(for Muslims) What can you tell me about the 5 pillars of Islam?

Question

I'm writing a paper for my religion class on the five pillars of Islam and I would like to know about them specifically from somebody who practices the religion Islam. I have heard lectures, but have not heard anything specifically from Muslims.

And how they apply to your daily life? Thanks!

Answer 1

I practice Islam and this is what I know about The Five Pillars of Islam:

1-Al-Shahadatan: That is to witness and believe that There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah
أشهد أن لا إله ألا الله وأشهد أن محمد رسول الله
When a Muslim implements this pillar in his life, he submits his life to Allah; he believes that everything in this life is submitted to Allah's decision. He does not pray or sacrifice other that to Allah, he believes that Allah does not need a carrier to carry his prayers to him, nor do he has a partner.
He believes that prophet Mohammed is the last messenger, and the Quran is the last book sent by the Creator to his creations, which shows the right and wrong, true and false. Allah has given the man brain to think, eyes to see, ears to hear and the Quran as guidance, it is the duty of the man to think, see, hear, read and follow the path which he chooses either to heaven or to hell.
Allah has not forced a religion on him, but he has sent all the prophets including Mohammed to show him the right path. He did not create this man and leave him go astray.

2- Performing the five prayers: When a Muslim implement this in his life, he keeps his touch with his God even through his busy life. He gets a peace of mind and body when he prays to his God and tells him all his problems and asks him for his blessings in his life and hereafter. The prayer reminds him that he is to return to Allah one day. So he tries to be pure in his daily practices, he avoids the wrong doings and try to stick to the truth and right path.
The prayer keeps his body clean from dirt as he is required to approach the prayer with clean body every five times, so he should clean himself after toilet, after sexual relations with his wife, these all keeps his body clean and tidy. The ablution which is taken before the prayer cleans his nose, ears, eyes, teeth, hair, hands, and legs. He learns time management, waking up early morning, taking a daily bath.etc. His body gets a daily exercise.
And many more and more benefits which I cannot list here.

3- Zakat: Which is compulsory on every Muslim, this is not an action of his wish, Allah has foreseen that people will love money more that themselves, they will prefer to save rather than give to charity and poor. So Allah has made it compulsory on every Muslim who has his money reached "Nisab" that is one year to circulate on the same amount. If a Muslim implements this in his life, there would not have been any poor and needy in this world. The Zakat is to be given to the poor relatives, then to the others. This purifies the money of the Muslim and increases its amount. This ties the knot of a Muslim society, and refreshes the relations between a rich Muslim and a poor one.

4- Fasting Ramadan: This teaches the Muslim to be patient, hold his anger, speak politely, increases his touch with Allah and Quran, increases relations between Muslims, and other non Muslims. Purifies him from his sins. And increases charities which help major part of neediest in the society.

5- Hajj: This is to perform pilgrimage to Mecca to those Muslims who can afford with money and health. All Muslims all over the world different colors, casts, nationalities, men and woman all are equal in front of Allah in same clothes and same responsibilities,. This reminds him of the day Judgment when we all gather in front of Allah for judgment.

Answer 2

Very good question. I often think Muslims are their own worst enemies. They blame the media for the way Muslims are viewed, but all a non-Muslim needs to do is come to this section a few times and see how they treat each other and non-Muslims to be swayed away from the religion. It wasn't like this when I first started coming here a year ago and I learned a lot about Islam. Even though I disagree with lots of it and have some problems with what I see are flaws in Muhammed's character, I can still see that the basic tenets of Islam are beautiful and teach much of the same thing Christ taught. The problem is that, whether right or wrong, we tend to judge a religion by the behaviors of it's members and when this section is the only "access" many non-Muslims have to Muslims then they unfortunately judge Islam by what they see and it isn't a very pretty picture. We all make mistakes and let our tempers and pride get the best of us at times, but with so much bad publicity being focused on Islam and Muslims you would think they would want to show the beauty instead of representing it in such a bad way.

Answer 3

Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.

Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life.

Answer 4

1. Testimony: True belief that there is no God but God and that Muhammad is his messenger. Any other acts of faith are invalid if a Muslim does not believe this in their heart.

2. Prayer: 5 times a day, before sunrise, at noon, late afternoon, at sunset, and after dusk.

3. Fasting during the month of Ramadan: abstain from all food and drink from sunup to sundown each day for a lunar month per year.

4. zakah: giving 2.5% of your income as charity. Enjoined upon anyone who is able to hold onto enough income to function for a whole year. There are many stories however during the founding of Islam of the poor giving even a single date to the poorest during ramadan.

5. Hajj: pilgramage to Meccah. Emulates the footsteps of the prophets Muhammad and Abraham. Obligated upon any adult of sound economic status and sane mind and full health at least once in a lifetime.

If you have any questions, or how each of these affect me personally, feel free to ask.

Answer 5

1.The first pillar of Islam:to believes that there is no god but Allah,and Muhammad is his messenger

2.The second pillar of Islam:to perform the 5 daily prayer.Subuh,Zuhur,Asar,Maghrib and Isyak.

3.The third pillar of Islam:Fasting in the month of Ramadan

4.The fourth pillar of Islam:To pay yearly alms.This collection will be given to the poor and those who needs,example,travellers.

5.The fifth pillar of Islam:To perform the pilmirage to Mecca,this is require only to Muslim who financially and phsyically stable.The poor are not require to perform Hajji.Example:Saladin.Although he is a king,but sadly he is too poor to perform the Hajji.

Answer 6

Shahadah- testify there is no God but God and Mohamed is his prophet
Prayer- compulsory prayer 5 prescribed at specific times
Fast- to fast the whole month of Ramadan
Zakat- giving a portion of your income to the poor
Hajj- the pilgrimmage to Mecca

Answer 7

i can tell you that without one of them you have no islam.