The Five Pillars of Islam 1.The first pillar is Iman, or Faith. This is a confession stating that “there is no God but God; Muhammad is the Prophet of God”. It basically is what they stand on as their foundation, the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is achieved through the teachings and practices of the Last Prophet, Muhammad 2.The second pillar is Salah, or prayer. Muslims pray five times a day; dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall. They are to pray facing Mecca, as that is the holy place where the first shrine was built. 3.Almsgiving, or Zakat is the third pillar. This a tax on property paid by the Muslims to benefit the poor. It is usually 2 ½ percent of one’s wealth in a year, but could be different based on circumstances. 4.Sawm, or fasting, is the fourth pillar.This takes place during the Ramadan. This is a month of religious observance where adults observe a time of abstention, reflection, and purification. This month is considered to be the holy month, which celebrates the first revelation of the Islamic scriptures. 5.The final pillar is the pilgrimage or Hajj. This is a time which every Muslim of sound body, with financial ability, make a trip to the holy city of Mecca. Any Muslim who makes the trip then have the privilege of adding “al-Hajj” to their make.

Mosque

A mosque is a building used by Muslims for worship and prayer. In each mosque there is a central point that orients the worshipper toward Mecca. Shoes are not worn in the mosque, and men and woman pray separately so as not to distract each other. On Fridays, men are required to go to the mosque for a 30 minute prayer. They get together to share community concerns, renew relationships, and spend time fellowshipping. No representations of humans, plants, animals, or Allah are allowed in the mosque. This is considered to be unlawful idolatry. Many mosques have extraordinary beauty and detail.

Important Rituals Akikah: the birth ceremony is different depending on which part of the world you are in. Many Muslims feel it is a birthday celebration, and therefore do not celebrate it, as birthdays are not celebrated in the Islamic system. Shahada: initiation that marks a young Muslim’s formal entry into the faith. There is no set age, but usually takes place during the mid-teen years. Marriage: This is a short ceremony between the man and woman, with the woman accepting the groom’s formal offer of marriage. A waleemah is a reception where the marriage is celebrated, where the Muslims may sing and dance, but there is no alcohol. Funerals: a period of mourning may be up to 40 days. Burial usually takes place within 24 hours. The funeral service is usually done at the funeral home, and includes the reciting of janazah, prayers for the dead, at the gravesite.

Important Holy Days Lailat ul-qadr: This is celebrated on a night falling during the final ten days of Ramadan. This is considered the “Night of Power” because it is the night of the first experience of Muhammad’s of divine revelation. Id al-fitr: A feast period that follows the end of the month-long fast. It lasts for three days and is observed with banquets and exchanging of gifts. This is the time when alms are given, as mandated by Islamic law. Id ul-Adha: This is when animals are slaughtered to benefit the impoverished. It takes place two to three months after Ramadan, celebrating the faithfulness and obedience of Abraham. Al-Isra Wal Miraj: This is celebrated on the twenty-seventh day of the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. It marks Muhammad’s divinely supported journey from Mecca to the discipline of daily prayer. Maulid al-Nabi: This is a celebration of the birth of Muhammad, held on the twelfth day of the third month. This festival usually lasts a week or two, ending on the day of the feast.

Muslims The Sunni Muslims Considered to be “orthodox” The most dominant force within Islam Culturally and religiously diverse Emphasizes the individual’s direct relationship with Allah Is the most powerful sect of Islam, claiming 85% of Muslims The Shia Muslims Began as a political movement for the followers of Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad Official religion of Iran 15% of Muslims are Shia Reject the claims of the first three Caliphs Human leadership is carried out within the faith

Beliefs Why are we here? The only purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is achieved through the teachings and practices of the Last Prophet, Muhammad. What happens when we die? Those who succeed in submitting to the will of Allah will be granted entry into Paradise.