islam practices

• Five Pillars of Sunni Islam


  • 1. Shahada (Declaration of Faith)
  • 2. Salat (Obligatory Prayer)
  • 3. Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan)
  • 4. Zakat (Giving Alms)
  • 5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
• Purpose of the Five Pillars


  • They form the foundation of Muslim life
  • They provide a framework for Muslims
  • They give structure to daily life
  • They show Sunni Muslims putting their faith into action
• Ten Obligatory Acts of Shia Islam

  • 1. Salat (Obligatory Prayer)
  • 2. Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan)
  • 3. Zakat (Giving Alms)
  • 4. Khums (Additional 20% Tax)
  • 5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
  • 6. Jihad (Striving to Overcome Evil)
  • 7. Amr Bil Ma'ruf (Encouraging Good Actions)
  • 8. Nahi 'Anil Munkar (Discouraging Evil Actions)
  • 9. Tawalla (Association with Good People)
  • 10. Tabarra (Disassociation from Evil People)
• Purpose of the Ten Obligatory Acts

  • They guide Shia Muslims in how to live their everyday lives
  • They unite Shia Muslims and give meaning to their life
  • They help Shia Muslims achieve the reward of Paradise after death
• Shahada (Declaration of Faith)


  There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger
• For Shia Muslims, the Shahada also includes the belief that Ali is the friend of God
• Shahada

  • It is the simple yet profound statement expressing a Muslim's complete acceptance of and commitment to Islam
  • It reminds Muslims of the core belief of Tawheed (Oneness of God)
• Shahada


  It is the first and most important pillar, as it lays the foundation for the other pillars
• The Shahada is a belief for Shia Muslims, rather than a practice
• The shahada is the first words a newborn baby born into an Islamic family will hear
• The shahada is recited during the call to prayer and Salah
• The shahada is repeated when someone wishes to convert to Islam with a witness present
• The shahada is said before death to demonstrate a commitment to the religion of Islam
• The shahada is a reminder for Muslims to bear witness to the truth of Islam by sharing it with others
• Shahada


  The declaration of faith that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger
• The shahada is the first thing a newborn baby hears, the first words they say when converting to Islam, and the last words said before death
• The shahada lays the foundation for living an Islamic life


  It contains the key essential Islamic belief of tawheed (the oneness of God)
• The shahada is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam


  It underpins and enables the other pillars
• The shahada is spoken throughout the day and life of a Muslim


  It reaffirms its significance
• The shahada is a simple yet profound statement expressing a Muslim's complete acceptance of and commitment to Islam
• The shahada encapsulates the key beliefs and teachings of Islam
• The other pillars of Islam are based on and inspired by the shahada


  E.g. fasting in Ramadan is because Muhammad is the messenger of God who revealed the Quran
• Some argue all the pillars are equally important and one cannot be singled out as most important
• Others argue pillars like salah (prayer) or zakat (charity) could be more important than the shahada
• Salah (prayer) must be performed in Arabic and from memory using set prayers from the Quran, Sunnah and Hadith
• Salah must be preceded by wudu (ritual washing and cleansing) and establishing niyyah (right intention)
• Men should offer salah in a mosque, especially on Fridays for the congregational prayer (Jumu'ah)
• Salah can also be offered at home, in a prayer room, or other suitable place
• Salah involves a sequence of 17 raka'at (units of prayer) with recitations from the Quran and physical movements like bowing and prostrating
• Prostration (sujud) shows total submission to God
• Congregational prayer is believed to be 27 times more rewarding than individual prayer
• When the call to prayer is made, Muslims are expected to hurry to the mosque and leave off their work or trading
• Prayer is believed to be better than sleep according to a hadith
• Fasting is prescribed for Muslims as it was prescribed for those before them, so that they may be mindful of God
• Fasting is expected during the month of Ramadan, but those who are ill or on a journey can make up for it on other days or with a donation
• The Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan
• Fasting involves abstaining from food, drink, smoking, sexual activity, and bad thoughts/deeds during daylight hours in Ramadan
• Fasting


  The fourth pillar of Islam, the main period being during the month of Ramadan
• Those exempted from fasting during Ramadan

  • The elderly
  • The youngest
  • Those who are traveling
  • Those who are ill and unwell
• Those who do not fast during Ramadan should make up for it at another time or help the needy