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The Five Pillars of Islam

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The Five Pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. It also has received a lot of criticism from Christians and others who perceive it as a bed for terrorism. Many people don’t realize however that this religion is much like Christianity. Christianity was built upon the words of many prophets with Jesus Christ being the most prolific. Islam was built on the words from Muhammad who the Muslims view as their most prolific prophet. Muhammad spoke the words of the Qur’an, or Islam’s holy book. It is because of him that Islam has become what it is and the Muslim people praise him for it. Through his teachings came the principles in which the Muslim people follow and has been what I believe its reasons for growing so fast. Christians believe that the 10 commandments are their guide for living a good moral life. The Muslim people however follow the Five Pillars of Islam. These pillars are Shahadah, Salat, Saum, Zakat, and Hajj. These pillars are the path of every Muslim in order to live a good life in complete surrender to God. The first of the pillars is Shahadah, or their confession of faith. The Shahadah is the creed that every Muslim states and is the most important of the pillars. The creed is “there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is prophet.” (Smith 160) This phrase emphasis’s Islam’s monotheistic belief in that there is only one God and that is the only God that should be worshipped. The second part solidifies the Muslim’s view that it is through Muhammad that God or Allah as God is said in Arabic, conveyed the last and final revelation. (carm.org, “Five Pillars”) Since Allah made Muhammad speak these words he is portrayed as the Greatest Prophet. This pillar is most important because it allows people to enter Islam through this creed. This creed allows people to become Muslim as long as they believe those words. This is also important because it takes away the differences in people and unites


Cited: “The Five Pillars of Islam.” Carm.org. Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. . “The Five Pillars of Islam.” IslamiCity.com. IslamiCity, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. . “Hajj-Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Mecca.” Islam.com. Islam.com Inc, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. . “Prayers.” IslamiCity.com. IslamiCity, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. . “Siyam (Fasting).” Islamicbulletin.org. The Islamic Bulletin, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. . Smith, Huston. World’s Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions. New York: Harper Collins, 1994. Print. “Zakat.” Alislam.org. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. . “Zakat.” Islamicity.com. IslamiCity, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. .

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