5 Pillars of Islam

The 5 Pillars of Islam are the beliefs and practices all Muslims must instill in their entire life. These 5 tenets form the foundation of Muslim life regardless of their cultural, regional, and ethnic differences. The five pillars of Islam include Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj. In this blog, we will discuss each pillar in detail.

Importance of The Five Pillars of Islam

Every religion is erected on a strong foundation on which people live their lives. The Five Pillars of Islam provide a strong foundation for this divinely revealed religion. These pillars act as the cohesive force that adheres the Muslims across the world in a single knot known as the Muslim Ummah.  There is a strong emphasis on the five pillars of Islam in the Quran. These tenets are laid out in the Holy Quran and are reinforced throughout the Hadiths.

In a Hadith (Sahih Bukhari 8) the Prophet (SAW) said;

"بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ ‏"‏ ‏

“(The superstructure of) Islam is raised on five (pillars), testifying (the fact) that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His bondsman and messenger, and the establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, Pilgrimage to the House (Kaba) and the fast of Ramadan”.

Shahadah-The First Pillar of Islam

Shahadah or the Islamic declaration of faith is the first pillar of Islam. The Shahadah consists of two parts. The first part is the acknowledgment of the Oneness of Allah- I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that no other partners or offspring are associated with him, and the second part states, that Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and Messenger (the seal of Prophets)

Islamic Shahada in Arabic

 To become Muslim and embrace Islam, it is important to read Islamic Shahada in Arabic. 

اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَہٗ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُولُہٗ

“I bear witness there is no god but Allah, the One alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and Messenger“

Why is Shahadah Important

Along with reading and understanding one should know why Shahadah is important.

The shahadah is the first step to entering the threshold of Islam. Without embracing it, no one can be considered as Muslim. Practicing all other pillars and doing good deeds, without declaring Shahadah will go in vain. In a Hadith (Sahih Bukhari 2220), the Prophet (SAW) states that when a person recites the shahada for the first time, firmly believing in it, all of their past sins are forgiven, and all the good deeds that they have done remains.

Salah-The Second Pillar of Islam

Salah or prayer is the second pillar of Islam. Salah is the physical worship offered by Muslims with a predefined method. Five prayers a day have been made obligatory by Allah. It is confirmed from the  Holy Quran that salah has been enjoined on the believers at fixed times. Allah says in the Holy Book;

إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا (4:103)

“Indeed, performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times”.(4:103)

The prayer is offered by pre pre-defined method facing toward Makkah (the Qiblah). It is an obligation of every Muslim to perform salah five times a day. The name and times of the five prayers are as follows;

• Fajr: Fajr is the morning prayer offered before sunrise.
• Zuhr:  Zuhr is the noon prayer. It is offered just after mid-day. 
• Asr: Asr is offered long after the Zuhr and before the sunsets.
• Maghrib: Maghrib is the evening prayer. It starts when the sun disappears and lasts until the twilight.
• Isha: Isha is the last of the compulsory prayers and is prayed any time from twilight until midnight.

Importance of Salah In Islam

Divine rewards are promised for Salah in Islam. Besides the rewards in the afterlife, it holds immense significance in this life. Achieving piety and righteousness is at the heart of Islam and prayer has a great role in achieving it. Salah is the way to communicate with Allah directly. As the word Islam means submission, Muslims submit themselves to the will of the creator while prostrating. It is the result of submission that Muslims feel free to fear others. The establishment of prayer is one of the major topics upon which Allah has emphasized more than anything else in the Holy Quran. While mentioning the rewards of salah, Allah says in the Holy Quran;

                                وَٱلَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ  (10:170)

As for those who firmly abide by the Scripture and establish prayer—surely We never discount the reward of those acting righteously. (10:170)

So, the second pillar of Islam is salah which is an obligatory worship to be offered five times a day.

Zakat - The Third Pillar of Islam

Zakat, the third pillar of Islam, is a form of worship in financial terms. Zakat means “purification” Zakat meaning in Islam, is an obligatory act that requires all qualifying Muslims to donate a set percentage of their wealth to charity. Not every Muslim is obliged to pay Zakat. A Muslim must meet a certain criteria known as Nisab to qualify for zakat. The Nisab of Zakat is set at the value of 7.5 tolas (87.48 grams) of gold and 52.5 tolas (612.36 grams) of silver, respectively. A Muslim whose wealth exceeds these values should pay 2.5% of his wealth in Zakat. 

Significance of The 3rd Pillar of Islam

The 3rd pillar of Islam holds immense significance according to the Quran and Hadith. Its benefits range from social to moral, and spiritual. The zakat emancipates us from the greed for wealth and worldly possessions. It promotes a financially balanced society by circulating money equally and fairly.

وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَۚ  (2:110)

“And establish prayer and give zakah” (2:110)

In a hadith (Al-Tirmidhi, Chapter 7, No. 618), Hazrat Abu Hurairah (R.A) narrated that the Prophet said:

“When you pay the Zakat you have fulfilled what is required of you.”

The Zakat or Islamic almsgiving is part of the accomplishment of a larger Islamic vision of social justice. Zakat encourages Muslims to use their wealth unselfishly and to care for those in need.

The Fourth Pillar of Islam - Sawm

Sawm or fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. Sawm  is an Arabic word that primarily means to refrain from something. Sawm meaning in Islam is to observe fasting during Ramazan, the Holy Islamic month. During this month Muslims abstain from any food, drink, sexual activity, or smoking. The fasting occurs during the daytime- from dawn to dusk (sunset) each day. It is an obligatory act that all Muslims are obliged to fulfill.    

The Significance of The 4th Pillar of Islam

The 4th Pillar of Islam also pronounced ‘As Sawm or Siam’, bears a plethora of spiritual, social, and physical significance. Islam being a complete religion, has institutionalized fasting to achieve high moral and spiritual standards. The main purpose of fasting is to achieve piety and God’s fear. While highlighting the purposes of the fast, the Holy Quran states:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ  (2:183)

“O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing” (2:183) 

In a Hadith (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1624) the Prophet (SAW) describes the significance of fasting in this way;

مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ النَّارِ خَنْدَقًا كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ

“Whoever fasts a day in the way of Allah, Allah will make a trench between him and the Hellfire whose distance is like that between the heavens and the earth.”

Along with achieving piety and righteousness, fasting helps in maintaining a balanced physical life. It prevents many fatal diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, and hypertension. 

Hajj- The Fifth Pillar of Islam

Hajj or the ‘pilgrimage to Makkah’ is the fifth pillar of Islam and manifests the Islamic faith and values. Hajj is the obligatory act that takes place during a specific time and is performed with a predefined method. It is one of the ritual practices of Islam that is obligated to capable Muslims (physically and financially able to make the journey to Makkah) once in a lifetime. During the Zhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims make the pilgrimage to Makkah wearing only two white sheets (Ihram). 

In the holy Quran Allah says about Hajj;

وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ  (22:27)

“Call all people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path” (22:27)

• Islamic Practices and Rituals During Hajj

One must perform Islamic practices and rituals of Hajj to make it acceptable to Allah. The main rituals of the Hajj include;

• Ihram: The white garment worn by men is referred to as the Ihram.
• Tawaf: Walking seven times around the Holy Kaaba
• Istilam: Touching, kissing, or waving at Hajr e Aswad. 
• Sayee: Walking seven times between the Mount Safa and Mount Marwah. 
• Ramee: Stoning the Devil in Mina. and concludes with Eid-ul-Adha prayers. 
• Sacrifice: Sacrificing any animal in the memorandum of the sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S)

Significance of Hajj

Hajj is not only the fulfillment of Islamic rituals and practices but also a symbol of harmony and unity of the Muslim ummah. The Hajj is an unprecedented spiritual gathering of millions of Muslims across the world. The Muslims in the same outfitting during the Hajj reinforce the concept of equality of humans in front of Allah. This spiritual gathering negates discrimination based on ethnicity, color, culture, and others. When a person performs Hajj with sincerity and fulfills all the requirements, he reaches the height of spirituality. It is not only a journey toward Makkhah but a path of guidance for everyone. In the Holy Quran Allah says;

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

Surely the first House of worship established for humanity is the one at Bakkah (Makkah)—a blessed sanctuary and a guide for all people.

Conclusion

The  5 pillars of Islam are not only an individual requirement but also have a collective dimension. On one hand, these demonstrate Islam’s message of equality and emphasis on individual responsibility and accountability, and on the other, they help establish solidarity and brotherhood in society.