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Allâh
has laid down for a Muslim four major exercises of faith, some are daily,
some weekly, some monthly, some annually and some are required as a minimum
of once in a lifetime. |
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These exercises
of faith are to serve man’s spiritual purposes, satisfy his human needs
and to mark his whole life with a Divine touch. |
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These major
exercises of faith are: |
1- Prayer (Salâh)
2- Fasting (Siyâm)
3- Charity
giving (Zakâh)
4- Pilgrimage
(Hajj)
1-
Prayer (Salâh):
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Praying to the
Creator, on a daily basis, is the best way to cultivate in
man a sound personality and to actualize his aspirations. |
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Allâh,
does not need man’s prayer because He is free of all needs. Islamic
prayers are for our benefit. The benefits are immeasurable and the
blessings are beyond imagination. |
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In Islamic
prayer, every muscle of the body joins the soul and the mind; in the
worship and glory of Allâh.
Islamic prayer is an act of worship. |
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It is a
matchless and unprecedented formula of intellectual meditation and
spiritual devotion, of moral elevation and physical exercise; all combined. |
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Offering of
prayers is obligatory upon every Muslim, male or female, who is sane,
mature; and in case of women: free from menstruation or confinement due to
child birth. |
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Requirements
of prayers: Performing of ablution (Wudû’),
purity of the whole body; clothes and ground used for prayer, dressing
properly and declaring the intention and facing the “Qiblah”:
the direction of the Al-Kabah in Mecca. |
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Obligatory
prayers: Five daily prayers, the Friday’s noon congregation prayer
and the funeral prayer . |
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Highly
recommended prayers: Those accompanying the obligatory prayers, and the
two great festival prayers. |
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Optional
prayers: Voluntary prayers during the day and night . |
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Times of
obligatory prayers:
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Early morning
(Fajr): after dawn and before sunrise |
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Noon
(Dhuhr): after the sun begins to decline from its zenith until
it is about midway on its course to setting. |
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Mid-afternoon
(Asr): after the expiration of the noon prayer time until
sunset. |
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Sunset (Maghrib):
immediately after sunset until the red glow in the western horizon
disappears. |
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Evening
(Ishâ’): after the expiration of the
sunset prayer until dawn. |
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Prayers should
be offered in its due time, unless there is a reasonable excuse. |
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Delayed
obligatory prayers must be made up. |
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Prayers involve
prescribed physical motions, accompanied with saying mainly some parts of
the Qur’ân, |
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In addition to
the prescribed prayers, a Muslim expresses gratitude to Allâh
and appreciation of His favors and asks for His Mercy all the time. |
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Especially at
times of for example: Child birth, marriage, going to or rising from bed,
leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a city,
riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting
graveyards and at time of distress and sickness. |
2-
Fasting (Siyâm):
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Fasting is
abstaining completely from eating, drinking, intimate sexual
contacts and smoking; from the break of dawn till sunset. It is a matchless
Islamic institution which teaches man the principle of sincere love to Allâh. |
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Fasting
teaches man a creative sense of hope, devotion, patience, unselfishness,
moderation, wise savings, sound budgeting, willpower, mature adaptability,
healthy survival, discipline, spirit of social belonging, unity and
brotherhood. |
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Obligatory
fasting is done once a year for the period of the month of Ramadân;
the ninth month of the Islamic (Lunar) year. |
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Recommended
fasting: every Monday and Thursday of every week, three days in the
middle of each Islamic month, six days after Ramadân
following the Feast Day, and a few days of the two months before Ramadân. |
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Fasting of
Ramadân
is a worship act which is obligatory on every adult Muslim, male or female;
if he/she is mentally and physically fit and not on a journey. |
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Exception:
Women during their period of menstruation and while nursing their child,
and also in case of travel and sickness. |
3-
Charity Giving (Zakâh):
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It is an act of
worship and spiritual investment. |
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The
literal meaning of “Zakâh” is purity and it refers to the
annual amount, in kind or coin, which a Muslim with means must distribute
among the rightful beneficiaries.
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Zakâh
does not only purify the property of the contributor but also purifies his
heart from selfishness and greed. |
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It also
purifies the heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy, from hatred and
uneasiness; and it fosters instead: good-will and warm wishes for the
contributors. |
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Zakâh
has a deep humanitarian and socio-political value; for example, it frees
the society from class warfare, from ill feelings and distrust, and from
corruption. |
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Every
Muslim , male or female, who at the end of the year is in possession of the
equivalent of 85 gm of gold (approx. $750 in the year 2001) or more, in
cash or articles of trade, must give Zakâh at the minimum rate of 2.5%. |
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Zakâh
is paid on the net balance after paying personal expenses, family expenses,
due credits, taxes.. etc. |
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The
recipients of Zakâh
are: The poor, the needy, the new Muslim converts, the Muslim prisoners of
war (to liberate them), and Muslims in debt. Also, employees appointed to
collect Zakâh,
Muslims in service of research or study or propagation of Islâm,
and wayfarers who are foreigners in need of help; are entitled to receive
Zakâh. |
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Taxes paid
to governments do not substitute for this religious duty. A
contributor should not seek pride or fame, but if disclosing his name and
his contribution is likely to encourage others, it is acceptable to do so. |
4-
The Pilgrimage (Hajj):
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It
is a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a lifetime; and it is obligatory
upon every Muslim, male and female, who is mentally, physically and
financially fit. |
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It is the
largest annual convention of faith on earth |
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(3 millions in
the year 2001). |
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Peace is
the dominant theme. Peace with Allâh, with one’s soul, with another, with
all living creatures. To disturb the peace of anyone or any creature in any
shape or form is strictly prohibited.
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Muslims
from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe assemble in Mecca in
response of the call of Allâh.
They go there in glory of Allâh,
not to worship a man. It is to remember the grand assembly of the Day of
Judgment when people will stand equal before Allâh. |
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It is also
to commemorate the Divine rituals observed by Prophet Abraham and his elder
son Ishmael, who were the first pilgrims to the first house of Allâh
on earth, i.e. Al-Kabah. |
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Visiting
the mosque of Prophet Muhammad at Al-Madînah
is highly recommended; but not essential in making the Hajj vaild
and complete. |
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