Rituals in Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion that is articulated by a sacred text called the Holy Qur’an. This book is upheld, within the religion, as the verbatim words of the one and only god, Allah. Muslims, believers of this faith, follow rituals that are specifically addressed and required by Allah within the Qur’an (Wikipedia). The most basic concepts and practices consist of the five pillars of Islam. The overall main concept of this practice is simplicity itself; the belief in one God and the execution of the five pillars (PBS).
The first pillar is the iman which is arabic for faith and/or belief. The declaration of this faith is called shahadah and when one commits to their life to Islam they must proclaim that “There is no god but God and Muhammad, the last prophet, is his messenger.” This profession of faith reaffirms a Muslim’s oneness with God and is used in daily practices (PBS). The declaration is often proclaimed in daily prayers or sayings. For an example, Muslims often say al-hamdu lillah meaning “praises be to God” to show that they acknowledge Allah as the head of their life and the one true God (Zahid).
The second pillar is the salat which is arabic for worship and prayer. These obligatory prayers are performed five times, daily; at dawn, mid-day, late afternoon, sunset, and nightfall. During these prayers, one must always face the direction of the holiest city in Islam, Mecca. Usually, prayers are carried out in a mosque once a week followed by a sermon. However, a Muslim can pray anywhere, as long as their daily salat is complete (Zahid).
The third pillar is the zakat which is the practice of taxation and redistribution of funds, imposed on a Muslim’s income and wealth. 2.5% of one’s income and savings is expected to be given to a zakat collector to redistribute all funds to poor and needy Muslims (Wikipedia). The word zakat translates into English as “that which purifies”. By giving to the less fortunate, one’s possessions are purified and encourages new growth. When asked “What if a person has nothing?” the Prophet and Messenger Muhammad responded “He should work with his hands for his benefit and give something out of such earnings to charity...even a cheerful face to a despaired Muslim brother is an act of charity.” This pillar reaffirms the principle that all things belong to Allah and encourage the togetherness of a community under God (Zahid).
The fourth pillar is the sawm which is the act of abstaining from food, drink, smoking and sex and other daily routine norms from dawn until sun-down. This fasting and abstaining from worldly comforts allows one to become closer to Allah and teach self-restraint and self-control. This occurs once a year during the month of Ramadan and serves to bring Muslims together in ritual and bring them all much closer to Allah (PBS).
The fifth pillar is the hajj which is arabic for pilgrimage. Each year during the twelfth month of the lunar Islamic year, Muslims who are able, make the pilgrimage to the city of Makkah or Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This pilgrimage is obligatory for those who can physically complete it and has the finances to do so. Each year over two million Muslims from all over the world come to the holiest city in Islam to pray together (PBS). Before entering into the holy city, all Muslims are required to wear tow seamless pieces of cloth so that their attire frees them from separation by class or culture and so they all may appear equal before Allah (Zahid).
There is one more very important Islamic ritual that is, however, not one of the Five Pillars. This ritual is the death ritual. When one is on their dying bed, they are surrounded by friends and family who pray for them and the mercy of Allah to forgive their sins and purify them before their day of judgement. After a person has died, they are to be buried as promptly as possible. The Janazzah prayer is said and the person is wrapped in a shroud and place in the ground, with their face facing the holy city of Mecca. The funeral ceremony and gravesite of the deceased is very simple to stress the principle that all things belong to Allah and in death, one’s possessions do not matter and that all men are equal before God (Stofka).
For more info click below:
http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html
http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithpillars.html
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Rites-and-Ceremonies?offset=0&max=1
Works Cited
Bloom, Jonathan, Sheila Blair, and Rob Gardner. "Islam:Empire of Faith." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithpillars.html>.
"Five Pillars of Islam." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Pillars_of_Islam>.
Stofka, Beth Davies. "Library." Rites and Ceremonies. Patheos, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Rites-and-Ceremonies?offset=1&max=1>.
Zahid, Ishaq. "Five Pillars of Islam." Five Pillars of Islam. Islam 101, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. <http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html>.
Page done by Mariah Rubin
There is one more very important Islamic ritual that is, however, not one of the Five Pillars. This ritual is the death ritual. When one is on their dying bed, they are surrounded by friends and family who pray for them and the mercy of Allah to forgive their sins and purify them before their day of judgement. After a person has died, they are to be buried as promptly as possible. The Janazzah prayer is said and the person is wrapped in a shroud and place in the ground, with their face facing the holy city of Mecca. The funeral ceremony and gravesite of the deceased is very simple to stress the principle that all things belong to Allah and in death, one’s possessions do not matter and that all men are equal before God (Stofka).
For more info click below:
http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html
http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithpillars.html
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Rites-and-Ceremonies?offset=0&max=1
Works Cited
Bloom, Jonathan, Sheila Blair, and Rob Gardner. "Islam:Empire of Faith." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithpillars.html>.
"Five Pillars of Islam." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Pillars_of_Islam>.
Stofka, Beth Davies. "Library." Rites and Ceremonies. Patheos, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Rites-and-Ceremonies?offset=1&max=1>.
Zahid, Ishaq. "Five Pillars of Islam." Five Pillars of Islam. Islam 101, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. <http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html>.
Page done by Mariah Rubin