The Five Pillars Of Islam Are Mandatory Duties

The Five Pillars Of Islam Are Mandatory Duties The Five Pillars of Islam are mandatory duties that are required of each and every Muslim to perform. These duties help to make Muslim religious beliefs concrete reality. Many people across the world confuse Muslim unity with terrorism. People are quick to assume that when Muslims start to unite, that they are planning to attack. This misconception can be dismissed if one takes the time to read and understand the Five Pillars of Islam. Since the Quran teaches all Muslims that there is only one God, there is no division among Islam as to a trinity of Gods as in with Christianity (Hanson). Thus the practice of the Five Pillars of Islam helps to create a sense of unity among Muslims. In order to fully understand how the pillars create this sense of unity, first one must know what each pillar is and what the duty requires. The first pillar is called Shahadah. This pillar is the most practice, but, yet, it is constantly help the Muslim to profess their allegiance to Allah [God]. Shahadah consists of two parts- a negation and an affirmation (Emerick, 2002). In this first pillar, the phrase, There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is recited multiple times a day. This pillar is basically where an individual is ordered to think and speak from a heart and mind that is united with Allah. No one is to have any separate thoughts or remarks that either discredits or is against the teachings of Allah through his prophet Muhammad (Hoffert, 2009). With this pillar, there is unity among Muslims because Islam teaches to lead a moral life and to improve the lives of all living things. The second pillar, Salat, has the most direct impact on Muslim daily life. Salat in Arabic means prayer (Fluehr-Lobban, 2004) which is performed five times a day. Around the world, this joint facing of Mecca for prayer unites all Muslims into a single world family (Hoffert, 2009). These times of prayer helps Muslims to seek for strength and patience so that they can work alongside other Muslims to become one with Allah. Another way that this pillar unites Muslims is when prayer time approaches, many Muslims go to the mosques together to pray as one, since in the religion of Islam, the focus is always on being of one mind and spirit with Allah. This is common in most Arabic countries. However, any clean space dedicated to Muslim prayer can serve as the space in a mosque (Firestone, 2008). Fridays are typically when many practicing Muslims gather in mosques for communal prayer. They are led by the imam of the mosque. Prayers of Muslims whether at their own home or in a mosque, is an ad ditional manner on how the Five Pillars of Islam creates a sense of Muslim unity. Zakat, the third pillar, is a duty similar to paying tithes in Christian churches. However, there is a great difference. Another name for zakat is alms tax (Trueblood, 2010). With this pillar, the requirement is for each Muslim to give up a portion of their savings in order to help the poor. An Islamic government even has the task of imposing this tax on its citizens and using the collected funds for welfare and social programs for the less fortunate. (Emerick, 2002) Zakat is a way to worship Allah and provide service to the Islamic community. As the Quran teaches the Muslim people that everyone must give a portion of your earnings in order to help out fellow Muslims who are in need. As with non-Islamic people, this practice is also done, but with some variances. To Muslims, the giving of between 2.5 and 10 percent of his/her earnings provides money to those with less in the Islamic community (Firestone, 2008). This practice is designed to help balance any inequalities in wealth amon gst Muslims. What greater way to unify a community than ensuring that all people are able to provide for their family? This has always been the way of life for Muslims. The fourth pillar is Saum, or fasting. Fasting for Muslims, especially during Ramadan, is a way to become better enlightened. It is a time to where one gets their body and mind back on track and focused on Allah. Where this pillar could possibly help with Muslim unity is when at night, after the last scheduled prayer, people go to the mosques and pray with a congregation. During this time, the Imam leads all the gathered Muslims through a special prayer for Ramadan called Salah al-Tarawih (Emerick, 2002). The fifth pillar, called Hajj, is a requirement that every Muslim have to complete at least once in their lifetime. There are many rituals that have to be completed in order to fulfill this pillar. Every year more than 1.5 million Muslims perform Haj at Kaba. This large gathering of Muslims of all races and cultures promotes the international brotherhood and reflects that all Muslims are alike and equal in the sight of God (Hussain, 2003). Only Muslims who are financially, physically, and mentally stable to source the journey are required to go. There is no borrowing of funds by anyone. This pilgrimage, as it is called, is the true display of obedience to Allah. This act (or pillar) is of extreme importance because during this journey the end result of completing all ritual parts is complete and total cleanse of all sins (Hussain, 2003). Mecca is the central point of all Islamic relations. This is the place to where the journey of the fifth pillar brings all Muslims who are able to perform the rituals. This was the place, according to the Quran, where Abraham was directed by God to go to build the great temple for worship (Fluehr-Lobban, 2004). The temple, to this day, is known as the place to where all Muslims, as mentioned earlier, unite together for the common practice of worshipping Allah and being made innocent (Hussain, 2003). Muslim unity could be compared to a fraternity at one of the colleges. Muslims are in close ties with other Muslims and ensure that everyone is of equal qualities of life. Contrary to the beliefs of those not affiliated with Islam, Muslims are taught not to be of violent nature. Being violent amongst one another or against other living things is not living in the one mind and spirit of Allah. Those that do these things are the ones who have individualistic views and are solely out to disrupt the unity within the Islamic culture. The Quran does teach Muslims to unite and protect the Islamic community against threats, but not to intentionally hurt those that do not pose a threat. True Muslims, who are continually practicing these five pillars, are more concerned with uniting all cultures and living things than destroying them. The goals of the Five Pillars of Islam are unification with Allah in mind, spirit, and body and unification within the Islamic communities with fellow Muslims. If the pillars were never in place, then it would be hard for Muslims to establish peaceful relations among all Islamic communities. There would be great differences in qualities of life of all Muslim families. Because of this, the Five Pillars of Islam is a vital tool in creating and maintaining the unity that Muslims have with one another and with the cultures and communities that are not of Islamic faith. Each pillar, or duty, must be performed completely in order for to truly be obedient to Allah.

Superstition: Truth and Fear

What is superstition? According to the dictionary, a superstition is an irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, especially in connection with one’s religion. Often, a superstition is nothing but a senseless belief which arise from one’s fear or ignorance. Some superstitions may come off as logical but most of the time, they are ridiculous. However, even though most people know that superstitions are based on pure imagination and are nowhere close to the truth, some people still become controlled by the superstitions they believe in and this is very unhealthy.Superstition has become a worldwide phenomenon which people in every country believed despite its absurdity. Due to the fact that superstitions are often against the known laws of science and reasoning, they tend to be defined as beliefs based on ignorance and fear, and are found in various forms and practices. Superstitions have existed way back since ancient times. Primitive people were ignorant about th e truths of science and were at the mercy of nature.They could not understand why there was such a change taking place around them and there was fear. They were afriad of offending what they had respected and worshiped, and they feared of suffering the wrath of whom they called gods, and whom they called the â€Å"evil spirits†. Of course, they feared of having to pay back for the sins they had once committed. The sense of insecurity and the fear of the unknown forces in the universe are ingrained our natural instincts. Even the educated people are not freed from these.They could not eliminate this fear from their minds. Thus, it was believed that fear was what gave rise to superstition. Due to fear, superstitions could also drive someone to commit horrifying crimes. For example, women who were suspected of practicing witchcraft were tied and burnt alive in the past, while child sacrifices used to be made to please gods. Superstitions gave excuse for people to commit crimes i n the name of warding off the â€Å"evil spirits† or pleasing the gods.However, none of these actions should ever be condone due to the fact that the superstitions are nothing but nonsense without concrete proof to back them up. Ignorance and the fear of the unknown can be said to be what made the fertile ground for superstitions. Therefore, in order for superstitions to be exposed, one should only follow the ones with concrete scientific and logical proof and scientific outlook should be cultivated to expose superstitions.

The non-fiction story Three Cups of Tea - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 462 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/09/18 Category Literature Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? A Pencil Is Stronger Than a Gun His father died when he was 48 years old, his sister had contracted acute meningitis, and he suffered from a lack of money; this is a description of the early parts of Greg Mortenson’s life. Three Cups of Tea, the non-fiction story, shows how this ordinary person conveys important message to people around the world through building schools in Pakistan. Why did Greg Mortenson choose the school as the medium for his message? He believes that education will not only change Pakistani children’s view of life, but it will be the way to eventually get rid of terrorism. When Greg Mortenson stayed in the village of Korphe, he was impressed by the villager’s hunger for knowledge. Even though their first generations are not educated enough, they wanted to do something for their next generation’s education. One day, Haji Ali, who was Greg Mortenson’s mentor in Korphe, said â€Å"I can’t read anything. This is t he greatest sadness in my life. I’ll do anything so the children of my village never have to know this feeling. I’ll pay any price so they have the education they deserve† (Mortenson and Relin 153). Haji Ali already knew that education is the most essential thing to live a better life. Greg Mortenson also realized what he had to do for the rest of his life: it was building schools in a Pakistani village; and he truly believed that the education from the schools would change the Pakistani children’s view of life. This significant change would give the children reasons to live rather than only to die, committing terroristic attacks. Greg Mortenson said â€Å"If we try to resolve terrorism with military might and nothing else, then we will be no safer than we were before 9/11. If we truly want a legacy of peace for our children, we need to understand that this is a war that will ultimately be won with books, not with bombs†(301). In other words, Mortenson thought that schools and universal literacy were the most effective way to cure terrorism. Greg Mortenson’s heroic achievement started from accidental promise in the small village. However, this promise has now changed his life. His messages about school and education are deeply impressed in people’s hearts all around the world. Bombs would cause physical pain to people, but it would not change their mind. Instead, it more strongly triggers opposite feelings. To cut this vicious circle, Greg Mortenson chooses the school. He wanted to  educate children and give them a bright future. He is still building the school even at this moment to prove his choice was right. Works Cited Mortenson, Greg, and David Oliver Relin. Three Cups of Tea. Newyork: Penguin, 2007. Print Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The non-fiction story Three Cups of Tea" essay for you Create order

American Environmental History The Great Sioux Nation

Skylar Cashin Colleen Goodrich American Environmental History 2 May 2016 The Great Sioux Nation Among the great native tribes that called the Americas their home, none are as iconic in American culture than the Native Americans of the great plains. Among these tribes, there arose the Great Sioux Nation, one of the largest and most powerful of them all. They seem to have had a deep connection with and have held a gentle balance with nature that few cultures throughout human history have seemed to match; yet, history has shown that Native Americans didn’t quite have the same romanticized relationship with their environment that many depict. As Americans started to expand westward, there were few who were able to stand up to â€Å"manifest†¦show more content†¦Many believe that the name Sioux derived from the Chippeway word for Snake or Enemy: â€Å"Nadowessioux. Others trace it to the early Ottawa word â€Å"natowessi,† from a verb meaning to speak a foreign language.† The Sioux were proud people with rich heritage. They were masters of the North A merican plains and were feared by many tribes. The wide spread of Siouan-language people, from the the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes, confirms their importance to the history of North America, before the arrival of Europeans. Men usually did most of the hunting and fishing, while women were known to stay with the camp and prepare meals, take care of children, chop wood, etc. Nomadic bison hunting, popularized in many Hollywood movies, was not the only lifestyle of the Siouan people. They engaged in many activities that Americans wouldn’t think true of them such as trading, diplomacy, agriculture, pastoralism, religious innovation, politics, and warfare. With these strategies, the Plains peoples did their best to protect their political power and maintain cultural distinctiveness in the face of the â€Å"white folk.† The Sioux became well acquainted with the westward push for American expansion, especially in a time where American attitudes toward Natives were becoming more and more negative. After the War of 1812, Native American relations in theShow MoreRelatedStanding Rock Sioux Tribe : An Act Of Racism And Climate Change1146 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The Sioux Tribe is suing to stop crews from burrowing beneath the Missouri river which is upstream from that Sioux Tribes land. 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