Islamic
Practices
A Muslim's duties as described in the Five Pillars of Islam are:
1. To recite at least once
during their lifetime the shahadah (the creed: "There is no God
but God and Muhammad is his Prophet"). Most Muslims repeat it at
least daily. 
2. To perform the salat (prayer) 5 times a day, if possible. This is
recited while orienting one's body with qibia (the shorter of the two
great circle routes towards the Kaaba at Mecca. The five prayers are:
- Fajr
(Morning Prayer) which is performed some time between the break of
dawn and just before sunrise.
- Zuhr
(Noon Prayer) offered from just after midday to afternoon.
- Asr (Afternoon
Prayer) offered from late afternoon until just before sunset
- Maghrib
(Sunset Prayer) offered between sunset and darkness.
- Isha
(Night Prayer) offered at night time, often just before sleeping.
3. To donate regularly to
charity through zakat. This is a 2.5% charity tax on the income and
property of middle and upper class Muslims. Believers are urged to make
additional donations to the needy as they feel moved.
4. To fast during the lunar month of Ramadan. This is believed to be
the month that Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur'an
from God.
5. If economically and physically able, to make at least one hajj (pilgrimage)
to Mecca.
Jihad (struggle) is probably the most misunderstood
religious word in existence. It often mentioned on Western TV and radio
during news about the Middle East, where it is implied to be a synonym
of "holy war" - a call to fight against non-Muslims in the
defense of Islam. The vast majority of Muslims have an entirely different
definition of Jihad. It is seen as a personal, internal struggle with
one's self. The goal may be achievement in a profession, self-purification,
the conquering of primitive instincts or the attainment of some other
noble goal. 2 More details.
Calendar: Muslims follow a lunar calendar which started
with the hegira, a 300 mile trek in 622 CE when Muhammad relocated from
Mecca to Medina. Al-Hijra/Muharram is the Muslim New Year, the beginning
of the first lunar month. The beginning of the year 1434H occurred on
March 15, 2002 of the Gregorian calendar.
Separation of church and state: Originally, in Islamic
countries, there was no separation between religious and civil law,
between Islam and the state. Muhammad and his successors were both religious
and political leaders. Turkey became a secular state during the 20th
century. This is a controversial move in conservative Islamic circles.
Proselytizing: Muslims are not required to actively
recruit others to Islam. In the Qur'an, Allah told Muhammad that "You
certainly cannot guide whomever you please; It is Allah who guides whom
He will. He best knows those who accept guidance." Muslims are
expected to explain Islam to followers of other faiths, but it is up
to Allah to guide those whom he wishes to.
Suicide: This is forbidden. The Qur'an clearly states:
"Do not kill yourselves as God has been to you very merciful".
Only Allah is to take a life. Since death must be left up to Allah,
physician assisted suicide is not allowed. On the other hand, Muslim
physicians are not encouraged to artificially prolong the misery of
a person who is in a vegetative state.
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