Pillars of Islam Five Pillars

¶ … Pillars of Islam FIVE PILLARS The foundation of Islam is called the "Five Pillars of Faith." They are "Testimony of Faith, or Kalima, Prayer (Salat), Fasting (Sawm), Almsgiving (Zakat), and Pilgrimage (Hajj). Testimony of Faith (Kalima) The testimony of faith is central to Islam and requires the statement, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Messenger" (Hodge, 2005). It emphasizes God as a unified whole and Mohammed's role as Allah's final and most important prophet (Hodge, 2005).

This statement and belief is so important that one becomes a Muslim simply by making that statement with conviction (Huda, 2005). Prayer (Salat) The second pillar requires that Muslims prayer at five specific times each day. This emphasizes the belief that faith and religion are woven together (Hodge, 2005). It is the most important form of worship. Prescribed prayers are said at dawn, noon, afternoon, after sunset and in the evening. They have specific required rituals such as washing, as they are placing themself in Allah's presence for these prayers (Huda, 2005).

Fasting (Sawm) Fasting is practiced during the Moslem month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar (Huda, 2005). Followers must fast from sunrise to sunset. This means no food, no water, and no sexual activity (Hodge, 2005). Fasting is intended to remind the faithful to suppress their personal needs and desires and to focus only on Allah. Moslems believe that this practice strengthens their sense of duty, increases their patience, and enhances their faith.

They also believe that it helps them relate to those who are poorer than they are (Hodge, 2005). Almsgiving (Zakat) Almsgiving, or giving money to help those less fortunate, is required of all Moslims except the very poor. They are required to give a minimum of 2.5% of their savings to worthy people of need, someone recently converted to Islam, a traveler, or someone suffering with great debts. The admonishment to give to travelers makes it easier for people of lesser means to make the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

It also encourages a respect for the benefits from sacrifice, and helps the follower reject traits such as greed. Finally, it emphasizes that for the Moslem, all wealth comes from Allah, and that Allah's gifts should be shared with those less fortunate (Huda, 2005). Pilgrimage (Hajj) The final requirement is that all who can afford to and are physically able must, at least once, travel to Mecca, where the Kaba is located. The Kaba is the house of worship built by Abraham and his son Ishmael.

This is where Ishmael made his covenant with God, and in Moslem belief, since they are all descendants of Abraham and Ishmael, that covenant applies to them equally (Hodge, 2005). This pilgrimage must be made during the 12th lunar month, Hajj. Pilgrims dress all in white, and are required to keep a prayerful spirit while on this trip, refraining from passion, violence or other "unholy" words or actions (Huda, 2005).

Like most religions, most of these requirements sound simple on the surface, but many Moslems spend their lives trying to follow Islam's rules as completely as possible. For myself, I think most of the Pillars would not be too hard to follow. Many religions require its followers to proclaim their faith. When one believes in a religion, one often wants to proclaim.