Islam, Five pillars of Muslim faith and difference between Ahmadi Muslim & non Ahmadi Muslims

Islam’s five pillars Teach Freedom of Faith.

-Imam shamshad.

Report by Nadeem Raza Chicago

Oblong, a small village in Crawford County, Illinois, United States, was incorporated in 1883. It has a population of 1500.

Imam Shamshad A. Nasir received invitation from Bloomington chapter of Ahmadiyya Muslim community to speak in Central United Methodist Church in Oblong,on the topic-Islam–5 pillars, life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), sectarian differences and difference between Ahmadiyyat and the rest of Muslims. The event was decided on Thursday 29th October 2015, at 7:00 PM.

Imam with two Ahmadi members traveled four hours from Glen Ellyn to Oblong to avail this Tableegh opportunity. There were only few members to attend that event. People, though they had concerns about Islam but were friendly and all the discussion was done in a home like environment in the Church.

Imam started with a brief introduction of how Islam started and explained the first 13 years of Islam in Makkah. Persecution and migration of the early Muslims and then of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) from Makkah to Madina.
He also told about the wars fought between non believers of Makkah and the Muslims after they migrated to Madina, specially the first battle. He laid a brief picture of what Makkans brought for this fight was a fully trained and well equipped army of 1000 soldiers with many of the well known warriors of that time while Muslims were only 313, even without enough weapons but won that battle only in defense of Islam because of the God’s help and the prayers of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Coming to the five pillars of Muslim faith, Imam mentioned about declaration of faith-the Kalima and explained that this is a verbal saying to announce that one is entering to Islam willfully. He, for interest of the audience explained that like Christians have baptism for someone who converts to Christianity, Muslims have the Kalima for this purpose.

Imam continued further with pillars of faith by telling the act of worship-five daily prayers. Saying prayers multiple times everyday per Muslim beliefs is for spiritual health and to establish strong relationship with God Almighty. Physical health depend on multiple meals every day, so is spiritual health.

While talking about congregational Friday prayer, Imam told that the Muslims have to manage short leave because as Friday is a weekday and everyone is engaged in their respective businesses. He appreciated that majority of the management people shows positive attitude towards this and cooperate with Muslims to go and comeback for work after the prayer.
Spending in the cause of the God is the third pillar of faith. Imam told that all money one earns is not for his alone use. A portion of the earnings must be spent on the needy and poor people per the Muslims beliefs.

Continuing about fasting in the month of Ramadan, Imam told that Muslims fast for 29 to 30 days depending upon moon sighting in the Holy month of Ramadan. Muslims don’t eat and drink from one hour twenty minutes before sunrise till sunset to observe fast. Those who are not supposed to fast were also mentioned like Traveler , patients, suckling moms etc.

Muslims follow the sunna’h (acts) of Abraham (PBUH) and his wife Hajra, and the Holy Prophet Mohammad peace be on him, Imam explained while talking about Hajj, the fifth pillar of the Muslim faith. He elaborated that Makka was a barren land with no population, no water and no crops at all when the prophet Abraham (PBUH) was commanded by the God Almighty to leave his wife Hajra and son Ismail to that place which, with passage of time, turned in to a great city today. Imam said that all 5 pillars of Islam teaches freedom of Faith.

Imam presented the book “World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace”, to all the church members. This book is a compilation of speeches and letters for peace to leading personalities of the world, by His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Imam and the Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

This was explained to one of the female church members that Jihad doesn’t mean killing people in anyway. Jihad only means to make efforts in any direction, for a good cause. It was further mentioned that pioneer of the Ahmadiyya community, Mirza Ghula Ahmad, the promised Messiah of this age has told more than one hundred years back that no one can kill any person in the name of religion. Imam invited the pastor to do some Jihad and bring his congregation to Glen Ellyn Ahmadiyya mosque and see how Ahmadi behaves and perform their prayers to have a direct and clear idea.

Imam also thanked the Pastor and all present of their hospitality and warm welcome.Few members from the local chapter and the President Brother Najmuddin joined in this meeting.