The Five Pillars (1)

There are five pillars that hold up the faith of Islam.

1. Shahada (Declaration of Faith)

The Shahada is recited in Arabic by a person wishing to become a Muslim, or when a baby is born the Shahada is recited in their ear.

"I bear witness to the fact that there is no god but Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."

The first part of the Shahada clearly indicates that there is only one god, the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. The second clarifies the fact that Muhammad (pbuh) is no more than a messenger who was like any other man, which denies giving him the attributes of being the son of god or equal to god. His task was to convey the message and set an example.

2. Salah (Prayer)

Salah is performed five times a day, before Muslims pray they must cleanse themselves; this is called Wudu. The following are the requirements of wudu:

• Rinse mouth (three times)
• Rinse nose (three times)
• Wash face (three times)
• Wash both arms up to elbows
• Wipe hand over head, back of neck and clean ears
• Rinse both feet thoroughly up to ankles

The five prayers come at vital times in the day when the body needs a break. The first prayer is called Fajr and begins after sunrise, the second prayer is called Zuhr and is usually performed at lunchtime. The third prayer is called Asr this is performed at around teatime, the fourth prayer is Maghrib and is performed just after sunset. The last and final prayer is called Isha and can be performed any time during the night before sunrise. Muslims turn their faces towards the Qiblah; this is the direction of prayer and is towards the Ka'ba (The house of Allah) in Makkah (Arabia).

Al - Fatiha

Al - Fatiha is recited during all the prayers. It basically means 'The Opening' and you can find this verse at the beginning of the Qu'ran. All Muslims, no matter which nationality, recite the Fatiha in Arabic. In translation, its meaning is as follows:

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
The Beneficent The Merciful,
King of the day of judgment, thee alone we worship
And thee alone we ask for help,
Show us the straight path,
The path of those who you have favoured,
Not of those who have earned your anger
Nor of those who have gone astray.