Moral Revelation: Islam

Day One: IntroductionDay One: Introduction

The Five Pillars of Islam, The Five Pillars of Islam, “Submission to God”“Submission to God”

Five Pillars of Islam

Shahada Shahada (testimony, confession on faith)(testimony, confession on faith) Salat Salat (prayer)(prayer) Zakat Zakat (almsgiving)(almsgiving) Sawm Sawm (fasting during Ramadan)(fasting during Ramadan) Hajj Hajj (pilgrimage)(pilgrimage)

Shahada• ShahadaShahada is the confession of faith (or “having the is the confession of faith (or “having the

testimony”) thattestimony”) that

①① ““There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.”Prophet.” la illahu illa ‘llah. Muhammad rasul Allahla illahu illa ‘llah. Muhammad rasul Allah

②② Allah works through agents in heaven and on earth:Allah works through agents in heaven and on earth: AngelsAngels ProphetsProphets ScripturesScriptures

③③ There will be a final judgment, or division, of and There will be a final judgment, or division, of and recompense made to the righteous and the wicked.recompense made to the righteous and the wicked.

Salat Prayer, but literally “worship”Prayer, but literally “worship” Five times dailyFive times daily

Dawn Dawn NoonNoon Mid-afternoonMid-afternoon SunsetSunset EveningEvening

Purification/AblutionPurification/Ablution The call to prayerThe call to prayer

By a By a muezzin muezzin from a from a minaretminaret Ritual prayerRitual prayer

Qibla Qibla (per (per mihrabmihrab))

Purification Spiritual puritySpiritual purity

Submission to GodSubmission to God RepentanceRepentance Duty to love othersDuty to love others

Physical purity / cleanliness Physical purity / cleanliness in bodyin body Hadath Hadath (rituals of physical (rituals of physical

purificationpurification Ablutions: wash faces, Ablutions: wash faces,

hands to elbow, feet up to hands to elbow, feet up to kneesknees

Baths (especially before Baths (especially before Friday, the Muslim Friday, the Muslim Sabbath), including teeth Sabbath), including teeth and mouth.and mouth.

Ablutions before prayers

Sunnite call to prayer

God is greatest! (4 times)God is greatest! (4 times)

I testify that there is no God but Allah! (twice)I testify that there is no God but Allah! (twice)

Hurry to prayer! (twice)Hurry to prayer! (twice)

Hurry to salvation! (twice)Hurry to salvation! (twice)

God is greatest! (twice)God is greatest! (twice)

There is no God but Allah! (once)There is no God but Allah! (once)

Sultan Hasan Mosque (Cairo, 14th c.)

Sultan Hasan Mosque-Mihrab

The orientation of the mihrab is toward Mecca, directing the worshipper’s soul toward the bayt-allah, the Ka’aba), or House of God

No Mosque?

Qibla arrow in Cairo hotel Prayer in the desert

Form of Prayer1.1. ““God is Greatest. I testify that God is Greatest. I testify that

there is no God but God, and there is no God but God, and Muhammad is His Muhammad is His Messenger.”Messenger.”

2.2. ““In the name of God, the In the name of God, the Merciful, the Merciful, the Compassionate . . .”Compassionate . . .”

3.3. ““Glory to God!”Glory to God!”

4.4. ““God is Greatest!”God is Greatest!”

5.5. ““God is Greatest!” (awaiting God is Greatest!” (awaiting revelation of the will of God)revelation of the will of God)

Cycle repeats as required by the Cycle repeats as required by the Imam or the worshipper herself.Imam or the worshipper herself.

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Zakat

Complex rule, but basically 2.5% of all property Complex rule, but basically 2.5% of all property owned above a poverty minimumowned above a poverty minimum

Annual payment - if not made the property Annual payment - if not made the property becomes unclean, the Muslim sins and does not becomes unclean, the Muslim sins and does not prosper.prosper.

Paid to Imams, who distribute it.Paid to Imams, who distribute it. Zakat al-fitrZakat al-fitr: the cost of one day’s food at the end : the cost of one day’s food at the end

of Ramadanof Ramadan

Sawm

Fasting from dawn to dusk Fasting from dawn to dusk for 28 daysfor 28 days Minimal meals allowed in Minimal meals allowed in

the evening and before the evening and before dawndawn

Considered a joyful time, Considered a joyful time, when dependence upon when dependence upon Allah is emphasizedAllah is emphasized

Recitation of the Recitation of the Qur’anQur’an in the evening/nightin the evening/night

Muslim children celebratethe end of one day’s fastwith song and dance (Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem)

Palestinian refugee childrenenjoy donated meal at the endof Ramadan(Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem)

Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca during Pilgrimage to Mecca during Dhu al-HajjDhu al-Hajj Incumbent on all competent adultsIncumbent on all competent adults RitualRitual

Oath to take the HajjOath to take the Hajj White garmentsWhite garments TawafTawaf: circling the : circling the Ka’abaKa’aba Wuquuf Wuquuf : climb a hill to reflect Abraham’s call : climb a hill to reflect Abraham’s call

to sacrifice Ishmaelto sacrifice Ishmael Sacrifices and prayerSacrifices and prayer Stoning the Devil and final Stoning the Devil and final tawaftawaf

Hajj

Hajj Hajj prayer at the prayer at the

al-haram as-sharifal-haram as-sharif (The Sacred (The Sacred Precinct/Mosque in Precinct/Mosque in Mecca)Mecca)

About 2 million About 2 million Muslims go on Muslims go on Hajj Hajj each year.each year.

Hajj and Hajja

Anyone who has been Anyone who has been on the on the Hajj Hajj receives the receives the respectful title of “respectful title of “HajjHajj” ” for men, or “for men, or “HajjaHajja” for ” for women. Often they have women. Often they have their house painted to their house painted to reflect their memories of reflect their memories of the the HajjHajj..

Arab housefront on Zeit Street,Jerusalem, with Hajj drawings1.The Ka’aba2.Dome of the Rock3.Allah4.Muhammad5.“In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate”

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Is there a 6th pillar called jihad?