Islam Beliefs and the Five Pillars
Islam is a religion based on a faith that encompasses much of the Bible and its teachings. There is a belief in God, Jesus, Abraham and his sons Ismael, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses. It is said that this religion has some basis in the son Ismael whom Abraham took with his mother and left in the desert as a precaution to not making his wife Sarah jealous after Ismael’s birth. Later Muhammad who is believed by the Islamic people to be a messenger or prophet of God was the first model for the Islamic religion and it is his prophetic recitations that make up the word of God given to his followers throughout his lifetime. There have been a few prophets in the Islamic faith who have succeeded Muhammad after his death. The Islamic people now called Muslims follow their version of the Bible called the Qur’an which is said to be the first Bible based on Gods prophecies as he gave them to Muhammad.
The central teachings and beliefs of the Islamic faith come from the Qur’an and the teachings of Muhammad. The Shahadah is chanted into the ear of all infants born Muslim. This chant is translated as; “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God” (Fisher 2014). This in essence shows that like Christianity and Judaism the core belief is in “only the one God” (Fisher 2014) although the Muslims call him by many names. Islam believes very strongly in unity over every aspect of life. Muhammad as a prophet is said not to have started a new religion but to have reminded people that all religion is of the “Oneness of God” which has been there all along. (Fisher 2014)
Another teaching or belief of the Islamic religion is that Islam encompasses all of the other religions and they give honors to all of the prophets as Gods messengers. The Muslims believe that God knows all and that he is the divine creator who had a divine purpose behind this creation of earth and man. There is also the belief that the human race will only find peace by knowing and living the laws of God as they are in the Qur’an.
Muslims believe that reality is not revealed by our senses but by the angels of God. Muslims believe in all of the angels of God including the archangels Michael and Gabriel and that these angels have been given their own responsibilities by God that they must carry out. These responsibilities are not known to man and are not revealed to man.
There is a belief in Islamic religion that each person must make at least one pilgrimage in their lifetime to the tombs of the mystics in order to show their devotion and to receive blessings from these saints. (Fisher 2014) Muslims are taught through the Qur’an that after your death you get a time of rest while you are in the grave, until it is your time to ascend. When you ascend in your own body you are resurrected and you are brought together with all the others for an accountability of your deeds in life. Those who are unrepentant or are non-believers will go to hell, which is “a grievous destiny” (Fisher 2014). For those who are faithful believers go to the place that is said to be “the garden of bliss” and their souls then go to be nearer to God. (Fisher 2014).
The Five Pillars of Islam are the way in which the Muslim people conduct their lives and share their beliefs. They are the guides that lead the people to a place where they are in favor with God. These are the beliefs and practices of the Islam faith.
The first pillar is called Shahadah and it says to believe and profess the unity of God, and that Muhammad is truly the messenger of God. It also requires in the Qur’an that they share their faith with others but not try to coerce them to change faiths.
The second pillar calls for a performance of a continual round of prayers known as Salaat. These prayers are performed in water, sand, or dirt while facing Mecca. In addition there are prayers that are not required but can be done in the middle of the night which makes them the most valuable prayers. This is done so that they keep God always on their minds.
The third pillar is called Zakat, which means charity or almsgiving. This pillar says that the Muslim prayer is only accepted if it is shared with others. It also says that Muslims should donate 2 ½ percent of their accumulated wealth to needy Muslims. This is said to purify the distribution of money so as to prevent personal greed.
The fourth pillar is that of fasting. Muslims are recommended to fast frequently. Only one fast is actually a requirement and that is at the time of Ramadan, commemorating the giving of the Qur’an to Muhammad by God. Muslims are to fast from food, drink, sex, and smoking between the hours of dawn to sunset every day for a month. (Fisher 2014)
The fifth pillar is called Hajj and it is to take a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if you are physically and financially able to do so. This is done so that the person making the journey can grow closer to God. They are to wear what looks like a burial shroud so that they blend in with others and makes no distinction for class.
All of the pillars are the basis for the beliefs and teachings. Each pillar is parallel to a belief system that most Muslims are expected to have and all work hand in hand with each belief. The pillars are the outward sign of the beliefs of the Islam religion.
References Fisher, M. P. (2014). Living religions (9th ed.). pgs 387-399; New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.