1 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:12,170 Islam is a lofty structure that stands on five pillars. 2 00:00:12,770 --> 00:00:16,000 Without these pillars,the structure will have little support, 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,050 and may easily collapse. 4 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:20,680 Five Pillars 5 00:00:21,350 --> 00:00:24,700 We are unlike wolves which live separately, 6 00:00:24,900 --> 00:00:33,450 each on his own.Nor are we like mindless sheep driven by a shepherd. 7 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:41,000 Man needs to maintain a careful balance between his spiritual and physical needs, 8 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,430 and between his personal and social life. 9 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:49,900 Such a balance is best achieved through the five pillars on which the structure of Islam is built. 10 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:55,240 Through these man’s public life functions in harmony with his inner soul, 11 00:00:55,450 --> 00:00:58,680 and every individual complements his Muslim brethren 12 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,550 How does all this work? 13 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:03,530 The Declaration 14 00:01:04,050 --> 00:01:09,750 This is the declaration of belief in God’s oneness and in Muhammad as God’s messenger. 15 00:01:10,150 --> 00:01:16,000 It lays down a basic principle which establishes a community united by one of the most important 16 00:01:16,050 --> 00:01:18,000 and fairest principles,namely, 17 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,100 that all worship should be addressed to God alone. 18 00:01:22,700 --> 00:01:29,400 The declaration is the one shared value that creates a well-knit community that is free of inner conflict: 19 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:33,650 one God to be obeyed and one prophet to be followed. 20 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,630 I bear witness that there is no deity other than God; 21 00:01:38,700 --> 00:01:42,240 and I bear witness that Muhammad is God’s messenger. 22 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,850 This declaration confirms that all worship must be addressed to God alone, 23 00:01:47,950 --> 00:01:54,300 because He is the Creator and the Provider who alone conducts all affairs of the universe. 24 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,100 It also acknowledges that Prophet Muhammad,who was God’s last messenger, 25 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,750 must be obeyed in all what he bids and for bids, 26 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,530 because it is through him that we know what God wants us to do. 27 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:09,450 Prayer 28 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,200 Muslims are required to offer five obligatory prayers every day, 29 00:02:14,470 --> 00:02:20,750 and these prayers are spread over the day and night so as to keep man’s soul always in contact with the Creator. 30 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:28,350 These prayers are indeed a most effective barrier that stops man from doing what incurs God’s anger. 31 00:02:29,050 --> 00:02:33,250 By attending to these prayers,Muslims are always in a situation where 32 00:02:33,350 --> 00:02:36,200 they have finished a prayer a short while ago 33 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:40,100 or are preparing for prayer that will soon be due. 34 00:02:40,550 --> 00:02:47,250 Thus,they are keen not to lose the effect of the prayer they have finished when they were in contact with their Lord, 35 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:54,200 and at the same time they do not wish to stand again in front of their Lord having just committed a sin. 36 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,500 This is the effect the five daily prayers have on a Muslim. 37 00:02:58,550 --> 00:03:00,000 The Prophet says 38 00:03:00,350 --> 00:03:04,650 The five prayers are like a running stream close to your door, 39 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:09,750 where you bathe five times every day”.[Related by Muslim]. 40 00:03:10,300 --> 00:03:16,350 When you look at the universe around you,you will see that it totally submits to its supreme Creator. 41 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:23,800 Nothing in the universe rebels,deviates,shows boredom,stops functioning,or goes on strike. 42 00:03:24,100 --> 00:03:29,450 It is as if the whole universe is in a situation of permanent prayer and prostration. 43 00:03:30,060 --> 00:03:33,650 This is perfectly described by the Qur’anic verse that says: 44 00:03:33,676 --> 00:03:42,300 “Are you not aware that to God bow down in worship all those who are in the heavens and on earth 45 00:03:42,320 --> 00:04:02,900 the sun,the moon,the stars,the mountains,the trees and the beasts,and a great number of human beings? 46 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,500 But a great number also will inevitably have to suffer punishment. 47 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:14,150 He whom God shall disgrace will have none who could bestow honour on him. 48 00:04:14,450 --> 00:04:25,300 God certainly does what He wills”.(22:18) 49 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:32,300 Honoured by God,man should have been the first of all creatures to remain in permanent worship and prayer, 50 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,500 without a stop.However, 51 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,030 he was chosen to be in charge of the earth, 52 00:04:37,250 --> 00:04:40,100 and given what is suited to the fulfilment of this role. 53 00:04:40,650 --> 00:04:45,100 He has been given the needs and desires that help him to fulfil his role. 54 00:04:45,650 --> 00:04:50,850 Therefore,his nature makes man unsuited to be in permanent prayer. 55 00:04:50,900 --> 00:04:53,800 Instead,man needs a special worship 56 00:04:53,900 --> 00:04:58,900 that ensures his spiritual balance and serves as a continuous bond with his Lord 57 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,350 enabling him to draw closer to Him. 58 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:09,400 It should at the same time be suited to his nature and conducive to the fulfilment of his role in this life. 59 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:16,520 This worship that man needs is the five daily prayers God has made obligatory to us. 60 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:18,150 Zakat 61 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:22,300 Zakat is the safeguard that prevents social collapse. 62 00:05:22,530 --> 00:05:26,900 It is the institution that ensures that there will be no explosion 63 00:05:26,930 --> 00:05:31,100 like that suffered by Communist societies that went too far to the left, 64 00:05:31,150 --> 00:05:34,550 or capitalist societies that went too far to the right. 65 00:05:34,850 --> 00:05:41,100 In both cases,large sections of society,of both types,endured hunger. 66 00:05:41,650 --> 00:05:48,700 Zakat is a financial act of worship,an annual duty paid by every one who owns more than a certain threshold. 67 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,100 It is a small portion,only two and a half percent, 68 00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:55,450 or similarly small rates of certain types of property 69 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,100 such as agricultural produce and cattle. 70 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,000 By paying their zakat ,people ensure that their property is purified, 71 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:08,400 and they are free of stinginess.They thus help their poor and needy brethren. 72 00:06:08,850 --> 00:06:10,550 God says to His messenger: 73 00:06:10,900 --> 00:06:20,750 “Take a portion of their money as charity,so that you may cleanse and purify them thereby”.(9:103) 74 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:22,100 Fasting 75 00:06:22,650 --> 00:06:27,550 This is a unique type of worship which God prescribed to earlier communities of believers 76 00:06:28,250 --> 00:06:32,230 .He has made it one of the pillars on which the structure of Islam is built. 77 00:06:32,500 --> 00:06:39,130 Muslims abstain from food,drink and sex,from dawn to dusk,for a full month every year. 78 00:06:39,550 --> 00:06:45,050 This worship provides training to control one’s desires and abstain from one’s pleasures. 79 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,900 At the same time,it promotes health. 80 00:06:47,985 --> 00:06:50,450 It provides a bond between the Muslim community 81 00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:55,950 and the earlier communities of believers who followed earlier prophets.God says: 82 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:13,000 “Believers,fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you, 83 00:07:13,050 --> 00:07:18,000 so that you may be God-fearing”.(2:183) 84 00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:20,500 Fasting shows how easy Islam is. 85 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,150 When Muslims are ill or travelling,they are given an exemption of fasting, 86 00:07:25,194 --> 00:07:28,700 provided that they compensate by fasting the same number of days 87 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:30,860 when they have recovered or returned home. 88 00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:32,520 The Pilgrimage 89 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:38,550 This is the great gathering a Muslim is required to attend at least once in a lifetime, 90 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,550 provided that he is physically and financially able to undertake the journey. 91 00:07:42,900 --> 00:07:47,500 Muslims of all races,colours and nationalities meet at the same place, 92 00:07:47,700 --> 00:07:54,300 wearing the same garments,in absolute equality,glorifying their One Lord. 93 00:07:54,319 --> 00:07:58,130 They speak numerous languages but offer the same worship. 94 00:07:58,650 --> 00:08:01,400 They regain their pure human nature. 95 00:08:02,250 --> 00:08:05,800 Should we put aside all the splendid aspects of Islam 96 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:10,700 and focus only on its legislation and its unique organisation of human life, 97 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,500 we will find this a clear evidence that shows every rational person 98 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:22,200 that Islam is the religion bestowed by God,the Creator of the universe.