Huston Smith Part 3

The Five Pillars: Why are the Five Pillars so important?

1. The Five Pillars of Islam are the principles the regulate the private life of Muslims in their dealings with God.
2. The Five Pillars are: creed, canonical prayer, charity, observance of Ramadan, pilgrimage.
3. The Shahadah is a confession of faith that means "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His Prophet". At least once during his or her lifetime a Muslims must recite the Shahadah correctly, slowly, thoughtfully, aloud, wit full understanding and with heartfelt conviction. 
4. The basic purpose of the pilgrimage is to heighten the pilgrim's devotion to God and his revealed will, but it also has fringe benefits as well.
5. "The Five Pillars of Islam consist of thing Muslims should do to keep the house of Islam erect.

Summary: The Five Pillars of Islam serve to regulate a Muslims life in their dealings with God. Obligations such as prayer and charity have been laid out so one knows how they are to go about those actions.  It also sets holidays in place such as Ramadan, and they tell Muslims how to go about fasting during the day. The pilgrimage is one of the pillars and it declares that at least once during his or her lifetime a Muslim (if they are economically and physically able) should make the journey to Mecca to become closer to God and to get closer to international Muslims community. Observing the Five Pillars of Islam keep a Muslims life in order with the will of God.

Social Teachings: What social expectations must  Muslim observe?

1. Islam is aware of the physical foundations of life. Meaning that until bodily needs are met, higher concerns cannot flower. 
2. Society's health requires that material goods be widely and appropriately distributed.
3. The Koranic reforms drastically improved the status of women.
4. Islam stresses racial equality and "has achieved a remarkable degree of coexistence. 
5. Islam's record of the use of force is no darker than that of Christianity. 

Summary: The social expectations in which Muslims are to observe are set out in the Koran. Wealth must be distributed equally in order for society to be healthy and not get " clogged arteries." Islamic law does not degrade women nor does it view them as property. And while it is legal for a man to have more than one wife, if he cannot provide equal love to them both than he does not deserve to have more than one. Women also have an endless have a lot of opportunities under Islamic law. Islam stresses the importance of racial equality, something that is not really common in other religions. Islams use of force in relation to growing the Islamic empire is no darker than that of Christianity's.