Chapter 6

The Principal Practices of Islam

Chapter Summary

Islam stands on five pillars or principal practices – shahada: there is one God – conversion to Islam – conversion: marriage – conversion: intellectual enquiry, the sufi way, seeking a home – informal prayer – prayer of the heart – salat: formal prayer – regular rhythm – call to prayer – direction for prayer – preparation: washing (wudu) – preparation: intention () – a unit of prayer (rak'a) – the imam at congregational prayer – women and salat: in the mosque and at home – Friday congregational prayers – zakat: purification of wealth – setting up charitable trusts (waqf) – economic exploitation forbidden (riba) – the circulation of wealth (infaq) – zakat calculation and payment – sawm: the fast during the month of Ramadan – the lunar calendar – moon sighting – practicalities of fasting – a review of life – the Night of Power – exemptions – children – 'Id al-Fitr

Islam relies on a set of rituals and practices to reinforce the purpose of the muslim life. There are five main pillars of Islami practice, together building taqwa (God-consciousness): Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj (discussed in chap. 2). The set of practices is expanded and redefined in Shi'i Islam (see Fig. 11, p. 90).

Shahada: "I bear witness that there is no god save God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This statement is repeated several times daily by a Muslims. The two parts of the statement are intimately linked, the first part confirmed by the second. God alone is worthy of worship and the Qur'an has been revealed to guide human belief and conduct.

One converts to Islam by confessing the shahada. Unlike in some Christian churches, conversion to Islam is simple and quick. In the West, there are four common paths to conversion to Islam: marriage; intellectual enquiry; the mystical path; in search of friendship, dignity and support. Muslim men can marry either a Muslim woman or a person from the People of the Book (Q. 2.221; 5.5), but a Muslim woman must marry a Muslim man. All children are raised as Muslims. Islam understands itself to be a rational, common-sense approach to the world. This intellectual outlook has attracted many converts. The path of Sufi mysticism is another attractive option. Many groups, such as women and African Americans, have found Islam to be a source of dignity and self-esteem. Islam, like Christianity, is a missionary faith.

Salat: Salat is the formal prayer practiced five times each day; du'a is informal prayer in which one speaks to God; dhikr trains the heart to constantly remember God. Through du'a, every element in the Muslim's daily life is brought before God, either through traditional forms of prayer (such as the Basmala) or one's own words. Dhikr cultivates taqwa (God-consciousness), the awareness that God is close and sees all we do (Q. 50.16, 58.7). All of life is a blessing (baraka) from God, for which we express thankfulness (shukr) since all occurs according to God's will. Sufi communities practice many rituals to cultivate dhikr, guided by a shaykh or shaykha.

The frequency of salat was decreed by God to Muhammad during the mi'raj. When practiced with the right intention (niyya), regular salat increases taqwa. The windows of time for prayer are connected to the passage of the sun. The work day is ordered around prayer times. Mosques are constructed with minarets from which the Muezzin can announce the call to prayer (adhan). Prayers can be performed alone, but groups are preferred. The community gathers in a principal mosque for Salat al-Jum'a (Friday Prayer). It has become customary to use a prayer mat. The Ka'ba in Makka is the physical focus of all prayers, with the mosque featuring a mihrab to mark the qibla. Before salat, one is ritually wash (wudu) or shower (ghusl).

Each salat is made up of prayer cycles (rak'at). The prayers follow a set pattern and include the recitation of verses from the Qur'an, including Surat al-Fatiha. In congregational prayer, the imam is the key leader. In addition to required (fard) prayers, many will pray additional rak'at. Separation of men and women minimizes distractions. The Friday Prayer consists of two rak'at and a two-part khutba (address), delivered from the minbar. After the prayers, people disperse to daily business.

Zakat: The Qur'an links salat and paying zakat (Q. 2.43). Zakat provides for a social welfare system and increased taqwa. The underlying principle of zakat is sadaqa (bearing one another's burdens). Sadaqa can be expressed in the establishment of a waqf or in everyday hospitality. Economic exploitation (such as usury, riba) are forbidden, as is making loans with interest. These rules have complicated Muslim life in the West. Many Muslims screen investments with a concern for social justice and halal practices. Zakat is collected in this larger framework of economic justice, calculated at 2.5% of a family's excess income. Once the amount is calculated, it is the Muslim's duty to see that it is properly distributed (Q. 9.60). In an Islamic state, zakat is administered by the state. Various other practices of economic justice are prevalent in Islamic life.

Sawm: Fasing during the lunar month of Ramadan is, with salat and zakat, another form of Muslim discipline. The months of the Islamic calendar rotate throughout the solar year. This is especially important for Ramadan, for sawn requires fasting during daylight hours, abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations. Muslims engage in complex atronomical observation to determine when Ramadan begins. There are many exceptions to participation in fasting. Far from torture, sawm is a communal experience of spiritual renewal. During Ramadan, the angels are sent to hear prayers and the entire Qur'an is recited. When the fast breaks at sunset each day, an iftar is shared, followed by salat al-maghrib and a larger meal.

Many Muslims will fast at other points in the year. Shi'a Muslims, for instance, fast on days to remember martyrs. It was Muhammad's own practice to fast three days each month. Fasting is forbidden on 'Id al-Fitr, to emphasize the end of Ramadan once the moon is sighted.

Key Names, Terms, and Concepts

  • taqwa
  • Shahada
  • Salat
  • Zakat
  • Sawm
  • Hajj
  • Sufi
  • da'wa
  • du'a
  • dhikr
  • Basmala
  • Ihsan
  • baraka
  • shukr
  • shaykh / shaykha
  • shaykha
  • minaret
  • Muezzin
  • Adhan
  • Iqama
  • Salat al-Jum'a
  • mihrab
  • qibla
  • wudu
  • ghusl
  • rak'a
  • khutba
  • minbar
  • waqf
  • iftar

Questions for Discussion and Reflection

  1. Why might one speak of "reverting" rather than "converting" to Islam?
  2. Describe the regular times for performing salat.
  3. Contrast the process of conversion in Islam and Christianity. What accounts for these differences?
  4. What are the different ways Muslims and Christians approach prayer? How do these differences impact the shape of religious experience?
  5. Which pillar of Islamic practice present in the chapter interested or intrigued you the most? How does it compare to your own life practices? What wisdom can be drawn from the Pillars?
  6. Muslim economic practices forbid (or now, at least, strongly discourage) taking part in interest-based economic systems. Why is this such a problem for Muslims in the West? How might Islamic responses provide another perspective on economic justice?

For Further Reading

Books

  • Jonathan Benthall and Jerome Bellion-Jourdan, The Charitable Crescent: Politics of Aid in the Muslim World (London: I. B. Tauris, 2003).
  • Larry Poston, Islamic Da'wah in the West: Muslim Missionary Activity and the Dynamics of Conversion to Islam (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992).
  • Munawar Iqbal and Habib Ahmed, eds., Poverty in Muslim Countries and the New International Economic Order (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005).
  • Rodney Wilson, Economics, Ethics and Religion: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Economic Thought (New York: New York University Press, 1997).

Web sites

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