In this section, you need to complete all five parts regardless of your Girl Scout level.
Declaration of Faith (Shahada)
The declaration of faith, shahada, is the belief in one God and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as his messenger. In Arabic, the declaration of faith is: “Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah” which means “I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”
Prayer (Salah)
In Islam, Muslims pray five times a day. These five prayers are Fajr, Duhr, Ashr, Maghrib, and Isha. Muslims pray facing Mecca, the house of Allah. Before Muslims pray, they do wadu which is the act of cleansing one’s self before prayer. Prayers take place in a clean location.
Fasting (Sawm)
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is when Muslims fast. This month is called Ramadan. Muslims are allowed to eat breakfast before sunrise (around 5 am). This is called suhur. They then eat dinner after sunset (7 pm on average). This is called iftar. Muslims do not eat lunch or snacks or drink water during the day. The purpose of fasting during Ramadan is to bring Muslims closer to Allah. It is also a way to practice self control and reflect on everything one has been given.
Alms Giving (Zakat)
Alms Giving represents helping those needing money, clothes, and other necessities. Alms Giving is also called Zakat which means “to grow.” Muslims believe that donating increases the worth of their money. Adult women and men are supposed to donate at least 2.5% of the funds they can afford to donate. They can donate this money to soup kitchens, hospitals, schools, libraries, and more! This money must be donated by the end of the year.
Pilgrimage (Hajj)
All Muslims are required to complete Hajj, a pilgrimage, to Mecca once in their lifetime as long as they are financially able and healthy. Hajj roughly translates to “pilgrimage made to the Kabaa” and takes place once a year during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Hajj is also one of the five pillars of Islam. The pilgrimage takes place over five to six days in Saudi Arabia and the last day is marked by Eid-Al-Adha, one of the two main Islamic holidays.
