2.Prayer (Salat).Prayer is a central ritual, performed five times a day—at dawn, at
noon, in the mid-afternoon, after sunset, and before retiring. The prayer ritual is
very structured, as described by Nydell:
Prayer is regulated by ritual washing beforehand and a predetermined number of
prostrations and recitations, depending on the time of day. The prayer ritual
includes standing [facing toward Mecca], bowing, touching the forehead to the floor
(which is covered with a prayer mat, rug, or other clean surface), sitting back, and
holding the hands in cupped position, all while reciting sacred verses. Muslims may
pray in a mosque, in their home or office, or in public places.^143
Even when there is not a mosque available, Muslims will cease what they are doing
and engage insalat. It is not uncommon to see taxi drivers in New York or people
inside office buildings or at airports, putting down prayer rugs and following the direc-
tive of this second pillar.
3.Almsgiving (Zakat).The rationale for almsgiving is deeply rooted in the
Islamic tradition and is predicated on the notion that everything is part of
God’sdomain.Thismeansthatevenwealth and material possessions are held
by human beings only because of God’s will.“Alms are related to the nature of
God, who is merciful and requires mercy in his worshipers toward one another.
Compassion toward weak and defenseless persons of the community is a reflec-
tion of the compassion of God.”^144 Like so much of ritual, there are some dee-
per meanings embedded in the act of almsgiving.“Consideration for the needy
is part of Islam’s traditional emphasis on equality. In the mosque, all are equal;
there are no preferred pews for the rich or influential—all kneel together.”^145
4.Fasting (Sawm).Fasting is a tradition observed throughout the holy month of
Ramadan. During this period, Muslims do not eat, drink, engage in sexual activ-
ity, or smoke between sunrise and sunset. People who are in ill health, women
who are pregnant or nursing, and the elderly are excused from fasting. Although
Muslims believe that fasting has healthbenefits, the emphasis is primarily not
on abstinence but rather on spiritual self-discipline, introspection, and carrying
out good deeds.
Ramadan is also used to encourage families to emphasize family and social relation-
ships during this period.“In the evening after breaking the fast, Muslims socialize, dis-
cussing family, community, national and international affairs and reaffirming their
values, customs and traditions.”^146
5.Pilgrimage (Hajj).If physically and financially possible, every Muslim should
make a pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia) at least one time as a sign of
their devotion to Allah. The trip involves a series of highly symbolic rituals
designed to“both celebrate and reinforce the unity of Muslims.”^147 This feeling
of unity is reinforced by the fact that all the participants, who number in the
millions, wear the same-color garments. The pilgrims circle theKabha(a square
stone building believed to have been built by Abraham, who struggled against
idol worship) seven times.^148 This act, much like the actions associated with all
the other pillars of Islam, reaffirms the strong belief Muslims have in their
religion.Core Assumptions 133Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).