Islam: The Five Pillars Of Worship

Explain and analyse the significance of the Five Pillars of Islam on the individual and the community making reference to the principal beliefs where relevant.

Like many other religions, the Muslim faith has experienced many changes and branches. Like Christianity, the original faith is still practiced by some, but others have started new branches with their own unique interpretation being Muslim. Despite these differences within the Muslim religion, one set of rules for moral guidance is central to all. These rules are the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars act as a moral compass for Muslims and are universally accepted as they are mentioned specifically in the Qur’an, the sacred Muslim book of God’s words as they were recited to Muhammad (Molloy, 425).

The central beliefs of Islam are complete loyalty and surrender to Allah, and only Allah. This is easily seen in the first Islamic Pillar stating that Muslims should have no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet. This requires Muslims to have absolute devotion to only Allah, and leaves no room for the worship of any other. The second Pillar asks for the Muslims surrender of their time to Allah. This surrendering of time also insures that Allah is a recurring part of the believer’s daily life and that he is not to be pushed to the side. The believer’s loyalty is also reflected in the third pillar, in which the believer must fast during Ramadan. This requires the believer to sat aside earthly delicacies in an effort to concentrate solely

The five pillars of Islam are the five fundamental acts in Islam that are believed to be mandatory by Muslims all around the world. The fifth pillar of Islam is the Hajj, which is a required annual pilgrimage for all Muslims financially and physically healthy enough to make the trip. The Muslims make the trip in the last month of the lunar calendar and they go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to see the Kaaba built by Abraham. With the Hajj being one of the largest gatherings of people in the world, Saudi Arabia's economy benefits greatly from all of the spendings of the people taking the pilgrimage. The economy benefits due to sheer amount of Muslims taking the trip, it is estimated that around 2 million Muslims travelled to Mecca in 2015 for

Islam consists of individuals who believe in Allah, a deity whose teachings its followers. Muslims, believe were recorded, verbatim, by the god's last prophet, Muhammad. The founder of Islam is believed to be Prophet Muhammad. According to Islamic scripture, all people who follow God's revealed guidance and the messengers sent with it 'submit' to that guidance, and are considered Muslims. The place of origin for Islam is Arabian Peninsula, Mecca at Mount Hira. Only one God. God is the one True Creator. God has always existed, none existed before him and will exist forever. He transcends life and death. No part of His creation resembles Him, He cannot be seen, but sees

The five pillars of Islam are the religious duties expected of every Muslim. The five pillars of Islam are listed in the Hadith together and are mentioned individually in the Quran.

The Arabic word “Muslim,” literally means “someone who is in a state of Islam (submission to the will and law of God [Allah]),” (Ellwood, 2014) not terrorists as portrayed in the media. The religion of Islam is to accept and obey the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet, Muhammad. There are five simple but essential observances that all practicing Muslims accept and follow: confession of faith, prayer five times a day, giving of alms to the poor, fasting, and the hajj (Ellwood, 2014). These “Pillars of Islam” represent the core that unites all Muslims.

All great things are built on a solid and strong foundation. The religion of Islam is no different. The foundation on which Islam was built is known as The Five Pillars of Islam. These are the essential duties that are required of all Muslims. The pillars are the shahadah (declaration of faith), salah (establishment of the five ritual prayers), zakah (almsgiving), sawm (fasting the month of Ramadan), and hajj (pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca). These five pillars are in the central religious text of Islam, the Qur’an, and are presented as “the framework for worship and a sign of commitment to faith” (Esposito, “Pillars of Islam”). The pillars are often compared to a creed such as those seen in Christianity. While the two are similar in regards to the first pillar, they differ in that the five pillars of Islam are acts or practices that Muslims must perform while a creed, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a brief authoritative formula of religious belief. Shahadah, salah, zakah, sawm, and hajj are the five obligations all Muslims have to satisfy to live a respectable life according to Islam. They are the framework and foundation of a Muslim’s life.

The five pillars of Islam are five official acts considered mandatory for all Muslims. The Quran presents them as a structure of devotion and a sign of obligation to faith. One most accomplish them all to live a good and responsible life according to Islam. These pillars comprise of: Shahada which means the declaration of faith, preforming the five daily prayers, giving money to the needy and the poor, cleansing the soul through fasting during the month of Ramadan, the pilgrimage once in a lifetime to Mecca for those who are able.

ONE verse from the Quran: “[Believers], argue only in the best way with the People of the Book, except those of them who act unjustly. Say, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you; our God and your God is one [and the same]; we are devoted to Him’.” Quran 29:46

Upon reading Sahih al-Bukhari, fortunately, the five pillars of Islam are actually seen outlined within the very first Hadith. The Five pillars, according to Traditions and Encounters, are a framework of obligations present to help form a unified Islamic community (p.263-264); Muhammad himself, in the 38th hadith, describes the five pillars as the baseline obligations of a Muslim to please Allah and enter paradise. The first Hadith states thusly, “Allah’s Apostle said: Islam is based on five [principles]: 1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle. 2. To offer the [compulsory congregational] prayers dutifully and perfectly. 3. To pay Zakat. 4. To perform Hajj. 5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.”

perform the Hajj and I am taking Ihram for it. Make it easy for me and

As with any act of worship, fasting requires obedience and submission to Allah’s commands through the highest degree of commitment and sincerity. Every year during the month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the lunar calendar), Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from three key human needs – food, drink and sexual relations. One should also abstain from all sinful actions.

Have you ever wondered how the world’s second biggest religion, Islam, works? In Islam, there is something called the Five Pillars of Faith that are a central part of Islam. Also, in Islam, they have some beliefs that they follow, but that are also followed by other religions. Then, Islam, has a special month of the year that they call Ramadan and during this time they have to do certain things that also help the needy. Islam is a very big religion. It has many beliefs and events each year that help Muslims in their daily lives.

The five pillars of Islam are the framework of how the Muslim live their lives. Islamic people pray 5 times a day this is a way that they show their dedication to their god, Allah. Islamic men must gather on Fridays to attend a mass at their local mosque. The mosque is not the only place where they can they can talk to their god but a place where they can connect as a community. Islam was foundered by Muhammad on the 610 CE, it was founded in Mecca, now part of Saudi Arabia.