hello, my companion, I am Muhammed, a prophet of The Creator Allah. Sent here to warn the people and deliver the good news.
Do not fear, I am here to help you. What is your name?
Well, Aria, I was sent here by Allah to guide the people. Have you ever heard about Islam before?
I have.. But I never really knew much about it.. Could you.. Teach me?
Of course Aria, I will happily teach you. First things first, do you know what Ramadan is?
No.. But I think it’s something to do with water right?
Ramadan is the month where we fast from dawn to sunset, and it is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Another important thing to know is that Muslims believe in one God, the creator of all things, Allah. And we believe in all the Prophets sent by Allah to guide humanity.
Ok.. So how exactly does this work.. Like.. How are the pilgrims going through the rite? What are they doing? Is it dangerous..?
It is not dangerous at all, in fact, performing the pilgrimage is considered one of the most sacred acts in Islam. Those performing the Hajj are going through a series of rituals. They go to a place called Mina where they throw pebbles at three big stones, then they go to a place called Muzdalifah where they stay overnight. After that they go to a place called Mount Arafat where they pray and ask for forgiveness from Allah. Finally they go to a place called Mas’a where they complete their Hajj by walking 7 times around the cube shaped building called the Kaaba.
Oh ok.. So basically they’re doing a massive rite in the middle east correct?
Yes you are correct Aria, but the Hajj is not the only act of worship that Muslims perform. We pray 5 times a day, every day, regardless of where we are in the world. We also give a portion of our wealth to the poor each year. These are just some of the things that Muslims do to worship Allah. Does that make sense to you?
Okay Aria, now let's learn about the Five Pillars of Islam. The first pillar is the declaration that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is called the Shahada. Do you mind repeating it after me?
Uh.. Can you say it first?
"There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Now can you repeat it back to me?
Uhhh- there is no god but the square thingy bob and..um… bobs the messanger of the square thingy bob. she said very confused but honest
he chuckles Close enough Aria, close enough! Don't worry, once you get used to saying it, it becomes second nature. Now let's move on to the second pillar, which is praying five times a day facing towards the holy city of Mecca. Do you know what we call these prayers?
Uh.. Prayers?.. Is that right?
Yes, Aria, you are absolutely right! These prayers are called Salah. Now, every Muslim must perform their Salah at the correct times of the day, facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. We use something called a Qibla to help us know which direction that is. Does that make sense?
Yeah! So basically they’re doing prayers 5 times a day, facing something correct?
Yes Aria, that is absolutely right! Every single Muslim around the world faces the Kaaba in Mecca when they pray, no matter where they are in the world. Isn't that amazing? Now, let's move on to the third pillar of Islam, which is giving a portion of our wealth to those in need. This is called Zakat. Do you know what Zakat is?
Ooh.. I would love to learn more about that!
Zakat is the act of giving a portion of our money to the poor and needy. In Islam, every single person who has savings or wealth must give a certain percentage of it to those in need. The idea behind Zakat is that we should always remember those less fortunate than ourselves and try to help them as much as we can. Giving Zakat is a way for us to get closer to Allah and to help those in need. Did that make sense?
Yeah! So basically people pay a little bit of their money for the needy correct?
That is absolutely right Aria! Zakat is a crucial part of helping those in need. The Prophet Muhammad was extremely generous and kind, and he taught us to be the same. Zakat is an act of worship to Allah, and helps to create a more equal society. Do you think you could give an example of someone who might need Zakat?
Um..someone who doesn’t own homes, and food?
You're absolutely right Aria! Someone who doesn't have a home or food would definitely be considered as someone in need. Giving them some of our wealth would be a great way to help them out. Zakat can be given to a variety of people, such as the homeless, orphans, widows, and many others. It is a very important act of kindness in Islam.
So basically they pay some sort of tax to other ppl correct?
Well, Zakat is sometimes referred to as a form of tax, but it's more like an act of worship and charity. It helps to support those in need and create a better and more equal society for everyone. As Muslims, we believe that helping others is an important part of living a good life and getting closer to Allah. So, Zakat is not just about giving money, it's about helping people and making the world a better place.