ISLAM IS OUR WAY
SHAHADA
The shahada or profession of faith ( شهادة ] , ' testimonial ' ) is the first and most important pillar of Islam. Condenses the essence of the Islamic doctrine in a brief phrase ( لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول اللLa ' ilaha illa - llah llāhu - Muhammad - rasulu ) that appears as the motto of Islam , in a multitude of decorative motifs , emblems and flags ( such as Saudi Arabia ), and whose Castilian translation is usually " No no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.
"The profession of faith itself , ie , the ritual formula to a person professes his adherence to Islam is a slightly longer sentence ever uttered in Arabic, which includes the above and says اشهد أن لا إله إلا ألله وأن محمدا رسول الله Ashadu anna la ilaha illa [ A] wa anna Muhammadan llâhu rasulu Allah l ' I bear witness that there is no god but God and Mohammad is the messenger of God. Using this formula the Muslim proclaims divine unity and oneness. The unit , because it declares that no single divinity. The uniqueness , because it states that this is essentially a god , ie , having no other divine figures associated .
The divine unity marks the distance to polytheism , but major in pre-Islamic Arabia this for many Muslims , while the concept of oneness and tawhid , which is central to Islam, mark the distance to beliefs such as the Christian Trinity . This statement accompanies Muslims throughout their lives . He whispers in the ear of the newborn, and the dying are helped to pronounce it. The index finger pointing to the sky is the gesture that accompanies the shahada . Sincere belief in the shahada enough to be considered a Muslim . It before witnesses after an ablution , the ritual is everything needed to convertise Islam. However, according to Islamic doctrine alone is not enough to lead the believer to Paradise : this requires the fulfillment of the obligations of the other four pillars.
ZAKAT
The alms or zakat ( زكاة [ zakat ] ; probity ) is the third pillar of Islam. The Qur'an refers to it in more than 80 occasions. Muslims must give alms annually to the poorest people in the community , starting with family and neighbors. The amount of zakat is ideally located in a portion of the savings cuarentaava ( ie 2.5% ) if they exceed certain amount. The alms may be in cash and in kind: not only economic rents are computable , but also cattle , goods , extracted minerals , fruits and cereals.
The aims of the charity are , according to Muslim doctrine , limiting the accumulation of wealth , purifying the soul of avarice and greed, helping the poor and needy , build community spirit and help the creation of works of public utility as schools or hospitals. The beneficiaries of the charity are , first , people unable to secure their livelihoods. They also benefit from the same collectors its gifts , for its work , people recently converted to Islam , especially if they have some influence on their environment indebted people unable to meet their debts, the Muslims who are away from their homes and have no means to return , and when there was slavery , slaves , with charity for his freedom was purchased .
PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
The hajg or hajj ( حج Hajj) is the fifth pillar of Islam. The Muslim should pilgrimage at least once in life to the city of Mecca, provided you have the financial means and the conditions necessary . It takes place during the month of du -l- Higga ( ذو الحجة Du al- Hijjah , ' the pilgrimage ' , twelfth of the Muslim calendar .
There are minor pilgrimages to do at other times. The ritual of the pilgrimage varies slightly depending on the region you live in Makkah or coming from outside , particularly the consecration or ihram , which are made at the entrance of the sacred territory . Also the legal schools of Islam make its own nuances . Overall, five day . After a first visit to the Al- Haram Mosque, where it encircles the Kaaba and Zamzam Well water you drink, the pilgrims go to the town of Mina, just outside the city. The next day leave for Mount Arafat , 20 km from Mecca , and the third day back to Mina. Mina returns to Mecca , passing by a place where the stoning ritual known masonry three pillars representing the Devil is performed. All other rituals are performed again in the holy city.
Often pilgrims pilgrimage to leverage then a visit to the city of Medina, where are buried Muhammad and other founders of Islam. Those who have made the pilgrimage later be used in the treatment of honorary حاج [ Hajj ] or حاجي [ Hajji ] ( ' Pilgrim ' ) as a prefix to the name.
SALAT
Prayer or establish prayer [ salat ] , ' prayer , act of devotion ' is the second pillar of Islam. Every Muslim must pray five times a day facing Mecca . Before praying , Muslims must perform ablutions. The minor ablution , which is the usual , consists in washing the face, hands , head and feet . Ablution , required in some cases, consists of the entire body wash . Mosques have a place, usually a courtyard where perform this ritual washing. If you do not have water , you can practice called " dry ablution " rubbing with clean sand .
It is not necessary to perform the prayer in the mosque because Islam considers all land equally sacred . It goes to the mosque when the prayer is to be made collectively , especially on Fridays and certain dates. To pray Muslims remove their shoes and especially outside the mosques , are placed on a special mat or a piece of cloth or other material to replace it.
The prayer is done in the direction of Mecca , the spiritual center of Islam , and within this to the Kaaba temple located in the center of the largest mosque in the city. The direction in which you look at prayer in Arabic is called the qibla ( قبلة ) , a word which has given the Castilian ' Qibla '. In mosques a niche indicating the direction of Mecca, and out of it the believer must seek the approximate direction guided by the cardinal points.
FASTING
Fasting or sawm (صوم [sawm]) of the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam and one of the most popular features among non-Muslims Islam. The word "Ramadan" means outside the Arabic language, fasting itself over the month. Fasting is recommended during other times of the year, but during Ramadan is strictly mandatory for anyone who can do it. Is performed for every day of the month from sunrise to sunset. Significantly alters the life of the duration Muslims live over night and people gather to share breaking the fast. Many Muslim immigrants back to their countries of origin for fasting with theirs, in part because they believe that fasting is harder if you are in a non-Muslim environment. It also changes the food supply and high specific energy input are prepared.
