Question

Write an essay of 1,000-1,250 words that analyzes the Five Pillars of Islam. 1. Describe each of the five pillars and reflect on why they are referred to as Pillars of Islam. 2. Make a detailed analysis of how one of the pillars would function in the daily life of a particular Muslim individual. 3. Identify one ancient Christian community living or serving in an Islamic majority context, such as Coptic, Marionite, Chaldean, Armenian, etc. Compare and contrast how this ancient community practices similar rituals as the Five Pillars of Islam.

Answer 1

There are five pillars of Islam which dictate the method of survival and the way of living in the life of a muslim man The five pillars of islam are given below in the form of a diagram as follows:

Muslims set mosques in different regions of the world after traveling and reaching those domains. The religious practice of Islam teaches serving God or submit to God. There are five basic principles given in the table below as follows:

• Possession of Faith or Shahada: There should be faith in God in the form of his messenger called as prophet. It is mentioned in the form of calligraphy or religious practices present in the manuscripts and religious monuments across the world.
• Daily prayers or Salat: They are expected to pray five times in the day. It is an act of bowing and praying in the form of reverence to Allah with dedication.
• Alms giving or Zakat: It means the sharing of wealth with other people who are less fortunate in their own community.
• Ramadan or Saum: During this month there is regular fasting from dawn to dusk. Muslim people refrain from drinking and eating during this month. The exceptions include old people and pregnant women.
• Pilgrimage to Mecca or Kaaba: There is a center building monument made of silver and gold which can be visited facing the four directions. The different directions signify the importance of Yemen, Syria and Iraq. There is a movement of muslim people seven times around the building. It occurs in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar year.

There are various Middle Eastern Christians who live in the regions between Egypt and Iran. There are six oriental orthodox churches in this region which are served by people belonging to the christian community. These include Coptic, Syrian, Greek, Armenian and Assyrian people belonging to this community. There were various social and political reasons which led to the separation of the orthodox churches and their communion with the Roman churches. There was a rapid migration in the middle east by the people belonging to the christian community later in the middle of the twentieth century. The Christians spoke Arabian language which led to linguistic and cultural differences with the churches present across the other parts of the world. There were various ethnic and cultural diversities which led to the diversification of the christian tradition and culture across the middle east countries. Roman empire was a dominant empire during the rise of the religion Christianity with emergence of the Muslim caliphates across this region later on. In comparison to this there was a rise of Ottoman empire which led to the handling of the various political and social issues related to the running of the societies prevalent in the middle east regions. Pope Benedict called the synod of the archbishops of the middle east in October 2010 to discuss various political and social issues related to the christian people living in the middle east. Various issues pertaining to unemployment,instability, religious freedom and rise of the christian community were discussed in the meetings.