Muslim

A follower of the religion Islam which means achieving peace through submitting oneself completely to Allah (God in Arabic). Contrary to popular belief, less than 19% of Muslims are from the Arab world. Muslims come from all over the world, there are Chinese Muslims, American Muslims, African American Muslims, Australian Muslims, Pakistani Muslims, etc... Shahadah: declaration of faith;" There is no God but God and Muhammad is his messenger" Salat- Prayer; Muslims pray five times a day in order to reflect on past errors and ask God for Forgiveness for any misdeeds,prayer is a direct dialogue between the worshiper and God Zakat- charity; involves giving to those in need 2.5 % of one's wealth, redistribution of wealth in society and if applied properly can successfully eliminate poverty, giving beyond the obligatory charity is expected of every Muslim- even meeting another with a smile is considered charity Sawm- Fasting; fasting from dawn until dusk, during month of Ramadan ( lunar calendar of Muslims), by abstaining from things that are necessary for survival, it is a lot easier to abstain from things that are not necessary for survival such as lying, gossiping, etc... Hajj- Pilgrimage; once in a lifetime obligation of every Muslim who is physically and financially able, wear simple clothing- white clothing that strips all class and culture, everyone stands equal before God