The pillars of Islam are the essentials and fundamentals of Islam, which must be accepted and followed by a Muslim.
The primary responsibility of Muslims is to understand their beliefs and actions they must follow, known as pillars.
Step by step, we’ll unravel the significance of each pillar, exploring their profound impact on the lives of millions worldwide.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “Islam is based upon five: the testimony of La Ilaha Illallah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of the Salat, giving the Zakat, fasting (the month of) Ramadan, and performing Hajj to the House.”
Whether you’re new to Islam or seeking a deeper understanding, join us in uncovering the profound wisdom and unity that unites Muslims across the globe.
- Faith (Shahada)
Shahada is the term given to making a declaration of faith and dedication to your belief that there is no God worthy of worship except Allah and that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His final prophet and messenger.
As the First Pillar of Islam, Shahadah is the declaration of your submission to Allah and is the announcement of accepting His religion.
If a person wishes to revert to Islam, they must make Shahada, which will serve as their first act of joining Islam.
- Prayer (Salah)
Prayer (Salah) is the obligatory prayers performed five times daily and is a direct link between the worshiper and God.
Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran and is generally chosen by the congregation.
Prayer has a great place in our religion. It is the second pillar of Islam and the first thing a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Resurrection.
God imposed it on His Prophet; may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, in the highest place humans have reached, and on the most honorable nights, never except with the demise of the mind.
The prayers in order are as follows;
– Fajr; dawn, before the sun has fully risen
– Zhuhr; midday, once the sun has passed the highest point
– Asr; late afternoon, before the sun begins to set
– Maghrib: after sunset, once the sun dips below the horizon
– Isha: between sunset and midnight
While Salah is an act of worshiping Allah, it is not, in any way, shape, or form, for anyone’s benefit other than oneself – Salah is an important reminder that there is no one greater than Allah the Almighty.
During Salah, the mind should be free from any other worldly thoughts.
It is obligatory for you to go to the mosque as long as you hear the call to prayer because congregational prayer is obligatory.
This is an excellent way of following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and gaining great rewards as well as benefiting from the social bonds made and created in the houses of Allah.
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- Zakat
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It requires wealthy Muslims to give 2.5% of their qualifying wealth each year to help Muslims who need it across various categories.
Six conditions of Muslim’s wealth determine if they must pay Zakat from it:
Absolute Ownership
Growth
Minimum Quantity
Abundance Above Need
Solvency (Freedom from Debt)
Lapse of a Lunar Year (or Time of Harvest)
The conditions are covered thoroughly in the following article:
https://muslimvoiceforpeace.org/blog/zakat-in-islam-understanding-the-meaning-and-calculation/
Zakat is a spiritual duty and vital to the Islamic social welfare system.
Zakat is more than just a payment or a random act of charity. It’s a unique form of religious, social welfare that benefits the whole community.
You can also pay Zakat online at:
https://muslimvoiceforpeace.org/pay-zakat/
- Fasting
The fourth pillar is fasting by all able adult Muslims during the Islamic month of Ramadan. By fasting, a Muslim can spiritually and physically purify, elevate his soul, and obtain nearness to Allah.
Fasting means abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and conjugal relations from dawn to sunset.
Allah increases our humility and obedience by sacrificing physical needs for obeying our creator’s commands.
It was the month the Holy Quran was first revealed to the Holy Prophet; peace be upon him.
The Holy Quran allows exemption from fasting to the elderly, the chronically sick, and children.
A temporary exemption is permitted to those traveling, the sick, pregnant and nursing women, and menstruating women.
The latter are expected to make up the fasts later if they’re medically able. If not possible because of intractable medical issues, a fidia (a specific amount of food) is then required to be paid.
- Pilgrimage (Hajj)
Islam’s fifth and final pillar is Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah. It is a time when Muslims worldwide congregate in Makkah to worship Allah and perform several rituals to strengthen their faith and devotion.
Pilgrims must wear plain white clothing and enter a spiritual state of holiness known as Ihram. Ihram helps promote unity amongst the Ummah in attendance, for no man or woman, rich or poor, resident or traveler, stands above another.
Regardless of our age, ethnicity, status, and race, in the eyes of Allah, we are all equal.
Hajj falls in the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hijjah, from the 8th to the 12th. It is a journey that every Muslim is obligated to take at least once in their lifetime and is a spiritual time that allows you to become closer to Allah.
Why Are the Five Pillars of Islam Important?
Each of the five pillars of Islam works in tandem with one another to bring the essence of Islam as a religion of submission to Allah, into the lifestyle of every Muslim:
Monotheism and the belief in Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, (preceded by other prophets such as Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah, and many others) as the last messenger of God is the central tenet of Islam around which everything else revolves, and reciting the Shahadah in prayer each day serves to remind Muslims of this integral belief.
Salah occurs five times a day and offers five different opportunities for remembrance of Allah the Almighty and our purpose in this life to worship Him.
The month of Ramadan requires every Muslim to abstain from their most basic needs and desires, like food, drink, and sexual relations, from sunset to sunrise each day.
Every year, the Fast allows Muslims to gather control over their human needs. Without these distractions, Muslims can nurture good conduct and connection to Allah instead.
While Sadaqa (charity) is greatly encouraged to be a part of everyday Muslim life, it is obligatory to offer Zakat (alms) once a year for those who are required, ensuring that wealth is continuously redistributed to those who need it.
During the Hajj (pilgrimage), Muslims must each wear the same simple garments and perform the same ritual acts of devotion to Allah.
Stripped of worldly distinction, people are reminded that all are equal before God.
