ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS BRS 107.pdf - CUEA

on Friday (the day of assembly), hasten earnestly to remembrance of Allah, and leave offbusiness: that is best for you if ye but knew! And when the prayer is finished, then may yedisperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah: and remember Allah frequentlythat you may prosper” (s.62: 9-10)3. Alms-giving (Zakat). Muslims (good health, possession and age matter) are to giveabout 2.5 percent of their wealth for the poor, the miserable, the stranded travelers and forthe sustenance of new converts, for those who collect the Zakat and for the spread ofIslam. Note that zakat is different from sadaqa for while zakat is compulsory and followswell defined structures; sadaqa enjoys the freedom of the giver.4. Fast during Ramadan. (Sawn) For one lunar month, from sunrise to sunset, Muslimsare called to abstain form eating, drinking, sexual activities and ...in order to experiencethe feelings of those who have not and create the awareness of coming to their aid... Thenfrom sunset to sunrise, they are permitted to come back to their legal and allowedactivities. This is their way of developing discipline and relating to the poor. (Travelers,young children and pregnant or nursing mothers do not need to keep the fast).5. Make a pilgrimage to Makka. (Hajj) Every Muslim who is financially able and healthy issupposed to travel to the birthplace of Islam once in his or her lifetime. There he or she willperform a number of spiritual activities loaded with great symbolism that reminds them ofsome truths of their faith such as venerating the black stone (symbol of the uniquenessand the oneness of Allah), the stoning of Satan (symbol of rejecting evil), sacrifice (as thesacrifice of Abraham). The intention for which the pilgrimage is made is one of the mostimportant features of it. “O ye who believe! Fear Allah as he should be feared, and die notexcept in a state of Islam” (s. 3:103).“Guard strictly your habit of prayers. Especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allahin a dvout frame of mind” (s. 2:238)“And be steadfast in prayer: give Zakat, and bow down your heads with those who bowdown.” (s. 2:43).“Fasting for the a fixed number of days; but any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribednumber should be made up from days later. For those who can do it, is aransom...(s.2:184)“Behold safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the housein the season or at other times, should compass them round. It is no sin in them.” (s.Frederic N. Mvumbi,OP Page 40 of 85