The Concept Of Jihad In Muslim Religion
The term Jihad can be described as a disturbance, this is typically defined as taking two different levels: the inner and the outer. As stated in the Hadith, the inner jihad is an internal battle within oneself in order to keep away from morally wrong conduct and live in accordance with the rules of conduct laid out in the Qur’an. The outer Jihad, on the contrary, identifies as a defence of the Islamic community while under attack. It can be through a verbal or written debate (“gentle defence”) or an “intense defence”, such as using physical force or through use of military to defend the community as a whole. This concept relates to the five pillars because it is considered the sixth pillar. Muslims perceive Jihad as an internal struggle against all evil in an analogous sense.
The five pillars of Islam can be thought of as the base of the Islamic faith. They include are: the pronouncement of faith, Zakat this is financial support to the less fortunate, fasting during the period of Ramadan and the journey of faith to Mecca which is a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, this option is only available to those who can afford it. Islam, which can translate to “submission” and derives from the word “peace”, is thought by its followers as a reaffirmation of the same truth that was revealed to Christians and Jews; the belief in one God. This was revealed through the prophets of God, including Moses and Jesus. It was prescribed in Mecca during the Night of Ascension of prophet Mohammed Islamic followers believe that the last message of God, this is the most universally known, was revealed to the last of the prophets, the prophet Mohammed. The first pillar is a proclamation of faith, this is basically when they pray 5 times a day. Each of them do not require more than a few minutes. Prayers are at dawn, at noon, in the middle of the afternoon, at sunset and in the evening. A follower of Islam can pray anywhere, it can be at a mall, train station, or even school. Prayer in Islam can cause a connection between Allah and the one praying to him, this is happening due to there being no intermediate between Allah and the one praying. When a person prays, they can often feel a sense of happiness, peace and well-being in their hearts. They may also feel as though Allah, the Ultimate Reality is pleased with them. Prayer expresses faith through personal communication with Allah. The Friday night prayer at noon, is a duty for every Muslim, this is called “salat al-juma’a”. It is led by an imam, this is someone “who stands before” and can be any respected members of the community. Their duty is to pronounce a khutbah, which translates to sermon. Prayers are to be done towards the direction of Mecca.
Another pillar is the Zakat. This means “purification” and “growth”. Everything belongs to Allah, and riches can therefore only be managed by human beings. To give Zakat is to give a certain amount of fortune to certain categories of those who are less fortunate. The goods are purified when they set aside a small portion for those in need and, as when we cut a plant, this has the effect of balancing and promoting new growth. A person can give as much as they want in non-compulsory charity. Alms to the poor and the needy occupy an important place in Islam. Of all the possible ways of giving alms, the most formal is to pay a tax. The amount of Zakat that a person must pay depends on a percentage of their wealth. The tax is then distributed among the less fortunate or be used to help other members of society. Mohammed received the first prophecy of the Quran during the ninth lunar month, which is now referred to as Ramadan. This month provides a special meaning in Islam. For every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset; they abstain from eating, drinking and physical intimacy. However, although this fast, is one of the pillars of Islam, those who are pregnant, ill and very young are exempted. Even though fasting is good for your health, it is mostly considered as a way to purify yourself spiritually. By breaking ties with the conveniences of life, even for a short period of time, the person fasting can develop feelings of compassion for those who are hungry, as well as grow spiritually. This can last for 29 to 30 days. This month is based on the Hegira calendar (lunar calendar taking as starting point the Hijra, the exodus of the prophet), it does not have a fixed date in the sense of the Gregorian calendar.
The last pillar is the pilgrimage, Hajj. All Muslims aim to accomplish this once in their lives if they finance and health allow them. this includes a series of rituals that take place each year at the holy mosque of Mecca and in the neighbouring areas of Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat. A shorter pilgrimage to Mecca, called Umra, is part of the Hajj. It can also be carried out at any time of the year. Nearly two million people from around the world travel to mecca each year. Although there are still many visitors to Mecca, the annual Hajj must be done in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. The male pilgrims wear a special garment of great simplicity that eliminates any distinction of class or culture so that all are equal before God. Pilgrims praying at the Haram Mosque in Mecca. In this mosque there is the Kaaba (the black cubic building on the picture) to which Muslims turn to pray. The Kaaba is the shrine that God ordered the prophets Abraham and his son, Ishmael, to build. Among the rites of the Hajj, there is the obligation to turn seven times around the Kaaba and to make seven trips back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa, as Hagar had done when she was looking for water. The pilgrims will then meet at Arafa where they pray to God and ask for forgives; this moment is reminiscent of judgement day for many. The feast of Eid, which is celebrated with prayers, marks the end of Hajj.
