Ramadhan Schedule [Riyadh, K.S.A.]

THE SHAHAADAH

The Shahaadah is the first pillar of Islam.  It is the key to one's true belief in Islam. It is not possible to be considered a Muslim if there is any lack of belief in this declaration. It is for this reason that when the Prophet [peace be upon him] sent his Companion, Mu'aadh bin Jabal, to Yemen to invite the people to Islam, he intructed him to first teach the principles of the Shahaadah. Through the declaration of the Shahaadah one becomes a Muslim. However, entrance into Paradise is based not upon pronouncement of the words of the Shahaadah alone but upon understanding its meaning and implications and practicing it in one's life.

The Shahaadah is divided into two parts:

A. LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH - There is no god but Allah

This part of the Shahaadah forms the basis of what is known as Tawheed, which may be translated as Monotheism, or the worship of one god.  Literally it translates to mean "There is no god but Allah."  However, the essential meaning refers specifically to worship.

Laa Ilaaha Illallaah has two aspects: 

1. Laa ilaaha - is the aspect of negation which referes to the rejection of all deities other than Allah.
2. Illallaah - is the acpect of confirmation which affirms that Allaah has no partner in worship or in dominion.

B. MUHAMMAD RASOOLULLAAH - Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

This portion of the Shahaadah refers to the Prophet Muhammad himself [peace be upon him].  It is important part of the Islamic creed in that it requires a Muslim to profess faith in him as the Messenger of Allah, as expressed in the second part of the Shahaadah "Muhammadan Rasoolullaah." This means: Complete belief in him as the messenger of Allah. But specifically it contains a much greater meaning.

THE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Arkaan Al-Islam, the pillars of Islam, are five and are specifically mentioned in the following Hadith:

"Islam has been built upon five things:  declaring that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of Salaah, the payment of Zakah, the Hajj, and the Sawm of Ramadan. [Al Bukhari 1/7]

The five pillars, as indicated in the Hadith, are:

1. SHAHAADAH - which is the declaration of faith [LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH MUHAMMADAN RASOOLULLAAH - there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah].
2. SALAH - it is the performance of the five compulsory prayers daily.
3. ZAKAH - an obligatory payment upon a Muslim whose wealth exceeds his basic needs.
4. SAWM - fasting during the month of Ramadan.
5. HAJJ - it is the performance of the pilgrimage to the House (the Ka'bah), if one is able.

PRAYER AT THE TIME OF ECLIPSE

Aa-ishah [may Allah be pleased with her] related: “The sun went into eclipse during the lifetime of Allah’s messenger, on the day when Ibraheem (his infant son) died. People said that the sun was eclipsed because of Ibraheem’s death. The Prophet [peace be upon him] said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of Allah’s signs. They are not eclipsed for the death or the birth of anyone. If you see them eclipse, offer prayers and supplication to Allah’.” (Related by Abu Dawood).

THE PERFORMANCE OF SALAT (PRAYERS)

Iqamat-as-Salat: the performance of Salat (prayers).  It means that:

a)  Every Muslim, male or female, is obliged to offer his Salat (prayers) regularly five times a day at the specified times; the male in a mosque in congregation and the female at home. As the Prophet [peace be upon him] has said:  "Order your children to perform Salat (prayers) at the age of seven and beat them (about it) at the age of ten."  The chief (of a family, town, tribe) and the Muslim rulers of a country are held responsible before Allah in case of non-fulfillment of this obligation by the Muslims under their authority.

b) One must offer the Salat (prayers) as the Prophet [peace be upon him] used to offer them with all their rules and regulations, i.e. standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting as Mohammad [peace be upon him] has said: "Offer your Salat (prayers) the way you see me performing them."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 631 and 7246]