9. THE PILLARS OF ISLAM
Worship in Islam is an all inclusive term for all action and sayings that God loves. Every virtuous action which is performed with the intention of carrying the commandments of God and seeking His pleasure is considered as an act of worship. However, the very specific acts of worship are five. They stand as the framework of spiritual life on which the structure of Islam rests. They are the following:
1. The two Declarations of faith of which the Arabic transliteration is (Ashhadu an la elaaha illa Allah, wa Ashhadu anna Muhammad Rasool Allah) which means: I testify that there is no god worthy of worship but God, and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. The sincere declaration of God’s unity and the acceptance of Muhammad’s prophethood and adherence to his teachings automatically brings one within the fold of Islam and guarantees him Paradise. Hence, Monotheism is the cornerstone of Islam. The acceptance of this belief differentiates the Muslim from the non-Muslim.
2. Prayers: Formal Prayers are prescribed five times daily as a duty to God at the following times: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and nightfall. A Muslim may offer formal prayers almost anywhere as long as the location is clean. Muslim males are enjoined to pray in congregation in a mosque, while females are encouraged to pray in their homes. Prayer provides human beings with a regular contact with God, which helps them avoid evil. Furthermore, it is symbolic of equality, for the poor and the rich, the ruler and the ruled, the black and the white stand together, united in rows, shoulder to shoulder and prostrate themselves before God. Prayer strengthens the belief in God and elevates man to a higher morality. It helps to purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrong – doing and evil.
3. Zakah (Charity): Every Muslim whose net annual savings are above a certain specified minimum must pay an annual amount of 2.5% of his savings to the poor and needy people in the community. Zakah fosters generosity and helps purify the soul of selfishness and greed. Zakah also helps reduce resentment and envy between poor and rich members of the society.
4. Fasting the month of Ramadhan: Fasting in Islam means abstention from food, drink and sexual acts from dawn to sunset. It is an annual obligation during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar. Fasting teaches sincerity and engenders devotion. It develops a sense of social conscience, patience, self-restraint, will power and compassion for the needy members of the society. Furthermore, it has been medically proven that fasting helps to maintain good health.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah): Hajj is obligatory for every Muslim once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and bear it physically. During Hajj, Muslims from all corners of the world meet in an international congregation dedicated to the worship of God. It is a great lesson in patience. The huge gatherings in Hajj remind one of the Day of Judgment when people will gather for their reckoning. It emphasizes the belief that all Muslims are brothers, irrespective of their geographical, cultural or racial origins.
by Majed S. Al-Rassi
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