Islamic Fundamentalism
Islamic Fundamentalism
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dispense their charity with their hearts full of
fear….” (23:60)
As we know, the pilgrimage to Makkah (
hajj
), the
fourth pillar of Islam, is organized along particular
lines, according to the rites and rituals of
hajj
. But
believers are made aware at all times that it is not
just mere presence in Makkah and the physical
accomplishment of the rites which really matter, but
the circumspect conduct accompanying each act,
the restrained and disciplined behaviour which
reveals the earnest intentions of the pilgrim to lead
a righteous life then and throughout the rest of the
year. Again it is the spirit of the thing, which
counts.
The fifth pillar of Islam, fasting (
sawm
) for the whole
of the month of Ramadan, is not concerned merely
with abstinence from food and drink during each
day from sunrise to sunset, but with the devotion
and gratitude to God which self-denial teaches
(2:183). Thus the essence of fasting is to produce the
spirit of piety. In the words of the
hadith
, a fast
without this spirit is only the experience of hunger
and thirst. As such, it is not a true fast in the
