The Five Pillars

Shahada

Shahada

• Accept monothiesm
• Muhammad: Gods messenger
• Pledge submission to God
• First heard and last words
• To join:
• 2 Muslim witnesses
• Call to prayer

Salat

Salat

• Religious Discipline, Spirituality, Closeness to God
• Before Prayer, ritual washing
• Pray in direction of Ka'bah
• Start Prayer: "Allahu Akbar"(God is great)
• Fridays:
• Meet at midday for prayer
• Listen to Qur'an sermon
• Religious and Happy day

Zakat

Zakat

• Emphasizes rich should take care of poor
• Christians also asked to be charitable
• Must share 2.5% surplus, encouraged to give more
• Christians also asked to be charitable
• Wealth purifies when donating
• Pays for public utilities (ex. soup kitchens, hospitals, etc)

Siyam

Siyam

• Fast from Daybreak till Sunset
• Helps understand poor
• Ramadan month: God's first message to Muhammad
• Encourages generosity, equality, charity, self control
• After sunset attend prayer where portion of Qur'an is read aloud
• Last ten odd-number nights, remember Garbiel's first visit. Night's power = thousand months of devotion

Hajj

Hajj

• Walk 7 times around Ka'bah (counter clockwise)
• After, walk between 2 small hills + drink from Zamzam spring
• Sleep in tents at "Mina"
• Pray at plain of Arafat from morning till sunset
• Expected to perform Hajj if financially and physically able
• Hajj brings you closer to God