This is a continuation of the main doctrines of islam and deals with the branches of faith also known as the practices of islam. The Islamic Practices are referred to as such because they are the ways in which the Beliefs - are turned into reality. The different forms of outward worship translate a person's inner love and connection with the Almighty into a physical form.
1. Prayers (salaat)
A Muslim must perform five prayers a day. Through prayer, people establish communication and dialogue with the Almighty. Just as the body needs food to survive and grow, so does the soul, and the food of the soul is prayer.
Establish regular prayers from mid-day till the darkness of the night, and recite the Qur'an in the early dawn; verily, the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is an act witnessed. Qur'an 17:78-79
A Muslim must fast during the month of Ramadhan.
"O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you just as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may be pious and learn self-restraint." Qur'an (2:183)
3-4. Almsgiving (zakaat and khums)A Muslim must pay the poor-rate. As well as a tax of 20%, levied on untaxed annual savings.
The
zakaat is a type of almsgiving which must be paid yearly on the following items if they are possessed in sufficient quantities: wheat, barley, dates, raisins, gold, silver, camels, cows, and sheep.
Khums should be paid yearly on 20% of the excess profit that a person acquires. "Excess profit" refers to the profit that remains after a person pays for food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities for himself and his family.
5. Pilgrimage to Makkah (hajj)
Everyone who can must, at least once, make the
hajj. This pilgrimage occurs every year during
Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
"Do not associate with Me anything, and purify My house for those who circle around it and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves. And proclaim among the people the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every remote path that they may witness the benefits for them and mention the name of Allah during the appointed days over what He has given them."(22:26-28)
Jihad means to Struggle to please God and is divided into two parts.
The greater or internal Jihad: the struggle against the evil within one's own soul in every aspect of life.
The lesser, or external, Jihad: the struggle against the evil of one's environment in every aspect of life, this includes justified defensive warfare.
7-8. Enjoining good (amr bil-ma'rouf) and forbidding evil (nahiy an al-munkar)
enjoining good and forbidding evil is a Qur'anic commandment. This is done by living by the rules of God from the Qur'an and hadith. The command is given in several Qur'anic verses, below is just one.
"Let there arise from you a group of people inviting to what is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; these are the ones who will be successful." Qur'an (3:104)
9. Supporting those who walk in the path of Allah (tawalli li awliyaa' Allah)This entire phrase means to be a friend and a helper of the righteous, pious people who are on the side of Allah and religion. Specifically, it includes the prophets and
imams (successors to the prophets) as well as those who work to establish order, justice, and religion on earth.
"And whoever takes Allah, His messenger, and those who have belief as protectors and guardians, then the party of Allah will be victorious." Qur'an (5:56)
10. Turning away from the enemies of Allah (tabarri min a'daa Allah)
This phrase refers to the opposite of
tawalli li awliyaa' Allah. Those who sincerely believe in Allah must dissociate themselves from those people who obstruct truth and justice and prevent the light of Allah from reaching others.
It is regarding those who fought against you on account of religion and have driven you out of your homes and helped to drive you out that Allah forbids you to befriend them, and whoever will befriend them, then such are the wrongdoers." Qur'an (60:9)
Branches of Faith (Furū al-Dīn), Main Doctrines - Part 2
Oct 26 2007, 08:52 PM
