FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life.  They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.

1) The Testimony of Faith:

The testimony of faith is saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.”  This saying means “There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.”  The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son.  This testimony of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which should be said with conviction in order to convert to Islam.The testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam.

2) Prayer:

Muslims perform five prayers a day.  Each prayer does not take more than a few minutes to perform.  Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God.  There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper.

In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace, and comfort, and that God is pleased with him or her.  The Prophet Muhammad  said: {Bilal, call (the people) to prayer, let us be comforted by it.  Bilal was one of Muhammad’s  companions who was charged to call the people to prayers.

Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night.  A Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories, or universities.

 

3) Fasting the Month of Ramadan:

Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.

Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification.  By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry, as well as growth in his or her spiritual life.

4) Giving Zakat (Support of the Needy):

All things belong to God, and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.  The original meaning of the word zakat is both ‘purification’ and ‘growth.’  Giving zakat means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people.’  The percentage which is due on gold, silver, and cash funds that have reached the amount of about 85 grams of gold and held in possession for one lunar year is two and a half percent.  Our possessions are purified by setting aside a small portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity.

 

5) The Pilgrimage to Makkah:

The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it.  About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe.  Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.  Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before God.

Pilgrims praying at the Haram mosque in Makkah.  In this mosque is the Kaaba (the black building in the picture) which Muslims turn toward when praying.

The rites of the Hajj include circling the Kaaba seven times and going seven times between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, as Hagar did during her search for water.  Then the pilgrims stand together in Arafa and ask God for what they wish and for His forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Day of Judgment.

The end of the Hajj is marked by a festival, Eid Al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers.  This, and Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the two annual festivals of the Muslim calendar.

source : http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch3-16.htm sharing is caring :)

DOA AKHIR TAHUN & AWAL TAHUN

DOA AKHIR TAHUN

DOA AWAL TAHUN

7 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QURAN

 

ARE you one of those people who rarely touch the Qur’an? Or do you read daily, but don’t find it is having the impact on you that it should? Whatever the case may be, these are some simple tips that can help you connect with the Qur’an.

1. Before you touch it, check your heart.

The key to really benefiting from the Qur’an is to check your heart first, before you even touch Allah’s Book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you are reading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift away from you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was described by his wife as a “walking Qur’an”: in other words, he didn’t just read and recite the Qur’an, he lived it.

2. Do your Wudu (ablution).

Doing your Wudu is good physical and mental preparation to remind you that you’re not reading just another book. You are about to interact with God, so being clean should be a priority when communicating with Him.

3. Read at least 5 minutes everyday.

Too often, we think we should read Qur’an for at least one whole hour. If you aren’t in the habit of reading regularly, this is too much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care of step one, (God willing), you will notice that those five minutes will become 10, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe even more!

4. Make sure you understand what you’ve read.

Five minutes of reading the Qur’an in Arabic is good, but you need to understand what you’re reading. Make sure you have a good translation of the Qur’an in the language you understand best. Always try to read the translation of what you’ve read that day.

5. Remember, the Qur’an is more interactive than a CD.

In an age of “interactive” CD-Roms and computer programs, a number of people think books are passive and boring. But the Qur’an is not like that. Remember that when you read the Qur’an, you are interacting with Allah. He is talking to you, so pay attention.

6. Don’t just read; listen too.

There are now many audio cassettes and CDs of the Qur’an, a number of them with translations as well. This is great to put on your walkman or your car’s CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Use this in addition to your daily Qur’an reading, not as a replacement for it.

7. Make Dua (supplication).

Ask Allah to guide you when you read the Qur’an. Your aim is to sincerely, for the love of Allah, interact with Him by reading, understanding and applying His blessed words. Making Dua to Allah for help and guidance will be your best tool for doing this.

(Source: islamicteachings.org)

hajj overview (The Fifth Pillar of Islam)

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A Friendly Reminder For All

 Simple things you can do, that have great rewards from Allah. Insyallah.

Worry changes just nothing,
Du'aa changes almost everything.
So instead of worrying about what happened & thinking what may happen...
Or what you can do & what people can do...,
Just make intense du'aa to the ONE...
Who can truly help you! ♥

Your protection without Bodyguard:

Surah Faatiha protects one from the anger of Allah
Surah Yaseen protects one from the thirst of the Day of Judgment
Suratul Waaqi’ah protects one from poverty and starvation
Surah Mulk protects one from the punishment of the grave
Surah Kauthar protects one from the enmity of the enemy
Surah Kaafiroon protects one from kufr at the time of death
Surah Ikhlaas protects one from hypocrisy
Surah Falaq protects one from calamities
Surah Naas protects one from evil thoughts

Should someone become aware of the above from your message and read any of these Surahs, you will also receive the Sawaab for passing on the knowledge :)

 “ Improve your secret and private life, and Allah will improve your public and social life. Make matters well between you and Allah, and Allah will make matters well between you and people. Work for the Hereafter, and Allah will be enough for you in your worldly concerns." -Imam Sufyaan

 "Be sure we will test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives, but give glad tidings to those who are steadfast, who say when afflicted with calamity: 'To Allah we belong and to him is our return.' They are those on who (descend) blessings from Allah and mercy and they are the once that receive guidance." (al-Baqarah: 155)

 Whoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, We will most certainly make him live a happy life, and We will most certainly give them their reward for the best of what they did. {An-Nahl 16:97

Always Remember, that when the whole world leaves, you ALWAYS will have Allah s.w.t. He is there for you every day, every hour, every minute, and every second. You can always depend on Allah s.w.t. when life gets hard, because people wont always be there. With Allah, nothing is impossible

   

The Call to Prayer (Azan)

Islam call to prayer or azan is unique in that it is an oral call

 The 15 Lines recited loudly in azan are:

1

 Allah is Greatest (4 times)

 2 

I testify that there is no god to be worshipped except Allah (twice)

3

I testify that Muhammad is his final messager (twice)

4

Come to Prayer (twice)

5

 Come to Success (twice)

 6

 Allah is Greatest (twice)

 7

 There is no god to be workshipped except Allah (once)

Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening) Translation :)
Surah al-fatihah, is the first chapter of the holy quran. This capter has a special role in daily prayers.

{1} بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

{2} الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;

{3} الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Most Gracious, Most Merciful;

{4} مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

Master of the Day of Judgment.

{5} إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek,

{6} اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Show us the straight way,

{7} صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

List of countries by Muslim population

Islam is not ONLY the religion of ARABS or the INDIANS, PAKISTANIS, The Bangladesh or the Malays. 

BUT ISLAM IS THE UNIVERSAL RELIGION

 practices  by ALL MANKINDS

Figures indicated in the first three columns below are based on the demographic study by the Pew Research Center report of Mapping the Global Muslim Population, as of 8 October 2009.^[1][2]

Country/Region	Muslim population 2009 Pew Report[2]	Muslim percentage (%) of total population 2009 Pew Report[2]	Percentage (%) of World Muslim population 2009 Pew Report[2]	Muslim population Other sources	Muslim percentage (%) Other sources
Afghanistan	28,072,000	99.7	1.8
Albania	2,522,000	79.9	0.2		70%[13]
Algeria	34,199,000	98.0	2.2
Angola	190,000	1	< 0.1
Argentina	784,000	1.9	0.1
Armenia	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Aruba	-	< 0.2	< 0.1
Australia	365,000	1.7	< 0.1
Austria	353,000	4.2	< 0.1	400-500,000[14]	~6.0%[15]
Azerbaijan	8,765,000	99.2	0.6
Bahrain	642,000	81.2	< 0.1
Bangladesh	145,312,000	89.6	9.3
Belarus	19,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Belgium	281,000	3	< 0.1	628,751[16]	6.0%[16]
Belize	1,400	0.1	< 0.1
Benin	2,182,000	24.4	0.1
Bhutan	7,000	1.0	< 0.1
Bolivia	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Bosnia-Herzegovina	1,522,000	40	0.1		45%[17]
Botswana	8,000	0.4	< 0.1
Brazil	191,000	0.1	< 0.1		2%[18]
Brunei	269,000	67.2	< 0.1
Bulgaria	920,000	12.2	0.1
Burkina Faso	9,292,000	59.0	0.6
Burundi	180,000	2	< 0.1
Cambodia	236,000	1.6	< 0.1
Cameroon	3,498,000	17.9	0.2		20.9%[19]
Canada	657,000	2.0	< 0.1		1.9%[20]
Cape Verde	1,000	< 0.1	< 1
Central African Republic	395,000	8.9	< 0.1		15%[21][22]
Chad	6,257,000	55.8	0.4
Chile	4,000	< 0.1	< 0.1	2,894[23]	0.03% (over 15+ pop.)[23]
China	21,667,000	1.6	1.4	50,000,000[24]
Colombia	14,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Comoros	664,000	98.3	< 0.1
Costa Rica	-	< 0.1	< 0.1
Democratic Republic of Congo	943,000	1.4	0.1
Croatia	18,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Cuba	9,000	0.1	< 0.1
Cyprus	198,000	22.7	< 0.1
Czech Republic	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Denmark	88,000	2	< 0.1	210,000[25]	3.7%[25]
Djibouti	838,000	96.9	0.1
Dominican Republic	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
East Timor	43,000	3.8	< 0.1
Ecuador	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Egypt	78,513,000	94.6	5.0		91% [26]
El Salvador	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Eritrea	1,854,000	36.5	0.1		50%[27]
Estonia	2,000	0.1	< 0.1	1,400[28]
Ethiopia	28,063,000	33.9	1.8
Falkland Islands	-	< 0.1	< 0.1
Fiji	53,000	6.3	< 0.1
Finland	24,000	0.2	< 0.1
France	3,554,000	6	0.2		8%-10%[29]
Gabon	140,000	9.5	< 0.1
Gambia	1,625,000	95	0.1
Georgia	423,000	9.9	< 0.1
Germany	4,026,000	4	0.3	4,300,000[30]	5,4%[30]
Ghana	3,787,000	15.9	0.2
Greece	310,000	3	< 0.1
Grenada	-	0.3	< 0.1
Guatemala	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Guinea	8,502,000	84.4	0.5
Guinea-Bissau	680,000	42.2	< 0.1		50%[31]
Guyana	55,000	7.2	< 0.1
Haiti	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Honduras	11,000	0.1	< 0.1
Hungary	24,000	0.2	< 0.1
Iceland	-	< 0.1	< 0.1
India	160,945,000	13.4	10.3		14.6[32]
Indonesia	202,867,000	88.2	12.9
Isle of Man	-	< 0.2	< 0.1
Iran	73,777,000	99.4	4.7
Iraq	30,428,000	99	2
Ireland	22,000	0.5	< 0.1	84,064[14]	2%[14]
Israel	1,194,000	16.7	0.1
Italy	36,000	< 0.1	< 0.1	825,000[15]	1.4%[15]
Ivory Coast	7,745,000	36.7	0.5		40%[33][34][35]
Jamaica	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Japan	183,000	0.1	< 0.1
Jordan	6,202,000	98.2	0.4
Kazakhstan	8,822,000	56.4	0.6		65%[36]
Kenya	2,793,000	7.0	0.2		10%[37]
Kosovo	1,999,000	89.6	0.1	1,584,000[38]
Kuwait	2,824,000	95	0.2
Kyrgyzstan	4,734,000	86.3	0.3
Laos	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Latvia	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Lebanon	2,504,000	59.3	0.2
Lesotho	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Liberia	483,000	12.2	< 0.1
Libya	6,203,000	96.6	0.4
Lithuania	3,000	0.1	< 0.1
Luxembourg	13,000	3	< 0.1
Macedonia	680,000	33	< 0.1
Madagascar	215,000	1.1	< 0.1
Malawi	1,955,000	12.8	0.1
Malaysia	16,581,000	60.4	1.1
Maldives	304,000	98.4	< 0.1
Mali	12,040,000	92.5	0.8
Malta	1,000	< 0.2	< 0.1
Mauritania	3,261,000	99.1	0.2
Mauritius	214,000	16.6	< 0.1
Mexico	110,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Moldova	17,000	0.5	< 0.1
Mongolia	133,000	5.0	< 0.1
Montenegro	111,000	17.7	< 0.1
Morocco	31,993,000	99	2
Mozambique	5,224,000	22.8	0.3
Myanmar	1,889,000	3.8	0.1
Namibia	8,000	0.4	< 0.1
Nepal	1,231,000	4.2	0.1
Netherlands	946,000	5.7	0.1		5.8%[39]
New Caledonia	7,000	2.8	< 0.1
New Zealand	37,000	0.9	< 0.1
Nicaragua	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Niger	15,075,000	98.6	1.0
Nigeria	78,056,000	50.4	5.0
North Korea	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Norway	65,000	1	< 0.1	163,180 in 2008[40]
Oman	2,494,000	87.7	0.2
Pakistan	174,082,000	96.3	11.1
Palestine	4,173,000	98	< 0.1		99.3% (Gaza Strip),[41] 75% (West Bank)[42]
Panama	24,000	0.7	< 0.1
Papua New Guinea	2,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Paraguay	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Peru	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Philippines	4,654,000	5.1	0.3
Poland	48,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Portugal	15,000	0.1	< 0.1
Puerto Rico	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Qatar	1,092,000	77.5	0.1
Congo	59,000	1.6	< 0.1
Romania	66,000	0.3	< 0.1
Russia	16,482,000	11.7	1.0		15%[43]
Rwanda	182,000	1.8	< 0.1
Saudi Arabia	24,949,000	97	2
Senegal	12,028,000	96.0	0.8
Serbia	244,000	3.2	< 0.1
Seychelles	1,000	1.1	< 0.1
Sierra Leone	4,059,000	71.3	0.3
Singapore	706,000	14.9	< 0.1
Slovakia	-	< 0.1	< 0.1
Slovenia	49,000	2.4	< 0.1
Somalia	8,995,000	98.5	0.6
South Africa	731,000	1.5	< 0.1
South Korea	71,000	0.1	< 0.1
Spain	650,000	1	< 0.1	1,000,000[15]	2.3%[15]
Sri Lanka	1,711,000	8.5	0.1
Sudan	30,121,000	71.3	1.9
Suriname	83,000	15.9	< 0.1		19.6%[44]
Swaziland	2,000	0.2	< 0.1
Sweden	149,000	2	< 0.1	450-500,000[45]	~5%[45]
Switzerland	323,000	4.3	< 0.1	400,000[46]	5%[46]
Syria	20,196,000	92.2	1.3
Taiwan	23,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Tajikistan	5,848,000	84.1	0.4
Tanzania	13,218,000	30.2	0.8		35%[47]
Thailand	3,930,000	5.8	0.3
Togo	809,000	12.2	0.1		20%[48]
Trinidad and Tobago	78,000	5.8	< 0.1
Tunisia	10,216,000	99.5	0.7
Turkey	73,619,000	98	4.7
Turkmenistan	4,757,000	93.1	0.3
Uganda	3,958,000	12.1	0.3
Ukraine	456,000	1.0	< 0.1
United Arab Emirates	3,504,000	76.2	0.2
United Kingdom	1,647,000	2.7	0.1	2,422,000[14]	2.4%[15]
United States	2,454,000	0.8	0.2	7,000,000[49]
Uruguay	1,000	< 0.1	< 0.1
Uzbekistan	26,469,000	96.3	1.7
Vanuatu	-	< 0.1	< 0.1
Vatican City	-	< 0.1	< 0.1
Venezuela	94,000	0.3	< 0.1
Vietnam	157,000	.2	< 0.1	71,200[50]
Western Sahara	510,000	99.4	< 0.1
Yemen	23,363,000	99.1	1.5
Zambia	58,000	0.4	< 0.1
Zimbabwe	109,000	0.9	< 0.1
Asia-Pacific	972,537,000	24.1	61.9
Middle East-North Africa	315,322,000	91.2	20.1
Sub-Saharan Africa	240,632,000	30.1	15.3
Europe	38,112,000	5.2	2.4
Americas	4,596,000	0.5	0.3
World Total	1,571,198,000	22.9	100