|
Shahadah -
Declaration of faith
Salah - Five compulsory Daily Prayers
Zakah - Welfare contribution
Sawm - Fasting during the month of Ramadan
Hajj - Pilgrimage to
Makkah...
Shahadah - This is the first pillar. When
one comes across Islam one should study it, know it and if they
are satisfied with its ways, sources and instructions - they
can make the declaration of faith by reciting : "La ila ha
illal la hu Muhammad ur Rasullulah". meaning "there is no god
but ALLAH and Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH. The
declaration is called Kalmia Tayyibah. It summarises the whole
of Islamic belief. The first part (la ila ha illal lah) is
about the oneness of Allah. While the second part concerns the
Prophet hood of Muhammad (SAW). Accepting silently, is not
acceptable to Allah as in society one cannot be given their
rights and duties towards them if no one knows that they are
Muslims.
Salah - is the second pillar of Islam. The
performing of the five daily prayers to show that the
declaration of faith was sincere and serious. A new believer
must give up his old way of life for the one shown in the
example of Muhammad (SAW). Sometimes people have accepted
religion to join the majority to benefit themselves. This is
hypocrisy. Praying five times is difficult and tests the
acceptance. The hypocrite is referred to as a Munafiq in the
Qur'an, the rejector as a Mushrik and the acceptor as a
Muslim. Salah
refers to the five compulsory daily prayers. Salah is offered
five times a day individually or in congregation. We offer
Salah to remember Allah - it brings us closer to
him.
The
Qur'an says: "Establish Salah to remember me (Allah)" -
(20:24).
Salah is the practical proof of our faith
in Allah and Islam. It has been made compulsory at certain
fixed times. Salah is prohibited: on the rising of the sun, at
Zawaal time (Midday - 10 minutes before Zhur Salah, and on
sunset.
The five
daily prayers are:
FAJR - From dawn until just before
sunrise.
ZUHR - When the sun begins to decline from its
zenith (highest point) until the size of an
object is equivalent to the shadow it makes. [After midday
until afternoon]
ASR - Starts when Zuhr ends and ends before
the beginning of sunset. [From late afternoon
until just before sunset]
MAGHRIB - Starts just after sunset and ends
when twilight has disappeared, [After sunset
until daylight ends]
ISHA - Starts when twilight disappears and
ends before midnight. [can be offered till
dawn].
Zakah - is a third pillar of Islam. The
Arabic word Zakah means to purify or cleanse. Zakah is to be
paid once a year on savings at the rate of two and a half
percent. This rate applies to cash, bank savings, gold and
silver jewellery. The rate for cattle and agricultural products
is different. This helps avoid the clash between rich and poor.
The poor are only against the rich when the rich do not pay
their duties to them. This, therefore, helps avoid modern ideas
such as communism developing if practised. Zakah is really paid
towards Allah, it is a type of worship for which there is a
reward, if no one needs Zakah then it has to be saved until the
need may arise for its use.
The
payment of Zakah is a means of keeping our wealth clear of
greed and selfishness. It also encourages us to be honest in
our earnings and expenditure. Zakah is a compulsory payment and
is neither charity nor tax.
|