Category: Five Pillars of Islam

Becoming Spiritually Punctual

by Daliah Merzaban Before I genuinely began to cultivate and nurture my relationship with God, I regarded the five daily prayers that Islam enjoins on believers as laborious. It seemed impractical to expect that I would be able to stop what I was doing during my busy work schedule to take time out and pray. Working

Huffington Post Video: The Journey to Mecca

Huffington Post Video: The Journey to Mecca

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Why are millions going to Makkah?

Why are millions going to Makkah?

877-Why-Islam presents a brief talk given by Mubinul Kathrada at an interfaith luncheon hosted by Zubaida Foundation. Hajj, or the Pilgrimage, is the last among those acts of Worship, which Islam enjoins upon its followers. Like Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving, it mounds their life and prepares them so that they may live in surrender to

Towards Purification

Towards Purification

For Rodrigo Adem, Ramadan is a time of intense focus on Islam. He tries to spend as much time at the mosque as possible, reciting Quran and attending any study circle. One of the things which helped him last Ramadan was to create a schedule around the 99 names of God. He chose three names

Mosques and Congregational Prayer

Mosques and Congregational Prayer

Prayer in congregation is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. The congregation is led by a person called an imam, who is usually chosen as the person with the best knowledge of the Quran, preferably someone who has memorized the entire Quran (a hafiz). The remaining people stand behind

What Jesus (pbuh) said about Fasting

What Jesus (pbuh) said about Fasting

by Imam Shabir Ally The Gospel of Matthew shows that Jesus “fasted forty days and forty nights” (Matthew 4:21). The Gospel of Luke adds the detail that “in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered” (Luke 4:2). Since Jesus fasted, his true followers will also fast, if they

Ramadan at College

Ramadan at College

Fasting in the month of Ramadan at college can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. Juggling school work and exams along with personal goals and extra worship might be both stressful and frustrating at times. Yet, the ambience created by the presence of fellow Muslims becomes both heartening and spiritually uplifting. “It is more

A Month of Fasting, Not Feasting

A Month of Fasting, Not Feasting

Just as a balance must be maintained between the demands of our daily routines and our Ramadan resolutions, a conscious effort should be made to establish a similar symmetry with reference to our consumption of food and socialization during Ramadan. “For some reason, Ramadan has given rise to a culture of month-long feasting within the

Personal Perspectives on Ramadan

Personal Perspectives on Ramadan

Every year, Muslims experience a unique excitement and jubilation as Ramadan approaches. Homes are cleaned, groceries are stocked, children are prepped – but, above all, many resolutions are made. A time for spiritual nourishment and self-introspection, Ramadan heralds a classic opportunity to draw closer to God, and to bask in the many blessings that accompany

Why Muslims Fast

An excerpt from AbdulWahid Hamid’s Islam The Natural Way Every year, for one complete lunar month-the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, adult Muslims are required to fast. From dawn to sunset in the month of Ramadan, they refrain from all food and drink and sexual relations with the spouse. But if one is sick