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Religion of Saudi Arabia |
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Saudi Arabia is home to Islam, one of the three monotheistic religions.
Muslims believe in one God, and that Mohammed is his Prophet. As the
heartland of Islam, Saudi Arabia occupies a special place in the
Muslim world. Each year, millions of Muslim pilgrims journey to Makkah, in
Saudi Arabia, to pay homage to God. For this reason, Saudi Arabia is one
of the most traditional Muslim countries and its citizens adhere to a
strict interpretation of the Koran. A Muslim has five obligations, called the Five Pillars of Islam. These obligations are: 1) Profession of faith: "There is no god but God; Mohammed is the messenger of God." 2) A Muslim should pray five times a day, facing the city of Makkah. 3) A Muslim must pay a fixed proportion of his income, called zakat to the poor. 4) During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a Muslim must fast. During this time, called Ramadan, Muslims must abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.
5) A Muslim must perform the Haj, or pilgrimage, at least once during his lifetime (if he/she
has the economic means). |
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