WHI-Chap14-Five Pillars of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam (ca. 600s CE):

1. Shahada (Declaration of Faith)- The acknowledgement of Allah as the only God and Muhammad as his prophet. This is the only requirement to be a Muslim.

2. Salat (Prayer)- Muslims must pray to Allah five times a day (at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and evening) while facing Mecca.

3.Sawn (Fasting)- Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. They are not permitted to eat, drink, or have sex. They have to deny their own needs and seek Allah.

4. Zakat (Tax on the community)- This is charity given to the poor by Muslims, it benefits the poor and makes the giver more holy. The minimum you must give is 2.5% of your annual income.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)- All able Muslims must make the hajj once in their life time at a certain time of the year.

For more information, see Traditions and Encounters p. 351

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