Muslim Religion And Beliefs

With over 1.5 billion followers, Islam is now considered the second largest world religion.  According to the latest statistics, Islam is currently considered in a phase of rapid growth. In this article we talk about the concepts and beliefs of Islam that are often mistaken by other religions. To be as simple as possible, Islamic teachings are based on the Quran, which is considered the words of Allah, and the Sunnah, which is the acts and teachings learned from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The five pillars of Islam

These are the basic obligatory concepts to be followed in the Muslim beliefs. The first pillar is to testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. This declaration is a must for being a Muslim.

The prayers

The second pillar is performing the prayers. Islamic prayers are five per day, each one consisting of a different number or raka’ah (a unit). They are performed at special times of the day, which are announced by the athan. Namely these prayers are al subh, al duhr, al asr, al Maghreb and al esha’. There are special rituals to be done in these prayers.

Paying zakat

 The third pillar of Islam is paying the zakat. Zakat is a determined amount of money or donation that is to be paid to the poor. This amount is based upon many factors but is mainly according to one’s fortune. There are many details regarding how the zakat is calculated precisely.

Fasting in Ramadan

The fourth pillar is to fast in Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims are required to fast in this month from sunrise until sunset. The purpose of fasting is to feel the pain of the poor who cannot afford to eat. Also, it allows Muslims to detach from worldly acts and to get closer to Allah with good deeds.

Pilgrimage

 The fifth and final pillar or Islam is to make the pilgrimage to the house if you’re able to. This refers to al ka’ba al shareefa in Makah where millions of Muslim every year go there to perform this holy ritual. A Muslim is only required to do this once in his life and only if he is able to physically and financially.

Beliefs about prophets, human nature and salvation

Muslims believe in Abraham, Moses and Jesus and many other prophets as well. The Muslim belief is that these prophets has delivered the same messages and revelations as Islam but have been changed throughout the time. Therefore, the Quran is the unaltered revelation of Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the one to deliver this final revelation. God has created human to be the greatest of all creatures to serve and worship him. They were created from a blood clot, as said in the Quran.