II A-Rivadeneyra A-Rubin C-Rivero C-Guarderas C-Galleno

• published: 29 Sep 2014
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Five Pillars of Islam All basic muslim beliefs are expressed on the five pillars of islam. The five pillars of islam are practices or acts that form the foundation of Islam. These pillars are sacred duties for Islamic people, which are considerated mandatory by the muslim believers. They are divided in: Declaration of Faith, Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting, and Pilgrimage. Declaration of Faith: The declaration of faith in Islam, also known as Shahada, consists in the act when a muslim declares its faith, trust, and belief that there is only one God(Allah) and that Muhammad is Gods messenger. It is essential to complete it to become a Muslim and to convert to Islam. Prayer: The Islamic prayer, also known as Salat, consists of five daily prayers according to the Sunna, that is the way of life for Muslims based on the teachings and practices of Muhammad. The five prayers are Fajr(dawn), Dhuhr(Noon), ‘Asr(afternoon), Maghrib(evening) and ʿIshāʾ(night). Muslims must wash before each prayer, this act of washing is called wudu, which means purification. Also, the prayer is followed by a series of set positions. Each prayer is faced on the direction of the holy city of Mecca. Almsgiving: The almsgiving, also known as Zakāt, is the act or practice of charitable by Muslims that consist on giving alms, or money to the needy, based on the accumulated wealth. It is considerated an act of purification and growth, because it makes an individual to achieve balance and encourages him to be a better person. There are some principles followed when giving the Zakāt: the giver declares its intentions with God; the Zakāt must be paid on the due day; etc. Fasting: Fasting, also known as sawn, is the act of Muslims of fasting during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan. There are three types of fasting: Ritual Fasting, Fasting as compensation for repentance, and Ascetic Fasting. The act of fasting is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness and to look for forgiveness from God, to express their gratitude. Pilgrimage: Pilgrimage, also known as hajj, is when Muslims make a pilgrimage (travel) to Mecca at least once in their lives, this can only be done if the Muslim is able to do it. It occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, that is is the twelfth and final month on its calendar. This pilgrimage to Mecca acts as an expression of devotion to God. The believer should be self-aware and examine their intentions in performing the pilgrimage.