Why Religion? Click below to find out! What they propose is that religion declines not simply because of economic development, but when that economic development brings with it the security that you would expect it to bring, which they call “existential security”. All prayers are initiated with the recitation of the adhaan which means call to prayer. This prayer is performed in congregation at the local Mosque and is led by an Imam (leader). There are many other prayers in Islam, such a Namaaz-e-Mayyit, which is performed at the janaaza funeral of the deceased and Namaaz-e-Eid, which is a prayer traditionally performed on the mornings of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, prior to which, all Muslims are liable to give to charity in the form of fitrana. Literally translated, salah can mean prayer or supplication and is generally considered the act of worshipping Allah SWT; an act which is specifically mentioned in the Holy Qur’an with a variety of rules and guidelines surrounding it. What Does Salah Mean?

Daily salah prayers tend to follow a similar structure, though additional prayers and those that occur during major events like Eid ul-Adha differ more significantly. Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is more than simply avoiding food. For more information on the holiday of Hanukkah, see How Hanukkah Works. Linguists don’t know; there’s just not enough information about the origins of language, and there are only theories about how our early ancestors formed their first words and sentences. The days are longer in summer but shorter in winter. As the Islamic year is based on the lunar calendar, it rotates by around 11 days each year. The Ramadan start date for 2025 is expected to fall on 28 February (with the possible variation of a few days) following the sighting of the moon. Throughout Ramadan and the rest of the year, believers strive hard to refrain from acts of evil and causing harm to others. These acts of worship remind believers to remember the vulnerable around the world. There are two meals the believers eat in Ramadan – Suhoor and Iftar. Other important prayer rituals also include taraaweeh, which is a prayer offered every evening during the Holy month of Ramadan.

It is important to educate oneself on how to perform their prayer correctly to ensure the benefits of salah are acquired and your act of worship is received well by Allah SWT. Again, any form of prayer in Islam is carried out whilst facing towards Mecca, where the Holy Ka’aba resides. Ramadan is an incredibly auspicious month in which the initial verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a guide for all humanity. Many of these voluntary prayers are undertaken by Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan due to the many rewards and blessings bestowed in this virtuous month. The month itself holds countless rewards for those who seek forgiveness and the pleasure of Allah (SWT). Other Christian denominations are much smaller and include the Old Believers, who separated from the Russian Orthodox church in the 17th century, and Baptist and Evangelical groups, which grew somewhat in membership during the 20th century. In spring 2016, we asked residents of 10 European counties for their impression of how many Muslims in their country support extremist groups, such as ISIS. It is a time when Muslims from around the world congregate in Mecca to worship Allah (SWT) and perform several rituals to strengthen their faith and devotion.

Our shield of faith sends Satan’s flaming arrows of doubt glancing harmlessly to the side. The ritual of sacrifice dates back to the great sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim was prepared to make in devotion to Allah (SWT). The spirit of all the above-discussed obligations is submission and sacrifice. Hajj is followed by the festival of Eid ul-Adha, which is the time of Qurbani (festival of sacrifice). Martial values and human sacrifice were a ritualistic core of Mesoamerican spirituality prior to European incursion, but quickly dissolved in the early stages of Imperial rule. The day begins with congregational prayers, prior to which Zakat ul-Fitr (Fitrana) is offered to those in need. It’s a moment that goes down in rock history – the day Hendrix sacrificed his beloved guitar to the gods of music. The centerpiece of the day is the slaughter of a sheep, which is distributed to the poor, kin, neighbors, and friends, as well as the immediate family. Paul cautions us to pray for others as well.