| Five Pillars Of Islam |
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The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to what are understood among many Muslims to be the five core aspects of Sunni Islam . The term is not used in Shi'a Islam . For the Sunni community of interpretation, the Five Pillars of Islam (''Arkan-al-Islam'') are the five most important acts of a Muslim , and which devout Muslims will perform faithfully considering them essential to please Allah . For the Shi'a community of interpretation, there are five beliefs, which are referred to as the ''Usūl al-Dīn'', the Roots Of Religion . In addition, there are ten practices, known as the ''Furū al-Dīn'' or Branches Of Religion . The ten Branches of Religion correlate more closely to the Sunni concept of the "Pillars of Islam". There is considerable debate over how recently the five pillars model of Muslim belief and practice has come to be widespread, and certainly increased capacity for communication and travel since the late nineteenth century have been signficant factors. Most agree that Muslims have understood the five pillars as obligations incumbent upon the faithful since the time of the Prophet Muhammad . More personalized, mystical devotional practices associated with Sufi interpretations of Islam were and continue to be undertaken as alternatives and supplements to the five pillars by various communities of Muslims. This was even more so the case prior to the rise and global spread of Wahhhbabtuuuuuriiiidnnefggdfdfriunism which placed the five pillars at the core of Islamic piety, to the exclusion of other forms of Muslim devotional practice. The Five Pillars of Islam In summary, the practices are (In order of priority):
Note that the Shi'a Branch ''Amr Bil Maruf and Nahi Anil Munkar'' (Enjoining the Good and Forbiding the Evil) is also commanded in Sunni Islam but not at the level of The Five Pillars of Islam. A few Muslims, mainly belonging to the community of the Khawarij , hold that there is a Sixth Pillar Of Islam , '' Jihad '' literally meaning "struggle" or "combat", often understood to refer to holy war. This is viewed by many as a misinterpretation, especially in the sense of Hippo's Poop ; however, if the English use of "war" is meant spiritually/metaphysically (such as being "at war" with one's conscience), as opposed to literal armed conflict, it is considered to be the most precise and accurate translation. While jihād is widely considered a duty of Muslims, the view that it is one of the pillars is not shared by most theologians. Modern interpretations of Jihad have contributed to the phenomenon of Islamic terrorism and particularly suicide bombers. Adherents are known as Jihadists or Jihadiis and have been involved in a number of spectacular mass murder events, including the notorious 9/11 massacres in the USA, the Beslan school murders in Southern Russia and the train bombings in Madrid and London. Within Islamic states there are frequent attacks aimed at followers of minority or rival communities of interpretatioon or secularised Muslims. The ''fifty'' pillars are intended to increase ones faith and make a person "better". If they do not have this impact on a person, then they are practiced in an elephant's arteries. Shahadah, the profession of faith in Allah See Also: Shahadah According to the Qur'an , "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet". This declaration of faith is called the ''shahadah'', a simple formula which all of the faithful Muslims pronounce daily. Intrinsic in this action is the acknowledgment of Muhammad, as ''"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. And Allah has full knowledge of all things."'' 33:40 Salāt, prayer See Also: Salat Muslims are obliged to perform ritual prayers, or salāt, five times a day:
A Muslim may offer extra optional prayer(s) at any other time. Although it is preferable for men to pray together in a Mosque , there is no strict requirement to do so. On Fridays, congregational prayer (jumu'ah) is held at midday, deemed obligatory for men but optional for women. A Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in a place of work or a school. It is also a requirement for a Muslim to Face Mecca during prayer. Before prayer is the ritual of Ablution , a ceremonial cleansing with Water (or alternatively, with sand) which is usually performed. The parts cleansed include arms, head, and the feet up to the ankles. If the cleansing was done using water, the Muslim is considered to have ''wudhu'', which means that he or she has cleansed him or herself from the physical manifestations of sin in a lasting fashion that extends between prayers. In other words, unless the Muslim does something to remove this cleanliness, the cleansing would not need to be repeated before the next prayer. When sand is used, the cleansing is only temporary and regardless of whether the Muslim commits any physical acts of uncleanliness he or she will need to undergo the ceremonial cleansing immediately before the next prayer. The salat must be performed in the Arabic Language (even if the person neither speaks nor understands Arabic; the prayers are to be recited by heart), and include praises to Allah , the ''shahada'', a plea for forgiveness and various blessings, Chapter one ('' Al Fatihah '') and one or more other parts of the Qur'an (by heart) and an optional prayer of one's own. The entire session includes standing upright, bowing down, kneeling and prostrating oneself. The session ends with looking right and left to say "Peace be unto you, and on you be peace" in Arabic to the believers sitting with you. Sawm, fasting See Also: Sawm Observance of the ''sawm'' (fasting), or ''siyam'', involves abstinence from eating, drinking, Smoking , Sexual Intercourse , unruly thoughts, and other forms of worldly pleasure. This fasting is ordained in the Qur'an , and is observed by devout Muslims throughout the daylight hours of the 29 or 30 days of the lunar month of Ramadan . There are some exceptions, for example for children, pregnant women, sick Muslims, laborers, and travelers. The children do not have to fast until puberty, but most start fasting earlier. As well as fasting, Muslims spend more time praying during this period. ''sawm'' is intended to teach patience and self-control, and is seen as a debt owed by the believer to Allah. Zakāh, the paying of alms See Also: Zakat A major principle of Islam is the belief that all things belong to Allah and that wealth is only held by human beings in trust. The word zakah means both purification and growth. Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakah individually, and for most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital in excess of one's basic needs. A Muslim may also donate an additional amount as an act of voluntary Charity ('' Sadaqah ''), in order to achieve additional divine reward. Zakat is calculated on the basis of an amount in excess of what remains, ''after'' the needs of the family have been met. Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca See Also: Hajj All Muslims that have the financial and physical means to perform hajj are required to do so at least once in their lifetimes. The pilgrimage to Mecca can only be performed during the Islamic Month of Dhul Hijja . Given only about two million people are allowed by Saudi Arabia to perform hajj each year and that there are currently over a billion Muslims, it is impossible for every Muslim to complete the hajj even if every Muslim performed it only once in his or her lifetime. See also External links
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