Islam As It Is
The Five Pillars of Islam
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and drink, but from anything which is wrong, such
as negative thinking, ill-conceived and hastily
executed initiatives, in fact, any practice which
might prove injurious to others. He is also to refrain
from attempting to make lawful that which God has
disallowed. Abstinence of this nature comes more
easily to those who have undergone the rigours of
fasting, than to those who have led a life of
unrestricted self indulgence. Fasting, in short,
chastens the soul and strengthens the will to do
good.
ZAKAT
The fourth pillar of Islam,
zakat is
the giving of alms
out of one’s own private means at a minimum fixed
rate of 2.5% per annum. This money is given in the
name of God and is to be spent on worthy religious
causes and on meeting the needs of the poor and
the helpless.
Zakat
is in the nature of an annual reminder to man
that everything he possesses belongs to God, and
that nothing should, therefore, be withheld from
Him.