Biswas Ijtema

The Tabligh Jamaat (a branch of Islam) of Bangladesh just hosted the second largest gathering of Muslim followers after the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Every year nearly 3 million people congregate to Tongi a small town on the outskirts of Dhaka. This includes 15,000 international guests. The Tabligh Jamaat are basically the hippies of Islam. They have a non-political stance and arrange social services like marriage of poor men and women free of cost. Their aim is to bring spiritual awakening to the world's Muslims. They focus on being good in this life in order to have a better afterlife.

Living in a Muslim country I thought I would share some info about Islam.

There are Five Pillars, or basic practices and beliefs of Islam:

• Witness / Shahadah: Declaration that “there is no God but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
• Prayer / Salah: Prayer offered at five times during the day. Dhaka has a great speaker system, the prayer to call is heard all over the city- even from my bedroom at 5am.
• Giving / Zakah: Giving to the poor.
• Fasting /Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset, which includes abstaining from all food, drink and sexual activity.
• Pilgrimage / Hajj: A pilgrimage to Mecca (the site of God’s revelation to Muhammad, and the sacrifice made by Abraham) for those who are physically and financially able.

Did you know? Islam is one of the Abrahamic family of faiths that also includes Judaism and Christianity. Muslims recognize Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other Biblical figures as part of this tradition.