The Religions Book

266 THE CENTRAL PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

The call to prayer is made from the

top of the mosque’s minaret or tower

by a chosen individual known as a

muezzin, who may also indicate

the prayer schedule to be followed.

stand facing the direction of
Mecca, the holiest city of Islam,
and recite their prayers. In mosques,
this direction is marked by a
decorated niche known as a mihrab.
Outside mosques, Muslims may
find the exact direction of Mecca
using specially marked compasses
and even web-based applications.
Those praying outside the mosque
will usually perform their prayers
on a special prayer mat, signifying
that the act of prayer is performed
in a clean place.
Prayer is begun with the
declaration, “God is most great.”
Then Muslims recite a set of fixed
prayers that include, among other
passages, the opening chapter
of the Qur’an: “In the name of
God, the Most Gracious, the
Most Merciful. All praises and
thanks be to God, the Lord of the
Universe, the Most Gracious, the
Most Merciful, the Ruler on the Day
of Judgment. You do we worship
and You we ask for help. Guide us
along the Straight Path, the way of
those on whom You have bestowed
Your grace, not of those who earned
Your anger or who are lost.” The
profession of faith is then repeated

and an offering of peace to others

is offered with the words: “May the

peace, mercy, and blessings of God

be upon you.” These prayers are

offered in Arabic and worshippers

accompany them with prostrations

and bows, together with raising

and lowering their hands.

To non-Muslim observers, the

Islamic prayer rituals may appear

complex and overly regulated. For

Muslims, however, participating

in the habits of ritual purification

and prescribed prayer allows

them to worship God freely,

unencumbered by the burden of

their own agendas. As they join in

unison with other Muslims to pray,

they are also reminded of God’s

greatness, knowing that fellow

believers all over the world are

worshipping God in the same way.

The importance of charity

The third pillar of Islam is zakat

(almsgiving). A central concern

in the Qur’an is the treatment

of the poor, marginalized, and

disadvantaged. Consequently,

Muslims are enjoined to care for

the social and economic well-being

of their communities, not simply

through acts of charity, which are

encouraged, but also by paying an

alms tax. All adult Muslims who

are able to do so offer a percentage,

not just of their monetary income,

but of their entire assets for this

tax. This percentage is traditionally

set at 2.5 percent, a figure arrived

at by scholarly agreement, and

drawn from references in the Sunna,

for instance “one-quarter of one-

tenth” of silver. In some cases, the

offering may be up to 20 percent of

farming or industrial assets.

Often, almsgiving is voluntary,

but in some countries it has been

regulated by governments. In such

cases, stamps made specifically

for sending alms are distributed.

Otherwise, offerings can be placed

in distribution boxes in mosques

and at other locations.

Not only is the giving of alms

considered an act of worship to

God, but it is also thought to be

something that is owed. If what

God is most great. I testify

that there is no god but God.

I testify that Muhammad

is the messenger of God.

Hurry to prayer. Hurry to

success. God is most great.

Call to prayer