Introduction to Islam 1. The Pillars of Islam EAPI, Manila 31 October - 4 November 2005

1. Introduction to Islam 1. The Pillars of Islam EAPI, Manila 31 October - 4 November 2005

2. Introduction toIslamic Faith and Practice

3. A religion with three parts • Muhammad: “The religion of God has three parts: • islam, iman, and ihsan (or islah)”. • The first part gives the name to the religion. • Islam means submission • what a Muslim must do to submit one’s life to God. • Islam means the active surrender of one’s life to God. • A Muslim is a person who submits one’s life to God.

4. ISLAM, IMAN, ISLAH • 1) islam: (submission), external acts, obeying what God has commanded, • 2) iman (faith): more interior, believing what God has taught, • 3) ihsan (goodness) or islah (uprightness), • interiorizing the divine commands so that they give shape and expression to an upright, good life. • going beyond the minimum to integrate all that God has revealed and commanded into every aspect of one’s behavior.

5. Two sourcesof faith and practice • Islamic belief and practice has two sources: the Qur’an and the hadith. • The Qur’an is the Scripture of Islam. • The hadith are the sayings, deeds and decisions of Muhammad. • Together with the Qur’an, the hadith form the basis of Islamic belief and practice.

6. Part I:Islam

7. THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM • 1. Shahada – the profession of faith • 2. Salat – the daily ritual prayer • 3. Zakat – the poor tax • 4. Saum – the Ramadan fast • 5. Hajj- the pilgrimage to Mecca

8. 1. Shahada – the profession of faith The practice of Islam rests on a central affirmation and four cornerstones of Islamic religiosity. • 1) There is no god but The God (Allah), • 2) Muhammad is the messenger of God. The Shahadamarks the entrance into the Muslim community and is also a Muslim’s passport to the next world.

9. 2. Salat – the daily prayer Salat is ritual prayer. Every detail is carefully prescribed. • Muslims are not free to deviate in any particular. Purpose: reaffirm one’s submission to God at the key moments of the day. Dawn Noon Afternoon Sunset Night

10. The Call to prayer • The prayer is preceded by a call to worship (azan) chanted from minarets by the muezzin. • The azan is always in Arabic. • Three parts: introduction, the call, conclusion. • Azan begins and ends with name of God - Allah. • After each phrase is a period of silence, so Muslims can repeat the phrase silently.

11. (Introduction) 1. God is greater! (4X) 2. I bear witness that there is no god but God! (2X) 3. I bear witness that Muhammad is messenger of God! (2X) (Call) 4. Come to prayer! (2X) 5. Come to the sowing! (2X) *6. Prayer is better than sleep (2X) (Conclusion) 7. God is greater! (2X) 8. There is no god but God! 1X 1. Allahu akbar! 2. Ashhadu al-la ilah ill’Allah. 3. Ashhadu anna Muhammadun Rasul Allah. 4. Hayy ‘ala al-salah! 5. Hayy ‘ala al-falah. 6. Al-salah kheirun min al-naum. 7. Allahu akbar 8. La ilah ill’Allah. The Azan: the call to prayer

12. The Ablution • Muslims prepare for prayer with a ritual ablution. • They wash: • their hands and arms to the elbow; • faces, with special attention to eyes, nose, ears, and mouth; • feet and legs to the knees. • When they have incurred ritual impurity, e.g., after sexual relations or by touching an unclean animal, they perform “the complete ablution” by bathing. • Ablution symbolizes purity and the exalted nature of prayer.

13. The mosque Every mosque has two features: the mihrab, marks the direction of Mecca the minbar, the pulpit for the Friday sermon. Shoes are not worn in the mosque, The floor is covered with carpets or mats. No pictures or statues are permitted. Mosques are decorated with Qur’an verses.

14. The mosque Mihrab points direction of Mecca Minbar: pulpit for Friday sermon

15. Moments of salat • The Imam stands in front and conducts the prayer. • Worshipers line up, face the Ka’ba in Mecca, • Make the niyya, the act of intention. • Recite the Fatiha, (the first chapter of the Qur’an) • Qur’an verses recited from memory. • The stages of prayer are marked by Allahu akbar. • Prostration: forehead, hands, knees touching ground. • Prostration symbolizes: submission to God • trust in God’s compassion. • Greeting of peace: Al-salamu alaykum! Wa-alaykum al-salam! (Peace be with you. And with you peace)

17. Pray facing the Ka’bah The Ka’bah symbolizes the unity of Muslims space: all pray in same direction of prayertime: united with all believers since AbrahamBuilt by Ibrahim and IsmailBlack Stone: remnant of the mosque of Adam

18. Congregational prayerNoontime Friday Men should pray Friday noon prayer in congregation. The preacher gives a sermon (khutba). Women are not obliged (nor forbidden) to perform Friday prayer in the mosque.

19. 3. Zakat: the poor tax Zakat is a fixed percentage of income to be used for the poor of the community. 2.5% of salary; 10% of fruits of the earth. The purpose is to ensure that all members of the community are provided for. The term zakat is taken from the Arabic word meaning “to purify.” Muslims purify their wealth by giving a portion to the poor.

20. How zakat is collected • The way of collecting and distributing zakât varies: • In Pakistan, zakat is collected as an income tax for the poor. • In villages, zakât might be paid in rice. • Families prepare extra food at Friday noon to feed the poor after noon prayer. • One might give a sum to a baker for bread to be distributed to the poor. • Modern Muslims pay zakat through agencies like Islamic Relief.

21. Spiritual meaning of zakat • Caring for the poor of the community is not a matter of choice, mood, or feelings of sympathy. • It is a required duty for every obedient Muslim. • Any relationship to God that does not include the element of concrete assistance to the poor of the community is not a full response to the Qur’anic message.

22. 4. The Ramadan fast • Elements in the Ramadan fast: • remembrance, • celebration, • eschatological expectation, • communal solidarity, • renewal, • forgiveness, • exposure and conscientization.

23. During the month of Ramadan, between dawn and sunset, Muslims do not eat or drink anything, or engage in sexual relations.

24. Celebrating the Qur’an • Muslims believe the Qur’an was first revealed in the month of Ramadan. They: • commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, • thank God for the gift of the Qur’an • study and learn the Qur’an in groups, academic congresses and public recitations. • The Qur’an is divided into 30 parts so Muslims can read a portion each day.

25. Lailat al-Qadr,the Night of Destiny • The last week of Ramadan is the holiest in the Muslim year. • On the Night of Destiny, Muslims expect the Day of Judgment. • Many spend the entire night in the mosque, reading the Qur’an, listening to its recitation, performing recommended prayers. • When the Last Judgment arrives, they hope to be found in prayer.

26. Ramadan is the happiest time and eagerly awaited. The daily rhythm is replaced by a “sacred” schedule, Families rise before dawn for a light meal (sahur), Mosques are crowded with worshipers, visitors, sermons, Qur’an recitations. At sunset, families, friends, neighbors break the fast with traditional foods. Evenings, they go to the mosque for the long tarâwîh prayers. After prayers, social calls are made, musical programs are aired on television. Communal celebration

27. Iftar: Picnicking in Turkey Iftar: Muslim students in USA

28. Sacred time • A long and difficult fast, followed by communal celebration, creates a strong sense of social solidarity. • The disruption of the normal daily schedule, with ordinary activities - rising, eating, praying, shopping - performed at extraordinary hours, results in the creation of a sacred time. • Business affairs and work schedules are held to a minimum. The main “business” of Ramadan is the celebration of the fast.

29. Renewal and forgiveness • In Islam, when a person truly repents, God immediately forgives them. • In Ramadan, God’s forgiveness is superabundant. • Ramadan is time to repent and start anew, • tarawih prayers ask forgiveness for the wrongs committed during the previous year. • Through the proper performance of Ramadan, all one’s sins are forgiven. • Thus the joy experienced at Id al-Fitr, the Feast at the end of Ramadan.

30. Conscientization to the hungry • In Ramadan Muslims experience hunger. • They are asked to recall the multitudes who go hungry. • Muslims make a special offering (zakat al-fitrah) so that the poor can also Break their the Fast with joy.

31. 5. The hajj • The hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca. • Every Muslim man and woman (who is able to do so) has the obligation to make the hajj once in their lifetime. • The pilgrimage must be made during the season of the pilgrimage. • Certain rituals must be followed.

33. Rituals of the Hajj • Enter ritual state of ihram • Tawaf: walk around the Ka’ba • Built by Abraham • Earliest place to worship God in history • Direction of prayer for all Muslims • Sa’y: running between Safa, Marwa • Commemorate faith of Hagar • Pious practices • Visit house of Abraham • Collect water of Zamzam

34. The well of Zamzam, enclosed in marble underground chamber

35. Above: the Black Stone Right: the Tent City, Muzdalifa

36. The Day of Witness on Arafat • Pilgrims leave Mecca for Muzdalifa • climb Mt. Arafat, spend day in prayer • Significance: human life finds meaning in submission, obedience to God • The essential day of the pilgrimage • Evening: celebrate unity in Muzdalifa

37. Pilgrims arrive before noon prayer, remain until after Sunset prayer. The Day of Witness Mt. Arafat: where Abraham was told to sacrifice his son. The site of Muhammad’s final sermon.

38. Arriving in Arafat Hajji reciting the Qur’an

39. The sacrifice in Mina • Halfway to Mecca, the pilgrims stop in Mina for the final rite. • They sacrifice goats/sheep to commemorate Abraham’s obedience. • Muslims around the world join in the Feast of the Sacrifice (Id al-Adha).