Islam and Yoga 10

Out of 5 pillars of Islam we discussed first 3 – compulsory to almost all Muslims.
Now let us see the remaining two- Zakah and Hajj Pilgrimage - which are compulsory for the affordable lot of Muslims.

Zakah 
Zakah is compulsory charity for those who are well off.
2 ½ of percent of wealth remaining after expenses and debt is to be spent every year as charity
 to those who are eligible to receive it.

Subject to various rules and regulation wealth includes cash, bank balance, gold silver, cattle, vehicles, land, building, stock in trade, agricultural products, shares, stocks etc.  
Zakah can be doled throughout the year. It is usually  given   in the Holy Month of Ramzan
Zakah prevents accumulation of wealth with a few by spreading of the same.
Thus it serves a social cause.

Hajj Pilgrimage 

 It is a bounden duty of   those who are blessed with health and wealth to perform Hajj pilgrimage. Unlike others it is enough to perform Hajj once in life time
Hajj envisages pilgrimage to Holy City of Makka, where the Muslims have to perform certain rituals,
Men performing Hajj have to wear a special dress called Ihram for certain days. It is a two piece dress without any stitching
It resembles dress with which corpse is covered.
One has to abstain from perfumes, soap and paste while in Ihram dress and he has to wear rubber footwear.

Pilgrims from India have to board international flight with this simple dress .
Ego totally vanishes in Hajj and thus it serves as a practice of controlling senses

Hajj is an expression of devotion to Almighty and not means of gaining social status 
Misconceptions about Islam and Clarifications 

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