The Qur’an

The Qur'an is recognized as the last literal words of GOD given to his people by Muhammad the last prophet, or messenger of GOD (Quran recitations and translation online, 2006-2009). The Quran is without a beginning, middle, or ending, and consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths called â€Å"Sura†. Each ‘Sura’ is titled dependant on the message being portrayed (Hooker, 1996). It also reveals the following â€Å"five pillars of Islam† (Five Pillars of Islam, 2009) or standards that define Muslim religious belief and practice. These pillars are the foundation of Muslim religion. Good introduction and thesis statement. â€Å"Shahada† means the acceptance of no other GOD but ALLAH and that Mohammad is the prophet of Allah (Five Pillars of Islam, 2009). This same theme is reinereated thoroughout the Quran is is the single most important basis of Muslim religion. Develop paragraph further. â€Å"Salat† is the requirement to pray daily starting at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night facing toward the Mecca. (source? ) This time is seen as a personal conversation with Allah expressing gratitude and worship as well as asking for assistance if needed. It is believed that this practice enables one to remain on a true path of righteousness. (Five Pillars of Islam, 2009) Muslims are seen daily at the Mosques during this ritual prayer but it is not a requirement to pray in a Mosque the only requirement for daily prayer is the area is to be clean. â€Å"Zakah† or charitable giving consists of two main types. First, there is the kajj, which is a fixed amount based on the cost of food that is paid during the month of Ramadan for the entire family. Make an original title that reflects your thesis statement. This could be very expensive depending on the amount of people in the family and whether or not you included the extended family in the accounting. Avoid 2nd person voice. Second, there is the Zakat on wealth, which covers money made in business, savings, income, and valuables held for longer than one year only as long as the value is greater than ‘Nisab’ (the equilivent of 3 ozs of gold). (source? ) One can always give more in order to obtain a greater divine reward. The following guiding principles should be followed when giving the Zakat: the giver must declare is intention to GOD. It must be paid on the day that it is due, or it is considered the refusal to fulfill GODS wishes. (source? ) Payment must be in kind, wealthy people pay in cash while poorer people can pay in goods or time depending on their ability. And finally the Zakat is always distributed in the community it originated. It is through Zakat that the responsibility to eliminate inequity and ease economic hardship in every community is fulfilled. Five Pillars of Islam, 2009) This practice of distribution in the community at times can lead to inequality when economics of the area are factored in. Fragment- Make topic sentence- â€Å"Sawm† or Ramadan Fasting. During this 30 day period one must abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk while being especially mindful of other sins. (source? ) There are three different types of fasting recognized although the act of fasting remains the same. There is ritual fasting, fasting as compensation or repentance, and ascetic fasting. † (source? ) The purpose is to allow Muslims to seek nearness to Allah, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, to atone for their past sins, and to remind them of the needy. Since there is the fasting in place during daylight hours, some mosques hold early morning breakfast gatherings as well as community dinners at night during the period of Ramadan. (Five Pillars of Islam, 2009) â€Å"Hajj† or the pilgrimage to Mecca is the last pillar of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to make this at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it (Five Pillars of Islam, 2009). This pilgrimage is not dependant on distance either. If living in the States or even further away it is still an expectation that if able the pilgrimage will be made. The five pillars of Islam are just the beginning of the Qur'an’s foundation for living. The Quran is also a book of wisdom giving inspiration and guidance to the people of Muslim religion. As reported in the Sura 17 â€Å"This Qur'an guides to that which is more right and better. It reassures the believers who do the good that their reward will be great† (Topic index of the Quran, 1995-2001). It is filled with reminders of God’s mercy, blessing, warnings of what will occur to those who do not follow the righteous path, instructions for daily living and also includes stories of ancient civilizations and the lessons they learned (Hooker, 1996). This makes the Quran the bible or words of wisdom followed by all Muslims in the practice of their religion and lifestyles.