All Muslims Accept and follow the Five Pillars of Islam: These Pillars are the core belief that Unite All Muslims across time, and space and are the Hall Mark that distinguishes Islam from All other Faiths.
Despite enormous Religious and Cultural and Political differences and divisions, All practising Muslims accept and follow these five simple required Observances, prescribed in the Quran. These Pillars of Islam represent the core and common denominator that Unite All Muslims and distinguish Islam from other Religions. Following the Pillars of Islam involves a Muslim Mind, body, time, energy, and wealth. Meeting the obligations required by the Pillars that reinforce an ongoing sense of God’s existence and presence and reminds Muslims of their membership in a world wide community of believers.
The First pillar is the declaration of Faith. A Muslim is the one who bears witness, who testifies that there is no God, but God Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God. Allah is the Arabic word for God, just as Yahweh, is the Hebrew Word for “God.” used in the old Testament. To become a Muslim one need only make this simple proclamation or confession of Faith. This proclamation or confession affirms Islam’s Absolute Monotheism, the uncompromising belief in the Oneness or Unity of God, (tawid) Association of anything else with God is idolatry and this an unforgivable sin. The second part of the confession of Faith asserts that Muhammad is not only a prophet but also a messenger of God, one to whom God has sent a book for a community. For Muslims Muhhamed is the vehicle for the final and complete revelation, the Quran. Like Jesus Christ, Muhammad serves as the pre-emminent role model through his life example. The believers effort to follow his example reflects the emphasis of Islam on Practice and Action. This practical Orientation is reflected in the remaining four Pillars of Islam.
The Second Pillar of Islam is Prayer (sahat). Muslims pray or perhaps more correctly worship five times throughout the day at daybreak, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and evening. In many Muslim countries reminders to pray on “calls to prayer,” echo out across roof tops. The prayers consist of recitations from the Quran in Arabic and glorification of God, accompanied by standing bowing, kneeling touching the ground with one’s forehead, and sitting. Muslims can pray in any clean environment or alone, or together, in a Mosque, or at home, or at work, or on the road, indoors or out. It is considered preferable and more meritorious to pray with others, demonstrating brotherhood, equality, and solidarity when they pray, Muslims face the Mecca the holy city that houses the Kaaba, (the house of God believed to have been built by Abraham and his son Ismail). Once a week on Friday, the Muslims equivalent of the Sabbath, the noon prayer is a congregational prayer at the mosque or Islamic Centre.
“The Third Pillar of Islam is called the (Zakat or Tithe), which means purification.”Zakat is both an individual and communal responsibility expressing worship of an thanksgiving to God by supporting the poor. It requires an annual contribution of 2.5% percent of an individual’s wealth and assets, not merely a percentage of annual income. Zakat is not viewed as “charity.” It is an obligation to respond to the needs of the less fortunate members of the community. Zakat functions as a form of Social Security in Muslim Society.
The Fourth Pillar of Islam, the fast of Ramadan, occurs once each year during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which the first revelations of the Quran came to Muhammad. During this month’s long fast, Muslims whose health permits them to do so must abstain from food, drink, and a sexual activity during the period from dawn to sunset. Fasting is not simple an act of self denial, it is a discipline intended to stimulate religious reflection on human frailty and dependence on God. Many go to the mosque for the evening prayer, followed by special prayers recited only during Ramadan. Near the end of Ramadan, (the 29th day) Muslims commemorate the “Night of Power,” when Muhammad first received God’s revelation. The month of Ramadan ends with one of the two major Islamic celebrations, the Feast of Breaking of the Fast, called Eid al- Fitr, which resembles Christmas in it’s religious joyfulness special celebration of gift giving.
The Fifth pillar is the pilgrimage or hajj, to Mecca in Saudia Arabia. At least once in his or her lifetime, every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to make this pilgrimage becoming a pilgrim totally at God’s Service. Every year, more than 2 million believers representing a tremendous diversity of cultures from all over the world to the holy city of Mecca to form one commonly living their Faith. Those who participate in the pilgrimage wear simple garments that symbolize levity as well as unity and equality of all believers. The second major Muslim celebration the Fid Al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice occurring toward the end of the pilgrimage.
“Jihad” to strive or struggle is sometimes referred to as the sixth pillar of Islam although it has no official status. In it’s most general meaning jihad refers to the obligation incumbent on all Muslims as individuals and as a community, to exert (jihad) themselves to realize God’s will, to lead a virtuous life, to fulfill the Universal mission of Islam, and to spread the Islamic community means the struggle for a defence of Islam, popularly referred to as “holy war.”
Despite the fact that Jihad is not suppose to include aggressive behaviours that are offensive in warfare, as distinct from defensive warfare, but this has occurred through out history, as we shall see. The Five Pillars and the concept of Jihad became an integral part of the Islamic Laws and Islamic History to what it means to be a Muslim.
Faith is knowing that Mary and Joseph existed as Homo Sapiens of this World. Also Muhhamed is a homo sapien not only a revered prophet and a Messenger of God’s love. Muhammad is the vehicle for the final complete revelation the Quaran and like Jesus Christ he is a pre-emminent role-model through his life example.