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- May 3, 2020
Major beliefs and practices of Muslims
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Majorbeliefs and practices of Muslims
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Islamhas an established clear, simple and understandable belief thatguides its followers. The Islamic religion is based on the absolutebeing referred to as Allah who through his Prophet Mohammad deliveredhis message to the masses. As Allah`s messenger, Prophet Mohammad isrevered in an inviolable manner by the Muslim faithful. Notably,Islamic faith is based on critical pillars namely prayer, fasting,almsgiving, pilgrimage, and jihad. This paper will discuss the majorpractices and beliefs of Muslims as well as analyze the significanceof the Prophet Muhammad in the Islamic world.
Pillars
Thefirst pillar is prayer or salah. It is mandatory for every Muslim toperform prayers at specific times during the night and day.Accordingly, prayers are to be performed at dawn, noon, afternoon,during sunset and night1.The second pillar is fasting or siyam. This is usually done duringthe holy month of Ramadhan2.In Islam, fasting entails total abstinence from drinking, eating,intimate relations or ingesting anything into the body. However,those who are ill, pregnant or too old are exempted from this ritual.Almsgiving or Zakah is another important ritual in Islam3.This entails giving money or property to the less fortunate. Pilgrimage or Hajj is a critical pillar of Islam. It involves makinga spiritual journey to the holy city of Mecca at least once in alifetime for Muslims who are financially and physically able4.Accordingly, Jihad is another critical pillar of Islam. It involvesstruggling, striving or exerting more effort and pressure than usualfor the betterment of the community and oneself.
Therole of Muhammad
ProphetMuhammad is a central unifying figure in Islam5.The love of Prophet Muhammad unifies different Muslim sects in thesense that they can identify with his teachings as captured in theHoly Quran. Muhammad`s way of life, actions and beliefs form the mostimportant elements of the Islamic faith6.Muslims over the generations have sought to act and live likeMuhammad. In essence, Islam is practically about every aspect ofProphet Muhammad`s life and thoughts.
Conclusion
Islamis largely based on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. The fivepillars form part of the core rituals that an average Muslim isexpected to abide by. Prophet Muhammad continue to shape the modernday Islam in the sense that all Muslims strive to emulate him live infaith just as he lived.
Bibliography
CherryCreek Schools. “The Prophet–His Significance, Life, andWonts."cherrycreekschools.org
https://cole.cherrycreekschools.org/system/files/attachments/files/m/201611/course/633957789/The_Prophet_5821f1966d21c.pdf(accessed November 18, 2016).
Lee,Lawrence. "Islam: Five Pillars Explained." TheChristian Science Monitor, Feb16, 2014
1 Lee, Lawrence. "Islam: Five Pillars Explained." The Christian Science Monitor, Feb 16, 2014, n.p
2 Lee, Lawrence. "Islam: Five Pillars Explained." The Christian Science Monitor, Feb 16, 2014, n.p
3 Lee, Lawrence. "Islam: Five Pillars Explained." The Christian Science Monitor, Feb 16, 2014, n.p
4 Lee, Lawrence. "Islam: Five Pillars Explained." The Christian Science Monitor, Feb 16, 2014, n.p
5 Cherry Creek Schools. “The Prophet–His Significance, Life, and Wonts."cherrycreekschools.org, P.2
6 Cherry Creek Schools. “The Prophet–His Significance, Life, and Wonts."cherrycreekschools.org, P.3