Pillars and Peoplehood

Pillars and Peoplehood

Islam is one of the youngest religions of the world. Thought to have started around the seventh century by a man called Muhammad visited by the angel Gabriel with revelations of the nature of the true God, Allah, its foundations of life, moral guides and ethical structure are evident in the Five Pillars of Islam.

The term pillars can perhaps best be related to a house or building. Often, as in the case of the Parthenon, foundations known as pillars support the weight of the building and its roof to prevent collapse. The Five Pillars of Islam are acts of worship that encourage honest, ethical and moral behavior throughout a Muslims’ life.

The first Pillar known as Shahadah or the confession of faith is repeated frequently during the day usually with prayers, and its simple message is “There is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” (Hopfe and Woodward 2012 p.340).

The second Pillar is Salat or daily prayer and is performed five times daily (dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset and evening) just as Muhammad did, facing the East towards Mecca. Muslims cleanse themselves prior to prayer by washing their face, hands, and feet with water, or sand if no water is available. They kneel on a prayer rug and lower their heads in the presence of Allah and by so doing reaffirm their humility and dependence on Allah (Harvard College 2012).

The third Pillar is Zakaht. Translated as “purification”, zakhat is giving a portion of earnings and wealth to those in need and programs that benefit humankind (Harvard College 2012). It is usually 2.5 to 10% of the amassed wealth of the individual or family and often, especially in America, given to the mosque for appropriate distribution.

The fourth Pillar is Sawm or fasting. Muhammad had his first revelation during the lunar month of Ramadan. In remembrance of this, Muslims fast during daylight hours for the entire month of Ramadan. Fasting includes no oral intake, no smoking, no evil thoughts and even no sexual intercourse. This period is time to reflect and remember those who are less fortunate. It develops discipline of spirit and gives an opportunity to nurture patience. After dark, many will meet to listen to recitations from the Qur’an. After the month of fasting is complete, they enjoy three days of feasting and celebration. Many believe, at the conclusion of the fast, Allah (Hopfe and Woodward 2012 p.341) will forgive all sins.

The fifth and final Pillar is Hajj or pilgrimage and is required of all Muslims from all sects. It represents the faithfulness of Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his son at God’s command. Sometimes there are sacrifices of sheep or goats in remembrance of this. All who are able to make the pilgrimage wear plain clothing and simple sandals. This avoids discrimination between, race, cultures or ethnic groups, rich or poor, reminding Islam