مصارف زکاۃ میں سبیل الله کا مراد

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: right;"> بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم</div> <div style="text-align: right;"> اعداد : ھارون رشید خواجہ</div> <div style="text-align: right;"> اصول تفسیر اور اصول فقہ میں متفق اصول یہ ہے کہ قرآن کے عموم کی تخصیص یا مطلق کی تقیید کے لیے دلیل کا ہونا ضرور ی ہے بغیر دلیل کے کسی بھی عموم کی تخصیص اور مطلق کی تقیید جائز نہیں ہے ، پھر اس میں اختلاف ہے کہ قطعی ثبوت ( قرآن اور حدیث متواتر )کے عموم کی تخصیص اور مطلق کی تقیید کے لیے قطعی ثبوت کا ہی ہونا ضروری ہے یا یہ کہ اس میں صحیح خبر واحد ( ایک یا دو سندوں والی حدیث ) بھی کافی ہے ۔</div> <div style="text-align: right;">  <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>احناف کے نزدیک قطعی ثبوت کی تخصیص یا تقیید کے لیے قطعی ثبوت کا ہونا ضروری ہے ۔ لہذا جب یہاں پر غور کیا  جائے تو اللہ تعالی  کے فرمان " سبیل اللہ " کے الفاظ کا دائرہ ایسا وسیع ہے کہ قطعی ثبوت سے جس کی نہ تخصیص ثابت ہے اور نہ ہی کوئی قید موجود ہے ۔ لہذا اس اصول کے ہوتے ہوئے احناف کے نزدیک یہ کس طرح صحیح ہوگا کہ بغیرقطعی ثبوت کے قطعی ثبوت کی قید لگائی جائے  یا اس کی تخصیص کی جائے ۔ احناف کے نزدیک اس کا مطلب "مجاہد في سبیل اللہ " ہےاور وہ بھی ایسا مجاہد جو فقیر ہو ، مزید یہ بھی کہتے ہیں کہ جہاد کے سب کاموں میں زکاۃ لگانا جائز نہيں ہے کیوں کہ اس میں تملیک ( مالک بنانا ) شرط ہے ۔ حالاں کہ اگر غور کیا جائے تو اس طرح کی قیود کسی بھی دلیل سے ثابت نہیں ہیں ، اللہ تعالی نے فرمایا :  " في سبیل اللہ " لفظ سبیل پر کسرہ  " في " کی وجہ سے ہے نہ  کہ " ل " سے ہے جو تملیک کا معنی دے سکتا تھا ، لہذا معلوم ہوا کہ سبیل اللہ میں تملیک شرط نہیں  ہے ۔  </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> مجاہد ، غارم ( قرض دار ) ، تالیف قلوب میں فقر کی شرط لگانا ثابت نہيں ہے جیسا کہ کہا گیا ہے: " الْفَقْرَ شَرْطٌ فِي جَمِيعِ الْأَصْنَافِ إلَّا الْعَامِلَ وَالْمُكَاتَبَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ" ( رد المختار / ج 7 / 206 ) یعنی : عامل ، مکاتب ( غلام  ) اور ابن السبیل ( راستے میں پھنسے ہوئے محتاج) کے علاوہ باقی تمام قسموں میں فقیر ہونا شرط ہے۔  </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> حدیث میں آيا ہے  : عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عَليْهِ وسَلَّمَ : لاَ تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيٍّ إِلاَّ لِخَمْسَةٍ : لِعَامِلٍ عَلَيْهَا ، أَوْ لِغَازٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ ، أَوْ غَنِيٍّ اشْتَرَاهَا بِمَالِهِ ، أَوْ فَقِيرٍ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَهْدَاهَا لِغَنِيٍّ ، أَوْ غَارِمٍ ( ابن ماجۃ / 1841 / صححہ الامام الالباني )</div> <div style="text-align: right;"> ترجمہ : حضرت ابو سعید خدری ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) سے روایت ہے کہ رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فرمایا : زکاۃ غنی کے لیے جائز نہیں ہے، سوائے پانچ ( صورتوں ) میں : عامل ( جمع کرنے والے مزدور کے لیے جائز ہے  ) اللہ کی راہ میں غازی ( مجاہد ) ،یا ایسا غنی ( مالدار ) جو اپنے مال سے اسے خرید لے ( جائز ہے ) ، یا کسی فقیر کو زکاۃ دی جائے پھر وہ کسی غنی کو ہدیہ دے ، یا قرض دار کے لیے ( بھی جائز ہے ) ۔ </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> حديث سے صاف معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ  مجاہد اور غارم کے لیے فقر کی شرط لگانا حدیث کے  خلاف ہے ۔ </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> بہت سے مفسرین نے  " سبیل اللہ " کا مطلب جہاد في سبیل اللہ بتایا ہے، پھر بعض نے جہاد سے مراد صرف قتال لیا ہے اور بعض نے تعلیم اور دعوت و تبلیغ بھی اس میں شامل کیا ہے کیوں کہ دونوں کا مقصد اللہ کے دین کی سر بلندی ہے لہذا دونوں شامل ہونگے ۔ جن علماء نے جہاد سے صرف قتال مراد لیا ہے اگرچہ وہ اس کے قائل ہیں کہ قطعی ثبوت ( قرآن اور حدیث متواتر ) کی تخصیص یا تقیید کے لیے خبر واحد ( ایک یا دو سندوں والی حدیث ) بھی کافی ہے ، تاہم میرے علم کے مطابق ان کے پاس ایسی کوئی صریح دلیل نہیں ہے کہ جس سے صرف قتال کا تعین کیا جائے ۔ بطور دلیل یہ کہنا کہ " قرآن اور حدیث میں بہت سی دلائل میں سبیل اللہ کا مطلب قتال ہے  "   کافی نہیں ہے ، کیوں کہ قرآن اور حدیث میں بہت سی دلائل میں سبیل اللہ  کا معنی قتال کے بغیر دیگر معانی بھی مراد لیے گیے ہیں جو کسی بھی عالم دین پر مخفی نہیں ہیں بطور مثال کچھ قرآنی آیات کا حوالہ دیا جاتا ہے : </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> سبیل اللہ میں خرچ کرنا : ان آيات کے حوالہ جات جن میں سبیل اللہ  میں خرچ کرنے کا بیان ہے: </div> <div style="text-align: right;">  (2/ سورۃ البقرۃ / 195)  ، ( 47 / سورۃ محمد / 38 ) ،  (2/ سورۃ البقرۃ / 261) ،  (2 / سورۃ البقرۃ / 262)،  ( 9 / التوبۃ/ 34 ) ،  ( 9 / سورۃ التوبۃ / 60 )</div> <div style="text-align: right;"> سبیل اللہ سے گمراہ ہونا : ان آیات کے حوالہ جات جن میں سبیل اللہ  سے گمراہ ہونے یا گمراہ کرنے کا بیان ہے : </div> <div style="text-align: right;">  ( 6 / سورۃ الانعام / 116 ) ، ( 22/ سورۃ الحج / 8 ، 9 ) ، ( 31 / سورۃ لقمان / 6 ) ، ( 38 / سورۃ ص / 26 ) ، ( 16 / سورۃ النحل / 125 ) ، ( 6/ سورۃ الانعام / 117 )</div> <div style="text-align: right;"> سبیل اللہ میں رکاوٹ : ان آیات کے حوالہ جات جن میں سبیل اللہ   میں رکاوٹ ڈالنے کا بیان ہے : </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: right;">  (2 / سورۃ البقرۃ / 217 ) ،  (3/ سورۃ آل عمرآن / 99 ) ، ( 4/ سورۃ النساء / 160 ) ،  ( 4/ سورۃ النساء / 167 ) ، ( 7 / سورۃ الاعراف / 45 ) ، ( 7 / سورۃ / 85 ) ، ( 8 / سورۃ الانفال / 36 ) </div> <div style="text-align: right;">  ( 8 / سورۃ الانفال / 47 ) ، ( 11 / سورۃ ھود / 19 ) ، ( سورۃ ابراھیم / 3 ) ، ( سورۃ النحل / 88 ) ، (16 / سورۃ النحل / 94 ) ،  (22 / سورۃ الحج / 25 ) ، ( 47 / سورۃ محمد / 1 )  ،  ( 47 / سورۃ محمد / 32 ) ، (47 /  سورۃ محمد / 34 ) ، ( 58 / سورۃ المجادلۃ / 16 ) ،( 63 / سورۃ المنافقون / 2 )</div> <div style="text-align: right;"> راجح : دلائل پر غور کرنے کے بعد مجھے یہ درست معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ مصارف زکاۃ میں  سبیل اللہ سے  مراد اللہ کے دین کی سربلندی  ہے جس میں دینی تعلیم اور دعوت الی اللہ  کے تمام ذرائع بھی شامل ہیں ، اس کی تائید اس حدیث سے ہوتی ہے :   </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، قَالَ :سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عَليْهِ وسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ : مَنْ جَاءَ مَسْجِدِي هَذَا ، لَمْ يَأْتِهِ إِلاَّ لِخَيْرٍ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ أَوْ يُعَلِّمُهُ ، فَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ ، وَمَنْ جَاءَ لِغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ ، فَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّجُلِ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى مَتَاعِ غَيْرِهِ ( ابن ماجۃ / 227 / صححہ الامام الألباني )</div> <div style="text-align: right;"> ترجمہ : حضرت ابو ہریرہ( رضی اللہ عنہ) سے روایت ہے کہ میں نے رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے فرماتے سنا : جو میری اس مسجد ( یعنی مسجد نبوی ) میں اس غرض سے آئے کہ خیر ( یعنی علم ) سیکھے یا سکھائے  تو وہ مجاہد في سبیل اللہ کی منزلت میں ہے ، اور جو اس کے بغیر کسی اور کے لیے آئے تو وہ ایسے شخص کی منزلت میں ہے جو دوسروں کے مال کی طرف دیکھتا  ہے ۔ </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> اس حدیث میں طالب علم کو سبیل اللہ میں جہاد کرنے والے کا درجہ دیا گیا ہے ۔ لہذا اس سے بھی معلوم  ہوتا ہے کہ مصارف زکاۃ میں سبیل اللہ سے اصل میں اللہ کے دین کی سر بلندی ہی مراد ہے ۔ </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> آج کے دور میں خصوصا وادی کشمیر میں علم دین کی انتہائی کمی ہے ، یہی وجہ ہے کہ شرک ، خرافات ، بدعات، شخص پرستی ، تنظیم پرستی اور حزبیت وغیرہ جیسے مہلک امورعروج پر  ہیں اور قرآن و حدیث کی نصوص کو بالائے تاک رکھا جاتا ہے ۔  لہذا ان حالات میں یہاں وادی کشمیر میں اللہ کے دین کی سربلندی تب تک ہرگز ممکن نہيں ہے جب تک قرآن اور صحیح احادیث  کی تعلیم منہج صحابہ رضی اللہ عنہم کے مطابق عام نہ کی جائے ، اور اس کام کے لیے زکاۃ کا استعمال بلکل جائز ہے ، بلکہ وقت کا تقاضا بھی یہی ہے ۔ </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> اللہ تعالی سے دعا ہے کہ مجھے اور سب مسلمانوں کو دین سمجھنے کی توفیق عطا فرمائے ۔ </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> ھذا ما عندي و اللہ اعلم بالصواب</div> </div>

مصارف زکاۃ میں سبیل الله کا مراد

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم اعداد : ھارون رشید خواجہ اصول تفسیر اور اصول فقہ میں متفق اصول یہ ہے کہ قرآن کے عموم کی تخصیص یا مطلق کی تقیید ...

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The Importance of The Fajr Prayer

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: pt_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-align: justify;">In Islam prayers five times a day is an obligation upon every Muslim and second important</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://www.quranreading.com/blog/five-pillars-islam-health-muslim/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); -webkit-transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; border: 0px; color: #38a2f3; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">pillar of Islam</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-align: justify;">. It is the prayer that helps a Muslim differentiate him or herself from people of other beliefs when it comes to worshiping. Moreover, the prayers are a means of invoking Allah Almighty and seeking His attention.</span></header><div class="post-single-content box mark-links" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: pt_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Quran, Allah Almighty says:</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="pibfi_pinterest " style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Establish Prayer" class="alignleft wp-image-3827" height="165" src="http://www.quranreading.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Quran-2_277.png" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="630" /></span> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“<span id="verse_284_language_6_content" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and <a href="http://www.quranreading.com/blog/what-is-zakat-and-how-to-pay-it/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); -webkit-transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; border: 0px; color: #38a2f3; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">give zakah </a>will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.</span>”</em></strong> (2:277)</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> From the ayah it is clear that prayer is an obligation upon every Muslim which they have to offer in any case without any excuse. It is due to this imperativeness of prayers that Muslims parents teach children about prayer and show them the right way of offering prayers either by demonstrating in front of them, or by helping them with some book or <a href="http://www.quranreading.com/blog/step-by-step-salat-mobile-app/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); -webkit-transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; border: 0px; color: #38a2f3; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Step by Step Salat app</a>.</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> Muslims have five obligatory prayers to offer every day. The timing of these prayers is spread across the day which depends upon sun. The start of these prayers takes place with the prayer of Fajr that a Muslim is to offer before dawn. The lines below discuss the importance and significance of Fajr prayer under the light of different hadiths of Prophet (PBUH) and various verses of Holy Quran.</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="pibfi_pinterest " style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Significance of the Fajr Prayer" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3830" height="400" src="http://www.quranreading.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Fajar-Prayer-and-Significance.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="600" /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saving From Hell:</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> At a general level, Muslims offer prayer to submit to Allah Almighty and to show that they are His subjects and they remember and worship Him only. Moreover, the offering of prayers is also something that pleases Allah Almighty and on those whom He is pleased, He showers His blessings on them in this world and in the world hereafter. As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in one of His hadiths:</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Whoever performs the Prayer before the rising of the sun and the Prayer before its setting will not enter Hell.”</em></strong> (Muslim)</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> This hadith clearly states that among Muslims whoever offers the Fajr and Maghrib prayer will not enter Hell. The thing to consider in this regard is that one does not get expiated from Hell by offering a single Fajr and Maghrib prayer, rather one needs to do it with regularity. Therefore, once a Muslim makes offering of Fajr prayer a part of his or her life, it increases their chances of entering paradise and avoiding Hell.</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Angels As Witness:</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> Another major reason why a Muslim must strictly observe offering of Fajr prayer is the fact that angels sent down by Allah Almighty witness the Fajr prayer offered by a Muslim. About this witnessing, firstly Allah Almighty says in Quran:</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="pibfi_pinterest " style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Establishing Fajr Prayer" class="aligncenter wp-image-3828" height="109" src="http://www.quranreading.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Quran-17_78.png" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="630" /></span> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“<span id="verse_2107_language_6_content" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed</span>.”</em></strong> (17:78)</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> The ayah clearly addresses Muslims to establish Fajr and Maghrib prayer, whilst mentioning that the prayer of Fajr is witnessed. This witnessing refers to the witnessing of angels about which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spoke in a hadith in the following way:</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“There are angels who take turns in visiting you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the dawn (Fajr) and the afternoon (Asr) prayers. Those who have spent the night with you ascend to the Heaven and their Lord, Who knows better about them, yet asks, ‘In what condition did you leave My servants?’ They reply, ‘We left them while they were performing Salah and we went to them while they were performing Salah.’”</em></strong>(Bukhari)</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> From this hadith of Prophet (PBUH) it is clear that the angels who are sent down by Allah Almighty at night have to return to Him on the morning of the next day. When they reach the court of Allah Almighty and Allah inquires to them abut a particular subject, then these angels witness to that person performing the Fajr prayer. Therefore, a Muslim must try to offer the Fajr prayer on time so that the angels returning back to witness his or her prayer being offered which nonetheless ensures the entry to heaven by the Muslim.</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allah’s Protection:</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> There is no denying the fact that prayers is a means of invoking Allah Almighty. In this invocation a Muslim can ask Allah Almighty for anything, whether it is paradise, the expiation from sins or receiving of Barakah and so on. The one thing that Allah Almighty provides a Muslim without asking is His protection, regarding which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a hadith:</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Whoever prays the Fajr prayer, he or she is then under Allah’s protection. So beware, O son or daughter of Adam, that Allah does not call you to account for being absent from His protection for any reason.”</em></strong> (Muslim)</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> From the hadith it is clear that the one who offers Fajr prayer is directly under the protection of Allah Almighty. Therefore, if a Muslim wishes to spend the day in a way where he or she does not need to fear anyone, then offering Fajr prayer is a means of doing so at the beginning of the day.</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unmatchable Fajr Sunnah Prayer:</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> In each of the five times a day prayers, there are certain Sunnah prayers which a Muslim offers either before or after the obligatory prayer. These Sunnah prayer take their name after the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Who used to offer these prayers before or after the obligatory one. Out of the Sunnah prayers, there is none that is equal to the Sunnah prayer that is offered before the Fajr prayer. Regarding these Sunnah prayer, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a hadith:</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The two Sunnah cycles of prayer preceding Fajr prayer are better than this world and all that it contains.”</em></strong> (Tirmidhi)</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> From this hadith the importance of the Sunnah prayer before Fajr is clear and obvious. Moreover, the point to ponder that can be deduced from this hadith is that if the Sunnah prayer of Fajr have this much importance then how great would be the reward of the obligatory prayer. Thus, every Muslim must complement the Fajr obligatory prayer with the Sunnah rakats.</div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Quick Tips For Waking Up Early For Fajr:</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> There is no denying the importance of Fajr prayer, however, there are people who find it hard to wake up early for Fajr prayer. Some sleep late at night, some have long days ahead and so on, because of all which people find it hard to wake up on time for Fajr. In this regard, the following tips can help a Muslim:</div> <ol style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The first thing you can do is to set the alarm for the right time. If you turn the alarm to snooze mode a few times, then set the alarm accordingly so that the last time you turn it to snooze, you still have time to get ready for Fajr. Regarding that, you can <a href="http://www.quranreading.com/blog/find-qibla-direction-app-know-the-right-direction-of-qibla/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); -webkit-transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; border: 0px; color: #38a2f3; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, color 0.2s linear; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">install Find Qibla Direction application</a> on your app which will automatically buzz on the specific timings of Fajr prayer according to your location.</li> <li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Secondly, it is a cliché but sleeping early at night really helps. Therefore, the earlier you sleep the easier it gets to wakeup for Fajr.</li> <li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Thirdly, if you think nothing works for you then there should be no shame in seeking the help of parents and peers who can wake you up at the time of Fajr.</li> </ol> </div> <span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: pt_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">- See more at: http://www.quranreading.com/blog/the-importance-of-fajr-prayer/#sthash.ZhUMfBeq.dpuf</span></div>

The Importance of The Fajr Prayer

In Islam prayers five times a day is an obligation upon every Muslim and second important   pillar of Islam . It is the prayer that helps a...

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The Fifth Pillar of Islam: The Pilgrimage (Hajj)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /> <div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><a href="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Fifth_Pillar_of_Islam_-_The_Pilgrimage_(Hajj)_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Fifth_Pillar_of_Islam_-_The_Pilgrimage_(Hajj)_001.jpg" /></a>The Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the five pillars of Islam.  Pilgrimage is not undertaken in Islam to the </div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">shrines of saints, to monasteries for help from holy men, or to sights where miracles are supposed to have occurred, even though we may see many Muslims do this.  Pilgrimage is made to the Kaaba, found in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudia, the ‘House of God,’ whose sanctity rests in that the Prophet Abraham built it for the worship of God.  God rewarded him by attributing the House to himself, in essence honoring it, and by making it the devotional epicenter which all Muslims face when offering the prayers (<i>salah</i>).  The rites of pilgrimage are performed today exactly as did by Abraham, and after him by Prophet Muhammad, may God praise them.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Pilgrimage is viewed as a particularly meritorious activity.  Pilgrimage serves as a penance - the ultimate forgiveness for sins, devotion, and intense spirituality.  The pilgrimage to Mecca, the most sacred city in Islam, is required of all physically and financially able Muslims once in their life.  <a href="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/184/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"></a>The pilgrimage rite begins a few months after Ramadan, on the 8th day of the last month of the Islamic year of Dhul-Hijjah, and ends on the 13th day.  Mecca is the center towards which the Muslims converge once a year, meet and refresh in themselves the faith that all Muslims are equal and deserve the love and sympathy of others, irrespective of their race or ethnic origin.  The racial harmony fostered by Hajj is perhaps best captured by Malcolm X on his historic pilgrimage:</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">‘Every one of the thousands at the airport, about to leave for Jeddah, was dressed this way.  You could be a king or a peasant and no one would know.  Some powerful personages, who were discreetly pointed out to me, had on the same thing I had on.  Once thus dressed, we all had begun intermittently calling out “Labbayka! (Allahumma) Labbayka!” (At your service, O Lord!) Packed in the plane were white, black, brown, red, and yellow people, blue eyes and blond hair, and my kinky red hair - all together, brothers!  All honoring the same God, all in turn giving equal honor to each other . . .</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">That is when I first began to reappraise the ‘white man’. It was when I first began to perceive that ‘white man’, as commonly used, means complexion only secondarily; primarily it described attitudes and actions.  In America, ‘white man’ meant specific attitudes and actions toward the black man, and toward all other non-white men.  But in the Muslim world, I had seen that men with white complexions were more genuinely brotherly than anyone else had ever been.  That morning was the start of a radical alteration in my whole outlook about ‘white’ men.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world.  They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blonds to black-skinned Africans.  But we were all participating in the same ritual displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and the non-white...  America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem.  Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white - but the ‘white’ attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam.  I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.”</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Thus the pilgrimage unites the Muslims of the world into one international fraternity.  More than two million persons perform the Hajj each year, and the rite serves as a unifying force in Islam by bringing followers of diverse backgrounds together in worship.  In some Muslim societies, once a believer has made the pilgrimage, he is often labeled with the title <i>‘hajji’</i> ; this, however, is a cultural, rather than religious custom.  Finally, the Hajj is a manifestation of the belief in the unity of God - all the pilgrims worship and obey the commands of the One God.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">At certain stations on the caravan routes to Mecca, or when the pilgrim passes the point nearest to those stations, the pilgrim enters the state of purity known as<i>ihram</i>. In this state, the certain ‘normal’ actions of the day and night become impermissible for the pilgrims, such as covering the head, clipping the fingernails, and wearing normal clothing in regards to men. Males remove their clothing and don the garments specific to this state of <i>ihram</i>, two white seamless sheets that are wrapped around the body.  All this increases the reverence and sanctity of the pilgrimage, the city of Mecca, and month of Dhul-Hijjah. There are 5 stations, one on the coastal plains northwest of Mecca towards Egypt and one south towards Yemen, while three lie north or eastwards towards Medina, Iraq and al-Najd.  The simple garb signifies the equality of all humanity in God’s sight, and the removal of all worldly affections.  After entering the state of ihram, the pilgrim proceeds to Mecca and awaits the start of the Hajj.  On the 7th of Dhu al-Hijjah the pilgrim is reminded of his duties, and at the commence of the ritual, which takes place between the 8th and the 12th days of the month, the pilgrim visits the holy places outside Mecca - Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Minaa - and sacrifices an animal in commemoration of Abraham’s sacrifice.  The pilgrim then shortens or shaves their head, and, after throwing seven stones at specific pillars at Minaa on three or four successive days, and heads for the central mosque where he walks seven times around the sacred sanctuary, or <i>Kaaba</i>, in the Great Mosque, and ambulates, walking and running, seven times between the two small hills of Mt. Safaa and Mt. Marwah.  Discussing the historical or spiritual significance of each rite is beyond the scope of this introductory article.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Apart from Hajj, the “minor pilgrimage” or <i>umrah</i> is undertaken by Muslims during the rest of the year.  Performing the <i>umrah</i> does not fulfill the obligation of Hajj.  It is similar to the major and obligatory Islamic pilgrimage (hajj), and pilgrims have the choice of performing the <i>umrah</i> separately or in combination with the Hajj.  As in the Hajj, the pilgrim begins the <i>umrah</i> by assuming the state of <i>ihram</i>.  They enter Mecca and circle the sacred shrine of the Kaaba seven times.  He may then touch the Black Stone, if he can, pray behind the Maqam Ibrahim, drink the holy water of the Zamzam spring.  The ambulation between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times and the shortening or shaving of the head complete the <i>umrah</i>.</div></div>

The Fifth Pillar of Islam: The Pilgrimage (Hajj)

The Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the five pillars of Islam.  Pilgr...

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The Fourth Pillar of Islam: The Fast of Ramadan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Fourth_Pillar_of_Islam_-_The_Fast_of_Ramadan_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Fourth_Pillar_of_Islam_-_The_Fast_of_Ramadan_001.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /> <div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Fasting is not unique to the Muslims.  It has been practiced for centuries in connection with religious ceremonies by Christians, Jews, Confucianists, Hindus, Taoists, and Jains.  God mentions this fact in the Quran:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div class="w-quran" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 42.55pt; margin-right: 42.55pt; margin-top: 0in;">“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.” (Quran 2:183)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Some Native American societies fasted to avert catastrophe or to serve as penance for sin.  Native North Americans held tribal fasts to avert threatening disasters.  The Native Americans of Mexico and the Incas of Peru observed penitential fasts to appease their gods.  Past nations of the Old World, such as the Assyrians and the Babylonians, observed fasting as a form of penance.  Jews observe fasting as a form of penitence and purification annually on the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur.  On this day neither food nor drink is permitted.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Early Christians associated fasting with penitence and purification.  During the first two centuries of its existence, the Christian church established fasting as a voluntary preparation for receiving the sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism and for the ordination of priests.  Later, these fasts were made obligatory, as others days were subsequently added.  In the 6th century, the Lenten fast was expanded to 40 days, on each of which only one meal was permitted.  After the Reformation, fasting was retained by most Protestant churches and was made optional in some cases.  Stricter Protestants, however, condemned not only the festivals of the church, but its traditional fasts as well.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">In the Roman Catholic Church, fasting may involve partial abstinence from food and drink or total abstinence.  The Roman Catholic days of fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  In the United States, fasting is observed mostly by Episcopalians and Lutherans among Protestants, by Orthodox and Conservative Jews, and by Roman Catholics.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Fasting took another form in the West: the hunger strike, a form of fasting, which in modern times has become a political weapon after being popularized by Mohandas Gandhi, leader of the struggle for India’s freedom, who undertook fasts to compel his followers to obey his precept of nonviolence.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Islam is the only religion that has retained the outward and spiritual dimensions of fasting throughout centuries.  Selfish motives and desires of the base self alienate a man from his Creator.  The most unruly human emotions are pride, avarice, gluttony, lust, envy, and anger.  These emotions by their nature are not easy to control, thus a person must strive hard to discipline them.  Muslims fast to purify their soul, it puts a bridle on the most uncontrolled, savage human emotions.  People have gone to two extremes with regard to them.  Some let these emotions steer their life which lead to barbarism among the ancients, and crass materialism of consumer cultures in modern times.  Others tried to deprive themselves completely of these human traits, which in turn led to monasticism.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">The fourth Pillar of Islam, the Fast of Ramadan, occurs once each year during the 9^th lunar month, the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which:</div><div class="w-quran" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 42.55pt; margin-right: 42.55pt; margin-top: 0in;">“…the Quran was sent down as a guidance for the people.” (Quran 2:185)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">God in His infinite mercy has exempt the ill, travelers, and others who are unable  from fasting Ramadan.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Fasting helps Muslims develop self-control, gain a better understanding of God’s gifts and greater compassion towards the deprived.  Fasting in Islam involves abstaining from all bodily pleasures between dawn and sunset.  Not only is food forbidden, but also any sexual activity.  All things which are regarded as prohibited is even more so in this month, due to its sacredness..  Each and every moment during the fast, a person suppresses their passions and desires in loving obedience to God.  This consciousness of duty and the spirit of patience helps in strengthening our faith.  Fasting helps a person gain self-control.  A person who abstains from permissible things like food and drink is likely to feel conscious of his sins.  A heightened sense of spirituality helps break the habits of lying, staring with lust at the opposite sex, gossiping, and wasting time.  Staying hungry and thirsty for just a day’s portion makes one feel the misery of the 800 million who go hungry or the one in ten households in the US, for example, that are living with hunger or are at risk of hunger.  After all, why would anyone care about starvation if one has never felt its pangs oneself?  One can see why <i>Ramadan</i> is also a month of charity and giving.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">At dusk, the fast is broken with a light meal popularly referred to as <i>iftaar</i>.  Families and friends share a special late evening meal together, often including special foods and sweets served only at this time of the year.  Many go to the mosque for the evening prayer, followed by special pra yers recited only during Ramadan.  Some will recite the entire Quran as a special act of piety, and public recitations of the Quran can be heard throughout the evening.  Families rise before dawn to take their first meal of the day, which sustains them until sunset.  Near the end of Ramadan Muslims commemorate the “Night of Power” when the Quran was revealed.  The month of Ramadan ends with one of the two major Islamic celebrations, the Feast of the Breaking of the Fast, called Eid al-Fitr. On this day, Muslims joyfully celebrate the completion of Ramadan and customarily distribute gifts to children. Muslims are also obliged to help the poor join in the spirit of relaxation and enjoyment by distributing zakat-ul-fitr, a special and obligatory act of charity in the form of staple foodstuff, in order that all may enjoy the general euphoria of the day.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://ourislamicweb.blogspot.com/2011/05/fifth-pillar-of-islam-pilgrimage-hajj.html">Next: The Fifth Pillar of Islam: The Pilgrimage (Hajj)</a></span></div></div>

The Fourth Pillar of Islam: The Fast of Ramadan

Fasting is not unique to the Muslims.  It has been practiced for centuries in connection with religious ceremonies by Christians, Jews, Con...

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The Third Pillar of Islam: Compulsory Charity

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Third_Pillar_of_Islam_-_Compulsory_Charity_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Third_Pillar_of_Islam_-_Compulsory_Charity_001.jpg" /></a>Charity is not just recommended by Islam, it is required of every financially stable Muslim.  </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Giving charity to those who deserve it is part of Muslim character and one of the Five Pillars of Islamic practice.  Zakat is viewed as “compulsory charity”; it is an obligation for those who have received their wealth from God to respond to those members of the community in need.  Devoid of sentiments of universal love, some people know only to hoard wealth and to add to it by lending it out on interest.  Islam’s teachings are the very antithesis of this attitude.  Islam encourages the sharing of wealth with others and helps people to stand on their own and become productive members of the society.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">In Arabic it is known as zakat which literally means “purification”, because zakat is considered to purify one’s heart of greed.  Love of wealth is natural and it takes firm belief in God for a person to part with some of his wealth.  Zakat must be paid on different categories of property — gold, silver, money; livestock; agricultural produce; and business commodities — and is payable each year after one year’s possession.  It requires an annual contribution of 2.5 percent of an individual’s wealth and assets.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Like prayer, which is both an individual and communal responsibility, zakat expresses a Muslim’s worship of and thanksgiving to God by supporting those in need.  In Islam, the true owner of things is not man, but God.  Acquisition of wealth for its own sake, or so that it may increase a man’s worth, is condemned.  Mere acquisition of wealth counts for nothing in the sight of God.  It does not give man any merit in this life or in the hereafter.  Islam teaches that people should acquire wealth with the intention of spending it on their own needs and the needs of others. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">“‘Man’, said the Prophet, ‘says: My wealth!  My wealth!’  Have you not any wealth except that which you give as alms and thus preserve, wear and tatter, eat and use up?”</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The whole concept of wealth is considered in Islam as a gift from God.  God, who provided it to the person, made a portion of it for the poor, so the poor have a right over one’s wealth.  Zakat reminds Muslims that everything they have belongs to God.  People are given their wealth as a trust from God, and zakat is intended to free Muslims from the love of money.  The money paid in zakat is not something God needs or receives.  He is above any type of dependency.  God, in His boundless mercy, promises rewards for helping those in need with one basic condition that zakat be paid in the name of God; one should not expect or demand any worldly gains from the beneficiaries nor aim at making one’s names as a philanthropist.  The feelings of a beneficiary should not be hurt by making him feel inferior or reminding him of the assistance.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Money given as zakat can only be used for certain specific things.  Islamic Law stipulates that alms are to be used to support the poor and the needy, to free slaves and debtors, as specifically mentioned in the Quran (9:60).  Zakat, which developed fourteen hundred years ago, functions as a form of social security in a Muslim society.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Neither Jewish nor Christian scriptures praise slave manumission by raising it to worship. Indeed, Islam is unique in world religions in requiring the faithful to financially help slaves win their freedom and has raised the manumission of a slave to an act of worship - if it is done to please God.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Under the caliphates, the collection and expenditure of zakat was a function of the state.  In the contemporary Muslim world, it has been left up to the individual, except in some countries in which the state fulfills that role to some degree.  Most Muslims in the West disperse zakat through Islamic charities, mosques, or directly giving to the poor.  Money is not collected during religious services or via collection plates, but some mosques keep a drop box for those who wish it to distribute zakat on their behalf.  Unlike the zakat, Giving other forms of charity in private, even in secret, is considered better, in order to keep one’s intention purely for the God.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Apart from zakat, the Quran and Hadeeth (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) also stress sadaqah, or voluntary almsgiving, which is intended for the needy.  The Quran emphasizes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, helping those who are in need, and the more one helps, the more God helps the person, and the more one gives, the more God gives the person.  One feels he is taking care of others and God is taking care of him.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_79387310"><br /> </a></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://ourislamicweb.blogspot.com/2011/05/fourth-pillar-of-islam-fast-of-ramadan.html">Next: The Fourth Pillar of Islam: The Fast of Ramadan</a></span></span></div></div>

The Third Pillar of Islam: Compulsory Charity

Charity is not just recommended by Islam, it is required of every financially stable Muslim.   Giving charity to those who deserve it is par...

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The Second Pillar of Islam: The Prayer

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /> <div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><i>Salah</i> is the daily ritual prayer enjoined upon all Muslims as one of the five Pillars of Islam.  It is performed five times a day by all Muslims.  <i>Salah</i> is a precise worship, different from praying on the inspiration of the moment.  Muslims pray or, perhaps more correctly, worship five times throughout the day:</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">Between first light and sunrise.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">After the sun has passed the middle of the sky.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">Between mid-afternoon and sunset.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">Between sunset and the last light of the day.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">Between darkness and midnight.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><img height="226" src="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Second_Pillar_of_Islam_001.jpg" width="349" /></div><div class="w-caption" style="color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6pt;">Abdullahi Haji-Mohamed kneels during evening prayers while waiting for fares at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, May 4, 2005. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Gus Chan)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Each prayer may take at least 5 minutes, but it may be lengthened as a person wishes.  Muslims can pray in any clean environment, alone or together, in a mosque or at home, at work or on the road, indoors or out.  <span class="artcopy"><span style="font-family: Garamond;">Under special circumstances, such as illness, journey, or war, certain allowances in the prayers are given to make their offering easy.</span></span></div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Having specific times each day to be close to God helps Muslims remain aware of the importance of their faith, and the role it plays in every part of life.  Muslims start their day by cleaning themselves and then standing before their Lord in prayer.  The prayers consist of recitations from the Quran in Arabic and a sequence of movements: standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting.  All recitations and movements express submission, humility, and homage to God.  The various postures Muslims assume during their prayers capture the spirit of submission; the words remind them of their commitments to God.  The prayer also reminds one of belief in the Day of Judgment and of the fact that one has to appear before his or her Creator and give an account of their entire life.  This is how a Muslim starts their day.  In the course of the day, Muslims dissociate themselves form their worldly engagements for a few moments and stand before God.  This brings to mind once again the real purpose of life.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">These prayers serve as a constant reminder throughout the day to help keep believers mindful of God in the daily stress of work, family, and distractions of life.  Prayer strengthens faith, dependence on God, and puts daily life within the perspective of life to come after death and the last judgment.  As they prepare to pray, Muslims face Mecca, the holy city that houses the Kaaba (the ancient place of worship built by Abraham and his son Ishmael).  At the end of the prayer, the<i>shahada</i> (testimony of faith) is recited, and the greeting of peace, “Peace be upon all of you and the mercy and blessings of God,” is repeated twice.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Though individual performance of <i>salah</i> is permissible, collective worship in the mosque has special merit and Muslims are encouraged to perform certain<i>salah</i> with others.  With their faces turned in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, the worshipers align themselves in parallel rows behind the <i>imam</i>, or prayer leader, who directs them as they execute the physical postures coupled with Quran recitations.  In many Muslim countries, the “call to prayer,” or ‘Adhan,’ echo out across the rooftops.  Aided by a megaphone the muezzin calls out:</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -2.85pt;"><i>Allahu Akbar</i> (God is the greatest),</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -2.85pt;"><i>Allahu Akbar</i> (God is the greatest),</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -2.85pt;"><i>Allahu Akbar</i> (God is the greatest),</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -2.85pt;"><i>Allahu Akbar</i> (God is the greatest),</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;"><br /> </div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Ash-hadu an-laa ilaaha ill-Allah</i> (I witness that none deserves worship except God).</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Ash-hadu an-laa ilaaha ill-Allah</i> (I witness that none deserves worship except God).</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;"><br /> </div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasool-ullah</i> (I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God).</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasool-ullah</i> (I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God).</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;"><br /> </div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Hayya ‘alas-Salah</i> (Come to prayer!)</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Hayya ‘alas-Salah</i> (Come to prayer!)</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;"><br /> </div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Hayya ‘alal-Falah</i> (Come to prosperity!)</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Hayya ‘alal-Falah</i> (Come to prosperity!)</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;"><br /> </div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Allahu Akbar</i> (God is the greatest),</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>Allahu Akbar</i> (God is the greatest),</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;"><br /> </div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0pt;"><i>La ilaaha ill-Allah</i> (None deserves worship except God).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><img height="200" src="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Second_Pillar_of_Islam_002.jpg" width="349" /></div><div class="w-caption" style="color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6pt;">Men are joined by some of the students from the Noor-ul-Iman School for afternoon prayer at the Islamic Society of New Jersey, a mosque in suburban South Brunswick, N.J., Tuesday, May 13, 2003.  Many Muslims communities across the United States are spreading out from the cities to the suburbs. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Friday is the weekly day of communal worship in Islam.  The weekly convened Friday Prayer is the most important service.  The Friday Prayer is marked by the following features:</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">It falls in the same time as the noon prayer which it replaces.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">It must be performed in a congregation led by a prayer leader, an ‘Imam.’ It can not be offered individually.  Muslims in the West try to arrange their schedules to allow them time to attend the prayer.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">Rather than  a day of rest like the Sabbath, Friday is a day of devotion and extra worship.  A Muslim is allowed normal work on Friday as on any other day of the week.  They may proceed with their usual activities, but they must break for the Friday prayer.  After the worship is over, they can resume their mundane activities.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">Typically, the Friday Prayer is performed in a mosque, if available.  Sometimes, due to unavailability of a mosque, it may be offered at a rented facility, park, etc.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">When the time for prayer comes, the Adhan is pronounced  The Imam then stands facing the audience and delivers his sermon (known as <i>khutba</i>in Arabic), an essential part of the service of which its attendance is required.  While the Imam is talking, everyone present listens to the sermon quietly till the end.  Most Imams in the West will deliver the sermon in English, but some deliver it in Arabic.  Those who deliver it in Arabic usually deliver a short speech in the local language before the service.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">There are two sermons delivered, one distinguished from the other by a brief sitting of the Imam.  The sermon is commenced with words of praise of God and prayers of blessing for Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">        </span></span><span dir="LTR">After the sermon, the prayer is offered under the leadership of the Imam who recites the Fatiha and the other Quranic passage in an audible voice.  When this is done, the prayer is completed.</span></div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Special, large congregational prayers, which include a sermon, are also offered at late morning on the two days of festivity.  One of them is immediately following the month of fasting, Ramadan, and the other after the pilgrimage, or hajj.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Although not religiously mandated, individual devotional prayers, especially during the night, are emphasized and are a common practice among pious Muslims.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1613457383"><br /> </a></b></div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate; font-size: 18px;"><b><a href="http://ourislamicweb.blogspot.com/2011/05/third-pillar-of-islam-compulsory.html">Next: The Third Pillar of Islam: Compulsory Charity</a></b></span></div></div>

The Second Pillar of Islam: The Prayer

Salah  is the daily ritual prayer enjoined upon all Muslims as one of the five Pillars of Islam.  It is performed five times a day by all M...

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The First Pillar of Islam:The Muslim Profession of Faith

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_First_Pillar_of_Islam_-_The_Muslim_Profession_of_Faith_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_First_Pillar_of_Islam_-_The_Muslim_Profession_of_Faith_001.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"></span><br /> <div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><b>All practicing Muslims accept belief in the ‘Six Articles of Faith’ and are obliged to follow the ‘Five Pillars.’  They are:</b></div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">1.    Muslim profession of faith or<i>shahada</i>.</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">2.    Ritual Prayer or <i>salah</i>.</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">3.    Obligatory Charity or <i>zakah</i>.</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">4.    Fasting or <i>sawm</i>.</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">5.    Pilgrimage or <i>hajj</i>.</div><h2 style="color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15px; page-break-after: avoid;">The First Pillar</h2><h3 style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5326586353759569805&postID=6205038509949199482" name="Shahada"></a>Muslim Profession of Faith</h3><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">The<i> Shahada</i> is the Muslim profession of faith and the first of the ‘Five Pillars’ of Islam.  The word <i>shahada</i> in Arabic means ‘testimony.’  The <i>shahada</i>is to testify to two things:</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">(a)   Nothing deserves worship except God (Allah).</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">(b)  Muhammad is the Messenger of God (Allah).</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">A Muslim is simply one who bears witness and testifies that “nothing deserves worship except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” One becomes a Muslim by making this simple declaration.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">It must be recited by every Muslim at least once in a lifetime with a full understanding of its meaning and with an assent of the heart.  Muslims say this when they wake up in the morning, and before they go to sleep at night.  It is repeated five times in the call to prayer in every mosque.  A person who utters the<i>shahada</i> as their last words in this life has been promised Paradise.</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Many people ignorant of Islam have misconceived notions about the <i>Allah</i>, used by Muslims to denote God. <i>Allah</i> is the proper name for God in Arabic, just as <i>"Elah"</i>, or often <i>"Elohim"</i>, is the proper name for God in Aramaic mentioned in the Old Testament.  <i>Allah</i> is also His personal name in Islam, as <i>"YHWH"</i> is His personal name in Judaism. However, rather than the specific Hebrew denotation of "<i>YHWH</i>" as "<i>He Who Is</i>", in Arabic <i>Allah </i>denotes the aspect of being<i> “The One True Deity worthy of all worship”</i>.  Arabic speaking Jews and Christians also refer to the Supreme Being as <i>Allah</i>.</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">(a)   Nothing deserves worship except God (Allah).</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">The first part of this testimony states that God has the exclusive right to be worshipped inwardly and outwardly, by one’s heart and limbs.  In Islamic doctrine, not only can no one be worshipped <i>apart</i> from Him, absolutely no one else can be worshipped <i>along</i> <i>with</i> Him.  He has no partners or associates in worship.  Worship, in its comprehensive sense and all its aspects, is for Him alone.  God’s right to be worshipped is the essential meaning of Islam’s testimony of faith: <i>Lā ‘ilāha ‘illā llāh</i>.  A person becomes Muslim by testifying to the divine right to worship.  It is the crux of Islamic belief in God, even all of Islam.  It is considered the central message of all prophets and messengers sent by God - the message of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, the Hebrew prophets, Jesus, and Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon them.  For instance, Moses declared:</div><div class="w-hadeeth-or-bible" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">“Hear, O Israel The Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Jesus repeated the same message 1500 years later when he said:</div><div class="w-hadeeth-or-bible" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">“The first of all the commandments is, “Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord.” (Mark 12:29)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">…and reminded Satan:</div><div class="w-hadeeth-or-bible" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">“Away from me, Satan!  For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Finally, the call of Muhammad, some 600 years after Jesus, reverberated across the hills of Mecca, <i>‘And your God is One God: there is no god but He.’</i>(Quran 2:163).  They all declared clearly:</div><div class="w-quran" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 42.55pt; margin-right: 42.55pt; margin-top: 0in;">“Worship God!  You have no other god but Him.” (Quran 7:59, 7:73; 11:50, 11:84; 23:32)</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">But by a mere verbal profession alone, one does not become a complete Muslim.  To become a complete Muslim one has to fully carry out in practice the instruction given by Prophet Muhammad as ordained by God.  This brings us to the second part of the testimony.</div><div class="w-body-text-bullet" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 22.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -22.7pt;">(b)  Muhammad is the Messenger of God (Allah).</div><div class="w-body-text-1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 19.85pt;">Muhammad was born in Mecca in Arabia in the year 570 CE.  His ancestry goes back to Ishmael, a son of Prophet Abraham.  The second part of the confession of faith asserts that he is not only a prophet but also a messenger of God, a higher role also played by Moses and Jesus before him.  Like all prophets before him, he was a human being, but chosen by God to convey His message to all humanity rather than one tribe or nation from among the many that exist.  For Muslims, Muhammad brought the last and final revelation.  In accepting Muhammad as the “last of the prophets,” they believe that his prophecy confirms and completes all of the revealed messages, beginning with that of Adam.  In addition, Muhammad serves as the preeminent role model through his life example.  The believer’s effort to follow Muhammad’s example reflects the emphasis of Islam on practice and action.<br /> <b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_440002451"><br /> </a></b><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b><a href="http://ourislamicweb.blogspot.com/2011/05/second-pillar-of-islam-prayer.html">Next: The Second Pillar of Islam: The Prayer</a></b></span><br /> <div><br /> </div></div></div>

The First Pillar of Islam:The Muslim Profession of Faith

All practicing Muslims accept belief in the ‘Six Articles of Faith’ and are obliged to follow the ‘Five Pillars.’  They are: 1.    Muslim p...

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