Page 93 - World Religions I - Islam

Study Section 11: The Five Pillars of Islam - continued

11.1 Connect

I’m sure you have head about Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy month in the religion of Islam and is
marked by a time of required fasting. By fasting during this month, Muslims believe they earn
spiritual rewards and draw closer to Allah. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,
which is lunar based. Based on the region, either astronomical calculations or moon sightings mark
the beginning of this month of fasting, which ends at the next new moon. Ramadan officially
commences when a Muslim imam announces it. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims seek the mercy and
attention of Allah by fasting from dawn to sunset. Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sex during the
daylight hours. It is said that good works done during the month of Ramadan will result in a multiplication of the
normal reward for the same works performed in other months. For this reason, generosity and charity increase
during Ramadan. Muslims are also encouraged to read the entire Qur’an during Ramadan and to recite special
prayers.

The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic word ramida, which means “intense, scorching heat or dryness.” It is
believed among adherents of Islam that Ramadan burns away a person’s sins with good deeds. Muslims seek to
suppress everything sinful in themselves, putting away all vices and bad behavior and desires, in order to show their
dedication to Allah and their hope that he will be merciful to them. The word Islam means “submission,” and the
posture of obedience and self-denial taken during month of Ramadan is the ultimate act of a Muslim’s submission
to Allah. In this section, we are going to look at the last two Pillars of Islam which are required to earn one’s
possible salvation…
11.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain the fourth pillar of Islam, the Sawm or fasting.
2. The student should be able to explain the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj or pilgrimage.

11.3 Sawm (Fasting)

Sawm consists of ritual fasting, fasting as compensation for repentance, and ascetic fasting. Muslims in
Central Asia (Afghanistan, India, Iran, Bangladesh, and Pakistan) use the word uraza (or rozah, roza,
roja), which comes from Persian. It Turkey it is known as oruç. In Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Brunei,
Singapore, Indonesia, Southern Thailand, and Southern Philippines), fasting is known as puasa.

• Fasting is an attempt to seek nearness to Allah and to increase one's piety.
o Fasting is viewed as a means of controlling one's desires, focusing more on devoting oneself to God, and
guarding against evil.
 "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so
that you may guard (against evil)." - Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:183
o Fasting is also seen as beneficial because it includes a sense of fraternity and solidarity amongst
Muslims.
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