Assignment 01

REG:FA17-CVE-051/WAH

The Declaration of Faith, Shahada

Shahada is the among first pillar of Islam. It is the declaration:“I bear witness that there is no
god but Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah”.

This is the testimony of faith, commitment and declaration. It consists of two parts.

One part is that there is no god but Allah, not only confirms the oneness and uniqueness of Allah,
but it also tells about the oneness of Lordship, the sovereiegnty, and the authority in the universe.
No one can hold Allah accountable as He creates what He pleases, giving each of His creation
the role He desires. The Quran says:“You do we worship and your aid we seek”.True unity of
Allah means that Allah is unique in person, that there is no other god but Him, unique in
attributes, that man cannot acquire perfection in the attributes of Allah, and unique in action, that
no one can do the works that Allah has done or may do.

Associating partners with Allah is called shirk. Shirk is not allowed in islam it is the not only the
worship of idols but also offering prayers and supplications to anyone dead or living, believing
that they hold the same attributes as Allah. Thus the belief that Allah is not sovereign or
independent or that deities can intercede with Him and any attempt to implore any other being
besides Allah. The Quran considers shirk to be an unpardonable sin. It says:“Allah forgives not
that partners should be set up with Him”.

The second part of this declaration is that Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah. 

For Muslims, it is necessary to believe that Prophet (SAW) was the last in the line of messengers
sent by Allah, and he is the seal of Propjets. He is different in many ways from the previous
prophets. For example, his prophet hood is universal and eternal i.e. he was not sent for a
particular nation or tribe but for the entire human kind

Prayer, Salat

Salat is the second pillar of islam.it is obligatory on all muslims.As order to offer prayer from
Allah is mentioned in Quran many times and laid the greatest emphasis on it.Prayer is the
distinguishing features between muslims and Non muslims.Also holy prophet said “What stands
between man and disbelief is the abandonment of salat”.therefore sin of not praying and praying
with absent mind is greater. The importance of Prayer in Islam is great as it is the fore most duty
of the Muslims, and the chief of the pillars on which the structure of Islam stands. It is the first
thing that was made obligatory on Muslims and the first thing they will be questioned about on
the Day of Judgment.
Salat consists of five daily prayers: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha'a. Fajr is performed at
dawn, Dhuhr is a noon prayer, Asr is performed in the afternoon, Maghrib is the sunset prayer,
and Isha'a is the evening prayer. Each prayer consists of a certain amount of rakat. A prayer
either consists of two, three, or four rakat.

All of these prayers are recited while facing the Ka'bah in Mecca.Ablution must be done before
the performance of prayer as it’s sole purpose is purity and there is also proper dress code for
prayer both for men and women.For men they should cover their body from naval to knees and
for women they must cover whole body except hands, feets and face.Salat is the key to paradise
and abstain us from evil deeds.

Importance of prayer:

 Helps poor people stop starving

Alms-giving, Zakat

The word zakat is originated from zaka which means to purify. The purpose of zakat is to purify
one’s wealth. Zakāt or alms-giving is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on
accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all who are able to do so. Zakat consists of giving set
proportions of possessions for the poorand needy people.It is compulsory on all adult rich
muslims to give zakat which they’ve had in their possession for more than one calendar year.Its
rate on annual savings is 2.5% and If a person has 7.5 tolas or more of gold, 2.5% of it is due as
zakat.If a person has 52.5 tolas or more of silver, 2.5% of it is due as zakat.If a person has 40-
120 goats, then one goat is due in zakat.There is no fixed date of payment.However, usually paid
in the month of Ramzan.
Reciepients of zakat are:
     Needy
     Newly converts to Islam
     Travelers
     Slaves
     Those appointed by state to collect Zakat
     Those who are in bondage or in debt
Importance of giving zakat

Helps poor people to stop starving and fullfil their needs.Sense of brotherhood develops between
rich and poor and helps to ends the social difference.It reduces financial difference between rich
and poor.Encourages a bond of social responsibility it makes us realize aboit the hardship of
people and encourage us to thanks Allah for what he has given us.Brings the society closer as
more people tend to interact with eachother by helping.Encourages unity in society as this led to
improve peoples life and discourage people from induging in illegal activities.

Fasting

It is the third pillar of islam and mandatory upon all adult Muslims in the month of Ramadan.It
has high reward for muslims. Carried out in the month of Ramzan,Starts from the sighting of the
moon of Ramzan and ends at the sighting of the moon on Shawal All adult Muslims should fast
during day light hours i.e. from dawn to dusk. They take their sehr before dawn. After that they
refrain from eating or drinking until sunset. During a fast, Muslims abstain from smoking,
indulging in evil and indecent acts, abusing etc.They remember Allah throughout the day by
offering prayers and reciting the Quran.However, they cannot ask for concessions is their work
and must lead the normal daily routine. At the Maghrib prayers, they break their fast with dates
and water.After the Isha prayers they offer 20 rakat of taraweeh prayers.

During the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramzan, they search for Laila tul Qadr, the night
when Quran was revealed.Muslims even withdraw to mosques and sit in Aitkaaf for the last ten
days, i.e. they avoid any contact with the world and submit themselves to Allah it is the foremost
duty of a Muslim to abide by it and earn the reward from Allah and its blessings during holy
month.

Importance of fasting

Fasting is of great importance to a muslim life as it helps muslims to abstain from evil activities
like lie,fraud and many other.it reminds us about the misery of starving people and makes us
realize to help them.further fasting has very health benefit as it stimulates stomach.During the
month of Ramadan muslims frequently use to visit masjid and read quran ,this help to learn
about the order of Allah.Abstain from eating and drinking teaches us patience.Blessing are
doubled from Allah during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj
Hajj is the fifth pillar of islam and mandatory on those who are wealthy and healthy. One should
not delay this act of worship. The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-
Hijjah to the holy city of Mecca, and derives from an ancient Arab practice. Every able-bodied Muslim is
obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if he or she can afford it. When
the pilgrim is around 10 km (6.2 mi) from Mecca, he must dress in Ihram clothing, which consists of two
white sheets covering human body. Both men and women are required to make the pilgrimage to
Mecca. The main rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the Black
Stone, traveling seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, and symbolically stoning the
Devil in Mina.

The pilgrim, or the haji, is honored in their community. Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God,
not a means to gain social standing. The believer should be self-aware and examine their intentions in
performing the pilgrimage. This should lead to constant striving for self-improvement. A pilgrimage
made at any time other than the Hajj season is called an Umrah, and while not mandatory is strongly
recommended.

Importance of Hajj
Hajj poccess great significance in Islam during the hajj all muslims from arounf the world
gathered at same place in same white dress and walk shoulder to shoulder ends the difference of
creed,race,social background and all of them are praising Allah.Also muslims gathered from
different areas when gathered they share each other problem and suggest each other the
solutions.Also hajj has great importance as a persons become as sinless as a new born baby .