How to Be a Good Muslim

Central to the Muslim belief is the importance of devotion and total submission to Allah. This is put into practice through the Five Pillars of Islam –the five obligatory duties that must be performed by all practising Muslims. These are the acts of faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage. Carrying out these duties creates structure in a Muslim’s life, teaching them to devote their time to Allah and not get caught up in their own secular lives. The effect the Five Pillars of Islam has on not only the individual but the community as a whole is substantial. Constantly

The Five Pillars of Islam are lifelong acts of worship, which includes faith, prayer, almsgiving (charity), fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca.

“Recitation of the Qur’an is thought to have a healing, soothing effect, but can also bring protection, guidance, and knowledge, according to Islamic tradition (Fisher, Mary)”. People can recite the qur’an in the purified states only because Qur’an contains a powerful words and it takes a great responsibility (Fisher, Mary)”. “The verses of the Qur’an are terse (Fisher, Mary)” which makes it harder to translate. One of the unique tradition in Islam are the five pillars. “The basic spiritual practices incumbent on all Muslims are known as the five pillars of Islam (Fisher, Mary)”. The first pillar is believing and professing the unity of god and the messengership of Muhammad. The second pillar is the performance of a continual round of prayers. Muslims perform prayers five times a day “facing mecca, and reciting a series of prayers and passages from the Qur’an, bowing and kneeling (Fisher, Mary)”. The third pillar is Zakat, charity or almsgiving. “Muslims must donate at least two and a half percent of their accumulated wealth to needy Muslims (Fisher, Mary)”. The fourth pillar is fasting. Fasting frequently is recommended in Islam however, fasting during Ramadan is the obligatory (Fisher,

All followers of Islam, who are known as Muslims, have to follow the five pillars of faith. Those include:

The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam.

5) The pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims must make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca at one time in their lives.

The first of the Five Pillars is the creed. The creed states, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger,” (Molloy,

The Five Pillars of Islam are Faith or belief in the Oneness of God and Muhammad, Establishment of the daily prayers, Concern for and almsgiving to the needy, Self-purification through fasting, and The pilgrimage to Mecca. These Five Pillars are the foundations of Muslim life. An important part of Islam is the belief in One True God, Allah. The truth that God has control over your salvation means that us humans are dependent on ourselves if we want a good life in heaven and earth. The Muslims also believe in all the Biblical Prophets but end with Muhammad as Allah’s final

One of the Five Pillars keep the people from sinning and actually enforce that you do good for society. Other Pillars include rules such as fasting or praying. One of the Five Pillars is Shahadah, sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith. It is the same as how Christians get baptized. The person going through Shahadah will recite the profession of faith, which, in english, is, “There is no god but God and Muhammad is his messenger” (Muslim 1). When one says the Shahadah, he or she is stating that he or she believes the Allah is the only god, Allah never had a son, and that he is indivisible. Then there is the Hajj, another Pillar of Islam. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Hajj is an event held from the 8th to the 12th of the last month on the Islamic calendar which is Dhu al-Hijjah. It is considered mandatory for any Islamic adult who is financially stable to participate in the Hajj. If one fulfills those circumstances they are considered mustati. “During Hajj, pilgrims join processions of hundreds of thousands of people, who simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals such as: each person walks counter-clockwise seven times around

It starts out that there is only one God that provides forgiveness and trust (75). God knows what he created for mankind because he is wise (118). He is enough to protect the believers from their enemies (55). Pray three times a day facing towards Mecca (225). Pray when you feel in danger and be thankful once you feel safe again (27). Pray and worship the creation of life for he has created all surroundings (6). Before you pray wash your whole body before you do so. This way God is able to cleanse you clean of sins (68). Give to the poor the wealth you cherish so that they may believe and trust in God too (19). While during the month of Ramadan fighting should not happen (24). Help others do right during this time because God is all knowing. It is forbidden to eat any meats that were from nonbelievers or poorly sacrifice animals (67). On the pilgrimage to Mecca it is forbidden to kill game or share any hunted game during this time. You are able to hunt only after you have completed the pilgrimage (67). Overall, following the five pillars of Islam will help you become a true

The first pillar is the profession of faith or, in Arabic, the shahadah. The Council on Islamic Education, an American organization comprising historians and academicians, calls this the central theme of Islam because many Muslims repeat it, in Arabic, several times a day to remind themselves of God's central position in their lives.

Each Muslim calculates 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. The fast is the fourth pillar and refers the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations (Islamic bulletin, 2009). 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, Muslims must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast and to observe the prayer from puberty, although many may start earlier. However, the fast is most beneficial to their health, and it is considered as a method of 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 (Islamic Bulletin, 2009). The last pillar pilgrimage is the annual pilgrimage to Makkah - the Hajj, which is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it (Islamic Bulletin, 2009). The annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year. Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and

The five pillars of Islam are the basics of the Muslim life. The first pillar is called the Shahada or Witness. It is a profession of faith that states simply that “there is no god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” Someone becomes a Muslim by stating this declaration of faith. It is also used daily in prayers. The second pillar of Islam is called Salat or Prayer. It describes the ritual prayers muslims are called to pray five times throughout the day. The prayers are made in position facing Mecca. The third pillar is called Zakat or Giving. It is the act of charity Muslims do by setting aside about 2.5 percent of their total income and give to the poor. The fourth pillar of Islam is called Swam or Fasting. Every year in the month of Ramadan, (the ninth month of

The Five Pillars of Islam are the rules that Muhammad established as the cornerstone of the Islamic religion. First, Muslims have to accept Allah as

However, the Quran lays on all believers five duties, known as the Five Pillars of Islam. First, the duty of reciting the creed, “there is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God.” Second, the duty of worship and prayer after ritual washing and while facing in the direction of Mecca, five times daily and in the mosque on Fridays. Third is the duty of almsgiving. Fourth, complete abstinence from food, drink, and any sexual activity from dawn to dusk during Ramadan which is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Ramadan is sacred as the month in which Muhammad received the first of his revelations from God. Fifth is the duty of the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim should undertake before he dies. In addition, the Quran forbids the Muslim to eat pork, drink liquor, or gamble(Five Pillars of