Islam As It Is
The Five Pillars of Islam
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grandeur of God. The giving of one’s entire
attention to God is underlined by turning one’s
gaze towards the House of God. The direction in
which one must face in order to pray is, therefore,
of great religious significance, for it not only focuses
one’s attention on the deity, but also demonstrates
that one’s very life is turned towards God. Every
aspect of one’s life, from inner thoughts to outer
needs, then becomes truly God-oriented.
When a servant of God bows before his Lord, and
does so, not just as a matter of form, but in the spirit
of true humility, the effect of his action does not
remain confined to the domain, but extends to his
everyday existence, pervading it completely. His
thinking and actions bear the permanent stamp of
his devotions, for it is impossible for a man to fear
God and to bow before Him without being
influenced thereby in his dealings with others. A
true worshipper cannot be humble and meek before
God and yet be arrogant and supercilious to his
fellow men. He will not, of course, prostrate himself
before them, nor will he address the words “You
are great” to another person, as he would to God.
But he will certainly avoid asserting his own supe-
