maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

The Muslims attach much importance to the splrltual life and duties. Their
faith in the fundamental principles of lslam is unshakable. Most of them are
punctual in their daily five time prayers and Friday mass prayer.
faith,
lslam comprises of five divine commands.1) Kalima or confession of
2) Namaz or five times prayer, 3) Roza or fasting for thirty days during the month
of Ramzan. 4) Zakath or alms giving ,5) Haj or pligrimage to Mecca. These are the
five pillars of Islam
Every Muslim has to confess his faith in Allah, the Almighty, with the recitation of
the first Kalima, La-il-la-hah-il-lul-la-hu -Mohamad-oor-Rasoola allahi, which means there is
no other God except the one true God, and Mohamed is the Prophet or messenger sent by
Allah.
The divine law prescribes five times prayer daily. 1. Fazar or morning prayer from
5 a.m. or from dawn of the day to Sunrise. 2. Zohar, midday prayer between 1.00 and 2.00
p.m. 3. Assar, or afternoon prayer, from 4 .OO p.m. to 5.30 p.m. or UIl Sunset, 4. Magrlb
or Sunset prayer, 6.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m or usually after the Sunset. 5. Iysha or prayer
before resting to bed, 8.00 p.m. to midnight. In those days the time was calculated
approximately with the help of the position of the sun, stars, call of the birds and by the
bloom of flowers. Before every prayer one has to make ablutions or wwu, i.e., washing
of hands mouth, nose (inside), face, arms, head and back of the neck and feet. Every tlme
the people are called for prayer by reciting azan or call to prayer . by the Mowene, an
employee of the mosque. On hearing the arm the people congregate and pray by standing
in rows in military fashion without distinction of position, colour or rank 91. Muslims a h
train their male children to pray five times daily from the very early age.
During the month of Ramzan, one has to undertake fasting for 30 days from
dawn to dusk. Eating, drinking, chewing betel, smoking, snuffing or cannubial
intercourse or embrace of women are prohibited during fasting tlme (i.e, dawn to dusk.)