Ramadan (fasting)

Ramadan

Sawm is the annual compulsory fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. From dawn to sunset everyday a Muslim refrains from eating, drinking, and smoking and from sex with his marital partner, seeking only the pleasure of Allah.  Ramadan (Sawm) develops a believers moral and spiritual standard, and keep him away from selfishness, greed, extravagance and other vices. Ramadan (Sawm) is an annual training programmed increases a Muslims determination to fulfill his obligations to the greater and sustains.

Fasting is one of the most important and toughest duties in Islam. It is an order of Almighty Allah to put fasting into practice during the month of Ramadan as a form (worship) prayer. To seek Almighty Allah’s pleasure and forgiveness though fasting is a form of Ibadah (prayer). Mankind are just not able to seek mankind are also able to purify their souls and receive the limitless mercy of Allah and to reach his proximity. It is Fard (compulsory) for every Muslims male and female who reaches the age of maturity generally 12-13 years boys and 9-12 years girls to fast.

During Ramadan, Muslims are also predictable to put more effort into following the knowledge of Islam by refraining from violent behavior, anger, envy, greed, lust, profane language, gossip and to try to get along with fellow Muslims better. In accumulation, all obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided.

Fasting during Ramadan is compulsory, but is forbidden for several groups for whom it would be very dangerous and exceptionally problematic. These include per-pubescent children, those with a medical situation such as diabetes, elderly people, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Observing fasts is not acceptable for menstruating women. Other individuals for whom it is measured acceptable not to fast are those who are ill or traveling. Misplaced fasts usually must be made up for soon afterward, although the exact requirements vary according to circumstance.

Ramadan is a compulsory duty for Muslims.

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Zakat

Zakat (almsgiving) is reward and keeps you clean. It is a compulsory payment from a Muslims yearly savings. It literally means purification, and is a yearly payment of 2.5% of the value of cash, jewelers and precious metal; a separate applies to annuals, crops and mineral wealth. It is neither a charity nor a tax: charity is optional, whilst taxes can be used for any of society’s needs.

Zakat can only be spent on helping the poor and needy, the disable, the oppressed debtors and other welfare purposes, as defined in the Quran and Sunnah. It is an act of respect. It is one of the fundamental values of an Islamic economy, which ensure an equitable society where everybody has a right to contribute and share. It should be paid with the conscious belief that our wealth and our property.

A Muslim may also contribute more as an act of voluntary charity (sadaqah), rather than to achieve additional divine reward. There are two main types of  Zakat. First, there is the kajj, which is a fixed amount based on the cost of food that is paid during the month of Ramadan by the head of a family for himself and his dependents. Second, there is the Zakat on wealth, which covers money made in business, savings, income, and so on.

In current usage Zakat is treated as a 2.5% collection on most valuables and savings held for a full lunar year, as long as the total value is more than a basic minimum known as nisab (3 ounces (85.05 g)). When of July 2011, nisab is approximately USD 3,275 or an equivalent amount in any other currency. A lot of Shiites is expected to pay an additional amount in the form of a  khums duty, which they consider to be a separate ritual practice. There are five principles that should be there followed when giving the Zakat:

1. The giver must announce to God his intention to give the Zakat.
2. The Zakat necessity is paid on the day that it is due.
3. Following the Offering, the payer must not exaggerate on spending his money more than usual means.
4. Payment required to being in kind. This way if one is rich then he or she needs to payment two an half (2.5 %) of their profits. If someone does not have much money, then they should recompense for it in different ways, such as good manners and good behavior toward others.
5. The Zakat have to be distributed in the community from which it was taken.

Zakat for rich Muslim peoples who like to satisfied Allah.

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Hajj

Hajj means intention and walking. It is an annual event, obligatory at least once in a lifetime for Muslims who have the means to complete it. It is a trip to the house of Allah (kaaba) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on the 8^th to the 12^th in the month of Zul-hajjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
Hajj symbolizes the union of mankind. Muslims from all race and nationality assemble in equality and humility to worship their lord. The pilgrim, in the presence of his greater, to whom he belongs, and to whom he must return after death. We have to do it a least once in a lifetime.
After a Muslim makes the trip to Mecca, he/she is known as a hajje/hajja (one who made the pilgrimage to Mecca). The most important rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the kabba, touching the Black stone, roaming seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwar, and representatively stoning the Devil in Mina.
The pilgrim, or the haji, is honored in the Muslim community. Islamic teachers speak that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God, not a funds to gain social standing. The believer should be self-aware and look at their intentions in performing the pilgrimage.
This must lead to constant striving for self-improvement. A pilgrimage prepared at any time other than the Hajj season is called an Umrah, and while not compulsory is strongly recommended. Also, they make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem in their alms giving spread.

Hajj is a trip of pilgrimage.

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Salat (Prayer)

It is compulsory to pray daily five times salat (prayer) that have been set by Allah. It is the unique feature of Islam. Anyone abandons prayer at the risk of going out of Islam. Verily, the prayer is enjoyed on the believers at set hours.  (Surah-nisa, 4:103)
Prayer Salat is the most essential obligatory duty, which a Muslim must perform. This is the most obvious act, which a Muslim does to show his obedience to Allah. Salat is also a means of rimming Allah in prayer. A person leaves everything and devotes himself to the worship of Allah. He does exactly what he had been instructed by Allah messenger. His changes from one posture to another in a composed manner, focusing his mind on Allah. He feels that he is standing before Allah the Almighty. Prayer is indeed a means of bringing mankind colder to Allah. In prayer, one stand facing the direction of the Kabbah bows and kneels before his lord. He recites the opening chapter of the Quran,  surah Al-Fatiha Praising and glorifying Allah, and asking for his support and help.
The five daiy prayers are: Fajr between down a sunrise, Zuhur between miday a mid-afternoon, Asr between mid-after a sunset, Magrib just after sunset and Isha between nightfall a down.
Five times a day, Salat provides a amazing opportunity for a Muslim to improve his life. It is a system of spiritual, moral and physical training that makes him truly obedient to his creator. Each salat takes just a few minutes to complete.
The teachings of Salat are:

* It brings men and women nearer to Allah.
* It keeps human being away from indecent, shameful and forbidden actives.
* It is a training programmed designed to control evil desires and passions.
* It purifies the heart, develops the mind and comforts the spirit.
* It is a regular reminder of Allah and his greatness.
* It develops discipline and willpower.
* It is a proof o f true equality, solid unity and universal brotherhood.
* It is the source of patience, courage, hope and confidence.
* It is a mean of cleanliness, purity and punctuality.
* It develops gratitude, humanity and refinement.
* It is the demonstration of our obedience to our greater.
* It is a programmed which prepares us to match our actions with words.
* It is the solid programmed of preparing oneself for jihad striving ones utmost to please Allah.

Salat is the prayer for Allah.

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