The first of the Five Pillars is shahada or the Witness of Faith. It consists of two parts: • The acknowledgement that Allah is the one true God As Muslims this should be our firm belief that there is only one God who is Allah and no other gods or offspring are associated with him. • Muhammad is Allah’s messenger Allah’s word is revealed through Muhammad and Muhammad (SAW) said whatever Allah told him. There is not a single word that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said without Allah’s will. This pillar reminds the Muslims about the purpose of their life which is to worship Allah alone by following the teachings of His Messenger. Benefits of shahadah • Complete surrender to the will of Allah and becoming His true servant. • It produces a high …show more content…
In the Hadith we learn that the Prophet used to offer the Zuhr prayer just after mid-day (as the sun declines at noon). • Asr: This is the prayer said after the Zuhr and before the sun sets. Hazrat Aisha RA said that “the Prophet used the pray the Asr prayers at a time when the sunshine was still inside my chamber and no shadow had yet appeared in it.” • Maghrib: This is the evening prayer and we learn from a hadith that the time for the evening prayer is that when the sun disappears and (it lasts) till the twilight. • Isha: The last of the compulsory prayers is prayed any time from twilight until midnight. From the Hadith we learn that Hazrat Muhammad SAW used to offer the Isha prayer in the period between the disappearance of the twilight and the end of the first third of the night. Benefits of Salah • Prayer establishes a personal and spiritual connection between the Muslim and Allah. • It will fill his heart with peace and closeness with Allah. • Through prayer, Muslim remembers the greatness of his creator, • Repeatedly humbling oneself before Allah prevents a person from falling into sin. • Salah is a type of purification for one’s soul. • Salah is an opportunity for seeking forgiveness from Allah. …show more content…
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Allah has made zakat obligatory simply to purify your remaining wealth” Zakat is a way to purify our wealth and to decrease the love for money in our hearts. Benefits of paying zakat • Purify one’s heart from greediness and arrogance • Made people be sympathetic towards needy and poor • Reminds blessings of Allah and encourage being grateful to Almighty Allah. • Reduce poverty from society and balance the gap between socio-economic classes and groups. If someone wants to give more than specified that is 2.5 percent then he can give if he has a will to do more for pleasing Allah. HAJJ The fifth pillar is pilgrimage. All Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if their finances and health grant. • Important acts during hajj • Sacrificing an animal • Supplicating • Visiting and praying at various sites • Circling the kabah • Walking between two mountains All of these rituals are performed over a period of six continuous days. This practice is intended to help Muslims recognize that before Allah they are all equal. Racial, gender and economic differences are subdued as commonalty of Muslims from many nations bow together to worship