A Survey Of Islam Series

The one now generally considered as the first pillar is The Confession of Faith (Shahabad). Muslims continuously recite a simple statement that is also quite comprehensive in scope. It is professing the oneness of Allah and accepting the Prophet Muhammad as his messenger to humanity. Muslims declare, “that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.” As a profession of their faith, they would say, in Arabic, “I testify that there is only one god Allah and that Muhammad (Peace Be Unto His Name) is his messenger.” To become a Muslim, you must simply repeat this confession three times. If this is denied, salvation is lost.

James writes, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder” (James 2:19).

The second pillar of Islam is The Prayers or Salat. This requires practicing Muslims to face Mecca five times a day at specific time for prayer [at daybreak, noon, afternoon, sunset, and early night]. The call to prayer is sounded from minarets and housetops. Each prayer is preceded by a ceremonial washing with water [ablution]. These prayers toward Mecca [or facing the Ka’aba stone] are very important as a way of earning merit. If they can recite these [Fatiheh] phrases in a mosque, that’s even better because these prayers are worth 25 times as much as recitations said at home, out in the market, or at work.

The worshiper bows, kneels, touches his forehead to the ground twice for one rak’ah. During the five times of daily worship 17 rak’ah must be performed.

The third pillar is the Giving of Alms or Zakaat. Alms-giving which is required from all who are able to do so. Since Muhammad was a poor orphan it is a Muslim’s duty to help the poor and the orphans. To purify their wealth, Muslims are expected to follow the Qur’an’s teaching to give 2.5% of their overall estate or 10% of their income to the poor each year. [Some wealthy Muslims discharge this duty by gifts to mosques, schools, or hospitals.] In some countries this may be an actual purification tax.

A fourth pillar, is the Ritual Fast called Sawm, during the 9th [lunar] month of the Islamic year, the season of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim calendar). Muslims have to abstain from food, drink, smoke, and sexual relations from dawn to dusk during this month. They are also to be especially mindful of other sins. They do this annually as a reminder that the Qur’an was given to Muhammad. At sundown, feasting and celebrations take place. It is a time of religious fervor and proselyting with Mosques holding special meetings.

The last pillar is the Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. The Haji is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic [12th] month of Dhu al-Hijjah to the holy city of Mecca. From ancient times a sacred city Muhammad made his birth-place the center of Islam when he conquered it. Every Muslim who is physically and economically able is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Many save all their lives in order to have this experience with hundreds of thousands of others. A trip to Mecca counts the same as 50,000 prayers in a mosque. Though the experience of a life time for a Muslim, the journey to Mecca and kissing the black stone in the wall of the Ka’aba unfortunately seems to produce no moral results in the lives of the pilgrims. [For more information, go to www.namb.net/interfaith.]