Hum130 Five Pillars of Islam
- Submitted by: lilmonk82
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- Category: History: Religion
- Date Submitted: 06/05/2011 10:39 PM
- Pages: 2
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What are the "Five Pillars” of Islam and give some details of each?
The Five Pillars of Islam are belief and witness, daily prayers, zakat, fasting, and hajj. Belief and witness is described as believing and sharing in the unity of God and the messages in the Qur’an. It is taught that every person of Muslim faith should share information about Islam so that others can make an “intelligent choice” without the use of coercion. Daily prayer is the second pillar and requires the faithful to perform prayer rituals five times a day. This is said to “purify the heart, develop the mind and conscience, comfort the soul, encourage the good and suppress the evil, and awaken the innate sense of higher morality and higher aspirations.” The third pillar, zakat, is explained as spiritual tithing. Each year, all Muslims are required to donate at least two and a half percent of their wealthy to less fortunate Muslims. Fasting is the fourth Pillar of Islam. Muslims believe that frequent fasts are best, but are only obligated to fast during the month long Ramadan. Fasting means going without food, drinks, smoking, and sexual intercourse. This is believed to allow the body to burn up impurities. The fifth pillar of Islam is hajj. Hajj is defined as a pilgrimage to Mecca, and all Muslims should do this at least once in their lifetime. Once Muslims have made the trip to Mecca, many rituals are performed. This brings Muslims from all over the world together.
Which of the Five Pillars do you feel would be easiest to fulfill, and which would be the most challenging?
I think that the belief and witness pillar would be the easiest to fulfill, because a true believer should be able to share their beliefs with other people without fear or hesitation. The most challenging would depend on several factors. I, personally, could not imagine going a month, or even a day, without food or drinks. Fasting would be difficult for me. However, depending on someone’s ability, financially or...
The Five Pillars of Islam are belief and witness, daily prayers, zakat, fasting, and hajj. Belief and witness is described as believing and sharing in the unity of God and the messages in the Qur’an. It is taught that every person of Muslim faith should share information about Islam so that others can make an “intelligent choice” without the use of coercion. Daily prayer is the second pillar and requires the faithful to perform prayer rituals five times a day. This is said to “purify the heart, develop the mind and conscience, comfort the soul, encourage the good and suppress the evil, and awaken the innate sense of higher morality and higher aspirations.” The third pillar, zakat, is explained as spiritual tithing. Each year, all Muslims are required to donate at least two and a half percent of their wealthy to less fortunate Muslims. Fasting is the fourth Pillar of Islam. Muslims believe that frequent fasts are best, but are only obligated to fast during the month long Ramadan. Fasting means going without food, drinks, smoking, and sexual intercourse. This is believed to allow the body to burn up impurities. The fifth pillar of Islam is hajj. Hajj is defined as a pilgrimage to Mecca, and all Muslims should do this at least once in their lifetime. Once Muslims have made the trip to Mecca, many rituals are performed. This brings Muslims from all over the world together.
Which of the Five Pillars do you feel would be easiest to fulfill, and which would be the most challenging?
I think that the belief and witness pillar would be the easiest to fulfill, because a true believer should be able to share their beliefs with other people without fear or hesitation. The most challenging would depend on several factors. I, personally, could not imagine going a month, or even a day, without food or drinks. Fasting would be difficult for me. However, depending on someone’s ability, financially or...