To understand Islam through the eyes of its practitioners, distinctions in fiqh (Islamic law) must initially be made between the two types of human activities : ibadat: duties/obligations owed to God, and mu'alamat: duties mutually owed to humanity. In Islam, purity of intention (niyya) is key in determining one's destiny, as the purification of major and minor najasas and hadaths constitute necessary practices and rituals (i.e. to wash, to wash to purify oneself). Purification practices “remind us that holiness is linked to the physical, as well as the mental and spiritual aspects of life” (Shepard 100). Maintaining purity of intention and sanctity, Muslims abide by the five main pillars of Islam that concern the Ummah, or the entire Muslim community. Personal and public dimensions characterize all pillars. The first pillar is shahada, or the idea that there is only one God, and Mohammad serves as a prophet sharing God's sacred message. Following the shahada is salah: a form of worship performed five times a day, during designated periods following the movements of the sun and moon, consisting of specific body movements, recitations and prayers. It is important that salah does not take place precisely at sunrise, noon or sunset to avoid the misconception that the sun, and not God, is worshipped, thus reaffirming the pillar of shahada: vision monolithic of Islam. During times of prayer, the sexes are often separated, with an imam as prayer leader. An adhan or “call to prayer” is recited shortly before the start of the salah, and one must face the quibla: the direction of Mecca during the prayer. Salah, like the Shahada, “effectively integrates the individual and social dimensions…by [bringing] the individual face to face with God” (Shepard 106). Another pillar of Islam is zakah: the act of distributing, in the name of God. Zakah is not considered a gift (sadaqas), but rather a form of fulfillment of each person's duty to return to people in need what already belongs to them according to the will of God. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. The month of Ramadan is historically considered “the month in which the Quran was first revealed and also the month of the Battle of Badr” (Shepard 107). Thus, Ramadan imposes universal solidarity of the umma and reinforces the idea of ​​a higher self, as well as self-control and strength. The last day after Ramadan is the feast of Id al-Fitr, the feast of breaking the fast. Finally, the pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj, is the last pillar of Islam which calls its constituents to travel to Mecca to discover the sacred space and "the center of the Muslim universe and the place most in contact with heaven” (Shepard 110). .The small pilgrimage, the umra, is often performed by many Muslims before the Hajj. Say no to plagiarism. Get Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay The view of Islam as an isolationist ideology incompatible with secularism and modernism of an evolving life is an idea widespread falsehood. As Douglas stated, “Islam is a model of life…it is a process” (Douglas 1). The idea that religion is an affront to daily life and the growing trend toward separation of church and state neglects to understand the value and intrinsically linked nature of spirituality in daily life, thus leading to “a compartmentalization of religious belief” (Douglas 2). ..