 5 pillars of Islam which are mandatory. The five pillars are,
Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj, I will define the five pillars now.
1. Shahadah: Beleiving that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad [peace be upon him] is his
last messanger.
2. Salat: It is the prayers muslims offer five times a day, Fajr, zuhr, asr, maghrib and isha.
3. Zakat: It is to give 2.5% annually of one's saving to the needy people.
4. Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan to learn to have a control over yourself.
5. Hajj: To go to Mekkah and Medina to perform pilgrimage once in a life time at least, if you can
afford it.
Islam began when Gabriel [peace be upon him] came to Muhammad [peace be upon him] when ...
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We consider him the first person to accept Muhammad [peace be upon him] as a prophet.
Muhammad [peace be upon him] the dearest prophet to Allah (SWT) , Holy Qur'an was relived on
Muhammad [peace be upon him] by revelations through Prophet Gibrael [peace be upon him] in 7
years. The religion Islam was completed 1400 years ago, and Muhammad [peace be upon him] is
Allah's last messanger. Muhammad [peace be upon him] is an ideal personality to follow for
Muslims, the most noble person that has ever been on this planet. His father died before he was
born, and his mother passed away when he was six years old. Muhammad [peace be upon him] was
then raised by his grandfather Abdul Mutallib. When Abduk Mutallib passed away, the holy
prophet's uncle Abu Talib took care of him.
Abu Talib was very dear to Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him], but he did not accept Islam.
He started taking care of the prophet since Muhammad [peace be upon him] was about eight years
old. The prophet tried to convince his uncle to accept Islam and recite Shahadah till his uncles' last
breath, but he didn't. He was a true Qurayshi. He refused because he claimed that the Quraysh would
mock him and accuse him of saying the shahada because he fears death.
When Muhammad first began to teach about Islam he did so privately and publicly in Mecca.
People began to accept Islam, both men and women, in large numbers until the fame of it was
spread throughout

Islam And Islam : The Five Pillars Of Islam
Ever since I was a child, I thought that being a Muslim simply meant that one had to believe in
Allah, read the Quran, and memorize its verses. However, one has to understand the meanings and
translations behind the Islamic texts. There's no point of reciting a prayer in a language you can't
understand five times a day if you don't know what it means. You want to understand the translation
so you can apply it in everyday life, because the Quran was revealed as a guide as to how to life
your life. Reading about Salah and Zakah, which are part of the five pillars of Islam, made me
realize that Islam is a religion that portrays peace and unity.
The reading on Salah also helped me understand the importance of learning the meanings behind
holy recitations. As a Muslim, praying five times a day is obligatory. As a result, I only simply
prayed. I didn't understand what I was reciting, rather I was just trying to get the prayer out of my
way. However, what I was doing was completely wrong. For example, one of my friends asked me,
what does "bismi–llāhi r–raḥmāni r–raḥīm" mean. This was something you have to have to recite
before reading a surah. I was embarrassed because although I would recite it before every prayer, I
did not know the meaning. Meaning and understanding what you are reciting in prayer is very
important. "This is achieved in part by the recitations from the Quran which are a part of every
prescribed prayer" (Haneef 53). Without understanding the recitations from

The Hajj Pilgrimage a) What is the Hajj Pilgrimage? Hajj is a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and is
one of the five pillars of Islam. Every Muslim is expected to go on the pilgrimage at least once in
their lifetime. The Hajj usually takes place during the month of Dhu al–Hijja which is the last month
in the Islamic calendar. b) What is the history behind the pilgrimage? The hajj is said to have
originated in the 2000BC. Ibrahim, his wife Hager and their son Ishmael were stranded on a desert
and Ishmael was close to death from thirst when the angel jibril touched earth and created a fresh
spring of water for Ishmael to drink from. This place was called the well of Zemzem. Following
this, Ibrahim built a monument called kaaba in the place of ... Show more content on
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Outline what happens in at least two different Baptismal services. Refer to the symbolism involved.
Infant baptism The infant is dressed in white clothing that represents the purity gained after the
completion if the baptismal service. Water is poured on to the forehead of the child or the child is
immersed in water by the priest in the presence of the parents, god parents and generally a sponsor.
The specific way that the procedure has to take place can depend on the choosing of the family.
Believers baptism The person being baptised publicly confirms their understanding of the baptism
and the acceptance of God into their life by answering a series of questions. Then a member of the
church immerses them in water. The procedure symbolises the spiritual rebirth or awakening which
has taken place in their lives and their will to follow Christ in life. 4. How does this practice express
the beliefs of Christianity? (refer to sacred texts, traditions and statements by leaders of various
denominations) Baptism tells us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and our very own
death, burial and resurrection. "He who is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will
be condemned" (Mark

Like most religions, the Muslim faith is no different in that it there is no one way to practice it. For
example Christianity. Not every Christians devoutly goes to church every Sunday. Those within the
Muslim faith practice it with their own unique interpretation. Despite the different interpretations,
there is a set of guidelines for moral instruction that is central to all. These rules are called the Five
Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars serves as a moral compass for all Muslims and are universally
accepted. They are mentioned specifically in the Qur'an as they were recited to Muhammad. The
first of the Five Pillars is the creed. It states that, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his
messenger,". This pillar is at the core for the Muslim faith. A person truly becomes a Muslim when
he/she recites this creed, and truly believes it in their heart. This message is found within the Muslim
faith, and is recited daily. It can also be found written within mosques and homes as well. The
second pillar is prayer. Devout Muslims pray five times a day. Once at dawn, midday, mid–
afternoon, sunset and nighttime. The prayer process for Muslims is extremely sacred and done
ritually. The prayers are called together by a "muezzin" from atop a tower called a minaret. Another
ritual involved in Muslim prayer includes a purification process with water or sand, where the
believer cleanses their hands, arms, face, neck and feet before beginning. Believers always pray
facing

The Five Pillar Of Islam
The pilgrimage to Mecca, which is the fifth Pillar of Islam, is known as hajj. The Five Pillars of
Islam are the foundation of the entire religion, and dictate the actions of every Muslim in both a
private and public manner (Western Traditions 244). The first Pillar is shahadah: "to declare, or bear
witness, that there is no god except God (Allah), and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God"
(Western Traditions 244). The second Pillar is salat: "to establish regular worship" (Western
Traditions 244) also known as prayer – which must occur five times a day. The third Pillar is
almsgiving: which requires paying the Zakat alms (Western Traditions 244). The fourth Pillar is the
Ramadan fast: which is a month long fast that the Quran recognizes as ... Show more content on
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Peer notes that today, Mecca is a city of more than one and a half million people (Peer The Modern
Mecca), and that every year during hajj between two to three million pilgrims flood into Mecca as
well. As we can imagine, this number is significantly larger than it would have been when the
tradition of the pilgrimage was formed, and therefor the logistics of completing specific rituals
becomes challenging. One example of this is seen in the desire to kiss the stone that was part of
Abraham's Ka'ba, something that Muhammad had done on his own hajj (Peer The Modern Mecca).
Unfortunately, because of the immense number of pilgrims trying to kiss the stone, it is impossible
for everyone to even come close to accomplishing this. Many "Pilgrims raised smart phones above
their heads to record the moment" (Peer The Modern Mecca), as physical contact was nearly
impossible, highlighting the ways in which hajj has been modernized – yet remains so important.
Peer himself was unable to kiss the stone, but feels comfort in knowing that this is a common reality
for most pilgrims, including Malcolm X, who also was not able to reach the stone during his
pilgrimage (Peer The Modern Mecca). Also, Islam is very aware that not every Muslim will be able
to complete their hajj – so alternate options are given for those who may not be able to attend

Islam: The Five Pillars Of Islam
Muhammad lived during the 570 to 632 and was born in Mecca. Mecca was a commercial center
then which is part of the caravan route from Yemen to Syria. Muhammad became an orphan at the
age of six years old. His father died before he was born and her mother passed away six years after
his birth. His uncle, Abu Talib, became his guardian along with his grandfather. As part of
Muhammad's childhood, he was sent to the desert and live with a tribe there. He was a member of
the Quraysh tribe which is most powerful tribe in Mecca. Living with a desert tribe helped him to
develop a character and build up his strength. He also learned to be responsible for the animals.
When he has a chance to return to Mecca, he socializes with different people where he had learned
of their faiths (Muhammad 685).
He was known for being a religious leader of the whole Arabia. He founded one of the religions
which has the most number of followers, the Islam. The variations of the name Muhammad are
Mohammad, Muhammed, and Mohamet. The most common spelling of the name, however, is
Muhammad. In Arabic, Muhammad means ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, the Quran lays on all believers five duties, known as the Five Pillars of Islam. First, the
duty of reciting the creed, "there is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God." Second,
the duty of worship and prayer after ritual washing and while facing in the direction of Mecca, five
times daily and in the mosque on Fridays. Third is the duty of almsgiving. Fourth, complete
abstinence from food, drink, and any sexual activity from dawn to dusk during Ramadan which is
the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Ramadan is sacred as the month in which Muhammad
received the first of his revelations from God. Fifth is the duty of the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca,
which every Muslim should undertake before he dies. In addition, the Quran forbids the Muslim to
eat pork, drink liquor, or gamble(Five Pillars of

ONE verse from the Quran: "[Believers], argue only in the best way with the People of the Book,
except those of them who act unjustly. Say, 'We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was
revealed to you; our God and your God is one [and the same]; we are devoted to Him'." Quran 29:46
Hadith: "If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise: Speak the truth
when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfill your
trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your gaze (out of modesty), and restrain your hands from
injustice.
One of the Five Pillars of Islam: the Pillar of faith, including belief in One God, belief in God's
scriptures, belief in God's angels, belief in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It explains that our God is the same as their God. That is relevant because many people in the West
believe that Muslims are against them and their religion, or even that Muslims want to do jihad
attacks against anybody who is not Muslim. This quote proves that, in fact, there is a lot of respect
from Muslims towards Jews and Christians and their beliefs.
The hadith from Prophet Muhammad 's sayings prescribes a formula for Muslims to be sure to enter
heaven. The prophet Mohammed (PBUH) mentions to always tell the truth, keep promises, be
trustworthy, modest, sexually moral, and just. This quote is significant because Muslims want to
enter heaven and sometimes they may worry that they are not doing all the prayers or other things,
so this is something that gives us a chance that if we are good people we can enter heaven. It even
means also that some people, even if they are not Muslims, and they follow these teachings, they
can enter heaven. This quote is relevant to our times because these important values are not the main
values of the Western society. They seem like old values that are being lost but in fact they are still
very important. It is difficult to keep these values in this days, with the influence of the media and
other factors, especially the part about avoiding sexual immorality. This is a good reminder for all
Muslims about these basic principles that they should follow in their behavior to

Five Pillars Of Islam, The Most Important Article Of Faith
Five pillars of Islam, are spiritual practices that define what it means to be a member of the Muslim
community and believe in Islam. Shahadah, is the first pillar of Islam. This is a self–profession of
faith, an inner testimony of faith. There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his true prophet.
Shahadah is considered the most important article of faith. The Qur'an says that in those with true
faith should tell others, giving them information to make an intelligent choice in regards to faith and
religion. At the same time one must respect all prophets and all revealed religions. Salat, ritual
prayer is the second pillar of Islam. The call to prayer and an affirmation of Gods unity. There are
five daily prayers starting at sunrise, midday, afternoon, sunset, and after night falls. The time of
each prayer changes from day to day with the orientation of the sun in the heaven. These prayers are
continuous reminders for Muslims to submit to God, keeping them on a pure path, rejuvenating their
faith, and giving thanks to God for all of the blessings they enjoy. Prior to each prayer one must
ritually purified and cleanse one's self both spiritually and physically in preparation for prayer.
There is strict gender segregation during prayer. The Quiblah in each Muslim mosque faces in the
direction of Mecca, which is the way one prays, facing the Ka'bah. Prayer starts with Allahu Akbar
(Allah is great), standard resuscitation Devotional verses, verses of the Karan. Friday

Five Pillars Of Islam
Arkhan al Islam or the five pillars of faith are the foundations of Islam which govern the everyday
actions and practices of Islamic adherents around the world. These core teachings of Islam are
essential in order for Muslims to be able to efficiently express and practice their beliefs. Adherents
are expected to follow these pillars as it is stated in the Qur'an, believed to be the direct word of
Allah, revealed through the revelation to the prophet Muhammad. The five pillars are a crucial part
of Islam, therefore being perfect examples of expressions of faith, as they shape how the Islamic
faith is lived out. Both Sunni and Shi'ia Muslims agree of the fundamentals of Islam, and carry out
practicing these beliefs in similar yet slightly altered ways. By living out these pillars, adherents are
showing full submission to Allah and will assist adherents in gaining a place in the afterlife.
SHAHADAH:
Shahadah is the Muslim declaration or testimony of faith. The words "There is no God but Allah,
and Muhammad (PBUH) is His messenger." are recited in order to affirm Islamic adherents belief in
Allah and in the prophet Muhammad being God's final messenger. By reciting this testimony of
Islamic faith, adherents acknowledge that Allah has an exclusive right to be worshipped and only
Him, as well as accepting the prophethood of Muhammad, being the last and final messenger of
Allah. Shahadah must be stated by a Muslim, as if it is not said nor known, then one may not call
themselves a

The five pillars of Islam are faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage. The five pillars are
practices Muslims must follow to be a devout Muslim. The pillars are the structure of Muslim life.
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are three monotheistic religions that all compare in faith, prayer,
and fast. Faith, prayer, and fast are three of the five pillars of Islam that are not exclusive to Islam,
but present within Christian and Jewish beliefs and practices. The pillar of faith, or Shahadah,
reminds the Muslims of the purpose of life, which is to worship Allah. This pillar of faith proclaims
the oneness of God. To fulfill a Muslim's purpose, one should follow the teachings of Allah's
messenger which is Muhammad. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all believe in one God, but
Christians and Jews do not consider one prophet to be divine for that matter. Christians believe that
God the father had a son Jesus Christ, and that Jesus was the Messiah. The 10 commandments are
central to the base of Judaism and Christianity and state that the Jews and Christians cannot have
other gods and can only worship one god. In Judaism, the Ten Commandments can be found in the
book of Exodus in the Torah and in Christianity the Ten Commandments can be found in the Old
Testament. This is important because the Old Testament is for both Judaism and Christianity, but the
New Testament is specifically for Christianity ("Jewish History" 2010). All three religions agree on
monotheism and

The Five Pillars of Islam
After watching The Five Pillars of Islam it has made me rather interested in the history and origin of
the Islamic religion. So often today we see the Islam as a religion of terrorism, and war. We see it as
a religion of people that have nothing in their heart but bad. The truth is that Islam was started on
principles very different from what we see in the news or hear on the radio. Islam rather has a long
rich history that is full of some of the same principles and morals of Christianity that are seen in the
western world as the foundation of good. Islam has what it calls The Five Pillars that are in purpose
much like the Christian Ten Commandments. They are a set of rules that are the foundation of the ...
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They must be prayed on a mat and people must wash before prayer all in an attempt to show the
servant status of the human being in relation to Allah. This is again very similar to the beliefs of the
Christian church. Although the people in the Christian church can pray what they want when they
want they very often times pray prayers that are set for them at designated times. Even Jesus told his
people that when they come together to pray what there Father had taught them, this set prayer has
become known as the Lord's Prayer. Both in the Islamic faith and in the Christian church these
prayers are prayed in an attempt to please god. It is a way that mortal humans can show there respect
for their god. It is interesting to me how two religions viewed as such total opposites can have such
similar beliefs and rituals.
Zakah is the third pillar that is the belief that Muslims are to set aside a portion of their income to
help the poor. It is believed by the Muslim people that by helping the poor their own wealth will be
made pure. It is a way for them to show Allah that they are thankful for what they have been given.
In much the same way the Christian church teaches the same thing. The Christian's offering is their
tithe. Both religions give in much the same manner, they give because they feel that it is a way for
them to show both their respect and reverence to their god. This act of Islamic people

Subject: Religious Education
Name: Nathaniel Hall
Date of Submission: April 9, 2014
Table Of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................1
Objectives....................................................................................................2
The Shahadah...............................................................................................3
The Salat........................................................................................................4
The Zakat.......................................................................................................5
The Sawm.......................................................................................................6
The Hajj................................................................................................7
Comprehension.............................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................9
Bibliography...................................................................................................10
Introduction
This project is based on The Five Pillars and it aims to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Fajr prayer is performed before sunrise, Dhuhr is performed in the midday after the sun has
surpassed its highest point, Asr is the evening prayer performed before sunset, Maghrib is the
evening prayer performed after sunset and Isha is the night prayer. All of these prayers are recited
while facing in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and forms an important aspect of the Muslim
Ummah. Muslims must wash before prayer; this washing is called wudu (purification). The prayer is
accompanied by a series of set positions called the rakat sequence which includes the following:
bowing with hands on knees, standing, prostrating and sitting in a special position (not on the heels,
nor on the bottom). Prayer is obligatory for all Muslims except those who are disabled,
prepubescent, very sick, lactating, pregnant, menstrual bleeding, frail and elderly or travelling on a
long journey and it has been estimated that roughly 49% of Muslims pray their daily prayers
regularly. A Muslim may perform their prayer anywhere, such as in offices, universities, and fields.
However, the mosque is the more preferable place for prayers because the mosque allows for
fellowship. The chief purpose of Salat in Islam is to act as a person 's communication with and
remembrance of God. By reciting the first Surah of the Qur 'an, as required in all daily worship, the

worshipper can stand before God, thank and praise Him, and to ask for guidance along the Straight
Path.

Islam : The Five Pillars Of Islam
The Islamic tradition is a monotheistic Semitic religion that requires Muslims to reflect and cultivate
their faith through practicing the Arkan al–Islam – the Five Pillars of Islam. Islam embraces the
paradigm of submission to the will of Allah for adherents to understand their place in the universe.
The pillars are a foundation for the Muslim faith as evident by Muhammad 's statement of 'Islam is
built upon five [pillars]' recorded in the Hadith 3. This entails the declaration of faith (Shahadah),
the five daily prayers (Salat), almsgiving (Zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm) and
the Hajj pilgrimage. The Shahada translated as 'testimony' is the first pillar of Islam that involves
reciting the testimony of faith, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is executed for Muslims to practically convey their gratitude, reverence and love to Allah, to
achieve submission and to demonstrate awareness of their faith and its role in their daily lives.
Muhammad states 'Allah wipes away sin with the five daily prayers' in a hadith from Abu Sai'id al–
Khudri to encourage humbling oneself before Allah for repentance and spiritual purification. The
five canonical daily prayers all involve the muezzin call and recitations of the shahada. Although
salat existed before Muhammad, it was corrupt and unacceptable to God. It was then reintroduced to
Muhammad through Allah, made obligatory at the 'Night Journey' in 691 CE, the ascension (al–
Mi'raaj) at the 7th heaven and recorded in the Qur'an. Prayers can be offered in any clean setting
with adherents reserving a few minutes to perform recitations from the Quran and praising Allah
with various physical postures such as sitting on small prayer mats (sajjada), standing and ritual
bowing followed by prostration when reciting Qur'anic verses is regarded supreme acts of
submission. In preparation for salat, muslims engage in ritual ablutions to reach a state of ritual
purity. An adherent repeats softly or inaudibly phrases including 'Allahu akbar' (Allah is Great). The
salat enriches a muslim's life when

The Arabic word "Muslim," literally means "someone who is in a state of Islam (submission to the
will and law of God [Allah])," (Ellwood, 2014) not terrorists as portrayed in the media. The religion
of Islam is to accept and obey the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet,
Muhammad. There are five simple but essential observances that all practicing Muslims accept and
follow: confession of faith, prayer five times a day, giving of alms to the poor, fasting, and the hajj
(Ellwood, 2014). These "Pillars of Islam" represent the core that unites all Muslims.
A Muslim is one who testifies that "none deserves worship but Allah, and Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah ("Islam")." This declaration is known as the "shahada" (testimony).

The 5 Pillars In Islam: The Five Pillars Of Islam
The five pillars are a cornerstone of a Muslim's life
1. Declaration of Faith
The declaration of faith is bearing witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and
that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Servant and Messenger. It must be based on a sincere
and firm belief in the heart, as well as being uttered verbally.
The first part of the declaration implies that No person, object or being has the right to be
worshipped except Allah alone. The Arabic name "Allah" refers to the One True God of all mankind
and everything that exists.
Allah alone is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, and He has power over all things. Allah
alone has perfect attributes and is free from all deficiencies.
Allah has no partner, equal, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is similar to the pruning of plants, whereby regularly trimming provides balance and
encourages growth. By fulfilling this obligation, Muslims purify their remaining wealth, as well as
ensure both financial and spiritual growth.
4. Fasting
"Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain piety.
"Qur'an 2:183
As with any act of worship, fasting requires obedience and submission to Allah's commands through
the highest degree of commitment and sincerity. Every year during the month of Ramadan (the 9th
month of the lunar calendar), Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from three key human
needs – food, drink and sexual relations. One should also abstain from all sinful actions.
5. Pilgrimage
"And Hajj is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, for those who can afford the expenses (for one's
transportation, provision and residence)."Qur'an 3:97
Pilgrimage to the Holy city of Makkah (in Saudi Arabia) and other sacred sites must be performed at
least once in a person's life, if they are physically and financially

Islam
According to historians Islam can be found all the way back to 7th Century Saudi Arabia, making it
the newest of the great world religions. The Islam religion was introduced by the prophet
Muhammad. He started Islam because he claimed to experience an "angelic visitation". This laid the
foundations for a new religion.
The whole basis of Islam is its "Scripture." They called their bible the Qur'an. In this book, the
Muslim will find all he needs to know in this life to please Allah. The words that are in the Qur'an
are the words that the Angel Gabriel is supposed to have spoken to Muhammad over about 12 years.
In this book, the basic beliefs, or 5 pillars are explained. The five pillars are the framework or
commandments of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving of alms, fasting,
and pilgrimage.
The testimony of faith confesses that there is only one god. Their god isn't our holy God, theirs is
Allah. The Muslims believe that there is no true god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet. They
believe that his is one, unique, and incomparable. No other being shares his divinity, or his
attributes. This testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam. We believe differently
however. Isaiah 44:6 says, "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer of the LORD
of hosts; I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." This passage clearly states
that the Islamic religion is incorrect. Our God is the only true

Islam: The Five Pillars Of Islam
On Hajj
The religion of Islam is held up by five pillars, known as the five pillars of Islam. These are five
ritual duties that Muslims view as central to their faith. These are: (1) pronouncing the confession of
faith (shahada); (2) performing the five daily prayers (salat); (3) fasting during the month of
Ramadan (saum); (4) paying the alms tax (zakat) and (5) performing at least once in their life, the
major pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).
Hajj is a pilgrimage carried out by people who follow the Islamic religion. Most of the world
religions have a pilgrimage that its followers make. In some religions pilgrimage is not an important
commitment for all believers but in Islam it is essential. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Sick people may give the money to a charity or pay for someone to represent them as long as that
person has been on their own behalf. Those who cannot go have only to declare it as their niyyah,
their sincere intention to go on Hajj, and the duty is considered to have been fulfilled.
Before going on Hajj Muslims must settle their financial affairs, by paying off all debts and make
amends for anything they have done wrong. They may also require a visa from the Saudi Arabian
Embassy. Women going on Hajj should have a male as their wakil or mahram (guardian). The most
important preparations are those that help the Muslim spiritually for the pilgrimage. Many Muslims
attend special classes to learn about Hajj.
Why Hajj is performed?
The main reason is because it is one of the pillars of Arkan therefore it is obligatory. It is also an act
of Ibadah.
The first rite of the pilgrimage is when a Muslim expresses the niyyah, intention, of going on Hajj
by saying: 'Oh God, I intend to perform the Hajj and I am taking Ihram for it. Make it easy for me
and accept it from me'. The Ihram is a white garment similar to the clothes worn by Muhammad and
the prophets before him. Putting on these white garments symbolises entering a state of ritual purity.
The simplicity of the clothes is to show that all pilgrims are

Five Pillars of Islam
The central belief of the Islamic community is that there is only one God, or Allah, who is infinite in
power. Humanity's overall purpose is to serve Allah and build a lifestyle based upon morals. When
the Arab armies of Islam conquered new lands, they began expressing their culture and faith by
building palaces and commissioning other works. The differing aspects of religious practices were
also emerged and classified. The religious practice of Islam is based on the belief known as the five
pillars: The declaration of faith, daily prayers, paying charity, fasting during ramadan, and the
pilgrimage to Mecca. These are five obligatory duties that a Muslim must adhere to in order to
please God and strengthen their faith ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Islamic faith is based on the belief that prayer is the direct link between the worshipper and
God. Muslims believe that prayer by voice is what distinguishes Islam from Judaism and
Christianity. The prayers contain verses from the Quran, the muslim holy book, and are recited five
times a day at dawn, noon, mid–afternoon, sunset, and nightfall. These prayers are led by a well–
informed person called an Imam which is identified as the "one who walks before". The Imam
knows the Quran and is chosen by the worshippers based on his dedication and knowledge.
Although it is meritorious and most preferred to worship towards Mecca together in a mosque, a
muslim place of public worship, a muslim is allowed to perform prayer alone. Each prayer is
expressed in different bowing movements, or rakahs. The worshippers recite the following: "God is
great, I testify that there is no god but God, I testify that Muhammad is God's messenger, Come to
prayer, Come to salvation, God is Great, There is no god but God". The purpose of this ritual is to
worship God and purify the heart of evil therefore cleansing the soul.
Almsgiving, or zakat is the third pillar, even though it is not defined in the Quran. This social
responsibility of Muslims is required as the service of God. Each Muslim can calculate their
personal amount to give but they have an obligatory duty to donate at least two and a half percent

The Five Pillars to Islam: The Hajj or Pilgrimage to...
The Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah is one of the five pillars of Islam "arkan–al–Islam"– Its purpose is
essentially to facilitate the act of submission to Allah which is pinnacle to all followers of Islam.
"Perform the pilgrimage and the visit [to Mecca] for Allah" Surah 2:196. It has enormous
significance, not only for the pilgrim undertaking the Hajj but also for the wider Muslim
community, the Umma, as it allows for all individuals to gain unification of faith. Such purpose can
be examined through considering various rituals; the stand before Allah "wuquf", the stoning of the
pillars at Mina, the commemoration of the festival of sacrifice "Id–ul–Adha", the circling of the
Ka'bah and drawing water from the well of Zamzam. Such rituals ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
"Peace and salutation to Ibrahim!" For he was one of our believing Servants" (Quran, sura 37) The
Hajj, today, allows the Muslim community to strengthen their faith, through sacrificing animals or
money to be distributed for those in need, thus reinforcing the fulfillment of the fourth pillar of
Islam, Zakaat: giving of alms to the poor. The ritual allows for the perfect model of submission,
which all followers should take as a guide.
Temptation is a reality to the contemporary believer – the ritual of stoning the pillars at Mina,
representing the devil, establishes such reality through reconnecting the believer to the story of
Ibrahim and Isma'il. Through ritual, the pilgrim connects to how Ibrahim was tempted by the devil,
on the way to sacrificing Isma'il, to abandon the task. The devil continued, however, the devotion of
faith by Ibrahim to Allah, allowed for the rejection temptation, consequently through the throwing of
stones. The individual mirrors rejection of the devil to their own lives, noting that temptation is a
grave reality that decreases their ability to submit to Allah. "Stoning away from the enemy that is
taking us away from the path of Islam," Mustafa Jaffer, Stanmore Mosque Muslim Center
Hajj allows for the individual to acknowledge the will of Allah – through

Islam
The five pillars of Islam are the framework of how the Muslim live their lives. Islamic people pray 5
times a day this is a way that they show their dedication to their god, Allah. Islamic men must gather
on Fridays to attend a mass at their local mosque. The mosque is not the only place where they can
they can talk to their god but a place where they can connect as a community. Islam was foundered
by Muhammad on the 610 CE, it was founded in Mecca, now part of Saudi Arabia.
Th five pillars that illustrate the Islamic way of life. The first pillar is the declaration of faith, this
pillar is the faith that there is no other god but God and Muhammad is his prophet, these words are
repeated in prayer throughout the day and is written on building. The second pillar is prayer (Salah)
this pillar is that Islamic people pray five times a day, they pray at, before sunrise, after mid–day,
late afternoon, at sunset and during the night.
There are three more pillars that help shape the way the Muslim society live. The third pillar is
fasting (sawm), the Muslims fast on the ninth month which is called Ramadan month. In Ramadan,
the Muslims fast and refrain themselves from various thing such as eating, drinking, smoking and
conjugal relation from dawn to sunset. The fourth pillar is welfare tax (zakat) this pillar Is focusing
on the financial stainability of the muslin community. People who earn over a certain amount which
is called Nisab, the Muslims pay 2.5% of their savings

Islam: The Five Pillars Of Faith
Do you want to learn about the religion of Islam? There is a lot about the religion of Islam and some
of that i'm going to be talking about. There is a man in Islam who created the religion by having a
lot of visions from a messenger of God the religion has the Five Pillars of Faith that is important to
Islam and all Muslims have to follow to worship God. Second of all there is differences of Islam and
the other religion and some similarities with Islam and the other religion. Ramadan is a very
important time for the Muslims because it is when they get self control. There are some interesting
parts of the Islamic faith including The Five Pillars which tell the Muslims the rules in order to
worship, the similarities and differences between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity and the practice
of Ramadan.
There is an important man that was born in 610 A.D created the religion called Islam and The Five
Pillars of Faith that are important to Muslims. Some evidence to this is that in source one it states
"In A.D. 610, a man named Muhammad was alone in a cave. He was sitting silently, thinking. Then
he received a vision of a messenger from God. It was the start of a new ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Some evidence in source three it states"For Muslims, Ramadan is a holy month. Muslims are
followers of the religion of Islam. During Ramadan, they pray and pay more attention to their own
thoughts and feelings. They are also supposed to avoid unkind thoughts and bad behavior." What the
author means is that the month of Ramadan is holy to the Muslims because they pray so they can
pay more attentions to their thoughts and feelings and try not to be bad behaved. another piece of
evidence is in source three it states "Ramadan is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad
received the first messages." What this means is that when Muhammad received his first messages
which is important and holy to the Muslims because that's when the religion of Islam is

Essay on Five Pillars of Islam
John Johnston
LTAR 250
February 28, 2005
The Five Pillars of Islam
After watching The Five Pillars of Islam it has made me rather interested in the history and origin of
the Islamic religion. So often today we see the Islam as a religion of terrorism, and war. We see it as
a religion of people that have nothing in their heart but bad. The truth is that Islam was started on
principles very different from what we see in the news or hear on the radio. Islam rather has a long
rich history that is full of some of the same principles and morals of Christianity that are seen in the
western world as the foundation of good. Islam has what it calls The Five Pillars that are in purpose
much like the Christian Ten Commandments. They are ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Salah is the second pillar that is requires all Islamic people to pray five times a day. These prayers
are not just any old prayer they are rather set prayers that are expected of a good Islamic person to
pray. They are very ritualistic and must be done in a very ordered fashion as to please Allah. The
prayers are done at very specific times of the day and they must always be prayed facing Mecca in
Arabia, the birth place of Islam. They must be prayed on a mat and people must wash before prayer
all in an attempt to show the servant status of the human being in relation to Allah. This is again
very similar to the beliefs of the Christian church. Although the people in the Christian church can
pray what they want when they want they very often times pray prayers that are set for them at
designated times. Even Jesus told his people that when they come together to pray what there Father
had taught them, this set prayer has become known as the Lord's Prayer. Both in the Islamic faith
and in the Christian church these prayers are prayed in an attempt to please god. It is a way that
mortal humans can show there respect for their god. It is interesting to me how two religions viewed
as such total opposites can have such similar beliefs and rituals. Zakah is the third pillar that is the
belief that Muslims are to set aside a portion of their income to help the poor. It is believed by the
Muslim

Islam Five Pillars
Explain and analyse the significance of the Five Pillars of Islam on the individual and the
community making reference to the principal beliefs where relevant.
Central to the Muslim belief is the importance of devotion and total submission to Allah. This is put
into practice through the Five Pillars of Islam –the five obligatory duties that must be performed by
all practising Muslims. These are the acts of faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage. Carrying
out these duties creates structure in a Muslim's life, teaching them to devote their time to Allah and
not get caught up in their own secular lives. The effect the Five Pillars of Islam has on not only the
individual but the community as a whole is substantial. Constantly ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
By carrying out the pillar of Zakat the community benefits as a whole. This way the wealth is spread
so that the less fortunate families are able to celebrate at the end of fasting with everyone else.
The forth pillar of faith is referred to as Sawm. From sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan
adult Muslim's are expected to partake in fasting. This means they mustn't eat, drink, smoke or have
sexual intercourse within the hours of daylight. Instead one should take the time to prayer reflect or
meditate. Participating in fasting Muslim's learns the traits of self–control, sympathy and discipline.
These are important qualities for all Muslims to have, as the principal belief of Al–Akhira is that we
humans, despite God's will, have the freedom of choice. This way Muslim's are able to exercise this
belief during fasting. Ramadan is the celebration of the first revelation of the Qur'an given directly
through the prophet Muhammad, therefore it is a sacred time of special significance to all Muslim's.
Kutubu'llah is the name given to the principal belief in God's revelation to humans in holy books.
The breaking of the fast is a significant part of Sawm, it is the time after sunset when Muslims can
enjoy their achievement in fasting. Gathering together among friends and family they may share and
light meal and celebrate their self–control and strength throughout the day. This small act highlights

The Beliefs Of Islam And The Five Pillars
Islam is not only religion, but a way of life followed by over 1 billion Muslims. Islam identifies the
six articles of faith, central beliefs that every Muslim must believe in order to be a true Muslim.
These include the belief in existence and unity of God, existence of angels, God's revelation to
humans in holy books, God appointing prophets to all people, resurrection and life after death, and
God's Will and human freedom of choice (Ewing, 2004, p. 1). The importance of these beliefs can
be highlighted through the practical expressions of the five pillars. These include Shahadah, Salah,
Zakah, Saum and Hajj which are all important during Muslim life because they are used daily or
have to be performed at least once. Many of the six ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The words can only be taken seriously if it is truly believed in one's heart. Morrissey et al (2010, p.
5) suggest that the individual's whole life must back up the declaration of faith, otherwise it is
meaningless. Once the declaration is completed and witnessed by two others, they can be considered
a true Muslim. They have now shown their respect towards Allah and all other Muslims and can
pass on their own knowledge. The declaration of faith is recited constantly throughout a Muslim's
life. Significant times are at the birth of a baby, before death, waking and going to sleep. The first
part of the declaration, "There is no God but Allah" shows the importance of tawhid as it is the
belief in the existence, oneness and unity of Allah. Without believing in tawhid, Shahadah cannot be
practiced as there would be no true meaning behind it. This highlights the importance of tawhid
while practically expressing Shahadah. The declaration of faith is said while believing in tawhid, but
also while believing in all six articles of faith such as the existence of angels. The belief of angels is
central to Islam as they are the messengers of God. They are spirits created by Allah to express
worship, obedience and service as they witness Allah and all his glory (Mufti, 2006, p. 1). All angels
provide a service or duty. Angels mentioned throughout the Qur'an include Raphael, Michael, Angel
of death, and Gabriel,

The Islamic tradition is a monotheistic Semitic religion that embraces the paradigm of submission to
the will of Allah for adherents to understand their place in the universe. To live a faithful Islamic
life, Muslims are required to reflect and cultivate their faith through practicing the Arkan al–Islam –
the Five Pillars of Islam. It is the foundation for Muslim faith as evident by Muhammad's statement
of 'Islam is built upon five [pillars]' recorded in the Hadith 3. This entails the declaration of faith
(Shahadah), the five daily prayers (Salat), almsgiving (Zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan
(Sawm) and the Hajj pilgrimage. The Shahada translated as 'testimony' is the first pillar of Islam that
involves reciting the testimony ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The second pillar salat entails performing ritual prayers five times daily in the direction (qibla) of
the Kaaba shrine in Mecca at sunset, in the evening, at dawn, noon and in the afternoon. This is
executed for Muslims to practically convey their gratitude, reverence and love to Allah, achieve
submission and demonstrate awareness of their faith and its role in their daily lives. Muhammad
states 'Allah wipes away sin with the five daily prayers' in a hadith from Abu Sai'id al–Khudri to
encourage humbling oneself before Allah for repentance and spiritual purification. The five
canonical daily prayers involving the call of the muezzin each include a recitation of the shahada.
Although salat existed before Muhammad, it was corrupt and unacceptable for God. It was then
reintroduced to Muhammad through Allah and made obligatory at the 'Night Journey' in 691 CE and
the ascension (al–Mi'raaj) at the 7th heaven and recorded in the Qur'an. Prayer can be offered in any
clean setting, setting aside a few minutes to perform recitations from the Quran and praising Allah
with various physical postures such as sitting on small prayer mats (sajjada), standing and ritual
bowing followed by prostration when reciting Qur'anic verses are supreme acts of submission. In
preparation for salat, muslims engage in ritual ablutions to reach a state of ritual purity. The adherent
repeats softly or inaudibly phrases including 'Allahu akbar' (Allah is Great). The salat enriches a

No matter how sincerely a person may believe, it is pointless to live life without putting that faith
into action and practice. The most important Muslim practices are the Five Pillars of Islam. These
duties are rooted in the teachings of the Qur'an and in the example of the prophet, Muhammad.
Therefore, Muslims are expected to observe them with the utmost respect and devotion. These
pillars form the foundation for all good deeds and acts of worship to God. And, carrying out the Five
Pillars demonstrates that faith comes first.
The profession of faith, shahadah, is the first of the Five Pillars. The shahada is the most
fundamental expression of Islamic beliefs and the most important pillar of Islam. It simply states
that "There is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, if they pray with the men, they do so from behind them or in a separate group.
The giving of alms, zakat, is the third pillar. An important principle of Islam is that everything
belongs to God, and that wealth is held in trust by human beings. Muslims believe they are meant to
share their wealth with those less fortunate. By doing so, they acknowledge that they are rich or
poor by God's choice; therefore, they should help those he has chosen to make poor. However, zakat
does not refer to charitable gifts given out of kindness but rather to the "giving a specified
percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people." Muslims regard zakat as an
important religious duty, a type of worship and self–purification. In fact, the Qur'an addresses
almsgiving as an essential quality of an honest Muslim, a gateway into heaven.
Sawm, fasting during Ramadan, is the fourth and, perhaps, the most demanding of the Five Pillars.
During the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims are expected
to abstain from food, drink and sexual relations from dawn until sundown. Alcohol and tobacco are
prohibited the entire month. Those who are sick, elderly, and women who are menstruating,
pregnant or nursing, are excused from the fast and allowed to make up an equal number of days later
in the year provided they are healthy and able. Children begin to fast and observe prayers from
puberty, although many start earlier.

Throughout the world many religions are practiced daily. There are five major religions that make
up our diversified world: Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. Christianity is a
monotheistic religion based on the practices and beliefs of its founder, Jesus Christ. Islam is a
monotheistic faith where its teachings have come from Muhammad, the prophet of Allah. Every
religion has basic beliefs or teachings they would like their believers to follow and practice. In the
Islamic faith, there are five duties that are important to the life of the Islamic community and are
known as the "pillars of Islam." Each pillar helps to form the foundation of the Islamic faith. Three
of the five pillars are giving to charity, daily prayers, and a pilgrimage to Mecca. The third pillar is
giving to charity, also known as Zakah. Muslims are instructed to perform voluntary charity as an
essential duty. Zakrat was originally a tax collected by their government from the wealthy to help
out the misfortunate. Daily prayers, known as Salah, are implemented five times a day as part of the
Muslims daily lives. In their prayers, the Muslims stop everything they are doing and face towards
Mecca which is where the kaaba is located. Along with daily prayers the Muslims are told to
complete a pilgrimage, known as Haji, to the holy city of Mecca if physically and economically able
to. The goal of their pilgrimage is to reach the kaaba in Mecca and the adults are suppose to
accomplish this

Islam Notes
The most important Muslim practices are the Five Pillars of Islam.
The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a
good and responsible life according to Islam.
The Five Pillars consist of:
Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith
Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day
Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy
Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca
Why are they important?
Carrying out these obligations provides the framework of a Muslim 's life, and weaves their
everyday activities and their beliefs into a single cloth of religious devotion.
No matter how sincerely a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In case military action appears necessary, not everyone can declare jihad. The religious military
campaign has to be declared by a proper authority, advised by scholars, who say the religion and
people are under threat and violence is imperative to defend them. The concept of "just war" is very
important.
The concept of jihad has been hijacked by many political and religious groups over the ages in a bid
to justify various forms of violence. In most cases, Islamic splinter groups invoked jihad to fight
against the established Islamic order. Scholars say this misuse of jihad contradicts Islam.
Examples of sanctioned military jihad include the Muslims ' defensive battles against the Crusaders
in medieval times, and before that some responses by Muslims against Byzantine and Persian
attacks during the period of the early Islamic conquests.
WHAT JIHAD IS NOT
Jihad is not a violent concept.
Jihad is not a declaration of war against other religions. It is worth noting that the Koran specifically
refers to Jews and Christians as "people of the book" who should be protected and respected. All
three faiths worship the same God. Allah is just the Arabic word for God, and is used by Christian
Arabs as well as Muslims.
Military action in the name of Islam has not been common in the history of Islam. Scholars says
most calls for violent jihad are not

Religion : The Five Pillars Of Islam
Religion: The Five Pillars of Islam
Religion, in my words, is a term used to describe a personal set of religious attitudes, beliefs, and
practices but "the groups, practices and systems that people identify as "religions" are so diverse that
it is no easy task to bring them all under one simple definition" (Anonymous. "What Is Religion?
Definitions and Quotes). Religion is considered to be a very important part of life; even people who
choose to not practice a religion agree that it is. No matter what religion it is that you decided to
practice, the set of beliefs in that religion will regulate your behavior and provide you with hope and
a reason for life. There are indeed a great amount of religions such as Christianity, Catholicism,
Buddhism, Hindu, Islam and so on, but Islam is the religion I have chose to do research on.
Islam is the religion founded by Muhammad, whom is considered to be the chief prophet of this
faith. The people who choose to follow this religion are known as Muslims. Muslims follow a
sacred book, which is the Koran, which "strongly influences various aspects of Muslims lives, its
sacred texts highlight features and peculiarities of Muslim culture. The system of moral, ethic and
aesthetic values, represented by Koran has valuable meaning for universal human culture" (Yedgina,
et.al. "Islam And Its Sacred Book Origin." (2013)). Muslims believe in one God and one God only.
The worship of Allah is an important element in a Muslim's mind at all times.

The Importance Of The Five Pillars Of Islam
In order to fully understand a religion, one must first grasp the very core the religion is built upon.
To understand Islam, one must understand the 5 Pillars of Islam before they can truly appreciate the
religion in its entirety. This begs the question, what are the 5 Pillars of Islam and what do they
mean? The 5 Pillars of Islam in order are Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj. (Islam Explained
Video) Shahadah, the First Pillar of Islam, is an article of faith and is explained by renown Historian
Keith Hughes in his video "Islam Explained: Religions in Global History" as a confession where
one must say, "there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." (Islam
Explained Video) The Second Pillar of Islam is Salah, which refers to prayer. (Islam PowerPoint) To
complete the Second Pillar one must pray 5 times a day facing Mecca. (Islam PowerPoint) Starting
before Sunrise the five daily prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and ending with 'Isha. (Islam
PowerPoint). Similar to Christianity, Moslems go to church, or the mosque, except their day of
worship is Friday. (Islam PowerPoint) After completing Salah, the next pillar is Zakat, the pillar of
charity. This pillar means exactly what one might think, giving money to people in need of it. In
countries with governments based from Islam, a tax is mandated by the government telling each
person how much they need to give to the poor. (Islam PowerPoint) The Fourth Pillar of Islam,
Sawm, translates to

Despite slight variations, many of the ideas of the Five Pillars of Islam, which were the foundation
Islam was based upon, were similar to practices in Judaism and Christianity; these practices were
used to unify members of the religion and strengthen the religious community, which lead to a more
of a connection between followers and their religion, as well as creating a sense of comfort and
security; thus, Islam was more of a continuation of Jewish and Christian traditions, rather than a
revolutionary deviation from them. Firstly, in Islam, ritualized prayer, known as Salat, was required,
along with the communal Salat al–jum'a at the Mosque on Fridays. Christians and Jews also prayed
and attended a service; for Christians, that meant going

Throughout the world, the depictions and realities of Muslims are extremely diverse. However, the
way in which all Muslims practice and worship remains very similar. Despite the devastating effects
of European colonialism on Islam and the cultural identity of Muslims, Islam is the second largest
religion in the world. In this essay I will argue that although European colonialism and
modernization has had a devastating impact, Islam and the cultural identity of Muslims still remains
intact and has drawn attention to the power of Islam in politics and society. Despite the diversity of
the Islamic culture, the Five Pillars of Islam provide a unifying practice for all Muslims. All
Muslims must practice the pillars. They are the shahadah, salat, ... Show more content on
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All Muslims are required to pay 2.5% of one's wealth to the poor and needy. This affirms that
because all Muslims share their obligation to God, they are all just as responsible for addressing
economic inequalities. Chapter 9, verse 60 of the Quran states, "Alms are for the poor, needy, and
those employed to administer the funds; for those whose hearts are bound together; as well as for
freeing slaves and repaying debts; spending in the cause of Allah and for the wayfarer; thus Allah
commands, and Allah is All–Knowing and Wise" (Esposito, p. 241). Zakat is seen an act of spiritual
cleansing and harmony. The next pillar is the Fast of Ramadan. Ramadan is observed during the
ninth month of the Islam's lunar calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims must go without food, drink,
and sex from dawn until dusk. Ramadan's emphasis is placed on self–discipline and reflection. At
the end of the month, there is a grand celebration in which family members come to pay visit and
share foods that are specific to this holiday (Esposito, p.

The Five Pillars Of Islam Explained

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The Five Pillars Of Islam Explained