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5 - The Facts on Islam
SECTION 1
Religion of Islam: Introduction
5. What religious duties are required of
all Muslims?
Every Muslim must practice at
least five fundamental religious duties. These are known as the "Pillars of
Religion." They are considered obligatory observances upon which the Muslim
faith rests.
The first is reciting the creed of Islam - "There is no God
but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet."
The second involves prayer. The Muslim must recite prescribed
prayers five times a day. Each time he must adopt a physical posture: standing,
kneeling, hands and face to the ground, etc. The call to prayer is sounded by a
Muslim muezzin (crier) from a tower called a minaret. This is part
of the Muslim church or public place of worship called the mosque.
The third religious duty is observing the month of
fasting called Ramadan. This fast commemorates the first revelation of
the Koran that Muhammad received in 610 A.D. Although
eating is permitted at night, for an entire month Muslims must fast during the
day.
The fourth pillar of Islamic duty is the giving of alms to
the poor. Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their currency plus other forms
of wealth, as determined by a complicated system.
The fifth and last duty is that of a pilgrimage to Mecca,
Muhammad's place of birth. This is required at least once during the lifetime of
every Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the trip (unless he
is a slave).
A sixth religious duty is often associate with the above five
pillars, although it is considered optional by some. This is the Muslim holy war
or jihad. Jihad may be interpreted as internal (as spiritual struggle) or
external (defending Islam). When the situation warrants it, this duty requires
Muslims to go to war to defend Islam against its enemies. Anyone who dies in a
holy war is allegedly guaranteed eternal life in heaven and is considered a
martyr for Islam.
For example, Saddam Hussein attempted to gather support for
his takeover of Kuwait (1990) and his war against America by issuing a call to
Muslims for a holy war against the West. Although this largely failed because of
Hussein's blatant secularism, it did not fail entirely. The end result was over
100 terrorist actions committed against America and Western interests in the
first month of the war, not to mention massive demonstrations against the West
in many Islamic countries.
John Ankerberg & John Weldon
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