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- 1
Declaring Faith (Shahadah)
- The
first pillar of Islam is that a Muslim should
believe and declare his faith by saying the
(Shahadah):
- There is no God
worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is his
messenger.
- This declaration of faith is
called the Shahada, a certain formula which all
the faithful pronounce. It contains two parts; the first
part refers to God Almighty, the creator of
everything, and the second part refers to the messenger,
a human being, who received the revelation (through
Gabriel) and taught it to mankind.
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- 2
Prayer (Salah)
- 2-3
Significance of Prayer
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- Prayer
in Islam is considered the main pillar of
the religion. Prayer is obligatory and should be
performed five times a day.
- There is no hierarchical
authority in Islam, and no priests; the
prayers are led by any learned person who knows the
Qur'an and is chosen by the congregation.
These five prayers contain verses from the
Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the
language of the revelation, but personal
supplications can be offered in one's own
language.
- The significance of the
Prayer lies in the continuous link to God
five times a day, which will help the worshipper
avoid misdeeds if he/she performs a sincere
prayer
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2-4 Times of
Prayer
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- Note: Times of
prayer differ from place to place depending on the
location on the globe.
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- Dawn (Fajr) 2
units
- From the breaking of the dawn
to sunrise.
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- Noon (Thuhr) 4
units
- After the sun declines from its
zenith until it is about midway to setting.
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- Afternoon (Asr) 4
units
- After the time for Zuhr prayer
ends and extending to just before sunset.
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- Evening (Maghrib) 3
units
- From sunset and extending for a
period of an hour and a half.
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- Night (Isha'a) 4
units
- From about an hour and a half
after sunset and extending to midnight or dawn
Prayer
- Time of Prayers
5
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- 2-5
How to Pray
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- 1. In order
for the worshipper to begin prayers, he/she
faces the direction
of the
Kaaba
which is in Makkah, Saudi
Arabia, having the intention of the
specific prayer.
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2. The
worshipper raises the hands to the ears and
pronounces Takbir, or recitation of
praise: "Allah
is the
Greatest."
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- 3. During
the second step, known as the
"standing", he/she recites the chapter
of
"Al-Fatiha"
together with any additional verses from the
Qur'an.
- * Praise be to
Allah The Cherisher and Sustainer of the
Worlds
- * Most Gracious,
Most Merciful
- * Master of the
Day of Judgment
- * Thee do we
worship, And Thine aid we
seek.
- * Show us the
straight way,
- * The way of
those on whom Thou has bestowed Thy
Grace
- Those whose
(portion) Is not wrath. And who go not
astray.
- Before going to the
next step, he/she makes Takbir as in
step 2.
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4. With the
recitation of another Takbir, the
worshipper bows, with his hands on his knees,
and in this bent position, praises Allah
(God), saying 3
times:
"How Great God
is."
How Great God
is.
How Great God
is
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- 5. The
worshipper then resumes the standing position
while saying:
"May Allah
respond to the one who praises
him.
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6. The
worshipper then prostrates, with the forehead
touching the ground, as a sign of humility and
submission to Allah, saying 3 times:
"How
exalted God
is."
How exalted God
is.
How exalted God
is.
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- 7. The next
step involves raising oneself from the
prostration while reciting another
Takbir, as in step 2, and then
remaining in the kneeling position making a
brief supplication. Then the worshipper
repeats the prostration and stands up
returning to the first position. If he/she is
in the second unit of prayer
("Rakah"), he/she recites the
Tashahud:
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- "All
our ways of worship are only for Allah.
Peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be on you,
O Prophet. May peace be upon us and on the
devout slaves of Allah. I testify that there
is no God but Allah and I testify that
Muhammad is His slave and
messenger.
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- Only this first
part of Tashahud is said when the
prayer is more than 2 Rakahs
(units). The remainder is said in the
final Rakah.
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- "O
God send your mercy on Muhammad and his
posterity as you sent Your mercy on Abraham
and his posterity. You are the Most-Praised,
The Most Glorious.
- "O God, send
your Blessings on Muhammad and his posterity
as you have blessed Abraham and his
posterity. You are the Most praised, The Most
Glorious.
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- 8. After
finishing the Tashahud, the final
steps are also made in the kneeling position.
The worshipper turns his/her face to the
right saying:
"May peace be
upon you.
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9. The
worshipper then turns to the left and repeats
"May peace be upon you." This greeting,
or "salaam" concludes the prayer.
However, it must be noted that when additional
Rakahs (units) are to be performed, only
the first seven steps are repeated, including
the Tashahud; then salaam is said
only at the end of the prayer.
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- Other
links :
- http://store.ilmquest.org/osc/index.php?cPath=32_43
- http://www.thelightpublishing.com/book.php?id=285
- 3
Poor Due (Zakah)
- The
third pillar of Islam is poor-due (Zakah). It is an act
of purification through sharing what one has with others.
The rationale behind this is that Muslims believe that
everything belongs to God, and wealth is held by man as a
trust.
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- The word Zakah itself means
purification and growth. Our possessions are purified by
setting aside a portion for those in need. Each Muslim
calculates his or her own Zakah individually.
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- For most purposes this involves
the payment each year of 2.5% of one's capital, provided
that this capital reaches a certain amount of wealth
which is not used by its owner. A generous person can pay
more than this amount as a voluntary charity (Sadaqah).
This amount of money can be provided to bridge the gap
between the rich and the poor, and can be used in many
useful projects for the welfare of the community.
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- zakah
calculator
- http://www.muslimhands.org/resources/zakatcalc.php
- 4
Fasting (Sowm)
- The
fourth pillar of Islam is fasting. Allah prescribes
fasting for all able, adult Muslims for the period of the
month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the lunar calendar).
- They fast from first light
until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual
relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey,
and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to
break the fast and make up an equal number of days later
in the year.
- If they are physically unable
to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day
missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the
prayers) from puberty, although many start earlier.
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- Although the fast is beneficial
to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of
self-purification. By cutting one's self off from worldly
comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains
true sympathy for those who go hungry as well as
achieving growth in one's spiritual life.
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- About
Sawm
- http://www.islamic-paths.org/Home/English/Discover/Pillars/Sawm_Main.htm
- 5
Pilgrimage (Hajj)
- The
fifth pillar of Islam is making pilgrimage (Hajj) to
Makkah, a city in Saudi Arabia. This pillar is
obligatory for every Muslim, male or female, once in
his/her own life, provided that he/she is physically
and financially able to perform it. On this unique
occasion, nearly two million Muslims from all over the
globe meet one another each year. Regardless of the
season of the year, pilgrims wear special clothes:
very simple garments,which strip away distinctions of
class and culture, so that all stand equal before
Allah (God).
The rites of Hajj (pilgrimage)
go back to the time of prophet Abraham. They include
circling the Ka'bah, and going between the mountains of
Safa and Marwah as Hajar (Abraham's wife) did during her
search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the
wide plain of Arafah and join in prayers for God's
forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of
the Last Judgment. The pilgrimage ends with a festival,
called Eid Al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and
the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities
everywhere.
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- Other links about Pillars
of Islam
- http://www.faizani.com/articles/five_pillar_of_islam.html
http://www.aswatalislam.net/
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Declaring Faith |
Prayer (Salah) | Poor
Due (Zakah) | Fasting (Sowm) |
Pilgrimage (Hajj)
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