The Five Pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice. They are the framework of Muslim life and essential acts of worship that shape a Muslim's relationship with Allah.
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالْحَجِّ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ»
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Islam is built upon five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying Zakah, making pilgrimage to the House, and fasting the month of Ramadan."
Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim
1️⃣ Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)
The Declaration
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
What Does It Mean?
La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah)
- Only Allah deserves worship
- No one shares His attributes
- Complete submission to Allah alone
Muhammad Rasulullah (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)
- Muhammad ﷺ is Allah's final messenger
- Obey his teachings and follow his example
- Accept the Quran as Allah's final revelation
Requirements of Shahadah
- Knowledge: Understanding its meaning
- Certainty: No doubt in the heart
- Acceptance: Submitting to its requirements
- Compliance: Acting according to it
- Truthfulness: Saying it with sincerity
- Sincerity: Doing it only for Allah
- Love: Loving this declaration and what it entails
2️⃣ Salah (Prayer)
The Five Daily Prayers
| Prayer | Time | Rakats (Units) |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | Dawn to sunrise | 2 |
| Dhuhr | After sun passes zenith | 4 |
| Asr | Afternoon | 4 |
| Maghrib | Just after sunset | 3 |
| Isha | Night | 4 |
Why Prayer?
Prayer is the pillar of religion. Whoever establishes it has established the religion, and whoever abandons it has destroyed the religion.
Al-Bayhaqi
Benefits of Prayer
- Direct connection with Allah: You speak to Him directly
- Five times daily remembrance: Keeps you conscious of Allah
- Forgiveness of sins: Washes away minor sins
- Inner peace: Brings tranquility to the heart
- Discipline: Structures your day around worship
أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهْرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ، هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ؟
The Prophet ﷺ said: "What do you think if there was a river at the door of one of you in which he bathes five times a day, would any filth remain on him?" They said: "No filth would remain on him." He said: "That is like the five prayers, by which Allah wipes away sins."
Sahih Bukhari
3️⃣ Zakah (Charity)
What is Zakah?
Zakah is an obligatory charity on wealth that has been held for a full lunar year, given to specific categories of people.
Who Must Pay?
- Muslims who possess wealth above the Nisab (threshold)
- The wealth must be held for one full year
- Currently, Nisab is approximately equivalent to 85 grams of gold
Standard Rate
2.5% of qualifying wealth annually
Types of Wealth Subject to Zakah
- 💰 Cash and savings
- 📈 Investments and stocks
- 🏪 Business inventory
- 🥇 Gold and silver
- 🐄 Livestock (specific rules apply)
Who Receives Zakah?
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ
Zakah is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for slaves, for those in debt, for the cause of Allah, and for the stranded traveler.
Quran 9:60
Wisdom of Zakah
- Purifies your wealth
- Cares for the poor and needy
- Prevents wealth concentration
- Develops generosity
- Brings barakah (blessing)
4️⃣ Sawm (Fasting in Ramadan)
What is Fasting?
Abstaining from food, drink, and marital relations from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib) during the month of Ramadan.
Who Must Fast?
- Every adult Muslim
- Who is sane
- Who is physically able
- Women who are not menstruating or in post-natal bleeding
Exemptions
- The sick
- Travelers
- Pregnant or nursing women (if health is at risk)
- The elderly who cannot fast
- Those menstruating or in post-natal bleeding
Note: Most exemptions require making up the fasts later or feeding the poor.
Benefits of Fasting
كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ، الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ، قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ
Every deed of the son of Adam is multiplied; a good deed is multiplied ten times up to seven hundred times. Allah the Exalted says: "Except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it."
Sahih Muslim
- Spiritual growth: Increases taqwa (God-consciousness)
- Self-discipline: Strengthens willpower
- Empathy: Understand the hunger of the poor
- Health benefits: Physical detoxification
- Community unity: Shared experience with Muslims worldwide
5️⃣ Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)
What is Hajj?
The pilgrimage to the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, performed during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah.
Who Must Perform Hajj?
Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime for those who:
- Are Muslim
- Are adult and sane
- Are physically able
- Have financial means
- The route is safe
When is Hajj?
During the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th Islamic month), with the main rituals on the 8th-13th.
Key Rituals of Hajj
- Ihram: Entering the sacred state
- Tawaf: Circling the Kaaba 7 times
- Sa'i: Walking between Safa and Marwa 7 times
- Standing at Arafah: The most important day
- Stoning the Jamarat: Symbolic rejection of Satan
- Animal sacrifice: On Eid al-Adha
- Shaving/cutting hair: Symbol of humility
The Reward
مَنْ حَجَّ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or evil will return (free from sins) as on the day his mother gave birth to him."
Sahih Bukhari
Lessons from Hajj
- Equality: All wear simple white clothing
- Unity: Muslims from all nations gather
- Humility: Following footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim
- Submission: Complete obedience to Allah
- Remembrance: Of the Day of Judgment
🏗️ Why "Pillars"?
Just as pillars support a building, these five acts support a Muslim's faith:
- Remove one: The structure becomes weak
- Strong pillars: Strong faith
- All five together: Complete Islamic practice
- ☑️ Have you proclaimed the Shahadah with understanding?
- ☑️ Are you praying all five daily prayers on time?
- ☑️ Do you calculate and pay your Zakah annually?
- ☑️ Do you fast the entire month of Ramadan?
- ☑️ If able, have you planned or performed Hajj?
These are the MINIMUM requirements. Beyond these pillars, there are countless other good deeds, Sunnats, and acts of worship that bring us closer to Allah!
May Allah help us establish these pillars perfectly in our lives. Ameen!