ins to be the five pillars of faith. The first is a statement of faith, the subsequent four are major exercises of faith of which some are daily, some weekly, some monthly, some annually, and some are required as a minimum once in a lifetime.The Five Pillars of IslamThese Five Pillars are the frameworks of a Muslim’s life. At one time, when the Prophet Muhammad was asked to give a definition of Islam, he named the Five Pillars. In the Hadith, the collection of sayings of Muhammed, “these exercises of faith are stated to serve man’s spiritual purposes, satisfy his human needs, and to mark his whole life with a Divine touch” (Hadith Shih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 7). The writings comprising the Hadith, while regarded as an excellent guide to living, are not regarded as having the same status as the Holy Koran (Qur’an). The major duties, nevertheless, in the life of a Moslem are to fulfill these Five Pillars. They are:1.The Statement of Faith (Shahadah) 2.The Establishment of Prayers (Salah)3.The Giving of Alms (Zakah)4.Fasting (Sawm), and5.Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).As distinct as the Ten Commandments are to members of the Christian and Judaic faiths, each of the Five Pillars are direct commands from Allah for his children. The first of these Pillars is:The Statement of Faith (Shahadah).Shahadah is the bearing of witness to Allah. This is a declaration of faith. In his declaration, a Muslim proclaims “ASH-HADU ANLA ELAHA ILLA-ALLAH WA ASH-HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN RASUL-ALLAH.” The English translation is “I bear witness that there is no deity (none truly to be worshipped) but, Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” The Shahadah is repeated at least on a daily basis. Having acknowledged this within his heart, the second Pillar of Islam is instituted:The Establishment of Prayers (Salah).Ordered time for prayers is essential for maximum benefit ...
