A religious obligation, zakat is considered an expression of devotion to God. It represents the attempt to provide for the poorer sectors of society, and it offers a means for a Muslim to purify his or her wealth and attain salvation. These specific uses include spending zakat on the poor and the needy, on those who collect and distribute zakat, on those whom Muslims hope to win over and convert to Islam, on travelers, on the ransom of captives, to relieve those who are burdened with debts, and on the cause of God.
These determinations are provided in the traditions of the prophet Muhammad and have been the subject of elaborate discussions among Muslim legal experts, or jurists. For example, one-fortieth 2. Cattle, camels, and other domestic animals are subject to a more complex taxation system that depends on the animals in question, their age, the numbers involved, and whether they are freely grazing.
Traditional zakat laws do not cover trade, but commercial taxes have been imposed by various Muslim governments throughout history. Fasting The fourth pillar of Islam is sawm, or fasting. By tradition the month starts with the sighting of the new moon by at least two Muslims. For the entire month, Muslims must fast from daybreak to sunset by refraining from eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse.
Menstruating women, travelers, and sick people are exempted from fasting but have to make up the days they miss at a later date.
According to various traditional interpretations, the fast introduces physical and spiritual discipline, serves to remind the rich of the misfortunes of the poor, and fosters, through this rigorous act of worship, a sense of solidarity and mutual care among Muslims of all social backgrounds. Muslims may even choose to wake before daybreak to eat a meal that will sustain them until sunset.
At any time of year fasting is also required as a compensation for various offenses and violations of the law. Many Muslims also perform voluntary fasts at various times of the year as acts of devotion and spiritual discipline. However, such additional fasting is not required by Islamic law.
Pilgrimage to Mecca The fifth pillar requires that Muslims who have the physical and financial ability should perform the pilgrimage, or hajj , to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. The ritual of pilgrimage was practiced by Arabs before the rise of Islam and continues from the early days of Islam. The hajj is distinct from other pilgrimages. It must take place during the 12th lunar month of the year, known as Dhu al-Hijja, and it involves a set and detailed sequence of rituals that are practiced over the span of several days.
All of the pilgrimage rituals take place in the city of Mecca and its surroundings, and the primary focus of these rituals is a cubical structure called the Kaaba. Masks are required for all visitors. Fasting sawm. During the daylight hours of Ramadan , the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, all healthy adult Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink. Through this temporary deprivation, they renew their awareness of and gratitude for everything God has provided in their lives—including the Qur'an, which was first revealed during this month.
During Ramadan they share the hunger and thirst of the needy as a reminder of the religious duty to help those less fortunate. The prince is barefoot as a gesture of humility before God. The simplicity of his surroundings is an indication of piety; the emphasis here is on the prince's spiritual nature rather than the opulence of his costume or surroundings which is the case in many royal Mughal portraits; see The Mughal Court and the Art of Observation.
Find out more about page archiving. Five Pillars of Islam Last updated On this page Find out more Page options Print this page. The Five Pillars consist of: Shahadah : sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith Salat : performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day Zakat : paying an alms or charity tax to benefit the poor and the needy Sawm : fasting during the month of Ramadan Hajj : pilgrimage to Mecca Why are they important?
Why are the five pillars of Islam important? Each of the five pillars work in tandem with one another to bring the essence of Islam as a religion of peace and submission to Allah SWT, into the lifestyle of every Muslim: Monotheism and the belief in Muhammad peace be upon him as the last messenger of God is the central tenet of Islam around which everything else revolves, and reciting the Shahada shahadah in prayer each day serves to remind Muslims of this integral belief.
Facts about the five pillars of Islam There is no specific order to fulfilling the five pillars of Islam as all maintain equal importance. Each of them has their own appointed times, places and guidelines, be it daily, annually or once a lifetime. A Muslim must commit to each pillar and what it entails throughout their lives.
Each pillar also accounts for those who may be unable to fulfil one or more of them, for example due to ill health, menstruation or pregnancy and a lack of financial means, amongst others. All rights reserved. Registered Charity No. Select a Fund. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
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