How islam became both a religion and a way of life
...gnize no official priests who mediate between the people and God, and follow the Five Pillars. Islamic teachings helped shape the lives of its believers. To Muslims, the Quran contains the sacred word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad. It is the final authority on all matters. It teaches about God and that Islam was God’s final and complete revelation and provides a complete guide to life. Its ethical standards emphasize honesty, generosity, and social justice. It sets harsh penalties for crimes such as stealing or murder. In its original Arabic form, it is the one and only word of God. Converts to Islam learn Arabic because the meaning and beauty of the Quran resides in its original language. This shared language helped to unite Muslims from many regions. The Sharia also helped to unite Muslims. Included in the Quran were five basic duties, known as the Five Pillars of Islam. The first pillar is declaration of faith. Muslims recite the phrase “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” The second pillar is daily prayer. Muslims pray facing the holy city of Mecca. The third pillar is giving charity to the poor. The fourth is fasting from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. The fifth pillar is the hajj which is a pilgrimage to Mecca to visit the Kaaba. The Muslims also believed that the Quran was the sacred text of Islam. Muslim scholars developed an immense body of law interpreting the Quran and applying its teaching to daily life. The Sharia is the Islamic system of law, and it regulates moral con...