From: ahmed@dsg.cs.tcd.ie
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: help with a few question!
Date: 16 Dec 1992 00:15:37 GMT
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab
Reply-To: ahmed@dsg.cs.tcd.ie
NNTP-Posting-Host: wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu
Originator: gwydion@wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu

From: chris@iastate.edu (Chris WONG)

> Well, I'm a student in religious studies and I have difficulties
> studying Islam. The question is as following:
> 
> How does each of the following Pillars of Islam: (1) Prayer; (2)
> Ramadan; (3) the Hajj bring Muslims closer to God through surrender
> or submission, and create unity among Muslims worldwide to promote the
> 'Brotherhood' of Islam?
> 
> Hope anyone out there can help me answer this question as soon as
> possible. I just can't continue without breaking this point.
> 
> Thanks for any help.
> 
> ChriWONG
> 

1- Prayer: Prayers specified formally to be offered at certain times
during the day, and in each day. Prayers can be considered as a direct
communication between man and Allah, so man should devote himself
totally, at least during the time of prayer, he should not consider any
thing as important as performing a prayer.

During the performance of a prayer, a muslim will feel that all the
other muslims are doing the same as he is doing, he is praying to Allah,
and asking Him, not for himself, but for all the Muslims.

All muslims, during the prayer, will be facing to the same direction
towards Mekka.

Prayers normally, and preferably are performed in congregation.
Different people are standing side by side, humble, and without any
regard to any social differences. 

2- Ramadan:  Ramadan is one month in the year, when all muslims should
fast during the day time from dawn to sunset. All muslims will have the
same common feeling, hungry, thirsty, exhausted, .., etc., with no 
difference between rich and poor. Muslims can only break their fasting 
at night time, and it is an Islamic tradition that muslims will eat
together, at fixed times. Charity is encouraged during Ramadan, the poor
will have his due from the wealth of the rich. The month ends with a
festival, where all muslims celebrate together. Muslims should feel
happy during the festival, and they should make sure that other muslims
are also happy. The festival starts with a congregational prayer, which
should be preceded by giving a special charity to the poor. The festival
extends over three days and the main feature of it is visits and
greeting between Muslims.

3- Hajj:  Muslims from all around the Globe, present themselves within
few days at one place at Mekka, regadless of troubles and difficulties
of the trip. An international meeting, no differences between people,
all humble submitting to Allah, performing the same rituals, at the same
time, looking the same, wearing the same humble clothes; two pieces of
unsewed cloth, and nothing else.
The time of Hajj ends with a festival similar to the first one
(Ramadan). This festival is distinguished by offering a sacrifice, by
slaughtering animals, and distributing the sacrifice to the poor, to
friends and relatives, and to oneself and family.
You can see the spiritual unity among Muslims, not only within the 
Muslims who are performing Hajj, but all the Muslims every where are
celebrating and offereing sacrifices at the same time. You also feel the
connection and relationship between Muslims, when you know that the Hajj
itself was a response to a supplication made by Prophet Ibrahim
{Abraham} (pbuh) and that Hajj itself was practiced by Muslims (who
submitt to Allah) before Muhammed (saw).

In fact this is not entended to write a thesis, but it is mainly to
give some direction, and I hope that it will be of help to you.

Good luck

Ahmed.

Ahmed I. El-Habbash,
Department of Computer Science, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.


Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam,soc.culture.arabic,soc.culture.turkish