by Tahmina Sattar

Created on: July 29, 2009   Last Updated: August 01, 2009

As any practising Muslim knows, defining your relationship with Allah is a task that wavers from time to time. Belief may be firm but the fickle human heart loses sight of what is dearest to oneself. Keeping in constant communication with Allah becomes imperative to the relationship and is not just through the five daily prayers but through each conscientious action carried out by the believer.

Allah has defined the ways towards becoming closer to Him through rituals of worship- otherwise known as the five pillars of Islam. The Shahada is taken for granted by many Muslims but do we truly wonder what it entails when we claim belief in One creator and His Messenger? The Shahada signals submission to the greater nature of the Creator and the fact that as a Muslim we have understood not only what that means in terms of our own personal freedom, but to take on the practices and guidance of the chosen seal of the prophets- Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The prayers prescribed by Allah, placed strategically around the waking hours of a human being's day, forces one to regain the link to the Creator. Even when one's mind is still busy on the mundane aspects of life, carrying through the ritual of the prayer proves the believers submission to his Lord. Many feel that a prayer without heart and soul may as well be not performed. However even the fact that a believer clings on to the outward action in times of weak iman is still considered acceptable by Allah. It is only the proud and arrogant who refuse to bow down despite all their misapprehensions. The ultimate belief is one that begs Allah to forgive us in all our weaknesses.

Charity is another prescription for achieving proximity to the Creator, if only humans understood. A Muslim battles against stinginess, greed and selfishness to share whatever rizk Allah has ordained for him. Charity serves to encourage love between people. The joy of giving is incomparable and Allah gives pleasure to both the giver and the receiver of the charity.

While other obligatory acts are seen to be in the best interests of the believer, fasting is mentioned as an action purely for the sake of Allah. Although the benefits of fasting are many, Allah promises the reward of the fast as one that is special. The relationship with Allah is the most powerful during the month of Ramadan for many, as this month sees the physical detox of the inside as well as the spiritual recharging for the whole year.

Although not always in every believer's

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