Embrace Islam, It is Simple

This article aims to give introduction about 5 pillars of Islam for those who seek the true religion.

The 5 pillars are:

1) shahadah (creed)
2) 5 daily prayers (Solah)
3) fasting during Ramadhan (Sawm)
4) almsgiving (Zakah)
5) pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

Now, let us take a look in short into each of them.

1) Shahadah (creed)

Shahadah is a saying professing Allah as God of this universe and Muhammad as his Messenger. For individual who wants to convert to Islam, he should say this affirmation and believe in it.

In Arabic the saying is: Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah waashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah

In English: I profess that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.

2) 5 daily prayers

5 daily prayers consist of:

i) Fajr (performed at dawn)
ii) Dhuhr (performed at noon)
iii) Asr (performed in the afternoon)
iv) Maghrib (performed at the sunset)
v) Isha'a (performed in the evening)

3) Fasting during Ramadhan

Fasting means abstaining from food, drink, sexual intercourse and be mindful to any sins from dawn to dusk during Ramadhan (the 9th month in the Islamic calendar).

Fasting during Ramadhan is obligatory to all Muslims but it is forbidden to several groups of people whom it would be dangerous and excessively problematic.

These include:
1) pre-pubescent children
2) diabetes
3) elderly people
4) pregnant or breastfeeding

There are also groups that are allowed not to fast:

1) ill people
2) traveller

4) Almsgiving (Zakah)

It is a charity given by Muslims based on accumulated wealth, and it is obligatory to those who are able to do so.

There are 2 main types of almsgiving:

i) Zakah Fitrah (Fixed amount based on the cost of food such as rice. This Zakah is paid during Ramadhan by head of family for himself and his dependants.) This Zakah aims to purify soul.

ii) Zakah on wealth (2.5% from collectable of wealth within one lunar year. This zakah is given to poor and needy people.)

5) The Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

Hajj is the pilgrimage of Muslim during the month of Zulhijjah (the 12th month in the Islamic calendar) to Mecca.

Every able-bodied Muslims should perform Hajj at least once in a lifetime if they can afford to perform it.

Summary

In summary, Islam is a simple religion that closes to the life of each individual in this planet. If an individual embraces and practices Islam, he is one of the successful men in this world and in the hereafter.

Finally, embrace Islam. It is simple and practical. =)