Five Pillars of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam

Noel Figueroa

HUM/130

University of Phoenix

The Five Pillars of Islam are the five basic acts or beliefs in the Islamic faith. Most believers of the Muslim faith believe that these pillars are the foundation of Muslim life and that they are obliged to follow these beliefs. The Quran outlines these beliefs as the principle for worship and a commitment to the Muslim faith. The Five Pillars can also be described as the framework for Muslim life and they are: Faith (Shahada), Prayer (Salat), concern for the those in need (Zakat), self purification or fasting (sawm), and pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

Shahada is The Muslim's declaration of faith and professing that there is only one God(Allah) and that Muhammad is the holy messenger. There is a statement that all Muslim's must recite in their daily prayers. That statement is "I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger." The muslim faith believes that the first part of the Shahada, "none worthy of worship exept God" refers to us not to be tempted by anything that can be put in the place of God. The second part of the Shahada "Muhammad is his servant and messenger" illustrates that a message of guidance has come through a man like ourselves.

Salat is the Islamic prayer, and according to the Sunna there are five daily prayers. Each of the prayer names coincides with the time that these prayers should take place: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and Isha (night). All of these prayers are recited while facing in the direction of Mecca. Muslims must wash themselves before performing any of these prayers as a way to purify themselves. These prayers have various positions in which they are prayed

Zakat is the concern for the needy. This does not include acts of giving money but also of giving of themselves. For those who are wealthy the Muslim faith believes that they should give 2.5 per cent of their earnings. When giving the Zakat the person must first declare to God what they are giving, they must pay the Zakat on the day that it is due, after the offering the payer can not exaggerate what they have given. If a person is not wealthy then they need to give of themselves to help others. Finally the Zakat must be distributed in the community from which it came.

Sawm or fasting is a ritual that all Muslims are obligated to do under ritual fasting such in the month of Ramadan. Although the Quran speaks of two other types of fasting, Ramadan