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Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam & the Unity of the Faith
Some interesting facts

by Laura Ellen Shulman

Although, there are three main divisions within Islam, when it comes to basic Muslim practice - the "Five Pillars" of Muslim faith - there is much unity in this second largest religion in the world.

Shahadah (the creed):

The first pillar of Muslim faith is the statement of creed. All Muslims make this statement not just once in their life. This is not a rite of initiation or the Christian equivalent of "being saved" (although making this statement whole heartedly is part of the simple act of converting to Islam, more like simply declaring yourself to have accepted Islam). All Muslims make this statement as a part of regular daily prayer. It is the basic creed shared in common by all Muslims. Therein is how this creedal statement fosters Muslim unity.

Salat (prayer):

The five daily prayers do quite a bit to foster Muslim unity. All Muslims pray the same way, no matter what culture they are from or what mosque they belong to. No matter if they are Sunni, Shi'ite or even Sufi. While there may be additional ways these groups express devotion to God, the method of basic daily prayers is held in common amongst all Muslims worldwide and down through the ages since Muhammad set this standard for prayer. The language of prayer unites all Muslims. All prayers are recited in Arabic by all Muslims, no matter what language they may speak in their daily lives.

The method of praying also demonstrates the unity of the Muslim community. When Muslims pray they line up shoulder to shoulder, toe to toe, in gentle physical contact with one another. They move together in unison, bowing, kneeling, prostrating all at the same time. Another way prayer unites all Muslims is that they all face toward Mecca during prayer. Even the leader of prayer (the Imam) faces Mecca rather than the congregation. He has his back to the other Muslims in the room as he leads them in the movements of prayer (it is a lot like "follow the leader").

Some other things to know about Muslim prayer: it is not petitionary but, rather, a sign of respect and reverence for God. Muslims are not asking God for things when they pray; they are praising God. Their entire day, every day, is centered around the times for prayer. There is a set time frame for these prayers but it is somewhat flexible within limits:

• 1st (dawn) prayer: during dawn but before actual sunrise
• 2nd (noon) prayer: from the time the sun passes it's summit 'til it is midway between summit and setting
• 3rd (mid-day) prayer: from the time the sun is midway between summit to setting but before it actually sets
• 4th (sunset) prayer: between sunset and total darkness
• 5th (night) prayer: anytime during total darkness before one goes to bed but usually done about an hour and a half after the sunset prayer.

Prayer takes a priority in their life. Whatever they are doing, when the appointed hour arrives, they take a few minutes out to stop and pray and remember God. Then they will go back to work or school or daily chores. There is a "window of opportunity" and they can pray up to a few hours later if necessary. It is even possible to "piggyback" two prayer times one right after the other (although stricter Muslims will say this is not allowed). These prayers need not be done in a mosque if it is inconvenient to get there (such as in the middle of the work day). But it is advisable to pray in the mosque (in community) if at all possible. These prayers may be done anywhere but the Muslim will always face the direction of Mecca no matter where he or she prays.

An ablution (ritual cleansing with water) is to be done just prior to prayer and all mosques provide a special area in which to do this (water is the most common form of ritual purification in all religions).

Women pray in a balcony of the mosque or in the back of the room, behind the men. This is to protect the woman's modesty so, when in the position of prostration, she will not fear that some man behind them is leering at her rear end (this arrangement also alleviates the possibility that the weak man will not be distracted in his prayer by the woman in front of him). Male-female relations in Islamic rules holds that a man should not take advantage of a woman and a woman, in turn, shall not entice a man. This is the main reason why modest attire is to be worn by Muslim women. This is why women are to pray out of eyesight of men.

The major community prayer time is Friday noontime prayer when the largest crowds will gather together at the mosque for prayer. Friday is the closest Islam comes to having a Sabbath day of rest as in Judaism or Christianity but Friday is not really a "day of rest" for Muslims (though many Muslim countries do shut down businesses on this day). However, Fridays are not any more of a sacred day than any other in Islam. For Islam, every day is a day for prayer.

You can find a one hour video clip on Salat (Muslim prayer) at: http://islamicity.com/mosque/salat/salat9.htm

When you get there, just click on the diagram. This most interesting and informative video will take you through the entire prayer process (uses "Real Player"). Visit the entire site from their home page at: http://islamicity.com

Zakat (charity):

Zakat, the giving of alms, is designed to bring economic, and thus, social equality to a society. The rich are to give 2 1/2 percent of their excess income (after expenses) to the poor and needy. The poor are not expected to give if they do not have any excess (they are the ones who receive). This "poor tax" creates a "community pot" of sorts. This social equality helps to create a united community, fostering Muslim unity where it is not "each man for himself", but rather "one for all and all for one".

In Muslim countries, non-Muslims are required to pay a special tax that Muslims don't have to pay. Often Westerners think this is unfair. But since non-Muslims are not required by their faith to provide for the poor as Muslims are, this special tax is the only way to be sure that non-Muslims also pay their fair share in to the community pot. Let's not forget that in our country everyone pays at least a 15% income tax. That's actually a lot more than Muslims have to pay.

Sawm (the Ramadan Fast):

The annual Ramadan fast is followed by all adult Muslims who are physically capable (it is optional for children but they are expected to participate by the age of 16 or so). Muslims fast from sun up to sun down for 30 days of the Islamic month of Ramadan. This is partly in commemoration of the first revelation to Muhammad (it was during this same month that Gabriel began communicating the Quran to The Prophet). It is common for the Muslim community to gather each evening to break the fast with a light meal. Eid-al-Fitr, one of the two major Muslim festivals, occurs at the close of the final day of the fast. This is a time of great celebration when the Muslims will gather together at the mosque for a huge feast.

Some additional points of interest regarding this fast: not only are Muslims to abstain from all food during daylight hours but also drinking. They are not even to sip water during the fast time. They also are not to smoke or partake in sexual activity during daylight hours. Basically, the needs of the physical body are to take second seat to the focus on one's spiritual needs. It is, essentially, a period of cleansing, of internal purification. If one is ill during the fast period, one IS advised to eat. So too for women who are pregnant or breast feeding and for the elderly who are too sick. The days that one misses due to temporary illness are to be made up after the fast. For the elderly or those who are chronically ill and never have a healthy time to make up the fast, one is to donate food to the poor. Thus a sacrifice of some sort is to be made to honor the fast.

It should be noted here that, although in recent years this fast has occurred in the fall, the fast does not always occur during the same time of the solar year. The Muslim calendar is a strictly lunar calendar, without any adjustments. It is, thus, eleven days shorter than the calendar we use so the Muslim holy times of the fast and the pilgrimage will shift to be earlier and earlier with the passing of each year. There are times when the fast will fall in summer when the hours of daylight are much longer. No matter, the Muslim is expected to abstain all those additional hours. This shows great dedication to the faith.

Hajj (pilgrimage):

The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is a vary dramatic way that these pillars of faith foster Muslim unity. At least once in a Muslim's life (if health and finances allow) they are to travel to Mecca and partake in several days of set ritual activity. All Muslims who make this pilgrimage go through the same steps. When they first arrive they leave their cultural clothing behind and all don the same simple white robes. Thus, no matter the cultural or racial background of the Muslims from all over the world, in Mecca they are all one, identical in the eyes of God and each other. There is a set time of year when this pilgrimage takes place. At this time, over 1 million Muslims may converge on this city at once. Toward the close of the pilgrimage, Muslims who are in Mecca as well as those who have not made pilgrimage that year and remain at home will ALL celebrate the pilgrimage festival Eid-al-Adha. This involves the ritual slaughter of a goat or lamb (in remembrance of when Abraham almost sacrificed his son to God). The Muslims will eat this meat as part of the feast. Often, those who do not have the finances to sponsor a sacrifice, will find that others have purchased an extra sacrifice on behalf of those who cannot afford it. This festival and the aid given to others that they too might partake is another way that this pillar of faith helps to bring the Muslim community together.

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