Pillar talk with Willie

I'm sitting here at the computer listening to Willie Nelson on iTunes and watching a helicopter fly past my window and land at the sheikh's palace next door. Now if that doesn't put me in a mood to write about Islam, I don't know what will.

Blue-eyesight is the first to confess that she is borderline-ignorant on the subject of Islam. My main credential is that I can look out of my window here on the 11th floor and see about 50 mosques. In one of my first blogs I rashly declared that I wouldn't talk about religion or politics when writing about the Middle East. I failed. I also said that I would never embarrass my kids either...whoops, failed at that one too.
Let's start with the basics. There are "five pillars" that you must know that "hold up" the faith:
1) profession of faith in Allah with Mohammed (PBUH*) as his messenger
2)prayer
3)fasting
4)pilgrimage
5)charity

*When writing the name of Mohammed, you must put "peace be upon him" (or "PBUH' for short) afterwards....

You can read any guide book about this area and the first paragraph usually contains something about Islam, that is how much it is part of the culture. We will spend the next blog or two on the subject of Mohammed (sans pictures of course). It is a fitting subject this week as it is the prophet's birthday on Thursday.