the fundamental identity of Muslims
The five pillars of Islam describe the fundamental identity of Muslims, which is their practices, Faith and belies that bind together a global community of believers into a fellowship of shared values and concerns. The pillars are considered to be obligatory acts to all Muslims since they are gotten from the Quran, which is a book that offers them a framework for worship. They are a sign of commitment to Faith, and they are accepted by all the Muslims globally irrespective of their regional, ethnic or sectarian differences. Upholding of the pillars is considered to be obligatory for all the male and female sincere followers of Prophet Muhammad. However, circumstances vary, and that is why some Muslims are more committed than others. Factors that cause these variances are family responsibilities, age, stage of life, health and wealth.
The Shahada or the profession of Faith is the most fundamental expression of Islamic beliefs. It states that’ There is no God but God and Muhammad in his project.’ The pillar stresses the monotheistic nature of Islam. The phrase is prevalent in Arabic calligraphy, and it is found in numerous manuscripts and religious buildings. The pillar is simple a simple statement yet profound, and it expresses that a Muslim has totally accepted and is completely committed to Islam. Further, the pillar is a requirement of all the converts of Islam since it signifies the entrance of a believer into the broader community of Muslims referred to as ummah. The second pillar is the Salat and Muslims are expected to party five times every day. However, one doesn’t need to pray in the most. The most important thing is that the daily prayer needs to be recited five times a day, and the prayers can be done anywhere. What one must do is to pray facing Mecca and pray by bowing several times while standing. It also involves kneeling and touching the ground or prayer mat with foreheads since it is a symbol of their reverence and submission to Allah. A majority of the Muslims go to the mosque on Fridays near midday to pray and listen to a sermon known as khutba. The Salah prayer cements the Faith that Muslims have a direct relationship with God. The daily prayers that happen at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening are fundamental to any Muslim.
The third pillar is Zakat or Alms-Giving. The pillar is not defined in the Quran, but generally, Muslims believe that they are supposed to share their wealth with the less fortunate in their community of believers. Social responsibility is a significant part of a Muslim’s service to God. Therefore every Muslim has to ensure that the community as a whole is well-taken care off and in particular the very needy members in society. The zakat is usually equally to 2.5 per cent of a person’s total net worth after obligations and family expenses have been removed. Some of the vulnerable persons that the Islamic charities are encouraged to donate to relive the suffering of those individuals include victims of natural disasters, the poor living in informal settlements in urban centres and refugees. Examples of areas that Islamic charities have donated to are Syria, Iraq, Gaza and Yemen. It is also important to note that while a majority of the charities function within the law, some of them have been banned because of allegations that they utilize resources to fund terrorist activities.
The fourth pillar is Saum or fasting during Ramadhan. The holy month of Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, and throughout the month, Muslims are expected to fast from dawn to dusk. Exceptions are made for the elderly, sick, children and pregnant persons since they cannot refrain from eating and drinking during the daylight hours. Ramadhan is ordained in the Holy Quran and is supposed to ensure sincere personal worship as Muslims seek to have a more precious perception of God. Also, fasting encourages self-control because it enables one to be more sensitive towards the sufferings of the poor. Ramadhan was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, and it starts with the sighting of the new moon. It is a joyful month, and at its conclusion, there are three days of celebration known as Eid Al-Fitr or the feast of breaking the fast. Customarily, it is the time for family reunion and children receive gifts and new clothes. The last pillar is Hajj or the Pilgrimage to Mecca, and any Muslim who had the ability is required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and the surrounding holy sites at least once in their lives. It emphasizes on visiting Kaaba and walking around it seven months. Likewise, it happens in the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar. It is a remarkable spiritual gathering that usually comprises of millions of Muslims from all over the world. Any Muslim who performs the Hajj follows the order of ritual that Prophet Muhammad performed during his last pilgrimage.
Coptic Christians are one of the Christian groups who live in predominantly Muslim societies such as in Egypt and Libya. Therefore, in those societies, they are minority religious groups. Usually, these Coptic Christians are victims of persecutions, and their churches are attacked. The Coptic has tried to push for religious freedoms and rights hence straining their relationship with the Muslim governments. Contrary to other Christians, the Coptic ones follow a different religious calendar and generally share beliefs and rituals that are similar to the Greek Orthodox Church. Just like Muslims, Coptic Christians travel on pilgrimages during the holiest time of their calendar, which is the Easter Period. However, they differentiate themselves from the Muslims by having tattoos of a cross on their wrists as children. The meaning of the symbol is the commitment to the community, and this is one of the pillars of Islam. The Coptic is unique since they place monks in the highest position of authority in their churches and the contemporary Copts usually visit the monasteries for spiritual guidance, community retreats and to discover their heritage. Their visits can be likened to the Muslim visits to Mecca. Moreover, the Copts celebrate feasts with Muslim leaders and hold public dialogues with Muslim leaders and intellectuals. But, since they live in areas where Muslims lead governing authorities, they are still faced with systemic discrimination in their social and economic lives. In conclusion, some of the Copts go to deserts in the Middle East for their religious practices, but most of them live among the Muslim community. The churches and community service organizations of these Copts significantly contribute to the vibrancy of middle east social and intellectual life.