Comparing The Five Pillars Of Islam

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Islam is centered around five pillars which the faith is supported on and all five must be practiced if one is to be considered a Muslim. The five pillars are Shahadah, daily prayers, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj. The first pillar is key to the believe which is Shahadah. Shahadah is a creed that is recited throughout a Muslim’s life and that creed is “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger” (Molloy, 440). This creed is not only just recited daily in prayer but is also written in Arabic on the domes and doors of mosques and even is whispered in the ears of newborns. Another pillar is Salat which is their practice of daily prayers which must happen five times a day every day at set times and those times are: before dawn, midday, midafternoon, …show more content…

Different prayers require a different amount of sets of these alternating body postures. The third pillar is Zakat which is the act of giving alms. Muslims must donate a portion of their total income, herds, and yields to the poor as it is not just recommended to participate in charity but rather a commandment of the faith. Next is the pillar of Sawn which is the commandment to fast during Ramadan. The purpose of this fasting is for the purpose of self-discipline, spiritual growth, unification between fellow Muslims during this period, and to help develop sympathy for the less fortunate who have no choice but to go hungry on a daily …show more content…

The fasting starts at the beginning of the month and ends at the end of the month at which time a large feast is held to celebrate. However, during this fasting period they don’t only have to reframe of consuming all foods from dusk to dawn but also all liquids, tobacco, and sex. However, exceptions are made for those traveling, women who are pregnant at the time of Ramadan, and those who are ill but they must make up their fasting days at a later date. Finally, there is Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims are called to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime but there are two different kinds of visits one can make: the greater pilgrimage and the lesser pilgrimage. The lesser pilgrimage can occur at various times in the year and usually only includes a visit to Mecca and the nearby holy sites. The greater pilgrimage occurs at a specific time of the year, the month of the pilgrimage or dhu’l-Hijjah which is the seventh month of the Muslim calandar, and consists of a several day trip. During this long trip, one would take on some difficult travel and rituals in “the plains beyond Mecca”; the rules for this trip are

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