The 5 pillars of Islam

A brief overview of the five pillars of Islam

• The Creed
• The prayer
• the fasting
• The social obligation
• The pilgrimage to Mecca

The pillars of Islam in everyday life

The knowledge of faith reads "Aschhadu an la ilaha illa-lah wa ashhadu anna muhammadan rasulu-lah". It means up German as much as "I testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger". His public speaking is the first pillar of Islam and clarifies the person's sense of belonging to Islam. It is an integral part of every ritual prayer and is also called «Shahada».

The second pillar is the ritual Pray, which a Muslim should do five times every day. The prayer times depend on the position of the sun. The first prayer is to be before sunrise, the second after its peak, the others follow between noon and evening, after sunset and in the darkness before Dawn. The prayers each last a few minutes and Muslims face towards Mecca. Part of the ritual prayer are certain postures such as bowing, standing or kneeling. In addition, a ritual purification called "Wudu" is performed before each prayer.

The pillars of Islam as a basis for a sense of community

The month of fasting Ramadan is depicted in the third of the five pillars of Islam. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the moon. In this month the Koran was sent down as a guide for the people. The approximately 30 days should be understood by Muslims as a time of inner contemplation and reflection. Fasting is limited to the time between dawn and dusk. During this time it is forbidden to eat, drink, smoke or have sexual intercourse. Every day the fast is broken at sunset together with other believers. In addition, the end of Ramadan is celebrated with the Sugar Festival.

Under the fourth pillar of Islam, the compulsory social contribution, understands the support of the needy. Muslims who are not heavily in debt themselves or who live below the poverty line should generally donate 2.5% of their dormant assets. This wealth consists of cash, rental income, animals, mineral resources or jewelry that the person has owned for at least one lunar year. The donation promotes social security and a sense of community. It ensures that all Muslims have a livelihood without going into debt and is seen as a kind of purification for the donor.

The fifth pillar of Islam is the Pilgrimage to Meccathat all Muslims should undertake once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able. Every year in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, up to three million Muslims meet in Mecca to walk around the Kaaba together. According to tradition, God commanded Abraham and his son Ishmael to build the Kaaba, which today is an important holy place in Islam. During the pilgrimage, particularly simple clothing is worn so as not to show social differences. The end of the Hajj is celebrated in style and is the most important festival in Islam.

In summary, the 5 pillars of Islam are the most important rules or obligations for devout Muslims. For many of them, these are taken for granted and are part of everyday life.