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Muslims believe that the faithful practice of Sawm (Siyam) assists them in their efforts to control their feelings and overall disposition, to atone for any transgressions or offenses they may have committed; as well as, to provide time for contemplative meditation, and to strengthen their Islamic beliefs. Salah were obligatory prayers containing verses from the Quran that were performed five times daily at Fajr (dawn), Zuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Magrib (sunset), and Isha'a (evening). A learned person chosen from the congregation leads the prayers in Arabic, the language of the Revelation. Central to the Muslim way of life, prayers link the worshipper directly to God. Salah must be recited from memory in the Arabic language even if the person does not speak or understand Arabic.
Performed with vocal
recitation, mental concentration, verbal communication, and physical movement,
prayers help Muslims attain spiritual upliftment, peace, and harmony. Personal
supplication can be offered in one's own language.
Zakat (Zakah, Zakaat) was similar to pruning a plant to encourage new growth, the purification and increment of personal wealth was promoted by setting aside a portion of it for those in need. Human beings were entrusted with wealth by God to whom all things belong. Once a Muslim had money beyond a certain quantity, he was obligated to pay Zakat. Each Muslim calculates his own Zakat individually. These alms due were distributed amongst the eight asnaf (categories) of people mentioned for the welfare of society in the Quran. They were the Fakir (those who had no material possessions or means of livelihood), the Miskin (those who were unable to meet their basic needs because of insufficient means of livelihood), the Riqab (those who wanted to free themselves from the bondage of slavery), the Gharmin (those who were in debt), the Ibnus Sabil (those who were stranded journeyers), the Amil (those appointed to collect Zakat), the Muallaf (those who convert to Islam), and the Fisabillillah (those who fight for the cause of Allah). Muslims also made voluntary charitable donations (sadaqah) in order to gain divine rewards.
Devout Muslims fast for self purification every year during Ramadan,
the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar...
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