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CUIS - A brief introduction into ISLAM
(continued)
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 What
religious obligations do Muslims have? |
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(1)
The first step is to declare with conviction that 'there is none
worthy of worship but Allah (God), and Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah' (the shahadah).
This is the first 'pillar' of Islam, and when said before
witnesses it marks a person's entry into Islam. A sincere
Muslim also undertakes to perform four acts of worship that
complete the Five Pillars. These are:
(2) Prayer
(salat) - Every
believer should offer five prayers daily, at certain times
of day (dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening); the
obligatory prayers take 5-10 minutes, engage body, mind and
soul, and are offered in congregation whenever possible.
Regular prayers help one to establish a direct link with God
and are a means of purifying the heart; they can be likened
to connecting to a power source and recharging one's being.
Group prayers, in which believers stand, humbly, shoulder to
shoulder, also help people to transcend false barriers of
race, ethnicity, and class.
(3) Charity
(zakat)
- Muslims are expected to donate a minimum of 2.5% of their net yearly savings
to charity, in the form of money or goods. This is collected by the community
annually and distributed to those in need. The word zakat means purification and
growth: one's wealth is not pure for one's own use until it has been shared with
those less fortunate; being charitable leads to spiritual growth.
(4) Fasting
(sawm)
- During the lunar month of Ramadan, the faithful abstain from food, drink and
sexual relations between dawn and sunset, and are also expected to control their
tongue and temper. Meals are taken before dawn and after sunset. Fasting in
Ramadan teaches self-restraint and empathy for the poor, builds willpower and
God-consciousness, and it is a time during which Muslims strengthen their ties
with the community and their Creator.
(5) Pilgrimage to Makkah
(Hajj) - Every Muslim who is
financially and physically able must visit Makkah once in his or her lifetime,
during the Hajj season. The Pilgrimage puts the reality of human life into
perspective: it serves as a vivid reminder of the struggles and sacrifices made
by the prophets; it strengthens the bonds of brotherhood between the
international community of Muslims, who come from every corner of the world to
join in this unique 'annual convention;' and it prepares the pilgrim for the
profound journey that each of us must undergo from this life to the Next.
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Not
just a 'religion,' but a way of life |
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There are
many other acts of worship that are recommended in Islam,
such as offering personal prayers and supplications, reading
the Qur'an, volunteering in service of the community, etc.,
besides which everything a person does with the intention of
pleasing God is considered an act of worship. In contrast,
there are things that God has prohibited because of the harm
they engender to individuals and society; these include
lying, stealing, disrespecting one's parents, extra-marital
affairs, drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other destructive or
unethical behaviour. The guidelines for these commands and
prohibitions are found in the Shari'ah, or Sacred Law, which
is derived from the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet
Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be Upon Him). The Shari'ah is unique in that
it provides guidance not only on 'religious matters,' but
addresses every aspect of life, including issues of social
justice, politics, trade, international relations, family
life, and even animal rights and the environment. |
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A
solution to today's problems |
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Despite
the negative manner in which Muslims are often portrayed by
the media, many people are surprised to find, upon deeper
investigation, that Islam provides a solution to their
spiritual, personal and social needs. It offers a faith
based on reason, free of superstition or the need for
intermediaries between oneself and God; it actively promotes
racial brotherhood and harmony; and its economic guidelines
encourage fair exchange between rich and poor, capital and
labour. Its political system (in the original, pure form) is
based on a deep concern for justice and human rights, and it
provides guidelines by which people of different faiths can
live with one another in harmony. Furthermore, its model for
family life offers an alternative to the current breakdown
of the family in Western society, and the ensuing social
disintegration and chaos. |
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Putting
it all together: the parable of 'the good tree' |
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The image of
a healthy tree, evergreen, giving shade and bearing delicious, fragrant fruit
year-round, is a parable of a balanced Muslim. The source of this parable is the
Qur'an, which says, 'A good word is like a good tree whose root is firmly fixed,
and whose branches reach to heaven; bearing fruit in all seasons by the
permission of its Lord' (Qur'an 14:24-5).
If we
imagine that the tree represents a Muslim who is sincerely striving to embody
Islamic ideals, then the seed of this tree is the shahadah. This affirmation of
God's unity permeates and colours every cell, so that his every thought, word
and action is formed within the matrix of this understanding.
The roots, which nourish the tree and grant it stability, can be likened to
the Articles of Faith - belief in God, His angels, holy books, prophets, the Day
of Judgement and Divine destiny. The trunk grows through faith in Allah and His
Messenger, which extends from the seed to the branches. Five branches represent
the Five Pillars: they give the tree its shape and habit. Furthermore, the
leaves represent Islamic manners and customs (such as greeting with 'salaam' or
wearing modest dress). They are what make the tree attractive and recognisable
from a distance, and provide shade to other creatures. In the end, however, a
tree's purpose remains unfulfilled until it bears fruit. The fruits of the tree
are good character: qualities such as truthfulness, patience, courage, empathy,
love, and compassion, along with all the other things that we desire in a
friend, spouse or colleague; namely, the things that make us human. [1]
[1] Taken from
http://www.wamy.co.uk/bd_islam.htm |
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