Pillar 1: Shahadah -
Declaration of Faith
"Laa ilaha illa Allah; Muhammad Rasuul Allah”. No deity is
worthy or has the right of being worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah.
The first part of the declaration
attests to the immortal, Everlasting Oneness and Uniqueness of Almighty Allah.
The second part refers to the mortal Muhammad as the messenger of Allah who
received revelation (Qur’an - Koran) through the Archangel Gabriel, in stages
over a period of 23 years. Muhammad then lived the life of the Qur’an and
taught it to mankind.
Why:
Islam is a complete and practical way of life. The declaration is
its foundation and most important pillar on which stand all other beliefs and
practices. After declaring the Shahadah, a Muslim must put into practice what
he or she declares by the tongue )word) by fulfilling the other pillars and by following the teachings of Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him(.
The Shahadah is
declared in Arabic, in the presence of Muslim witnesses.
Benefits:
Foundation of one
becoming, being known and being treated with the rights and responsibilities of
a Muslim by Allah, oneself and others (Muslims and non-Muslim).
Furthermore:
The declaration of faith means that a Muslim believes in the six
pillars of faith:
Belief in Allah - Affirming that Allah is
the One and Only, Eternal and Absolute, All-Powerful, Perfect and Complete,
that He has neither partner, nor son. He is high above any imperfections. No deficiencies or flaws can be
attributed to Him. None is like Him. Muslims must love Allah more than anything
or anybody, fear Him and put their trust in Him.
Belief in His Angels - Perfect beings who always worship Allah and
never disobey Him. They are different from people and genies, do not eat or
excrete, and have no gender.
Belief in His Books - many, including Scrolls, Psalms, Torah, Gospel and Qur’an(
Belief in His Messengers - no society was left without a messenger,
from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon, Ishmael, to Muhammad, the
last messenger(
Belief in The Day of Judgment - every being will die and will be
resurrected on this day and be accountable for all their good and bad deeds
while living on earth, for which they will either receive reward (Jannah -
Heaven) or punishment (Jahannam- Hellfire(.
Belief in Destiny
and Fate - Muslims have to put their trust in Allah and that everything happens
by His will and for their own good, even though by mortal limitations, they may
not understand or perceive the wisdom as to why things happen as they do.
Pillar 2: Prayers (Salaah(
What
This transforms the
1st pillar, declaration of faith by word, into practice by the physical worship
of Allah with 5 prayers daily. The prayers and number of raka’a (cycles) are:
Fajr (dawn) - 2 cycles; Dhuhr )soon after noon) - 4 cycles-, ‘Asr (afternoon) – 4 cycles; Maghreb
(sunset) - 3 cycles; ‘lshaa’ (early night) - 4 cycles.
To physically worship
and glorify Allah; maintain a consciousness of Allah (taqwa); and have a
continuous direct link to Allah without intermediary. It is a means to
purify the body and soul resulting in Allah’s protection, peace with Allah and
inner peace and tranquility. It is the first right of Allah from
a believer that differentiates Muslims from non-Muslims.
Obligatory prayers
are performed in Arabic, the language of revelation, individually or in congregation.
It is preferable for women to pray at home but mandatory for men to pray in
congregation in a mosque otherwise one can pray at any clean place: office, field or school.
Proper dress code and
cleanliness of body, clothes and place of prayer are prerequisites. Obligatory prayers
must be on time and take priority over everything else. Congregational prayers
are led by an Imam, normally chosen by the congregation. While praying, Muslims
must face Qiblah, the direction of Ka’bah in Makkah. The prayer is conducted in
Arabic with recitations from the Qur’an. Each prayer cycle consists of standing,
bowing, prostrating and sitting. If one cannot pray while standing, one must pray
while seated, and if unable to sit, then while resting on the bed.
Benefits:
When performed
properly and sincerely, prayers:
Teach a Muslim to be
humble before his Creator, especially during prostration.
Maintain a
continuous direct link (hotline) to Allah without intermediary.
Cleanse the body and
soul of indecency.
Protect believers
from bad deeds/sins and guide them to good deeds.
Promote discipline,
consciousness and fear of Allah (taqwa), and trust in Allah.
Promote sense of
belonging, equality and brotherhood in the community.
Determine the rhythm
of the day with work then a break for prayers.
Short
meditation/de-stressor sessions promote inner self tranquility.
Like other physical
exercises, prayers increase blood circulation and body flexibility.
Bowing and prostration
increase blood supply to the brain, improving brain function and memory; and promotes spine
suppleness.
Electrostatic
charges from the atmosphere accumulate in the central nervous system and when over
saturated, may cause neck/headaches and muscle spasms. Prostration gets rid of electrostatic
charges by discharging and dissipating them out of the body (the way electric appliances
require earthing), thus promoting tranquility, peace of mind and soul, and
overall muscle relaxation.
Further
Optional prayers are prescribed before and after obligatory prayers
and at other times. These aid the believers to build taqwa and thus bringing
them closer to Allah. Voluntary prayers in the darkness of night, especially the
last third, carry the biggest merits of optional prayers. Muslims can
supplicate in any language and anywhere, except in the toilet.
Pillar 3: Obligatory Alms
(Zakaah(
The Arabic word
Zakaah means both purification and growth. It is the worship of Allah involving wealth. It
is the right of the destitute on the wealthy in society. 2.5% is paid from
wealth one has owned for a whole lunar year if it reaches the nisaab, (the minimum
amount on which aims are pay—able -equivalent to the
price of 85 grams of gold), or it is paid at the time of harvest for
agricultural produce.
Zakaah is used to take
care of the following needy categories in society:
The poor, those who
earn less than half of their daily needs.
The needy or
destitute - those who can’t work or earn next to nothing.
Those employed to
collect and distribute Zakaah.
Wayfarers who have
hit hard times though they may be wealthy back home.
Muslim prisoners of
war or slaves who want to buy freedom.
New Muslims and
non-Muslims who are being encouraged to join Islam and whose services will help
Islam.
Muslims with debt
acquired for lawful needs.
Supporting welfare organizations
looking after the needy.
Every Muslim, male
or female, must pay 2.5% of their wealth - such as gold, silver, money in hand or
investments, real estate for sale, or merchandise - in their possession for a
whole lunar year, if it exceeds the nisaab. Zakaah is also payable on certain
kinds of livestock and agricultural produce with different mode of payment. To
be valid, Zakaah must be paid when due; must come from the good portion (not
cast-offs); with spirit of compassion and humility; given to those who deserve
without insult or ever reminding them of one’s generosity; and must be only for
the intention of pleasing Allah-never with arrogance, boasting or show-off. Every Muslim makes
personal calculations, conscious that Allah knows and sees everything.
Benefits:
There are many benefits of Zakaah, both
in this life and in the Hereafter:
It ensures wealth is
not just circulated among the affluent, disregarding
the destitute.
It brings happiness
to the needy who receive it.
It protects one from
being stingy and protects one’s wealth.
It relieves the one offering
Zakaah from afflictions of sickness.
Allah purifies, sanctifies and blesses the
soul and wealth of the one paying Zakaah.
It will provide a shadow
on the Day of Judgment as protection against intense heat.
It will ease
accountability on the Day of Judgment.
It will add to the balance
of good deeds.
It will elevate one’s
position in Paradise.
There is an obligatory
Zakaatul-Fitr (charity on breaking the fast) payable by everyone fasting before
the ‘Eid prayers marking festivities at the end of Ramadhan fast. This expiates
one’s mistakes committed during the month-long fast. It is paid by the head of
the family on behalf of all his financial dependents.
Those who are not
eligible to pay the obligatory Zakaah are encouraged to offer voluntary charity
(sadaqah), which is also applicable for those who have to pay Zakaah. Sadaqah
is not necessarily monetary but any charitable deed such as a smile, visiting the sick or
clearing obstructions on a path.
Pillar 4: Fasting (Suwm(
The Arabic word sawm means abstention. During Ramadhan, the 9th
month of the Muslim calendar )Hijrah), Muslims fast from just before dawn to just after sunset.
It is in the month of Ramadhan that the Qur'an was brought down
from the 7th to the 1st Heaven, after which the angel Gabriel (Jibril) revealed
it to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) step by step. Fasting is a mental, physical and
spiritual worship of Allah, an exercise in self-restraint and purification. By abstaining
from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting Muslim focuses on the
purpose of life by being ever conscious of Allah.
In the month of Ramadhan, Muslims make an intention to fast for the
sake of Allah, and then abstain from food, drink, sexual relations with spouses, smoking and all other
prohibited behaviour like backbiting, gossip, adultery, oppression etc., from dawn
to sunset. The sick, travelers, as well as pregnant, nursing and menstruating
women can break the fast and make up equal number of days later in the year
when they are healthy and able.
The aged and the terminally ill are exempted from fasting but if
they can, they have to feed the poor.
Fasting is validated by paying Zakaatul-Fitr (charity of breaking
the fast) before the ‘Eidul-Fitr prayers, the festival marking
the end of Ramadhan fasting.
Abstaining from worldly comforts focuses Muslims on their purpose
in life, being constantly aware and conscious of Allah’s presence (taqwa(.
Spiritually, fasting
promotes patience, gratitude, self-purification and self-restraint. It makes a Muslim appreciate Allah’s
bounties, depress pride and maintain humility. It promotes sympathy and
generosity towards the poor.
Allah is pleased and
appreciates that His servant is abstaining from worldly comforts for Him, the
reward of which is admission to Heaven through a special gate, Rayyan. Allah
rewards every good deed tenfold, but He is much more generous with regards to
fasting because only He knows if the Muslim has truly observed the fast. A
fasting Muslim rejoices twice: while breaking the fast and on the Day of
Judgment. The bad smelling breath of a fasting Muslim is more pleasant to Allah
than the fragrance of musk Gates of hell are closed while gates of Heaven are
open, and Satan is chained.
When a Muslim fasts
sincerely for Allah expecting His reward, Allah will forgive him all his past sins;
similarly for one who wakes up to sincerely worship Allah on the Night of Power
(Lailatul-Qadr(, which falls in the last ten days of Ramadhan.
If a Muslim goes for
lesser Hajj (Umrah) during Ramadhan, it is equivalent to going for Hajj.
Voluntary worship like voluntary prayers and charity is equivalent to
obligatory worship. When fasting is combined with proper nutrition, it promotes
health in various ways: Enzymes enter the bloodstream to wash out bacteria,
pollutants, damaged and dead cells and metabolic waste; the digestive system
gets a rest; cells and tissues are repaired and purified, immune function
is enhanced; levels of cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure drop,
enabling respite to those who suffer these chronic conditions and may improve
long-term health; many people are able to permanently break bad habits like
smoking and overeating.
Furthermore:
Apart from the
obligatory fasting during Ramadhan, there are voluntary fasts that have been prescribed weekly (Monday
and Thursday), monthly (13, 14, and 15 of every lunar month), and annually: 2 days of the 1st month
of the Hijrah calendar, 6 days of the 10th month of Hijrah, and the first 9 days of the
last month of Hijrah. The best voluntary fast for those who can, is the fast of
Prophet David: on alternate days. Fasting is prohibited on ‘Eid days and lone
Fridays.
Pillar 5: Pilgrimage (Hajj(
Hajj is pilgrimage to
the Holy places in Makkah and its environs, which is an obligation only for
adult Muslims who have the physical and financial ability to
make the journey once in a lifetime. It is a form of worship in which a set
period of time is devoted, by the pilgrims’ ritual and performance, to the task
of freeing minds and hearts from all worldly concerns. Pilgrims seek to pursue
a unique form of universal collective worship of Allah and seek closeness to Him
in the one and only location and at the only time chosen by Him.
Hajj is a physical,
ritual worship which requires money to be fulfilled. Every step of
Hajj is a reminder, a sign of submission to Allah, an instructive tool for
self-discipline and piety. It serves to cleanse the soul of the pilgrims so
that they return home as pure as the day they were born. Behind every aspect of
the Hajj is some reflection signifying the Hereafter.
There are variations
to the performance of Hajj depending on whether one first performs ‘Umrah )lesser pilgrimage), rests and then performs Hajj; combines ‘Umrah and Hajj, or having performed Umrah before, is
performing just Hajj, which is done only from 8th - 13th of the last month of
the Hijrah calendar, called Dhul-Hijjah (month of Hajj(.
Hajj involves many
steps and regulations too numerous to list here, including, but not limited to, intention, wearing
special garment (ihram), chanting the talbiyah, moving between Makkah and its environs
of Mina, Arafaat and Muzdalifah while performing different prescribed rituals,
prayers and supplications, shaving hair for men and a little trim for women,
and circumambulation of the Ka’bah.
Some aspects of the
Hajj commemorate Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), the Father of all later
Prophets. They signify his obedience to Allah in abandoning his wife and baby
Ishmael in the desert, and later his ready obedience to sacrifice Ishmael who also
submitted in a matchless obedience to his Creator. These are the rituals of
stoning the devil, slaughtering a sacrificial animal,
drinking zamzam water and the walk (sa’yi) between the hills
of Safa and Marwa.
Benefits:
Hajj is probably the most physically, emotionally and spiritually demanding
journey a Muslim will ever make in a lifetime, but when done properly has great
rewards on all levels.
Pilgrims experience real Muslim brotherhood in the spirit of unity
of purpose.
They experience real Muslim equality in spite of their racial and
social diversity.
Hajj is a profound experience that touches pilgrims to the depths
of their souls and changes most of them for the better due to the universal
love, brotherhood, unity, and patience.
Not everyone is granted the ability to make the Hajj; hence a Muslim is
humbled and grateful for the blessing of being one among the chosen few.
A pilgrim whose Hajj is accepted, returns home with a clean slate -
all sins forgiven.
Some pilgrims take a lifetime to save enough for the ultimate ambition
of going for Hajj, knowing that if their Hajj is accepted, there will be no
reward from Allah but Paradise.
Furthermore:
If one can go for ‘Umrah
multiple times, it is advisable they do so, because from one ‘Umrah to the next
is expiation for minor sins committed in between. ‘Umrah during Ramadhan is as
meritorious as Hajj. There is great merit in facilitating those who are financially unable to
carry out this obligation.
The close of the
Hajj is marked by a festival, the ‘Eidul-Adhha (festival of sacrifice), which is celebrated
with animal sacrifice, prayers and exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. 'Eidul-Adhha and ‘Eidul-Fitr,
a festive day celebrating the end of Ramadhan, are the two festivals of the
Islamic calendar.
ISLAM
O you who believe, enter the fold of Islam wholly (2:208)
Away of life, in which one fulfils the rights of all
those with whom, and with which, one interacts.
You
may also download the booklet:
all of the following are among the five pillars of islam, except __________. so if you have same question, then check out the complete article on it. You will thank me later.
ReplyDelete