Islam is characterized
by the acceptance of the doctrine of submission
to Allah and to Muhammad as the last prophet of
Allah. The fundamental meaning of Islam is submission,
and adherence to the commands of Allah without
objection is the true essence of Islam .By doing
so a Muslim would be in harmony with the universe
in which he lives, for everything in this universe
abides by the commands of Allah.
The basic tenets or principles of Islam are five
in number. These principles promise harmony for
the person when he follows it in his life. To
explain on the principles it would be a great
job and enlightenment on the part of the writer
as well as the reader when he reads and puts them
to practice.
The first of the principles would the affirmation
of faith with the words that "There is no God,
except Allah and Muhammad [P.B.U.H] is his Messenger.
This is called as the 'Shahada". One should accept
the fact Prophet Muhammad [P.B.U.H] had no super
natural powers or any extra-ordinary habits that
made God select him as his last Messenger. We
must stick to the verity that a message of guidance
has come through a man like ourselves.
The second important tenet of Islam in the obligatory
prayer enjoined upon every Muslim, whether male
or a female. The prayers are five in number and
must be performed in the correct prescribed format
and on the correct timings. There is no hierarchical
authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers
are led by a learned person who knows the Quran,
chosen by the congregation. Nobody blindly follows
this chosen person in any way. Everyone learns
the Quranic verses byheart and recites them during
prayers, with a supplication in one's own language.
It is preferable to worship together in a mosque.
Visitors to the Muslim world are impressed by
the axial of prayers in daily life.
The third and the significant principle is the
'Zakat'or the giving away alms. According to Islam
all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore
held by human beings in trust .The word 'zakat'
means both 'purification' and 'growth'. We can
compare our lives to that of plants. In order
to stimulate growth we prune down the plants,
hence in the same way we need to give away a part
of our possessions every year in order to lead
a harmonious life. Each Muslim calculates his
or her own zakat separately but follows the same
system. For most purposes this involves the payment
each year of two and a half percent of one's capital.
And this percentage of value is the same throughout
the world.
The fourth dogma constitutes the fast during
the month of Ramadan. A fast is considered as
method of self- purification, for a person gains
true sympathy with those who go hungry and also
contemplated as a growth in one's spiritual life.
Every year all the Muslims fast from the first
light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink,
and sexual relations during this holy month worldwide.
The exemption is given to sick, elderly, or on
a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing
mothers. If one is not able to make up a fast
devoid of these mentioned exemptions he must feed
a needy person for every day missed. one is not
supposed to take up even water during the fasting
period. The whole world fasts on the same rules
and same time is also followed throughout the
world.
Haj is an obligation only for those who are
physically and financially able to perform it..
It is a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in
Saudi Arabia. An approximate of two million people
trot towards this holy city every year providing
a unique opportunity for those of different nations
to meet one another. Pilgrims wear special clothes:
simple garments, which strip away distinctions
of class and culture, so that all stand equal
before God, the Almighty, and All Knowing. The
close of the Haj is marked by a festival, the
Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers
and the exchange of gifts in every Muslim community
worldwide.