Religion

The basic spiritual practices of Islam known as the 5 Pillars of Islam religion.
1). The First Pillar: Shahadah (Pofession of Faith) – is the assertion of Muslim faith,
combining the themes of Unity and Mercy that are evident in the Quran.
- “There is no god but God” & “Muhammad is the messenger of God”.
2). The Second Pillar: Salat (Prayer) – these prayers are a very specific type of prayer
and a very physical type of prayer called prostrations.
- these prayers are done 5 times a day, at set strict times, with the individual facing
Mecca.
- the prayers are performed at dawn, noon, afternoon, evening and night.
3). Third Pillar: Zakat (Almsgiving) – This practice is not found in the Quran but rather in
the hadith.
- Zakat is obligatory for all Muslim who are able to do so. It is the personal responsibility
of each Muslim to ease the economic hardship of others and to strive towards
eliminating inequality
- Zakat consist of spending a portion of one’s wealth for the benefit of the poor or needy,
like debtors or travelers.
4). Fourth Pillar: Sawm (Fasting) – fasting takes place during Ramadan, which is the
holy month in the Islamic calendar (lunar calendar).
- This means the month of Ramadan shifts 11 days each year.
- Fasting Is necessary for every Muslim that has reached puberty (unless he/she suffers
from a medical condition which prevents him/her from doing so).
- Ritual fasting is an obligatory act during the month of Ramadan. Muslim must abstain
from food and drink from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to be especially
mindful of other sins.
5). Fifth Pillar: Hajj (Pilgrimage) – is honoured in the Muslim community. Islam teachers
say that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God, not a means to gain social
standing.
- They make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem in their alms-giving feast.
2). Prophet Muhammad was the last messenger of Allah. He was the first person to
read the Qur’an.
- Muhammad is visited by the angel Gabriel while on retreat in a cave near Mecca. The
angel recites to him the first revelations of the Quran and inform him that he is God’s
prophet. He is told to call his people to the worship of the one God, but they react with
hostility and begin to persecute him and his followers.
- After enduring persecution in Mecca. Muhammad and his followers migrate to the
nearby town of Yathrib (later to be known as Medina), where the people there accepted
Islam. This marks the “hijrah” or “emigration,” and the beginning of the Islamic
calendar. In Medina, Muhammad establishes an Islamic state based on the laws
revealed in the Quran and the inspired guidance coming to him from God. Eventually he
begins to invite other tribes and nations to Islam.
4).