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message, in the form of the Koran, was revealed to Muhammad during this month.
4. Zakat or Zakaah: Muslims should give one fortieth of their income to the poor and needy as charity. They must see this charitable act as their offering to God.
5. Hajj: Each Muslim is expected to travel to Mecca on pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Money spent to go on this pilgrimage should have been earned honestly and with pure
work.
In addition to these five pillars of Islam there are other doctrines which deal with specific activities of living. Some examples of doctrines which a devout Muslim must abide by are as
following:
Muslims must not worship idols. For this reason, photos or representations of the physical form of the prophet Muhammad are not available. They must not eat the flesh of swine which is considered
•
an unclean animal.
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They should not make loans that bear interest.
Muslims must also follow various rules concerning marriage and divorce. These rules are specified in Sharia, the body of Islamic law. In addition, Muhammad did not approve of the practice of
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