Five Pillars of Islam: Difference between revisions

The '''Five Pillars of Islam''' (أركان الإسلام) is the term given to the five duties which are compulsory ([[Fard]]) for every Muslim. This concept is not found in the [[Qur'an]], but within the [[Sirat Rasul Allah|sira]] and [[hadith]], without which four out of five of these [[Qur'an Only Islam - Why it is Not Possible#Five Pillars of Islam|pillars would not exist]].  

The [[Shahadah]], which means "testimony", is the name of the Islamic profession of faith. It is the most important of all Five Pillars, and its recitation in Arabic is required for a person to become a Muslim.<ref>[http://www.themodernreligion.com/convert/islam_conversion_main.htm Embracing Islam] - The Modern Religion</ref> It reads, "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Shi'ite Muslims may add "and Ali is the friend of Allah," but this is not obligatory.<ref>[http://www.mideastweb.org/Middle-East-Encyclopedia/shahada.htm Shahada] - Encyclopedia of the Middle East</ref>

[[Salah]] is the practice of formal [[prayers|prayer]] in Islam. It is a ritual prayer, having prescribed conditions, procedures, and times. It consists of five daily prayers: Fajr (dawn), Zuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and Isha'a (night). Muslims must wash before prayer; this washing is called [[Ablution|wudu]] ("purification").

[[Sawm]] is the term which refers to Islamic [[fasting]]. The observance of sawm during the Islamic month of Ramadan is compulsory.<ref>Farah (1994), p.144-145</ref> Adherents usually wake up before dawn and [[Food|eat]] and [[Drinks|drink]] to prepare for the fast. During the fast, they refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in [[Sex|sexual intercourse]] from dawn (fajr) to sunset (maghrib).

[[Zakat]] is an obligatory [[taxes|tax]]<ref name="EBZT">{{cite web|url= http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/655448/zakat|title= zakat (Islamic tax)|publisher= Encyclopedia Britannica|author= |date= acceseed November 16, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2FEBchecked%2Ftopic%2F655448%2Fzakat&date=2013-11-15|deadurl=no}}</ref> required of Muslims, amounting to about 2.5% of one's wealth over the course of a year. It is levied on five categories of property—food grains; fruit; camels, cattle, sheep, and goats; gold and silver; and movable goods—and is payable each year after one year’s possession. [[Slavery|Slaves]] and horses owned by Muslims are exempt from this taxation,<ref>"''Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "There is no Zakat either on a horse or a slave belonging to a Muslim"''" - {{Bukhari|2|24|542}}</ref><ref>"''Narrated Abu Huraira :- The Prophet said,"There is no Zakat either on a slave or on a horse belonging to a Muslim.''" - {{Bukhari|2|24|543}}</ref> and it is generally agreed that [[non-Muslims]] are not to benefit from the alms giving.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.islamicawakening.com/viewarticle.php?articleID=984|title= The way of giving Zakat al-Fitr in non-Islamic Lands|publisher= IslamicAwakening|author= Haytham bin Jawwad al-Haddad|series= Article ID: 984|date= November 20, 2002|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.islamicawakening.com/viewarticle.php?articleID=984&date=2011-05-09|deadurl=no}}</ref>

*''[[Hajj]]'' (pilgrimage to Mecca)

==Jihad==

[[Jihad]] is sometimes referred to as the ''sixth pillar of Islam'', as it is also a [[Jihad is Compulsory (Fard)|compulsory duty]], and Prophet [[Muhammad]] referred to it as "better than standing in prayer for sixty years"<ref>''"Standing for an hour in the ranks of battle is better than standing in prayer for sixty years."'' - Saheeh related by Ibn Ade and Ibn Asakir from Abu Hurayrah 4/6165. Sahih al Jaami as Sagheer no. 4305</ref> and second in importance only to the belief in Allah and himself.<ref>''"Allah's Apostle was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad). The questioner then asked, "What is the next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause.""'' - {{Bukhari|1|2|26}}</ref> According to some [[Shi'ite]] sects it is the seventh not sixth pillar.<ref>[http://www.fact-index.com/s/si/sixth_pillar_of_islam.html Sixth pillar of Islam] - The Fact-Index, accessed October 2, 2010</ref>  

*[[Qur'an Only Islam - Why it is Not Possible#Five Pillars of Islam|Qur'an Only Islam - Why it is Not Possible]]  

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