Why Should We Offer Namaz

The word Islam is generally understood to mean: �Submission to the Will of Allah (SWT)�: The Will of Allah (SWT) is made known to us through the Holy Quran. The Quran, in addition to various facts, contains instructions ordering as to do certain things and not to do certain others. The way one should submit to the Will of Allah (SWT), that is, obey His orders given in the Holy Quran, has been demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).  A Muslim would therefore be defined as a person who obeys the orders of Allah (SWT) in accordance with the instructions given by Prophet Muhammed (SAWS).  

The instructions, saying and deeds of Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) are known as the Hadis. If the order to offer Namaz (Salaat in Arabic) is given in the Holy Quran and Hadis and if we claim ourselves to be Muslims then it becomes our duty to obey the order.  Let us, therefore, search the Holy Quran and Hadis understand them thoroughly and find out, why should we offer Namaz and whether offering Namaz is compulsory or optional?

I am Allah there is no god except Me, so serve Me and establish worship ( Salaat ) for My remembrance.( Ch:20 V:14 )

And establish worship ( Salaat ) and give charity ( Zakat ) and whatever good you send before for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, Allah is certainly the Seer of what you do. ( Ch:2 V:110 )

And enjoin worship ( Salaat ) on your people and be constant therin. We do not ask you for provision, We provide for you.  And the consequences of guarding (against) evil is good. ( Ch:20 Vs:132 )

Read that which is communicated to you of the book and establish worship (Salaat), worship ( Salaat ) certainly keep one away from indecency and things and recognized (as good), and the remembrance of Allah is greatest, and Allah knows the work which you do. ( Ch:29 V:45 )
   
(Be of) those who turn to Him in repentance and fear Him and establish worship (Salaat ) and do not be of the polytheists, ( Ch: 30:Vs:31 )

Say, Allah certainly leaves in error whom He wills and guides to Himself those who turn ( to Him ), those who believe and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah. Beware ! hearts do find peace in the remembrance of Allah ( Ch:13 Vs:27 and 28 )

And those who are custodians of their worship (Salaat). They will be honoured in gardens. ( Ch:70 Vs.35 )

THE HADIS

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) is reported to have said, �The foundation of Islam rests on five pillars:

To bear witness of the fact that there is no god except Allah (SWT) and Muhammed (SAWS) is His Servant and Messenger.
To offer Namaz regularly.
To pay the poor tax ( Zakat ).
To fast (Roza during the month of Ramadan and
To perform pilgrimage ( Hajj ),� narrated by Hazarath Abdullah bin Omer (RA) and reported by Bukhari and Muslim).

Hazarath Ibni Masood (RA) [a companion of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) once asked the prophet, �which act does Allah (SWT) like the most� He replied, �To offer Namaz in time.� Then he asked �Next to this which (act)� The Prophet replied, �To be good to parents.� �He again asked, �Next to this?� Then Prophet replied, �To fight in the way of Allah (SWT).� Reported by Bukhari and Mulsim).

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) is reported to have said:

"The only wall that differentiates a Muslim from an unbeliever is Namaz and not offering Namaz wipes off this difference (that is, a Muslim not offering Namaz goes closer to disbelief)" (Narrated by Hazarath Jabir (RA) and reported by Muslim).

Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) once asked his companions, "If a stream is flowing in front of one's door and if he bathes in it five times daily, will any dirt remain on him?" His companions replied " No dirt will remain on him." The Prophet Muhammed, (SAWS) explained "Similar is the case of offering Namaz five times a day, due to it Allah (SWT) wipes off the sins." ( Narrated by Hazarath Abu Hurrairah (RA) and reported by Bukhari and Muslim).

In view of the above passages quoted form Holy Quran and Hadis, offering Namaz is an order of Allah (SWT) and His messenger and in view of the fact that we are Muslims that is those who are required to obey Allah and Prophet Muhammed (SAWS), offering Namaz is our duty that should not be avoided.

1. Namaz is the most important deed after Iman.
2. Due to it we get peace of mind and heart.
3. It keeps us away from evil and shameful deeds.
4. It wipes off sin.
5. If we do not offer Namaz we go nearer to disbelief, the punishment for which is hell.
6. The reward for being regular at Namaz is paradise. Besides offering Namaz or doing anything good is for our own benefit, in no way do we oblige Allah (SWT) because He is free from all wants. In fact we should be thankful to Allah (SWT) to have selected us from amongst millions of human beings to stand before Him offering Namaz and thereby getting reward both in this world and in the life hereafter death.

WHOM SHOULD WE WORSHIP ?

Let us search the Quran and see what should be the object of our worship while offering Namaz. The Holy Quran states :

To Him is due the real prayer (for help), and those to whom they pray (for help) besides Him, do not respond to them in anything . . . . . (Ch:13 Vs:14)

And to Allah bows down whoever (and whatever) is in the skies and the earth willingly and unwillingly and their shadows (too), in the mornings and in the evenings. Say '"Who is the Fosterer of the skies and the earth?" Say, "Allah." Say, "Then do you take guardians besides Him, who do not have the power to benefit or harm (even) their ownselves?" ..... (Ch:13 Vs:14 to 16)

You alone do we serve and (from) you alone do we seek help. (Ch:l Vs:4)

It is clear from the above verses of the Holy Quran that we are required to worship and serve only Allah (SWT) and no one else. Worshipping anything other than Allah (SWT) and considering that Allah has partners are sins known as Kufr and Shirk which will not be forgiven and the punishment of which is hell. It is of utmost importance that we should be very clear and correct in our belief (Iman), that: Allah (SWT) is the Greatest, the Most Powerful, no one is equal to Him in anything, Everything good or bad happens by his command, no one can stop Him from doing anything He wishes, He is the Supreme, the only Master of everything everywhere.

If there were two or more gods then each God would have had his own followers and all the followers of each god would have got their food, water, air, clothing etc. from their respective gods. On the contrary, all human beings, animals and plants get their food, water and all other necessities from common sources which proves that God is ONE, that is Allah (SWT) and besides Him there is no other God. He has created everything and has full control on everything. He brings us to life and causes us to die. He knows everything, is always watching us whether we are busy worshiping Him or doing anything else. He helps every one but does not need any one's help. He has neither parents nor children, He is alone. No one is like Him, He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, the Cherisher and Sustainer of everything everywhere.

We should worship only Allah (SWT) and ask only Him for all help, do all that He has ordered us to do and abstain from that which He has forbidden because He rewards the good and punishes the evil. In the known and the unknown universe everything is created by Allah (SWT). We should not worship anything created but worship only the CREATOR, that is, ALLAH (SWT) and serve only Him.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CATEGORIES OF NAMAZ ?

1. Namaz - I - Janazah (For the dead):

Offering Namaz-i-janazah is a Farz -i-Kifayah. If no one is present it can be offered alone but when many people are present it should be offered injamat. The Imam leads the Namaz and those who follow him form odd number of rows. In this Namaz there is no ruku, sajdah or Qaidah, we are required to stand in Qiyam throughout. With the niyyat (intention) of offering Namaz-i-janazah the Imam and followers say Allahu Akbar (the Imam aloud and the followers to themselves) and fold their arms below the navel as in Qiyam of normal Namaz. First Sana (Hanafi) Sura-i-Fatheha (Shafai) is recited, after which the Imam says Allahu Akbar for the second time. This is followed by reciting the Durood - i - Ibrahim (recited in the last rakat of normal Namaz), after which the Imam says Allahu Akbar for the third time finally a Dua for the deceased is recited which depends on whether the deceased is a male, female, an adult or a child. If one does not remember the specific Dua, he can recite:

'ALLAHUMMA-GHFIR LIL MUMININA WAL MUMINATI'.

O Allah forgive the Muslim men and women'.

After the Dua the Imam says Allahu Akbar for the fourth time and ends the Namaz by reciting the salam as in normal Namaz, by turning the face to the right and then to the left.

2. NAMAZ - TARAWIH :

This Namaz is sunnath and is to be offered on all nights during the month of Ramadan after the Namaz-i-isha till dawn but before offering Namaz-i-Vitar. Some authorities put the number of rakats as eight while others as twenty. Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) always offered Namaz-i-tarawih either alone or in jamat. Hazarath Omer (RA) (Second Calif) during his regime, started regular jamat for offering Namaz-i-Tarawih.

Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) was made to revise the Holy Quran in the month of Ramazan to the extent it was revealed. He regularly offered Namaz-i-tarawih. By offering Namaz-i-Tarawih in Jamat in the Mosque we not only fullfill these two sunnaths of Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) but also get the benefit and reward of offering Namaz in jamat and in the Mosque. In view of this advantages Namaz-i-Tarawih should prefearbly be offered in the Mosque. In case we are not able to offer it in the Mosque, we should offer it alone. We should not miss it because Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) never missed it. This Namaz can be offered in installments of two or four rakats Just like any other Sunnath or Nafil Namaz. We can recite the last ten chapters of the Holy Quran or as much Quran as we remember. In the Mosque, normally the Quran is revised once. The person who leads the Namaz is a Hafiz-i-Quran, that is, one who has memorised the Holy Quran by heart.

3. SOME IMPORTANT NAFIL (EXTRA) NAMAZ

a) Ishraq : Two or four rakats to be offered 15 to 20 minutes after the sun rise. The Namaz carries great reward and it is said that Allah (SWT) helps such persons the whole day and forgives their sins.

b) Chast: Two to twelve rakats between 10 to 11 a.m. (in Pakistan). It is said that even two rakats are compensation (sadqa) for all the joints of the body.

c) Awabeen : After two rakats sunnath of Maghrib, six rakats offered in installement of two rakats is said to be equivalent to twelve years worship.

d) Solar & Lunar Eclipse : Two rakat Namaz during the eclipes.

e) Journey : When one undertakes a journey he should offer two rakat Namaz-i-nafil at home before preceding and on return first go to the mosque offer two rakat Namaz and come home.

f) Forgiveness : When any sin is committed two rakat Namaz should be offered and Allah's forgiveness should be asked for.

g) After performing wazu : Offering two rakat Namaz carries great reward.

h) On entering the Mosque : Offering two rakat Namaz before sitting down also carries great reward.

i) Namaz for the Security of Iman : We should occasionally offer two rakat Namaz praying for the safety and security of our Iman {(faith or belief in Allah (SWT)).}

j) Salat-e- tasbih: Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) had taught this Namaz to his uncle Hazarath Abbas (RA) and had said that by offering this Namaz all your previous and future sins will be forgiven. If possible offer it daily, if not weekly, monthly or once in an year, if even this is not possible offer it atleast once in your life time. It is a four rakat Nafil Namaz and the procedure for performing it is as follows:

1. After reciting the sana recite 15 times: SUBHAN ALLAH! WAL HAMDULILLAHI WA LA ILAHA ILLALLAHU WA ALLAHU AKBAR.

2. Before performing the ruku recite the same ten times (25)    

3. In the ruku, after the ruku tasbih, recite it ten times (35)

4. Before performing the sajdah, in the standing position recite it ten times 

    (45)

5. In the sajdah after tasbih of the sajdah, recite it ten times (55)

6. Between the first and second sajdah, recite it ten times (65)

7. In the second sajdah after the sajdah tasbih, recite it ten times (75)

This adds upto 75 times in each rakat. Follow the same procedure in the second, third and fourth rakats, starting each rakat by reciting the tasbih 15 times before Sura-i-Fathea. Thus in the whole Namaz, the tasbih is recited 300 times. Except for reciting the tasbih, the whole Namaz is to be offered as four rakat Nafil Namaz as described above.

K) Namaz-i-Istikhara : This Namaz is for seeking good from Allah (SWT) before one decides to take an important step.

Jabir (R.A) reports that the Messenger (SAWS) of Allah (SWT) used to teach us 'Istikharah' [Namaz and Dua for seeking good from Allah (SWT)] in all affairs as he used to teach us a chapter from the Holy Quran. He used to say. "When anyone of you intends to do some work he should offer two rakats (Nafil) other than Farz, and pray as follows:

'ALLAHUMMA INNI ASTA-KHAIRUKA BI-ILMIKA WA ASTAQDIRUKA BI-QUDRATIKA WA ASALUKA MIN FAZLIKAL AZEEM, FA INNAKA TAQDIRU WA LAA AQDIRU WA TA'ALAMU WA LAA AALAMU WA ANTA ALIAMUL GHUYYUBI. ALLAHUMMA IN KUNTA TALAMU ANNA HAZAL AMRA (here think of the affair under consideration) KHAIRUNLEE FI DEENI WA MA'ASHI WA 'AAQIBATI AMRI FAQDURUH LEE WA YESSIR HU LEE SUMMA BARIK LEE FIHI WA IN KUNTA TATAMU ANNA HAZAL AMRA (here again think of the affair under consideration) SHARRUN-LEE FI DEENI WA MA'ASHI WA 'AAQIBATI AMRI FAS RIFHU 'ANNI WAS RIFNI ANHU WAQDUR LIYAL KHAIRA HAISU KANA SUMMA ARZINI BIHI.�

'O Allah (SWT) ! I seek good through Your knowledge and I seek power (to do) through Your Power and I ask You (to give me) through Your Grace because You are Powerful and I do not have power and You have knowledge and I do not have knowledge and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah ! If in Your knowledge, this work (under consideration) is good for me in my religious and wordly affairs and in the here after, then (please) order it for me and make it easy for me and put in it Your Blessing, and if in Your Knowledge, this work (under consideration) is bad for me in my religious and my wordly affairs and in the here after, then (please) turn it away from me and turn me away from it and order for me good wherever it is and make me happy with it.

1) Namaz-i-Hajat (For Seeking Allah's Help)

This Namaz is for seeking Allah's help when we need or wish to have something. After performing wazu, two rakat Nafil Namaz-i-Hajat is to be offered. First praise Allah (SWT), pray for Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) by reciting a durood and finally pray as follows:

LAA ILAHA ILLALLAHU-L-HALEEMUL KAREEM, SUBHANA ALLAHI RAB BIL ARSHIL AZEEM, WAL HAMDUULLAHI RAB BIL AALAMEEN ASALUKA MUOJIBATI RAHMATIKA, WA AZA AAIMA MAGHFIRATIKA WAL GHANIMATA MIN KULLI BIR RIWN-WAS-SALAMATA MIN KULLI ISMIN LA TADAA LI ZANBAN ILLA GHAFARTAHU WA LA HAMMAN ILLA FAR RAJTAHU WA LA HAJATAN H1A LAKA RIZAN ILLA QAZAITAHA YAA ARHAMAR RAHIMEEN.

'There is no god except Allah Who is Forbearing and Honoured, Glory be to Allah Who is the Lord of the Throne, and (all) Praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds (universe). (O Allah !) 1 ask You for things which make Your Mercy compulsory, which make Your Forgiveness compulsory and (I ask You) for my share in every good and safety from all sins. (O Allah !). Do not leave any sin of mine without forgiving it and any grief without removing it and any necessity which you like without fulfilling it. O You ! The Most Beneficent of all beneficents!

This Namaz is in obedience to Allah's orders given in the Holy Quran :

' O you who believe I seek help through patience and worship (salaat) Allah is certainly with the patient (Ch:2Vs:153)

Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammed (SWAS) have shown us how we are to manage all our through Namaz and dua; To offer two rakat Namaz when we decide to do something, when we need something, when our wish is granted, when commit a sin, when we go and come back from journey etc., to say Bismillah ir Rehman ir Rahim] when we start something, Inshallah when we intend doing something, Alhamdu lillah when we sneeze etc. In short all important acts are to be covered by Namaz or dua. It is said that Namaz is a means of nearness to Allah (SWT). In view of all this, we should make it a habit to start and end all our actions with Namaz or dua, on which many books are available.

May Allah (SWT) help us in becoming Muslims through NAMAZ, WHICH IS ONE many important purposes. (AAMEEN)

Wudu

WUDU (Ablution) BEFORE DOING WUDU: If someone needs to go to the toilet ,he should use the toilet and do Istinja before doing wudu.

SIWAK(TOOTH-STICK): It is a good practice to clean the teeth with a tooth-stick,or a toothbrush before performing Wudu.In this way you can avoid many diseases which are caused by unclean teeth.

As mentioned in the Hadith:Aisha r.a reported Allah's Messenger pbuh as saying:"The use of a tooth-stick is a means of purifying the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord as well."(Ahmed, Darmi and Nasai)

Prophet Muhammad pbuh also said:"If I wouldn't have felt that it is difficult for my people I would have ordered them to use a tooth-stick with ever prayer,that is before doing each wudu.

So Muslims should always try to fulfil this wish of our Prophet pbuh.
MAKING INTENTION(NIYAH) FOR WUDU:

Before starting the actions o wudu it is necesary to make niyat.
Make Niyat that the act of performing  wudu is for the purpose  of
purity only. Niyat should be made in the heart because  it is an action
of the heart  and not of the tongue.

Niyat by words is not approved by Prophet  Muhammad  (S.A.W)
Then start the wudu by saying:- Bismillah  hir-rahma  nir-raheem
(ln the name of Allah, most gracious,  most merciful)

ACTIONS FOR PERFORMING WUDU: 

1.Wash the hands up to the wrist making sure that no part of the hands is left dry.

2.Rinse the mouth taking up water with the right hand.

3.Clean the nose :sniff water up from the right palm and then eject water with the left hand.

4.Wash the face ,from ear to ear,and forehead to chin making sure that no part of the face is left dry.

5.Then wash the forearms(right forearm first) upto the elbows making sure that no part of them is left dry.

6.Rub the head as follows: Wet your fingers and wipe the head with your fingers,starting from the forehead,taking\ them to the nape of the neck,then bring them back to the forehead.

7.Clean the ears by inserting the tips of the index fingers wetted with water into the ears,twist them around the folds of the ears then pass the thumb behind the ears from the bottom,upwards.

8.Wash the feet(right foot first) up to the anklesmaking surethat no part of the feet are left dry, especially between the toes.

SPECIAL FACILITIES IN WUDU: Rubbing the socks with wet hands instead of washing the feet is allowed provided that the socks have been put on after performing an ablution including washing the feet.This is allowed for 24 hours from the time of ablution,and for 3 days if the person is on journey.After this time the feet must be washed .Similarly if there is a wound in any parts of the body which has to be washed in ablution,and if washing that particular part is likely to cause harm, it is permissible to wipe the dressing of the wound with a wet hand.

Hadith:Mughira bin Shu'bah said:"Prophet pbuh performed ablution and wiped over his socks and his sandals."(Ahmad,Tirmidhi,Abu Dawud)
Each detail of ablution has been performed by Prophet Muhammad pbuh once,twice or three times (except rubbing of head and cleaning of ears i.e. action 6 and 7 should only be done once).Since all the above methods meet Prophet pbuh's approval, we can perform ablution by doing the actions once ,twice or three times,provided that no part has been left dry.

Amr bin Shu'aib, quoting his father on the authority of his grand father narrated that prophet Muhammad said:"If anyone performs actions of ablution more than 3 times ,he has done wrong,transgressed , and done wickedly."(Ibn Majah, Nasai)

DUA AT THE END OF WUDU: Ashadu an la ilaha illal lahu wah duhu la shareeka lahu wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasuluhu.
"I testify that there is no deity except Allah Alone. And I testify that Muhammad pbuh is His servant and Messenger."(Muslim)

Allahum maj 'alnee minat taw-wabeena waj'alnee minal muta tahhireen.
"O Allah make me among those who are penitent and make me among those who are purified."(Tirmidhi)

TAYAMMUM: In circumstances when water cannot be found ,or just enough is available for drinking ,or it is injurious to health:in such situations Tayammum (dry ablution) can be performed.

The procedure below is given according to Qur'an and hadith. "..And if you don't find any water,then take clean earth (or sand ) and rub it on your face,and hands .Allah does not wish to put you in a difficulty ,but He wants to make you clean, and to complete His favour unto you,so you should be grateful to Him."(surah 5:verse 6)

Procedure:

1.Make Niyat in the heart.

2.Begin with the name of Allah.

3.Strike palms of both hands on clean sand,dust or anything containing these e.g wall or stone etc.then blow into the palm of both hands over the face once and then rub your right hand with the left palm and left hand with the right palm.(Bukhari)

4.Finish with the same dua as given at the end of ablution.

TIME-PLACE-DRESS AND TYPES OF PRAYER

TIME OF SALAT: Each Salat must be offered at or during its proper time .No salat can be offered before its time .There are five obligatory Salat in a day:

Fajar Prayer: The time for the Fajar or morning prayer starts at dawn and ends at sunrise.

Zuhr Prayer: The time of Zuhr prayer starts when the sun begins to decline from its zenith and ends when the size of an object's shadow is equal to the size of object.

Jabir bin Abullah ra narrated:"The angel Jibrael came to Prophet Muhammad pbuh and said to him:'Stand up and pray Zuhr' so Allah's Messenger prayed zuhr when the sun had declined from its zenith.Then the angel Jibrael came again at the time of Asr and said:'Stand up and pray Asr'.The Prophet Muhammad pbuh prayed Asr when the shadow of everything was equal to itself.Then Jibrael came the next day to the Prophet pbuh and said:'Stand up and pray zuhur.'Then the Prophet Muhammad pbuh prayed the zuhur when the shadow of everything was equal to itself.Then Jibrael came again at Asr time and said:'Satnd up and pray Asr".Then He prayed Asr when the shadow of everything was twice its length...Then Jibrael said,(after praying 10 Salat with Prophet Muhammd pbuh in two consecutive days) that the time of Salat is in between these two times." Ahmad,Nasai, Tirmidhi and Bukhari remarked that this is the most authentic Hadith giving the times of prayer.

We find that many books on salat state the ending time of Zuhur prayer and the starting time of Asr prayer when the shadow of something is twice itself.But this contradicts the above hadith as on the first day Jibrael asked Prophet Muhammad pbuh to pray Asr when shadow of everything was equal to itself.This means that was the end time of Zuhr prayer.And we already know that all the Ulama of the Muslim Ummah agree unanimously that no Salat can be offered before this time.

Asr Prayer: The time for Asr prayer or late afternoon prayer starts when the shadow of something is equal to itself and ends just before sunset.
It is better to offer Asr prayer before the sun become yellow because even though it is allowed to offer the Salat at this time the Prophet pbuh disliked Muslims to delay Asr prayer up to this time.He remarked that the Munafiq (hypocrite) offered his salat at this time.

Maghrib Prayer: The time for the Maghrib or the sunset starts just after sunset and ends when twilight has disappeared.

Isha Prayer: The time for Isha or night prayer starts from the disappearance of twilight and ends just before midnight.It is preferable to offer this prayer before midnight.

FORBIDDEN TIMES OF PRAYER

Uqbah bin 'Amir said,There are three times at which Allah's Messenger pbuh used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead.

1.When the sun began to riseuntil it was fully up.
2.When the sun was at its height at midday till it pass meridian.
3.When the sun drew near to setting till it had set.(Muslim)
Forbidden times for Nafl Prayer:

1.Abu Sa'eed Al Khudree ra reported Allah's Messenger pbuh as saying:"No Salat is to be said after the Fajar prayer until the sun rises, or after the Asr prayer until the sun sets."(Bukhari and Muslim)

Only Nafl prayer is forbidden at these times but a missed Fard prayer can be offered .Most of the ' ULAMA of the Muslim Ummah allowed the offering of missed Fard prayer after Fajar and 'Asr because of the following Hadith:
 Prophet pbuh said'"Who has forgotten the prayer he should pray it whenever he remembers it."(Bukhari and Muslim)

2.A Nafl cannot be offered once the Iqamat for Fard prayer has been said.Abu Huraira  narrated that Messenger pbuh said:"When the Iqamat  has been said , then there is no Salat valid(Nafl or Sunnat ) exept the Fard prayer for which the iqamat was said."(Ahmad and Muslim)

It is seen in practice that many people continue with the sunnat prayer even though the Iqamat has been said for the Fard prayer especially in the Fajar prayer.They feel that the 2 Rak'at Sunnat of Fajar can only be offered before the Fard. This practice is against congregation philosphy, discipline of Jama'at and a clear violation of Hadith. They should offer 2 Rak'at Sunnat of Fajar immediately after the Fard or after sunrise.

PLACE FOR SALAT

A place or a building which is used for the purpose of worship and Salat is called a MASJID(Mosque) .A Hadith tells us that ,All the earth has been rendered for the Muslims as the Mosque (pure and clean).

This means that whereever a Muslim might be he can offer his Salat but the reward of a Salat offered in a Mosque is far greater than that offered in an ordinary place. The following points should be noted when choosing a place for Salat,

a)The place should be clean and pure. Salat in a dirty, filthy and impure place such as a rubbish tip ,slaughter house ,bathing place and a camel pen is forbidden.

b)The place should be free from danger.The danger could be due to someone or something that may disturb the worshipper.

c)A prayer place where the worshipper might hinder the movement of others should be avoided, e.g. busy pavements, public roadways etc.

d)It is forbidden to pray on the roof of BAITULLAH(Ka'bah)

e)It is forbidden to pray on top of or facing towards a grave.

Prayer in the Mosque

Allah The Exalted and Most Honored ,has required Muslim men to join congregational prayers in the mosque: "...and bow down along with Ar-Raki'un (Those who bow down in prayer)."(2:43)

Also,The Messenger of Allah(pbuh) and his companions preserved the prayer at the mosque so perfectly that it was as if attending congregational prayer became a part of the prayer itself. For instance, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) preserved the congregational prayer even when he was travelling and during illness that preceded his death.

Presently, this dedication  to the congregational prayer has almost disappeared from our mosques,except for Friday prayer,for the mosques are usually packed during the prayer.However,these crowds are now here to be seen during other prayers ,as if they were given permission to be absent from the rest of the daily prayers for which they hear the Adhan,five times a day.Do they think that they will not be questioned about this shortcoming and plain error?

The Adhan is the call to Tawhid and it should bring happiness to the heart,since it is Allah's call for Muslims to join the ranks of faithful believers in the mosque.This is why when the call to prayer was pronounced,Abu 'Imran Al-Jazni used to cry. Before that,as 'Aishah(ra) narrated of the Messenger of Allah(pbuh): 

"He used to talk to us and we to him,but when the time for prayer came,it would be as if he did not know us."

Also when Ali bin Husain used to perform Wudhu, his color would change .His family asked him why this happenend to  him everytime he performed Ablution,said:

"Do you know before Whose Hands i am about to stand (in prayer)?"

When Sulaiman bin Al-A'mash used to wake up at night to answer the call to nature and did not find much water for Wudhu, he would wipe his hand on the dusty wall and perform Tayammum,saying,"I fear that i might die while not in state of Wudhu. "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

"Know that prayer is your best act,and only a believer would preserve Wudhu." [Ahmad,Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Hakim;Al-Albani rendered this hadith sahih]

When Mansur bin Zadhan performed Wudhu;his eyes became overflowing with tears .He was asked: "Why are you crying?

"He said,"What matter is greater than this?I am about to stand before the Hands of He Who never sleeps nor succumbs to slumber,and He might turn away from me." [Sifatu As-Safwah'vol.2,p.12]

They had these soft feelings because their hearts were righteous and their inner-selves were pure.When Yazid bin Abdullah was asked:

"Should we make a roof for our mosque?"He said, "Purify you hearts and your mosque will be sufficient for you."[Hilayatu Al-Auliya,vol.2,p.312]

Surely their mosque not having a roof will not bother those who have pure hearts and sincere intention .Rather they will be dedicated to perfectly performing the prayer so that Allah might accept it from them.
Adi bin Hathim (ra) said:

"Ever since I became Muslim, i always made sure to have Wudhu ' when the Adhan is called." [As-Siyar,vol.3,p.160]

Answering the Adhan promptly and perfectly was an integral part of the Life of Salaf, so much so, that they did not succumb to laziness nor did it become tiresome for them,even though they sustained an exalted level of vitality and vigor in this regard.They respond to the Adhan by heading towards the mosque and in the meantime ,leaving the affairs of this life behind them. 

For instance, when Ibrahim bin Maymun Al-Marwazi' a jewler ,would hear the Adhan while holding up his tools his hand would not come down on the jewelry! He would then rush to the mosque to pray.They were men whose hearts were eager to answe the Adhan in obedience to the Lord of the worlds and imitating the Sunnah of the master of all the Messengers.When they heared the Adhan ,they left the affairs of this life and rushed to the obedience of Allah ,the Exalted,the Most Honored,walking to the mosque calmly and with grace.

In the present time,Muslims have lost interest in the congregational prayer as compared to our Salaf. There is a big difference between the worshippers of today and the worshippers of of yesterday. Many men today do not enter the mosque either before,during or after the Adhanis pronounced. Some might live and die without once entering the mosque to pray, except for the time when he is taken to the mosque to be prayed  for! In contrast, our Salaf implemented the Prophet's statement that encouraged them to go to the mosque early to pray, so that they are able to be in the first line: 

"If the people but knew the reward of (answering) the Adhan and attendance in the first line,and had to draw lots to be in it,they would do so." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Salaf were so dedicated in preserving this great command,that it was reported that Bishr bin Al-Husain made sure to be in the first line in the mosque for fifty consecutive years.However,things have changed since that time! Nowadays,you rarely see those who are adamant on preserving the congregational prayer,which is an important obligation and a great act of righteousness. There has been a loss of interest in being behind the Imam when he recites the first Takbir that starts the act of prayer,i.e., Takbir Tahrimah: Allahu Akbar, Allah is the Most Great.As for Salaf, Sa'id bin Al-Musayyab , a great scholar from the Tabi,in the second generation of Islam  demonstrated their exalted mannerism in this regard when he said:

"For the past fifty years , I have never missed Takbir Tahrimah, nor have i stood behind a man in the prayer(indicating that Sa'id made sure to be in the first line behind the Imam,the leader of the prayer)." [Hilayatu Al-Auliya Wa Tabaqatu Al-Asfiya vol.2,p.163]

Allah said: "...And for this let(all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah)." Indeed the congregational prayer is a worthy prize that men should compete to earn and a noble goal to reach and attain.

Those who compete in collecting world possessions ,no matter how valued and sought after these possessions are, will be competing in collecting an insignificant prize in a world, all of which is worth less than the wing of a mosquito with Allah. In contrast, the Hereafter is heavy in Allah's scale and is the prize that should be vigorously sought to earn.

Why is it, then that some of us might not attend the first Takbir for a full year, unlike Sulaiman bin Mahran, who made sure to be behind the Imam for TAkbir Tahrimah for seventy years(except,of course, when he was travelling or very ill.)

It is a shame to see that only a few people attend the prayer with the congregation from beginning to end,in the present time, for we witness few people who do not continue the prayer after the  Imam is finished with it because they started late.

Usayd bin Ja'far said: "I never saw my uncle Bishr bin Mansur miss the first Takbir , and whenever any person stood up in our mosque to ask people for help, my uncle gave him something." [Sifatus-Safwah vol.3,p.376]

Furthermore ,Waki'bin Al-Jarrah said that for almost seventy years ,Al-A'mash did not missed Takbir Tahrimah behind the Imam. Some of the Salaf would miss Takbir Tahrimah only once or twice over a span of many years.

For instance, Ibn Sama'ah said: "For forty years I only missed Takbir Tahrimah when my mother died." [As-Siyar,vol.10,p.646]

This is how dedicated they were praying and attending the congregational prayer from the beginning  In this context, we could understand why Ibrahim An-Nakha'i said that:

"If you know a man's disinterest in Takbir Tahrimah, then wash your hands of him." [As-Siyar,vol.5,p.65]

Furthermore,Ibrahim At-Taymi emphasized the dedication of the Salaf to the congregational prayer when he said similar words to those stated by An-Nakha'i. Also, our Salaf were well aware of the importance of coming early to the prayer, as demonstrated by the statement of Sufyan bin uyaynah:

"Honoring the prayer includes coming before the Iqamah is recited."[Sifatu As-Safwah,vol.2,p.235]

People whowere such dedicated to the congregational prayer would certainly feel grief if they missed attending the congregational prayer,even once.Sulaiman bin Hamazah Al-Maqdisi , who was a judge in the area of Syria, said:

"Only two times I prayed alone , and I consider myself as if I did not perform these prayers at all."

He was ninety years old when he said this.They used to feel pain for missing the prayer with the congregation ,aggrieved that they lost the tremendous rewards of this righteous act.Muhammad bin Al-Mubarak As-Suri said that when sa'id bin Abdul Aziz missed the congregational prayer ,he would cry!

To them congregational prayer was worth more than any part of this life that we compete in collecting and might be lured by it to ignore praying on time.Once, Maymun bin Mahran came to the mosque late and when he was told that the people had already finished the prayer ,he said:

"WE all belong to Allah an to Him shall be our return!I prefer the congregational prayer to being the governor of Iraq." [Mukashafatu Al-Qulub ,p.364]

Some of us might miss the congregational prayer for an insignificant matter of this life,let alone being the governor of Iraq!

 The Salaf so sad when they missed the congregational prayer  ,that some of them, like Abdullah bin 'Umar (ra) for instance, would stand in voluntary prayer for the entire night if he missed the ISha prayer in congregation. Congregational prayer had an exalted status with these righteous men and they felt the pain of losing it, just as if they lost a loved one.They considered it a great matter and had knowledge  of its essence and true value. For instance, when HAtim Al-'Asam missed the congregational prayer one time, Abu Ishaq Al-Bukhari alone gave him condolences. Hatim said:

"Had I lost a son, more than ten thousand people would have given me condolences, because religious loss to people is less important than material loss!" [Mukashafatu Al-Qulub,p.364]

This is a wise lesson of tremendous importance. We see many people condoling those who have lost loved ones, but very few , if any, give condolences for losing or missing a religious act. O Allah! Do not make us among those who fall victim to calamities and trials in religion, nor make this life the subject of our concern. Yunus bin Abdullah once said:

"What is the matter with me? When I lose a chicken I feel concerned, but when I miss the prayer in congregation ,it does not grieve me."Hilayatu Al Auliya ,vol.3, p.19]

How many among us indulge in the affairs of work and livelihood so deeply, anticipating salary increases and other prizes of life, and have trouble going to sleep because of this and other worldly concerns? In the morning, we see these people tire themselves working and doing this and that, calculating the material significance of this matter and that matter, and in the process miss the congregational prayers, yet they do not feel sad for this great loss. Some of them might attribute this shortcoming to being busy at work and sustaining their livelihood!

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Give glad tidings of perfect light on the Day of Resurrection to those who walk in the dark to the Mosque." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi]

This is a great news to those who wake up at night ,leave the delight of sleep and the softness of their beds ,recite the Adhan after the Muadhin and then walk to the mosque in calmness, during the coldness of night and in total darkness. Allah  will record the steps they take to the mosque and Allah willing ,they are worthy of the glad tidings that the Prophet (pbuh) has conveyed .Therefore,neither let Satan overcome you with sleep, nor hesitate  to wake up for the prayer. Wake up and rush to Paradise, as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the pious. In it, there is what no eye has ever seen , nor ear has heard and no heart has ever imagined of delights. May Allah bring you to this destination  and make Paradise your final dwelling.

The Salaf used to spend much of their time performing acts of obedience and worship, even though they carried  great responsibilities and work to earn their living.

 For instance, Abu Yusuf, who was a judge, used to pray voluntary prayers daily , even after he was appointed a judge. Also Caliph Harun Ar-Rashid used to pray voluntarily every night , from the time he became caliph until he died, except when he was ill.

The mosque  assumed a Pivotal role in their life , because it is a place to worship Allah. This is why , when 'Ata bin Yasar saw a man selling in the mosque , he said to him:

"This is the marketplace of hereafter. If you are seeking this life, then go to the marketplace of this life."

Basic of Islam

A person who accepts Islam is called a Muslim. It means "one who surrenders". A Muslim is required to do all that Allah and his Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) have told not to do.

Allah and his Messenger (PBUH) have told us to do good deeds like being kind to our parents, to help others who are less fortunate and to be kind to animals.

Allah is One and Almighty.
He is our Lord.
He is created everything that is in the earth and the heavens.
He has no partner.
He has no mother or father, son or daughter.
He is Eternal.
There is nothing similar to Him.
He knows everything.
He sees everything.
He hears everything.
Nothing is hidden from Him.

He is Kind and Loving. He is Gracious and Merciful.
He is Clement and Forgiving.
Allah has beautiful Names which indicate His Attributes.
He is the One Who provides each and every one of His creation with the means to survive. 
He is the One Who created everything for our survival like the earth in which crops grow, water living things drink from, the air which they breathe and kindling for fire.
Muslim should turn only to Him in their times of need and sadness.
Muslim should seek help only from Him.
He is the One Who worthy of worship. Nothing else should be worshipped but He. There is no greater sin than Shirk, which means to associate partners unto Allah and believe that they can give us benefit or cause us harm, or worship or seek help from others besides Him.

Muhammad (PBUH) was the Prophet. Allah chose him to reveal His Last Message. He came with complete guidance for mankind. He received the Noble Quran from Allah through Angel Jibril. He was born in Makkah and was orphaned at a young age. He was cared for by his grandfather and then his uncle after grandfather died. Muhammad (PBUH) led an honest life, and was known as As-Sadiq (the truthful) and Al-Amin (the trustworthy) He received the first Revelation at the age of forty. 

He lived in Makkah for thirteen years, and called people to Islam. However, most of the people of Makkah refused to follow him. Theu made fun of him and tortured him and those who followed him. He suffered a great deal, but continued to preach the Word of Allah. He was forced to leave Makkah and go to Al-Madinah for ten years calling peoples to obey Allah. He had fight those who tried to stop him from spreading the Message of Allah.

Before he died, the whole Arabia had accepted Islam. He passed away at the age of 63. This shows that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a human being just like us. He was not a Divine being, but was only a slave of Allah. Muslims must obey him, respect him, love him, but must not worship him nor attribute to him qualities which Allah possesses.

Muslims must follow his excellent example and follow the Right Path according to his teachings. He taught that all men, whether rich or poor, of whatever colour or race, are equal before Allah. it is only their obedience to Allah and their good deeds which may make some people better than others. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us to love, respect and be kind to one another, and to others of Allah creation.

He was the last and fianl Prophet. No Prophet shall come after him. Those who obey Allah and follow the teachings of His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) be rewarded with Paradise in the Hereafter.

A Muslim must have Iman. Iman means to have firm belief in six things:

1: The first believe in Allah, to believe that He exists, He is One, and He Alone is the creator, Sustainer and Lord over everything, and He Alone is worthy of worship.

2: The second is to believe in the angels who are also the creation of Allah. Allah created them from light, and they always obey Him. They have been assigned various tasks which they carry out faithfully. Some of them were given the task of carrying the Message to the Prophets. Others are assigned to record the good and bad actions of human beings. The number of angels is well-known to us. They are Jibril, Mikail, Izrail and Israfil.

3: The third is believe in Allah Prophets. They were His Messengers on this earth, and were responsible for teaching Islam to their people. They came to teach people to do good, and lived their lives according to what they preached. The first man was also the Prophet, and he was Adam (PBUH). The last Prophet was Muhammad (PBUH). Some other famous ones are Nuh ( Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus). A Muslim must believe in all the Prophets and give them due respect but they should not be worshipped.

4: The fourth is to believe in the Books of Allah. Allah revealed Books to His Prophets. These Books contain the guidance of Allah for mankind. The Noble Quran is the Book revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The three Books known to us which were revealed before the Quran are the Torah which was revealed to Musa, the Zabur which was sent down to Dawud, and Injil which given to Isa. Some people who were disobedient to Allah have distorted some of these Books to mislead the people. Allah has protected the Noble Quran from any kind of distortion.

5: The fifth is to believe in life after death. A Muslim has to believe that life in this world will come to an end one day. Everything in this world will perish. Then Allah will bring all human being back to life and judge them according to their deeds which they did while they lived on earth. The people who have obeyed Allah and spent their lives doing good will go to Paradise. There they will have everything good that they could possibly want, as a reward for their good deeds. The people who have disobedient to Allah Commands and have done bad things will go to Hell. There they will be cast into a big Fire as punishment for their bad deeds.

6: The sixth is to believe that everything comes from Allah. This means that Allah knows everything that is Going to happen whether it is a good thing or a bad thing. Nothing in this world takes place without His Permission or Knowledge. If something good happens to a Muslim, he should thank Allah for it. He should be patient and ask Allah for relief if something bad happens to him.

 This is the Holy Book which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a guidance to mankind. It was revealed to him over twenty-three years. The first revelation to him when he was contemplating in the cave of Hira.

Then suddenly Angel Jiril appeared to him and asked him to read. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "i cannot read" The Angel embraced him tightly and then released him saying, "Read" Again the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said,  "i cannot read" Once again angel Jibril embraced him tightly and then released him saying: Surah Al-Alaq, Verse: 1-5

Recite in the name of your Lord who created -

Created man from a clinging substance.
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -
Who taught by the pen -

Taught man that which he knew not

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was terrified and rushed to his house. He told his wife Khadijah (PBUH) what had happened. She consoled him and asked him to rest. The Verses of The Quran continued to be revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) telling him to ask the people to follow the Right Path of Islam.

Every time the verses were revealed, the Prophet (PBUH) would order his people to write them down. All verses of the Quran were presevred in this way. Later they where made into a Book which we have today.

The Quran is the Book of guidance for all mankind, It contains all the basic principles of the religion os Islam. It has given the details of the matters of Belief, the duties which are compulsory for Muslims to perform, and code of conduct which Muslims must follow.

Muslims must recite the Quran in Arabic and learn its meaning in their own languages. They must also act according to its teachings. There are 114 chapters in the Quran. Some are very long, and some are short. The Quran is divided into 30 parts. This is to make it easy for people to recite one part a day, and finish reciting it in a month. Recitation of the Quran and remembering its chapters and verses by heart are good deeds for which a person will be rewarded.

You have earlier learnt that Islam is based on Five Pillers. Now let us look at each pillar in turn:

1. Shahadah: 

This is to firmly believe in the heart and decide:
This is Shahadah. It is the very basis of Islam. Once a person declares it, he becames a Muslim. The Shahadah has two parts/ The first part is a declaration that Allah is the only Lord and Ruler, and He Alone is worthy of worship.

He has no partner, and He cannot be compared with other thing. Everything which in this universe is under His control and works according to His command. Mankind is also required to live according to the Commands of Allah.  Allah loves those who follow His Command. Allah dislike those who disobey Him.

The second part of the Shahadah is the declaration that Muhammad (PBUH) os the Messenger of Allah. He was the one who brought the Quran to us. Muslims are required to obey the Prophet (PBUH)  and follow his example without any hesitation.

Muslims are also required to honour and respect him, and ask Allah to give him blessing and salutations. Whenever his name is mentioned we must say:

2. Prayer (Salat)

This is to pray (perform Salat) five times a day. It is the distinguishing feature of Islam. A person abandons prayer at the risk of going out of Islam. Prayer is the most ssential obligatory duty which a Muslim must perform. This is the most obvious act which a Muslim does to show his obedience to Allah. Salat is also a means ot remembering Allah.

In prayer a person leaves everything and devotes himself to the worship to Allah. He dose exactly what he has been instructed by Allah's Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) . He changes from one posture to another in a composed manner, focusing his mind on Allah. He feels that he is standing before Allah the Almighty. Prayer is indeed a means of bringing mankind close to Allah.

In prayer, one stands facing the direction of the Kabah, bows and kneels before his Lord. He recited the Opening Chapter of the Quran ( Surat Al-Fatihah) praising and glorifying Allah, and asking for His Support and Help. This is Al-Fatihah,

In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
[All] praise is [due] to Allah , Lord of the worlds -
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
 Guide us to the straight path - 
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

Because of its importance, every Muslim male or female must learn how to perform Salat. Children should start performing it from the age of seven. When they reach the age of ten, their parents should discipline them if they dont do it. Prayer must be done by all Muslims and in all conditions. Those who cannot stand, can pray sitting down. Those who cannot sit, can do it lying down. Travelers should shorten their prayers.

There are five prayers each day. There are:

Fajar, which is observed at dawn before then sun rises.
Zuhr, which is observed at noon when the sun start to decline from the meridian.
Asr, which is to be observed in the late afternoon.
Maghrib, which is to be observed when the sun sets.
Isha, which is offered at night before going to bed.

One can therefore see that a Muslim's day starts and ends with prayer. The first thing a Muslim dose when he/she awakes in the morning is to think of Allah, praising Him and giving Him thanks. At the close of the day after doing all his/her daily activities he/she remembers Allah in his/her prayer, praising and thinking Him before he/she sleeps.

Prayer may be offered individually or in congregation. When it is performed in a congregation, the people stand in straight rows. The person who leads the prayer in called the Imam. He stands in front of the rest of the congregation. The congregation follows him in each step of the prayer. It is best to perform all the five obligatory prayers in congregation.

On Friday, prayer in congregation is compulsory for men. Women may also attend if they like. This Friday prayer is performed in place of the normal noon prayer. Before the prayer, the Khutba (sermon) is given by the imam. This contains guidance for Muslims as to how to deal with the problems of daily life.

Before performing prayer, a person must make sure that his body, clothes and his place of worship are clean. A special act of cleansing, called Wudu (ablution) must be done before prayer.

Wudu is performed by first washing hands. This is followed by rinsing the mouth and nose. Then the face is washed and the forearms up to the elbows. After this, wet hands are passed over the head and inside and outside of the ears. Finally, the feet are washed up to the ankles.

Each time Wudu, is made, all these parts should not be washed more then three times except when passing wet hands over the head which is to be done only once. If a person has done Wudu and then puts on socks, he does not need to take them off when he next makes Wudu. He may just pass wet hands over them once.

3. Zakat

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It is a way to doing our duty to other Muslims. Zakat is also to remind a person that his wealth is not his own, but its real owner is Allah. This should make a person ready to spend it in accordance with Allah's Command. Zakat is an annual payment made by people. It is not a tax imposed by Islam, but a due fixed by Allah so that the wealth of a person may be purified.

Zakat becomes due on savings which have been kept for one full year. Two and half percent of the total money is given to those who are in need. For example, if a person has 1000$ in savings which he has kept for a year then he will pay 25.00$.

Zakat is an act of worship. It is also a way of showing sympathy to those who are less fortunate. It is meant to take away from our hearts greed and the love of money. It is also a bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
Zakat purifies one's wealth. Wealth on which Zakat has not been paid will be a source of punishment for its owner.

4. Fasting

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 183 O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.

Fasting means to keep away from eating, drinking and the sexual act from dawn to sunset. Fasting is a compulsory for every Muslim during the month or Ramdan.

Fasting is both a physical and spiritual exercise. The person who is fasting is required to keep himself away from any act which displeases Allah. He should not engage in any evil behavior He should not say bad things nor quarrel with anyone. If he does not control himself and avoid evil deeds. his fast will not bring him any benefit nor reward from Allah.

Fasting through Ramadan trains one to control the desires. It also teaches one to discipline the behavior. Fasting helps one to strengthen his will-power. It also develops a person's endurance and steadfastness.

Fasting provides Muslims with the opportunity to experience the hunger and thirst suffered by many starving people in this world. Only in this way can Muslims learn and understand what it really feels like not to have food or drink. A Muslim will then be able to show sympathy, and be prepared to help and support them. This is why the fasting month of Ramadan is called the Month of Endurance and Sympathy.

Fasting is the true manifestation of obedience to Allah. The person who is fasting does so for the sake of Allah. For this reason, Allah has prepared a great reward for those who fast. They will go into Paradise through a very special gate.

During the month of Ramadan, a special prayer is offered which is called Tarawih. Parts of the Noble Quran are recited during Tarawih. Usually, the recitation of the whole Book is completed by the end of the month.
The month of Ramadan is also important for another reason. In it is a very special night called Laylat-ul-Qadr. It was on this night that the Noble Quran was revealed. It is night full of blessings. Muslims are encouraged to spend that night worshipping and remembering Allah.

Worship during Laylat-ul-Qadr carries the reward of more then one thousand months. We are not told when exactly in Ramadan that night is, but Allah's Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) said that it was one of the odd-numbered nights in the last ten days of Ramadan. He encouraged Muslims to spend most of their time in worshipping Allah in Ramadan, especially during the time when they might find Laylat-ul-Qadr.

Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree.
And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.
Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. 

A day of celebration called Eid-ul-Fitr comes after the end of Ramadan. It is a day to rejoice the success of completing the month of fasting. It is a happy occasion and is full of joy. The day starts with special prayer and reciting the words of praise and glory of Allah. Before going to the Eid prayer every Muslim is required to give Sadqat-ul-Fitr for himself and his dependents.

Sadqat-ul-Fitr is the giving of either money or food to the poor and needy so that they could satisfy their needs on that day, and join in celebrating the day of joy and happiness. It is also meant to purify fasting in Ramadan from any fault or defect.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)

The fifth pillar of Islam is to perform Hajj or pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Makkah. It is compulsory on Muslims who can afford the expenses and physically able to undertake the journey. It is obligatory only once in a Muslim's Life.

Hajj was performed for the first time by the Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail (PBUH). Ibrahim was ordered by Allah to call people for pilgrimage  It is in response to his call call that Muslims rush to Makkah every year. They carry out the act of Hajj with devotion and sincerity. They confirm their readiness to forsake worldly enjoyment and comfort for the sake of Allah.

Hajj is the largest annual gathering of Muslims. They come from all over the world to assemble in the Holy Land. They meet one another and exchange good wishes.

Hajj is true demonstration of the fact that Islam is a universal religion and all Muslims are brothers and equal to one another. Pilgrimage wear the same clothing and gather on the plain of Arafat. This is a reminder that all mankind will one day gather on the Day of Judgement when they will be presented to Allah. They will stand equal before Allah except in the degree of piety and righteousness. Hajj symbolises devotion to Allah and obedience of His Commands.