Five Pillars of Islam

Iman/kalema/Faith

“La Ilaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasulallah”

There is no God worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad(SM) is His messenger. This declaration of faith is called the sahada, a simple formula which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is La Ilaha Illallah- there is no God except Allah; Ilaha(Allah) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in the place of Allah wealth, power and the like and then comes Illallah : except ‘Allah’, the source of all Creation. The second part of the Shahada is Muhammad Rasulallah.

Namaz/Prayer/Salat

Salat or Namaz is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day and are a direct link between the worshipper and Allah. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset & nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a masjid, a Muslim may pray almost in any clean surface.

Roza/Fasting/Siam

Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslim fast from first light until sunset, abstaining from food & drinks. Those who are sick, elderly or on a journey and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Fasting is regarded principally as a method for self purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one’s spiritual life.

Hajj/Pilgrimage

The annual pilgrimage to Makkah- the Hajj- is an obligation only for those who are physically & financially capable to perform it. Nevertheless millions of people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those different nationals to meet one another. Although Makkah is always filled with followers of Islam, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year

Zakat/Charity

One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to Allah, and that wealth is therefore held by human being in trust. The word ‘zakat’ means both ‘purifications’ and ‘growth’. Each Muslim calculated his or her own zakat individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one’s capital. A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as ‘sadaqa’, and does so preferably in secret. Although this ‘sadaqa, can be translated as ‘voluntary charity’ it has a wider meaning.