Five Pillars of Islam and Their Importance - Term Paper Example

Five Pillars of Islam and Their Importance Contents Introduction 2. Five Pillars and their significance 2 Shahada - The demonstration of trust” 2 2.1.1 Settings of the Shahada 2 2.2 “Salat” 3 2.3 “Zakat – Supporting the needful” 4 2.4 “Sawm” 5 2.5 “Hajj” 6 3. Significance of Pillars 6 4. Bibliography 6 1. Introduction Islam is the spot on religion of “Allah” and like; its title portrays the core principle of Allahs religion i.e. the entire acquiescence to the will of “Allah.” (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006)The word Islam is derived from the Arabic language and acknowledged as the acquiescence or capitulation of a person’s spirit to the lone factual deity commendable of devotion “Allah” and any person performing so is known as a “Muslim.” It is believed that the Islam is the religion provided to “Adam”, the first man, who was the first “prophet of Allah.” (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) Muslims regard the “Qur’an” as the accurate sayings of God. The “Qur’an” is the fundamental holy book of Islam. Muslims trust that the wordings incorporated in this holy book were told to “Muhammad” by the Allah himself all the way through his seraph “Gabriel” on several events during the period of “610 – June 8, 632.” (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) The Quran was purportedly scripted by “Muhammads” accompanying persons. It was accumulated during the life period of “Abu Bakr, the first caliph” and was regularized in the supervision of “Uthman, the third caliph.” The meaning of the title Quran is “recitation.” The holy book is separated into “114 suras” comprising a total of “6,236 āyāt.” (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) These suras are mainly aligned with moral and religious topics and are measured as the “sourcebook of Islamic ideology and values.” The Islamic laws are complete, saturating rules of rites, devotion and communal standards of an Islamic community. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) 2. Five Pillars and their significance The Islamic religion is foundational on the five pillars that are considered as the basic duties for the followers of the religion. These five pillars provide core bedrock of Islamic sacrament and faiths. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) These Five Pillars of Islamic religion comprises of the following: 1. “shahada” 2. “salat” 3. “zakat” 4. “sawm”, and 5. “hajj” (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) 2.1 “Shahada - The demonstration of trust” Shahada is the foremost Pillar which entitles a person’s entry into the Islamic religion. This first pillar comprises of saying the two phrases together: “La ilah illah Allah and Muhammad rasul Allah”, (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) where the “La ilah illah Allah” is meant by that there is no true deity except Allah and the second phrase means that “Muhammad” is the representative of the Allah. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) This narration is compulsory for the Muslims prior to start their pray every time. Moreover, it is believed that this first pillar strains Islam’s monotheistic focal point. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) The articulated conviction of a confidence, whether it is on paper or spoken, is the primary footstep in the progression of a religious conviction. The “Shahada” works as the motivational base for the added four pillars. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) 2.1.1 Settings of the Shahada There are seven significant settings of the “Shahada”, devoid of which it is measured to be pointless: (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) “Al-`Ilm” – Awareness of the connotation of the Shahada, its contradiction and assertions. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) “Al-Yaqeen” – Ideal understanding of it that neutralizes distrust and uncertainties. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) “Al-Ikhlaas” – Authenticity which contradicts avoidance. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) “Al-Sidq” – Honesty that authorizes neither deception nor insincerity. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) “Al-Mahabbah” – Be devoted to the Shahada and its sense, and being in high spirits through it. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) “Al-Inqiad” – Acquiescence to the fair necessities i.e. the responsibilities are ought to be executed with honesty towards Allah in quest of his mercy towards the devotee. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) “Al-Qubool” – Approval that opposes negative response. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) The growth of Islamic religion commences from its indispensable faith structure. It implicated giving in to Allah and the disclosure of God’s communication to the spiritualist “Muhammad” and afterward, to the supporters of Islamic belief. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) 2.2 “Salat” The second pillar of Islam is “salat”, which is the sacred prayer done for 5 times every day of the week at set times and attending of the Friday congregational prayer. These daily prayers are 1. “Fajr” 2. “Zuhur” 3 “ASR” 4. “Maghreb”, and 5. “Isha” (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) An assortment of basics of the prayer ritual allied with the “salat” is prearranged in the Qur’an. “Standing, bowing, prostrating, and facing in a fixed direction are acknowledged as qiblah.” (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) In the holy book it is affirmed that: “And now verily we shall make thee turn (in prayer) toward a qiblah which is dear to thee. So turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship, and ye (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces (when ye pray) toward it” (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) The following prayer is carried out facing the “Ka’bah in Mecca”, where it is believed that the Adam, the first man, had constructed a place of pilgrimage. The Prayer also involves ablution and reading of fragments of the holy book. The prayer is anticipated to be a center of attention on God; it is imagined as a private communiqué with deity given that the phrase of gratitude and devotion. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) In addition the “salat’s” purpose is to get the Muslims together at regular intervals of the day and week. It also delivers a regular prompt of the existence of Islam on the earth. 2.3 “Zakat – Supporting the needful” The pillar of “Zakat” is determined to be an expansion of trust and entreaty by sanitizing the spirit and in concurrence for sin. This third pillar is about the Islamic rule of donating a percentage of an individual’s profits towards the welfare of poor. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) It is considered to be an act of holiness. Donating with true intentions is considered as pleasing the Allah’s will. The practice of zakat is a way of laying the speculation of brotherhood of Islam into appliance. In Islam it is prohibited to pay the zakat for the following actions: (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) Conventional “zakat” regulations usually avoid enveloping of any sort of trade. It is not allowable to reimburse “zakat” to any affiliates of the family as “Zakat” is proposed strictly for communal interests. “Zakat” doesnt turn into compulsion on a Muslim if he doesnt contains a bare minimum amount in his ownership that has continued to unaffected for a entire lunar year. 2.4 “Sawm” The fourth foundational pillar of Islam is “sawm.” Throughout the sacred month of “Ramadan,” Muslims fast starting from daybreak to evening. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003)At this time, adults are supposed to refrain all sorts of foodstuff, liquids and sexual intercourse. Post the month of Ramadan the festival of “id-ul-fur” is celebrated. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) Fasting through out the holy month is an effort to look for closeness to Allah and boost ones holiness. One of the distant aspire of sawn is to be supportive with persons less providential ones who face the scarcity of ration items. The pillar of “Sawm” illustrates the Islamic patience and determination regardless of domination and unfairness. In order to perform a valid sawm, it is vital for a Muslim to take “Niyyah” prior to the fast. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) 2.5 “Hajj” The once a year “Hajj” to the holy place of Makkah is an compulsion once in a life span for Muslims who are bodily and economically capable to complete it. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) Though, the “Makkah” is for all time packed with devotees, the yearly “Hajj” is executed in every twelth month of the Islamic calendar. Male pilgrims dress in particular plain clothes which strip away dissimilarity of category and society to facilitate equal standing in front of mighty God. The sacred rite of the “Hajj” involves 7 rotations of “Kaaba” and rotating 7 times amid the hills of “Safa and Marwa.” (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) Then the devotees stand collectively in “Arafa” and request God for their wishes and for “His forgiveness”, on the Day of Judgment. The fifth pillar of “Hajj” to Makkah portrays the factual Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations. (EGGER, Vernon, 2003) 3. Significance of Pillars These five pillars of the Islamic religion are the foundations of the Muslims. These five pillars motivate the Muslims to lead a holy, spiritual and honest life. They are the bedrock of the Islamic region due to their teachings of honesty. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006)They motivate people to think of their community and live life with brotherhood and avoid any kind of envy, racism or violence against each other. The five pillars are meant to unite the whole Muslim community. These five pillars teach people to be satisfied with what they got and for those who feel not have gotten their rightful, will be delivered with the same on the day of judgment. The foundational pillars regulate the community in a way to care for the poor, honor women, have faith in Allah and never do unjustify to anyone. (MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick, 2006) 4. Bibliography EGGER, Vernon. 2003. A history of the Muslim world to 1405: the making of a civilization. Prentice Hall. MURATA CHITTICK STAFF, Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick. 2006. The Vision of Islam. I.B.Tauris. Read More