The Five Pillar of Islam (Part 2)

The Five Pillar of Islam

We have already covered the first two: Shahadah and Zakat. This part will see us look at the next two pillars of Islam.

In the first part of this series, we looked at the Five Pillars of Islam. These pillars are compulsory acts in Islam that are considered to be the foundation of Muslim life.

These acts are seen as being extremely important to all those who practice Islam, which is the reason why we think it’s essential that they are understood properly. Here are some detail about “Five Pillar of Islam”.

Most Important Salat: Prayer

Salat is an Islamic prayer, which consists of five daily prayers. These may be performed anywhere, whether you are at home or work, but a mosque is a preferred place. There are a series of positions that must be followed whilst reciting the prayers, which include bowing, standing and prostrating.

The names of each of the prayers are assigned due to the time of day when they are said. These are:

• Fajr – This means dawn, and is carried out before sunrise.
• Dhuhr – Noon, and is carried out at midday.
• Asr – This stands for the afternoon, and should be carried out in the late afternoon before sunset.
• Maghrib – Evening prayer, which is said after the sun has set.
• Isha – This is the last prayer and means ‘night’.

All of these should be carried out whilst facing the Kaaba in Mecca, and only after the Muslim has purified themselves through washing. This act is called Wudu and must be carried out before every prayer.

Sawm: Fasting

The Quran recognizes three different types of fasting. The first is fasting as compensation for repentance, the second is ascetic fasting, and finally, there is ritual fasting.

Ritual fasting is obligatory to all Muslims who have reached puberty during Ramadan (except the pregnant, elderly, or those who have a health condition).

This is where they abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk, meaning that they are only able to eat in the hours before dawn.

Several reasons are given for why it is important for Muslims to fast, which include:

• Seeking nearness to Allah (SWT)
• Looking for forgiveness from Allah (SWT)
• Expressing their gratitude
• Atoning for any past sins

Anyone who has to miss fasting due to extenuating circumstances must make up for it soon afterward.

The Five Pillars of Islam are something that every Muslim should be carried out before making their trip to Hajj. Here at Qibla Travels, we are able to help you make your holy pilgrimage. We offer a selection of Hajj packages, for any budget, which all include your accommodation and transfers. If you would like any further information about this, or any other package we offer, then please contact today. You can call us on 020 8558 4848 and a member of our helpful staff will be happy to help.