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| Islam |
What is Islam?
The Arabic
word Islam literally means “surrender” or “submission”. Islam, as a faith,
means total and sincere surrender to God so that one can live in peace and
tranquility. Peace is achieved through active obedience to the revealed
commandments of God, for God is The just, The Peace.
The name Islam
is universal in meaning.. Islam is not named after a tribe of people or an
individual, as Judaism is named after
the tribe of Judah, Christianity after Christ, and Buddhism after Buddha. Islam
is not a name chosen by human beings; it was divinely communicated from God.
Islam is a global faith, not of the East or the West. Islam is a complete way
of life, implying total submission to God. One who surrenders his or her will
to God, voluntarily is called a Muslim. It was not Muhammad (sa) but Adam who
first brought Islam to humanity. Then, each Prophet and Messenger came to
exhort the people to a clear understanding of God”s commandments. They offered
teachings relevant to that time, until God chose the final prophet , Muhammad
(sa),to come with the Last Testament referred to as the Quran.
Allah is an
Arabic word, meaning “The One and Only True Deity” the proper name of The One
who created the heavens and the earth, Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians also
call God by the name Allah. For a Muslim, Allah is the greatest and most
inclusive of names for God, denoting The One who is adored in worship, The One
who created all that exists.
The
Five Pillars of Islam
There are
five obligatory acts of worship that every Muslim must dutifully carry out.
Failure to do so is a grave sin. The edifice of Islam rests upon these five
pillars. One cannot be considered a Muslim if he or she denies that any one of
these acts is obligatory.
The five
obligations of Muslims are as follows :
1. The declaration
of faith, to Testify that there is no true deity except God, and that Muhammad
is his Messenger.(shahadah).
2. To pray five
times a day (salah).
3. To pay yearly
alms (Zakah)
4. To fast during
the month of Ramadan(Sawm)
5. To make the
pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj)
The
Declaration of Faith (shahadah)
It is
obligatory for every person intending to enter Islam to believe and to say, ” I testify that there is no true deity except
God, and that Muhammad is his Messenger.” With this simple, important, and
powerful declaration, a person is
considered a Muslim.
The first
part “No true deity…….” Is a negation of polytheism. It is a negation of the existence of any true
deity other than God, or any entity that shares in any of the divine attributes
of God. The Second part “Except God” is
an affirmation of monotheism. God is the only one worthy of worship. “Muhammad
is God”s Messenger “ is the third part
of the declaration of faith. It is
an affirmation of the Prophethood of Muhammad (sa) as the final Prophet and
Messenger of God. By believing and saying the testimony of faith, a person
rejects all false objects of worship and asserts that God is the only one to be
worshiped. God is without equal or partner. God promises that once a person
affirms and sincerely says,” I testify that there is no true deity except God, and
that Muhammad is his Messenger.” All of his or her previous sins are forgiven.
Praying
Five Times A Day (Salah)
It is required
for every Muslim to perform five obligatory prayers a day. A Muslim turns toward
Makkah when performing these prayers, facing the first house built for the
worship of The One God. This house is called the Kabah. We are not worshipping
the Kabah. Facing the Kabah to pray unifies the worshippers in their prayer to The One
God.
Paying
The Yearly Alms (Zakah)
It is a
religious duty for every Muslim who is prosperous enough to accumulate and
retain a sufficient amount of savings to give a portion of his her wealth to
the needy each year. These alms are called Zakah in Arabic, which literally means
“Purification” Paying these alms is a way for people who are financially to
purify the ethically gained wealth that God has bestowed upon them. In
addition, it is a means to directly distribute wealth throughout society and
help the poor and needy. Zakah also purifies the soul of the giver, reduces
greed, and strengthens compassion and
generosity among humanity.
Fasting
During Ramadan (Sawm)
A physically
able pubescent Muslim must fast during the lunar month of Ramadan. This month
is a significant because the first revelations of the Quran to Muhammad (Sa) occurred
during this month.. Fasting begins at dawn and ends at sunset, local time. During
daylight hours a fasting person must abstain from food, drink and marital
sexual intercourse . Fasting teaches
self-control and patience.
Making
The Pilgrimage of Makkah (Hajj)
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| Hajj in Kaba |
Every Muslims is to make the pilgrimage to the Kabah, in Makkah, once in a lifetime if he or she has the ability and means to do so. The rite of Hajj originated from the prophet Abreham and was restored by Muhammad (sa). Muslims from all over the world gather together for the purpose of worshipping and pleasing God alone.
May Allah grant us the
grace to follow the rules and principles of Islam.
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