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Living witness to Allah's existence:
The universe is one of the most outstanding witnesses to Allah's existence.Let us think of it.
How many stars, in all, are there? How far away is the farthest star? Is there any end at all
to space?
Astronomers say that earth is one part of a galaxy that is known as the milkyway. A galaxy is a huge system that is compose of gases and billions of stars. About one million Galaxies are detectable through a large and power full telescope! The sun is only a medium sized star; Yet its diameter is 109 times greater than that of earth! Then there are numerous comets, meteors, shooting stars and planets.
The Signs of Allah:
The Earth orbits the sun at an average distance of 150 Million Kilometer. Pluto's distance from the sun is the greatest - more than 5 1/2 billion kilometer! You know that light travels at 186,000 miles per sec. Even at that speed, it takes 8 minutes for sun's light to reach the Earth. And it takes more than five hours for the sun's light to reach Pluto! Still the scientist are learning more and more every year about the universe. Not until 1930 did anyone know for certain about the existence of the planet Pluto. Scientists still guess at the limits of the space. It has, in fact, no end! Have all these things come about by mere chance? No, never, it is all Allah's doing! A study of the creations of Allah compels one to believe in His Might and Majesty. The signs of Allah are manisfest everywhere in nature. The Qur'an reveals that: "Really in the creations of the heaven and the earth, and in the succession of night and day, there are indeed messages for men of understanding, who remember Allah: when they sit, and when they lie down to sleep and thus reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth."
"O our Sustainer! You have not created any of these without meaning and purpose. Limitless You are in Your Glory! Therefore deliver us from the torment of Fire."(3:190-191)
1.SHAHADA:
A Muslim expresses his/her faith (Iman) in the following words:
"Ash-hadu anla ilaha illal-Lahu Wahdahu la Sharika Lahu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu".
The English translation of the Shahadah is as follows:
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One, without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
The declaration of faith consists of two distinct parts, i.e., the absolute belief in the Unity of Allah (God) and the belief in the Holy Prophet Muhammad as a mortal human being and the Messenger of Allah.
Islam's fundamental belief is the Unity of God. All other beliefs hang on this belief. Therefore the acknowledgement and 'bearing witness' of this is the key to the Muslim faith. Unless this is observed one cannot be a Muslim. A Muslim accepts Allah as the only God, and only Master, Lord and Ruler with no partner sharing in any way His Being, Powers and Attributes. He is One; He is Unique; He is not the father of any one, nor He has or had any father. He is Almighty and Self-Sustaining. He is there forever, and will be there forever.
A Muslim believes in Allah as the Ruler and must not disobey Him. In fact everything that exists in the universe obeys Him. He is the Fashioner of all the Universes that may exist.
The belief in the Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) as the servant and Messenger of Allah completes one’s faith. The Holy Prophet was the greatest of all the Prophets of Allah, yet he was only a human being with no share in Divinity. This is a very important belief that keeps Muslims from associating partners with Allah. This part of the Declaration of Faith where reinforces the first part of Allah being the only Supreme Being with no partners also establishes the absolute authority of the Holy Prophet as the Messenger of Allah, who must be obeyed as well in all the matters of faith. The Holy Prophet is the last prophet who brought us the last Book (the Holy Quran) to be followed. He lived among his people for a long time and his life is documented in utmost detail. He lead his followers by example. The way he lived his life and admonished his followers to live their lives is called Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. The second part of the Declaration of Faith makes obeying and following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad equally important to the belief in absolute Unity of Allah. This declaration make one to completely submit to the Will of Allah and that is why one who declares this belief is called a Muslim - one who completely submits to the will of Allah.
2.SALAH:
Salat is one of the five pillars of Islam, it is a most important constituent of the faith. It is prayer of a very high level. The Holy Quran repeatedly enjoins the offering of salat and indeed declares it to be a fundamental trait of a believer. The benefits of salat are countless. The Holy Quran says:
"And enjoin Prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not for provision; it is We that provide for thee. And the end is for the righteous".
Salat strengthens man's spiritual faculties. It is the best way to form a relationship with one's Creator. It purifies one's spirit, and through it, constant remembrance of Allah delivers one of the self that incites to evil.
God created man to worship Him and salat is the most excellent kind of worship.
The Holy Quran also says:
"Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do." (29:46)
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, say:
"Tell me if one of you had a stream running at his door and he should take a bath in it five times every day would any dirt be left upon him? He was answered: No dirt would be left on him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) observed: This is the case of the five prayers. Allah wipes out all faults in consequence of them." (Bukhari)
As for the punishment of not observing the salat, all matters of reward and punishment rest solely with Allah.
Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say:
"Giving up prayer is tantamount to disbelief and associating partners with Allah." (Muslim)
Five Daily Prayers
Salat, the obligatory Muslim prayer, is said at appointed time fixed in relation to the sun's position. The time of Fajr, the morning prayer begins at dawn and ends just before sunrise. The time of Zuhr, the midday prayer, begins after the sun has crossed the zenith point and has begun to decline. The Asr prayer is said when the sun has further advanced in decline, in the late afternoon. The time of the Maghrib prayer begins immediately after sunset. It lasts till dusk. The Isha prayer can be said after dusk has finally disappeared, giving way to darkness of the night.
Fajr , Zuhr , Asr , Maghrib , Isha'
3.ZAKAT:
Zakat (Almsgiving or Charity):
The Third Pillar of Islam.
"Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those
employed to administer the (funds); for those
whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to
Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the
cause of Allah and for the wayfarer: (thus is it)
ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge
and wisdom. "
(The Qur'an: 9:60)
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat
is the monetary form of worship which aims
to purify ones wealth and positions by giving a
certain amount of money from the net income
that one earns for a complete year to the poor or
the needy. The term is derived from the Arabic
verbal root meaning, "to increase," "to purify,"
and “to bless." By paying it, one is aspiring to
attain blessing, purification and the cultivation of
good deeds.
Just as the performance of the prayer is both an
individual and a communal obligation, so
payment of the Zakat instills a sense of communal
identity and responsibility. As all Muslims share
equally in their obligation to worship God, so they
all are duty bound to attend to the social welfare
of their community by redressing economic
inequalities through payment of the Zakat. It is an
act both of worship or thanksgiving to God and of
service to the community.
Zakat, however, must not be confused with tax.
While Zakat has a spiritual nature and has its
roots in the Revelation, and aims to help the poor
and the needy, taxes are imposed by the secular
governments and have wider applications. Taxes
we pay to our government nowadays do not
substitute for this religious duty; it must be
earmarked as a special form of contribution from
one's net income to help those who are less
fortunate.
With the same token, it is not meant for the poor
to solely depend on it and cease to seek for
employment. On the contrary, Islam strongly
discourages dependency and encourages every
human being to rise and work and earn a living.
4.SAWM:
During Ramadan, the ninth month of islamic Calender,during which the Quran was revealed, Muslim are obliged to fast from dawn until sunset.
Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is fardh (compulsory) upon every Muslim who is sane and mature. Fasting has many physical, moral and social benefits. However, Allah has made fasting compulsory so that we may become pious and God-fearing.
Fasting will not be valid without niyyah. It is not necessary to express the niyyah in words. However, it is preferable to recite BeSaume ghadin-nawayto min shahre Ramadhan.
Things Makrooh (Unpleasant) while Fasting.
•To apply Tooth powder or paste.
•To collect one's saliva in the mouth and then swallow it.
•To taste food or drink and spit it out.
•To chew items such as rubber, plastic, etc.
•To fight or quarrel with somebody.
•To touch wife with sensuous desire.
•To speak at somebody's back (Gheebat or Chughli)
Things that do not Break the Fast.
•To eat or drink by mistake.
•To vomit on its own.
•To have a wet dream.
•To oil the hair.
•To use surma in the eyes.
•To drop water or medicine in the eyes.
•To use miswaak.
•To apply or smell attar (perfume).
•To swallow smoke or dust unintentionally.
•To take an injection.
Things that Break the Fast - Needs Qadha
•To burn agarbatti (incense) and inhale its smoke
•If water goes down the throat while gargling.
•To swallow vomit intentionally.
•To vomit mouthful intentionally.
•To drop oil or medicine into ear or nose.
•Snuffing.
•Smoking.
•If tooth paste or powder goes down the throat.
•To swallow intentionally a pebble, piece of paper or any item that is not used as food or medicine.
Things that Break the Fast - Needs Qadha and Kaffarah
•To eat or drink intentionally.
Mustahab (desirable) acts in Fasting.
•To eat sehri.
•To break the fast immediately after sunset.
•To break the fast with dates. If dates are not available, then with water.
•To recite this du'a at the time of breaking the fast :-
Allahumma laka sumtu wabika aamantu wa ala rizqika aftartu.
O Allah! I fasted for You and in You do I believe and with Your provision (food) do I break my fast.
Sunnahs in the Month of Ramadhan.
•To observe taraweeh.
•To increase the recitation of the Holy Quran.
•To observe i'atikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan.
5.Hajj:
Hajj is the fifth Pillar of Islam and another form of worship. It is an annual pilgrimage to the holy sites in Mecca which each adult Muslim, who can afford it, has to perform once in life time. Apart from the financial aspect, the ability to afford the pilgrimage also means that one is able to travel and perform the Hajj in peace.
Muslims perform Hajj in order to visit for themselves the holy sites where their faith started. More importantly it is a pilgrimage to the Ka'aba, which we believe is the first place of worship ever built on this earth, Muslims thus refer to it as House of God. The ceremony of Hajj is also symbolic of the Unity of God; all Muslims gather from four corners of the earth in one spot at an appointed time and worship God. There are no difficulties to perform Hajj apart from the obvious financial commitment in order to travel to Mecca. That is the reason why, strictly speaking, Hajj is only obligatory to those who have fulfilled all their worldly needs and have no pressing commitments left and indeed can afford the passage to Mecca.
It is a Muslim belief that God is everywhere and He answers those who truly seek Him. In this respect indeed going to a particular place to seek the pleasure and nearness to God is not the issue. However, it is the physical presence of being in the holiest of the holy places for the Muslim faith and indeed the congregational worship with millions of other fellow Muslims that leaves an indelible mark on the spiritual life of a person. It is a most supreme form of worship and is most desirable to God.
During Hajj, the person who intends to perform it is required to travel to Mecca during the prescribed days and observe all the rites and ceremonies. During Hajj Muslims from all corners of the world gather in Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj and thus strengthen the bond of Muslim unity.
During Hajj each place brings to mind some event of the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him). It refreshes the memory of the supreme sacrifices made by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him) for the sake of Islam.
