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Personal Practice of Islam |
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Written by Mehmet Ozalp
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Tuesday, 13 February 2007 |
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Page 7 of 7 Summary - Five pillars of Islam are
- To utter the creed of Islam
- Daily prescribed prayers
- Paying alms as charity
- Fasting in Ramadan and
- Pilgrimage to Mecca
- The creed of Islam is simply to testify in one's heart and speech that 'there is no deity but God and Muhammad is His messenger'.
- The meaning of worship is this: Man, as a servant of God, being aware of his limitations, weakness and poverty, prostrates himself in love and wonderment before the perfection of His Lordship, Majesty and Compassion.
- The essence of five daily prayers is to glorify, exalt and praise God with the heart, tongue and body at spaced intervals throughout the day.
- The five prayer times are also profound. They indicate significant milestones in the life of an individual, the world and the universe.
- Five daily prayers enable a person to get closer to God as God is closer to one than one's own jugular veins.
- The minimum obligatory amount of alms (zakat) for a Muslim is 1/40 ( 2.5%) of excess personal wealth. Once collected, zakat can only be distributed to poor, needy and other rightful beneficiaries.
- Muslims are enjoined to give alms, which are called the purifying alms and considered a right of the poor rather than being purely charity.
- Zakat bridges the gap between the poor and the rich and in Muslim history eradicated poverty outright.
- Muslims are required to fast consecutively for a whole month in the lunar month of Ramadan. From dawn to sunset the practising Muslim abstains from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse with one's partner while spending time in reflection, doing good deeds and being careful of one's conduct.
- Fasting is the best form of true thanksgiving, which is to know that all sustenance comes directly from God, to acknowledge its value and to feel our own need and dependence on that sustenance.
- Fasting is the best way to develop human will power and teach self-control.
- Once in a lifetime pilgrimage to the holy lands is the fifth pillar of Islam obligatory for all Muslims who are rich and healthy enough to make the journey. Pilgrimage consists of visiting a number of sacred places, circling the Ka'bah and being present in the plains of Mt Arafat at a specific time in the lunar year.
- Pilgrimage is a total human experience and has great outcomes for a Muslim. Above all a Muslim truly appreciates the universality of Islam.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 February 2007 )
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