Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Develop your reading skills. Read the following text and do the comprehension
questions
Earth Day
Many countries around the world celebrate Earth Day. It is a day that is meant to raise
awareness and appreciation about the Earth's natural environment.
The first Earth Day was held in the USA. It was founded by United States Senator Gaylord
Nelson as an environmental teach-in - a sort of general educational forum or seminar. That
was on April 22, 1970. While this first Earth Day was focused on the United States, an
organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970,
took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations.
Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more
than 175 countries every year. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week
of activities focused on environmental issues. In 2009, the United Nations designated April
22 International Mother Earth Day.
hari Bumi
Banyak negara di seluruh dunia merayakan Hari Bumi . Ini
adalah hari yang dimaksudkan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran dan
apresiasi tentang lingkungan alam bumi .
Hari Bumi pertama diadakan di Amerika Serikat . Didirikan oleh
Senator Amerika Serikat Gaylord Nelson sebagai lingkungan
mengajar -in - semacam forum pendidikan umum atau seminar .
Itu pada tanggal 22 April 1970. Sementara Hari Bumi pertama
ini difokuskan pada Amerika Serikat , sebuah organisasi yang
diluncurkan oleh Denis Hayes , yang merupakan koordinator
nasional asli pada tahun 1970 , membawanya event internasional
pada tahun 1990 dan diselenggarakan di 141 negara .
Hari Bumi sekarang dikoordinasikan secara global oleh Jaringan
Hari Bumi , dan dirayakan di lebih dari 175 negara setiap
tahun . Banyak masyarakat merayakan Earth Week , satu minggu
dari kegiatan difokuskan pada isu-isu lingkungan . Pada tahun
2009 , PBB yang ditunjuk April 22 Internasional Hari Ibu
Bumi .
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in
which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking from dawn until sunset. Ramadan
had been the name of the ninth month in Arabian culture long before the arrival of Islam. In
the Qur'an it is said that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was
upon those before you" which is a reference to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.
Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality.
Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God and to offer more prayer than
usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in
refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good
deeds.
As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan
vary, moving backwards about ten days each year as it is
a moving holiday depending on the moon. Ramadan was
the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were
said to be revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
That was during a night that Muslims call Laylat al-Qadr (the night of decree or measures.)
The night is believed to be one of the 10 last days of the month.
Ramadan ends with Eid ul-Fitr on the first of Shawwal, with much celebration and feasting.
Develop your reading skills. Read the following text on pillars of Islam. Then
answer the comprehension questions
The Five Pillars of Islam are the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. They are the
foundation of Muslim life:
1.Shahadah is a statement professing monotheism and accepting Muhammad as God's
messenger. The statement denotes faith or belief in the Oneness of God and the finality of the
prophethood of Muhammad and is normally said in Arabic. It states: "(I profess that) there is
no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God."
2. Salah is the daily prayer of Islam. It consists of five prayers a day at sunrise, at noon, in the
afternoon, at sunset and in the evening.
3. Zakt or alms-giving is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated
wealth, and is obligatory for all who are able to do so. It is considered to be a personal
responsibility for Muslims to ease economic hardship for others and eliminate inequality.
Zakat consists of spending 2.5% of one's wealth for the benefit of the poor or needy once a
year.
4. Sawm is a ritual fasting which is an obligatory act during the month of Ramadan. Muslims
must abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk during this month,
and are to be especially mindful of other sins. It is a sort of self-purification.
5. The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah to the holy
city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least
once in their lifetime if he or she can afford it. The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are
able.
As it is shown above the five pillars of Islam are obligatory on every adult Muslim . Some of
these pillars or duties are done daily. or during a whole month. Others are done once a year or
once in a lifetime.