Pillars

Day 17 June 7 – Pillars

During lunch I asked Mohamed about the five pillars of Islam. They are like the five requirements to get on god’s good side.
Alms for the poor. I think this is the source of Baksheesh. It is required for each Muslim to give poor people money. Mohamed said that people should give 2.5 percent of their yearly salary to the poor
Pray five times a day. I have seen this performed without fail. They take this very seriously, everybody prays, every time. Young kids are allowed to go to the mosque to learn how to pray correctly. Once the children turn ten years old their parents must force them to pray.
Pilgrimage to Mecca. Every Muslim who can afford and manage it must take a pilgrimage to the site of Mecca. Mecca is the site of a religious event, sorry I can’t remember what is was. I think it had something to do with Abraham and the building of a church? To fulfill the requirement the person much go during a certain time of the year, there is a special festival. The site of Mecca is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Admit in the Oneness of Allah. Muslims often repeat "There is none worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God." This pillar of Islam is admitting that Allah is the only god and Mohammed is his prophet. (Shia don’t meet this requirement because they don’t recognize Mohammed as the prophet, this is like a group of Christians not recognizing Jesus.)
Fast during the month of Ramadan. Each Muslim must not eat while the sun is up during Ramadan. “Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are menstruating, pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year if they are healthy and able.” (Islam101.com)













I also found that after a pond is emptied and the fish are removed they do something special in the pond. While the pond is empty they bring in a tractor to clean out the ditch. Then compost is dumped into the bottom of the pond. Then when the pond is filled with water the compost will jumpstart the growth of algae. They also allow the water to remain stagnant for about a week to allow mosquitoes to lay their eggs in the pond. The mosquito eggs and algae work as free natural food for the fish in the pond.


This is a translation of the call to prayer they announce over loud speakers five times a day.

God is Great.
God is Great.
God is Great.
God is Great.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer!
Come to prayer!
Come to success!
Come to success!
God is Great!
God is Great!
There is none worthy of worship except God.

Egyptians just distrust Jews on principal.
In Saudi Arabia gas is 70 cents a gallon