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The Five Pillars of Islam
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True or false? When we talk about The Five Pillars of Islam we mean five ways of praying.
Aaaw. Selma has got a little cousin. La illaha illallah Muhammad'u Rasullullah Wow, what was that, that Selma’s grandpa said? There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God.
This is the muslim Declaration of Faith. One of five things that are extra important to many Muslim believers. These things are kind of what their muslim faith rests upon. They are called The Five Pillars of Islam. Declaration of faith is pillar number one.
Selma’s grandpa whispers the declaration of faith into the little cousin’s ear to welcome her into a muslim life. It’s the same thing if someone becomes muslim as an adult. The declaration of faith is also whispered to the dead. But it’s not always whispered. Aschhadu an la ilaha illa llah Sch!
When the mosques call to prayer they include the declaration of faith in the calling. It is also a part of the five daily prayers. Prayer is the second pillar. It is written in the muslim texts that God gave the prophet Muhammed the mission to instruct humans to pray five times a day. Once at dawn, once in daytime, once in the afternoon, once in the evening and one last time after dusk.
Selma’s grandpa prepares himself by washing and putting on clean clothes. He rolls out his prayer mat so that it lies facing Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Then he starts by saying Allahu Akbar! Yes, the call to prayer starts in the same way as the prayer, but let’s stick to the actual prayer now. Selma’s grandpa starts by saying Allahu akbar!
It means that God is greater. Greater than what? Greater than everything. Then grandpa prays, at first standing, facing mecca. Then he reads from the quran.
Bows with his hands on his knees. Bows once more, though this time with his forehead on the ground. Then he finishes with a seated prayer. Allahu Akbar Giving to the poor or those in need – charity – is the third pillar. Grandpa gives two and a half percent of what he has managed to save during a year.
Many pay their charity during the month that is called Ramadan in the muslim calendar. Ramadan is also the month when Selma’s grandpa’s stomach rumbles more than usual. During this month he neither eats nor drinks anything between sunrise and sunset. He fasts. Fasting is the fourth pillar.
Grandpa of course, becomes hungry and thirsty. But he compensates for this during the nights. Then family and friends gather and eat together. It’s usually very cosy. And when the fasting is over there is a feast.
The Eid al-fitr. During Eid al-fitr Selma’s grandpa likes to tell stories of what a strong arm he has. Tell you, formidable arm. Spot-on with a stone. Hit that devil time and time again.
Not the real devil of course. The pillar. In Mina. On the pilgrimage in Mecca that is. The pilgrimage to mecca is the fifth pillar.
In Mecca grandpa went around the Kaaba ran over hills and stoned the devil and well Well actually so much happened on that trip that you will have to hear about it another time. Now Grandpa needs to rest.