annual tax, or duty, in essence and spirit: it is recognition on the part of man of the share which God, and other men, have in his wealth. The Pilgrimage (Hajj) The fifth pillar of Islam is pilgrimage

corners of the earth gather together at Makkah, and perform the various prescribed rituals in worship of God. These are symbolic representation of those qualities which according to Islam, it is imperative that

concretization in different visually appreciable forms of the dictates of Islam – a physical affirmation to God that man will organize the moral structure of his life on the same pattern. Although these particular

such occasions, God makes His will quite plain to us, albeit silently, that, in obedience to Him, we must bow to this Adam. Those who tread the path of the Angels will understand God’s wishes and will

of place to him. It is only people who act in this way who are the true and faithful servants of God. As such, they will find their eternal abode in heaven. Those who follow the example of Satan, and

‘Adam’ who has entered their lives, are rebels in God’s eyes. They will be cast into Hell along with Satan, to burn there for all time. Man being God’s servant must prostrate himself first and foremost

EVERYTHING IS BEING RECORDEDexistence of the book he has brought. God’s book, the Quran, is in a preserved state and the Prophet’s traditions have also been recorded and preserved, so now a person has

build his life by taking guidance from the book of God and the sayings and deeds of the Prophet, and make himself deserving of the eternal blessings of God. EVERYTHING IS BEING RECORDED Whatever a person

recorded at every moment. All of a person’s deeds in this world will be presented in the court of God. Chapter 99 of the Quran states: “When the earth is shaken with its violent shaking, when the earth

betide you, and woe betide your mother, if God does not forgive you.” Whereupon he breathed his last. (AL-TABARANI) Never considering oneself above serving God Abdullah ibn Masud relates that in the Battle

was one camel to every three Muslims, and that they used to take it in turn to ride. The Prophet of God fared no better than the rest. He too had to share a camel with Abu Lubabah and Ali ibn Abu Talib.

but the Prophet had replied, “Neither of you is stronger than I am, and I am no less in need of God’s reward than you.” (AHMAD, MUSNAD)

saying: “The draught of one who swallows his anger is dearer to God than any other. God fills with faith one who swallows his anger for God’s sake.” (AHMAD, MUSNAD) Immune to flattery A group of individuals

” Auf replied. Umar’s response to this was to say that Auf was right and that they were wrong. “By God,” said Umar, “Abu Bakr was purer than pure musk, while I am more wayward even than my household camels

may then feel tempted to take pride of place over another. In Islam, man’s life must rotate around God. Circling the holy Kabah is but a symbolic representation of this. Similarly, running between Safa

Islamic precept that the true servant of God should come running at his bidding, that he should have an overwhelming feeling of urgency about carrying out God’s commandments.

(2:129). He was given the Arabic Quran and was entrusted with the task of conveying the message of God to the Makkans and to the inhabitants of other Arab lands surrounding Makkah: Thus We have revealed

them, who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise One. That is God’s grace; He bestows it on whom He pleases; for God is limitless in His grace. (62:2-4). A part of the prayer of Abraham, which

his commentary on this verse of the Quran that when the House of God was constructed, God asked Abraham to announce to the people that God had appointed a centre for them to which they should flock. The

Have trust in God right up till the end When the Prophet left Makkah on his emigration to Madinah, he spent the first three days in the Cave of Thur. The Quraysh, who were searching for him, eventually

“Prophet of God, look how close the enemy has come. If they were just to look at their feet, they would see us beneath them.” “Abu Bakr,” the Prophet replied, “What do you think of those two who have God as a

a third?” (AL-BIDAYAH WA AL-NIHAYAH) Thinking of God in moments of crisis ‘Ali, the son of Abu Talib, related how Fatima, his wife and also daughter of the Prophet had to do all the housework herself. Her

just like any other normal person. His uniqueness lies in the fact that God has chosen him to bring His message to mankind. God saw in Muhammad ibn Abdullah (peace be upon him) a man whose natural self

humanity. To him, personal gain meant nothing. What really mattered to him was the cause of truth. God saw in him an immaculate spirit that made him worthy of divine trust. He found in him a character free

perfect man during the forty years prior to his prophethood. It was on these grounds, therefore, that God chose him as His last messenger for the whole of creation. Throughout the twenty-three years of his