take place within established time periods five times a day. The five times of worship are daybreak, noon, afternoon, the close of day, and night, and correspond to the organization of man’s time around various daily activities  or  routines. l  Sawm,  fasting. Sawm takes place during the month of Ramadan. Islam has a lunar calendar in which the months are all either 29 or 30 days long. The ninth month,  Ramadan,  is  the  month  in  which  the  first revelation of the Qur’an came to the Holy Prophet. The fast  from  food  (total  abstinence),  drink  (Moslems  may never  drink  alcoholic  drinks),  and  sex  trains  Moslems in  both  self-discipline  and  scrupulous  obedience  to God’s commands. . Zakat, giving to the poor. A Moslem worships by means of his or her wealth through an obligatory form of giving to those in need. Included in Zakat is voluntary charity, to the extent that one can afford, to those in need. l   Hajj,   the   pilgrimage   to   Mecca.   To   every Moslem,  Mecca,  the  city  where  Mohammed  was  born, is the chief holy city. Five times a day, a devout Moslem turns  toward  Mecca  and  prays.  A  Moslem  is  also supposed to visit Mecca at least once during his or her lifetime. Hajji is a title that refers to a Moslem who has made the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. Mosque Of the essentials in the rites of worship, the mosque is   the   most   important   symbol.   To   Moslems,   the mosque-the place of kneeling and site for worship-is the most important building. The mosque has a mihrab, or niche, which points to Mecca, the holy city. Each mosque  is  equipped  with  a  pulpit  for  the  Imam  or religious leader and a lectern for the Qur’an. A mosque has at least one minaret, or tower, from which the muezzin chants the call to prayer. A court and water  fountain  provide  for  the  ceremonial  washing before prayer. Colorful arabesques and Qur’anic verses written in large Arabic letters usually decorate the walls of the mosque. As an RP, you must realize that mosques are not open to all non-Moslems. Unless  you  obtain  special permission, you will not be allowed to enter a mosque. If you should receive permission to visit a mosque, remember to remove your shoes before entering, speak only  in  whispers,   and  do  not  attempt  to  take photographs. You will see Moslems at prayer wherever they happen to be when the call for prayer is heard. Most mosques house a religious elementary school where young scholars learn to read and memorize the Qur’an.  Some  special  Islamic  centers  have  a  religious college where students may complete their religious education. A graduate, called a mullah, may teach in a primary school or preach in a mosque. No  statues,  ritual  objects,  or  pictures  are  permitted within  the  mosque. Ceremonies   connected   with marriage and birth are never permitted in the mosque. Moslems do not use music and singing with the service, but the Qur’an may be chanted by professional chanters called  Muqr’i.  Islamic  tradition  recommends  group worship for each daily prayer, but Islamic law requires Moslems  to  pray  the  noon  prayer  on  Friday. Consequently, many worshipers will enter the mosque for the noon Friday prayers and a platform may be required so the Imam or leader can deliver the sermon to the crowd of worshipers. Imam The Imam, or religious leader, is the chief officer in the mosque. The Imam’s duty is to assume religious responsibilities,  lead  the  people  in  prayer,  deliver sermons,  counsel  readers,  officiate  at  conversions  and marriages, and take charge of an Islamic center. On special occasions, a distinguished visitor or religious leader may lead the public prayers. Although the Imam or leader will usually deliver the sermon, any Moslem, in  fact,  can  conduct  the  service.  Of  course,  the  deeper the personal knowledge, the more entitled a person is to lead the service. Other Essentials and Symbols In the culture as well as the religion, the world of Islam includes certain symbols. Some of these symbols are essential gear for worship; others represent cultural standards and practices. Let’s take a look at a few of these symbols and their associated rituals. PRAYER RUG.— A prayer mat or rug on which to kneel for prayer is desirable and is usually placed in a ritually  clean  space  for  prayer.  A  prayer  rug  often contains symbols of Islamic beliefs. The symbols are highly  stylized  because  of  Islam’s  prohibition  against the representation of animals and humans on any article that might enter the mosque or Islamic place of worship. COLORS.—   The  color  blue  is  associated  with certain powers and is thought to have the power to ward off evil. Green is the holy color of Islam. 1-24