Being A Good Muslim By # 2.3

      Have you ever heard of a practicing muslim? Or that practicing is one way to become good? Yup, you got it. A good muslim practices Islam daily. Trying to be good at a paticular skill requires practice and so is being a good muslim.

      As a good muslim, I have to do two important things: have imaan (belief) and do five things which are known as the Five Pillars of Islam. These are all important in Islam. Without them, a person can't be a muslim.

      As a good muslim, I have to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets, the Day of Ressuruction, and the Divine Decree. All of these constitute imaan. Then, I have to do the Five Pillars of Islam which means I have to believe in the Declaration of Faith, pray five times each day, give Zakat, fast in the month of Ramadan, and once in my lifetime (if I am able to do so) go on a pilgrimage to the House of Allah.

      The Declaration of Faith states that I must believe that there is nobody worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Then, I must pray five times each day. Sometimes I feel tired or lazy to pray ,but after awhile, I remember that Shaytan is making me lazy. I also remember that I must be thankful. At first Allah, ordered Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims to pray fifty times each day, but out of His mercy, Allah reduced it to five. Next, I have to give Zakat (which means I have to give 2.5% of my savings) and fast in the month of Ramadan. By giving Zakat, I feel thankful to Allah for the money He has given to me. By fasting a whole month, I feel thankful to Allah for the food he has given to me. Lastly, I have to go on a pilgrimage to the House of Allah. By doing it, I will go back home with a clean Book of Deeds.

      I know that as a good muslim, I don't only need to be good to Allah, but also to people. I can't be bad to my parents, family, neighbors, friends, etc. I have to be nice even to my enemies.

      Trying to be a good muslim is hard. But by practicing Islam daily, it becomes easier. All it takes is practice. Generally, being a good muslim is following the Quran and Sunnah. As a good muslim, I have to keep my duty to Allah all my life. This life is only a test. Tests usually end and so will this life. We'll all meet Allah to get our "grades." That's why I try being a good muslim.