The Five Pillars of Islam and Their Meanings
15/07/2019
Islam is built on the five pillars and it is important to understand them correctly with the understanding of the salafus saliheen. In a hadith narrated by Ibn Umar (Rali), the prophet (Sal) said,
"(The superstructure of) al-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 (Ka'ba) and the fast of Ramadan". (Sahih Muslim)
and in another hadith narrated bu Ibn Umar (Rali) the prophet(Sal) said,
"(The structure of) Islam is built on five (pillars): Testification of 'La ilaha illallah' (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), that Muhammad (Sal) is his slave and Messenger, the establishment of Salat, the payment of Zakat, the pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Ka'bah), and Saum during the month of Ramadan." (Bukhari and Muslim)
The five pillars of Islam are important because it strengthens a Muslim and reminds him to fear Allah and to make him/her a better Muslim. Let us examine each pillar .
1. Shahadah- Testimony that there is no god but Allah and Muhammed (Sal) is the messenger of Allah.
This is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (Sal) is the messenger of Allah. This pillar reminds the Muslim about the importance on worshipping Allah alone and to follow the Quran and his last and final messenger Muhammad and to follow his teachings. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
"And worship Allaah and do not associate anything in worship along with Him"
(Al-Quran-4:36)
The polytheists of Mecca worshipped Allah (Swt) and also worshipped many other idola like Lat, Uzza etc. They regarded these idols as small gods and associated partners with Allah (Swt) which is Shirk and Kufr. It is important to understand the shahada in the right context because just saying "La ilaha" isn't enough. Allah (Swt) says,
"So whoever rejects the false objects of worship, and truly believes in and worships Allaah"
(Al-Quran-2:256)
"And worship Allaah and do not associate anything in worship along with Him"
(Al-Quran-4:36)
Saying Allah deserves worship will not suffice because the polytheists worshipped idols like Lat, Uzza ,Manat were also worshipped and were regarded as gods by the polytheists. The correct Shahada is " Lailaha Illallah" which means none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and this affirms that Allah is the one who deserves to be worshipped. Allah(Swt) says,
"Say : O people of the Scripture, come to a word of justice between us that we will single out Allaah with all worship and will not worship anything else besides Him, nor will we take one another as lords besides Allaah. Then if they turn away then say bear witness that we are Muslims submitting to Allaah and making our worship purely and sincerely for him".
(Al-Quran-3:64)
The above ayah was released when the Christians of Najran who debated with the prophet(Sal) and Mubaahalah (calling down curses upon the liars). The other important factor about the Shahada is to accept that prphet Muhammad (Sal) is the messenger of Allah. This has to be accepted with the heart. Allah (Swt) says.
"When the hypocrites come to you (O Messenger of Allaah (Sal)), they say: ‘We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allaah.’ Allaah knows that you are certainly His Messenger and Allaah bears witness that the hypocrites are certainly liars. They take their oaths as a cover to shield themselves".
(Al-Quran-63:1-2)
"So those who believe in him (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), honor him, aid him, and follow the light which he was sent down with, they are the successful ones".
(Al-Quran-7:157)
"And if you obey him, you will be rightly guided'
(Al-Quran-24:54)
2.Salat(Prayers)-Means establishing prayer on it's stipulated time as thought by Allah's messenger Muhammed (Sal).
A Muslim is required to pray the five times prayers which are an obligation upon every sane Muslim who has attained puberty. Allah(Swt) says,
“Verily, As‑Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”
(Al-Quran-4:103)
The prescribed five obligatory prayers are Subah which is prayed in the morning, Luhar which is in the afternoon, Asr which is in the evening, Maghrib before the sky turns dark and Isha which is prayed at night. There are other form of prayers which are a Sunnah and not obligatory but will be rewarded if a Muslim prays them. Abandoning the five time prayers is a major sin and amounts to Kufr which is disbelief but will not take a Muslim out of Islam as wrongly understood by some people.
3.To give Zakat-Zakat is obligatory charity that is obligated on the ones who have enough money or possessions that require paying Zakat.
Zakat is an obligation for every Muslim who can afford to pay an amount know as "Nisab". This amount is calculated using the whole amount a person owns in a year and is weighed in Gold or Silver and out of that amount, 2.5% is paid as Zakath. Zakath is only an obligation for the person who has the enough amount of Nisab. There are eight categories of people who qualify as people who should be given the Zakath and they are The Miskeen (the needy) ,Fakeer (the poor),People who are administered in collecting and distributing the zakath,those whose hearts are to be reconciled like new Muslims and friends of Muslims,Slaves and captives,the person in dept,the person who is in the cause of Allah and the wayfaring person who is stranded or does not have the necessary resources. Allah(Swt) says,
'Indeed, [prescribed] charitable offerings are only [to be given] to the poor and the indigent, and to those who work on [administering] it, and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to [free] those in bondage, and to the debt-ridden, and for the cause of God, and to the wayfarer. [This is] an obligation from God. And God is all-knowing, all-wise".
(Al-Quran-9:60)
4.Fasting in the month of ramadan-This means by not eating or drinking from dawn to sunset
Fasting is obligatory upon every sane Muslim who has attained puberty in the month of Ramazan unless he /she is incapable to fast due to illness, travelling,menstruating etc. Fasting is to abstain from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset. A Muslim can engage in sexual relations with his wives or slave girls or with himself during Ramazan and it will not break the fast. Only intercourse by the penetration of the penis in to the vagina is forbidden. Allah (Swt) says,
“O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)”
(Al-Quran- 2:183)
5.Performing hajj- This means performing the obligatory pilgrimage to mecca once in a persons life.
Performing hajj is obligatory for a Muslim who has the means to do it once in a lifetime. Allah (Swt) says,
“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves, then Allaah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”
( Al-Quran-3:97)
It should be noted that only sexual intercourse is haram during hajj and not sexual relations or masturbation. Hajj is a duty of a Muslim towards Allah and the person who performs the Hajj properly will be completely forgiven. Abu Hurayrah (Rali) said: I heard the Prophet (Sal) say:
“Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscene speech or do any evil deed, will go back (free of sin) as his mother bore him.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The five pillars has to be understood in the right context as to the understanding of the Salafus saliheen who are the pious predecessors. Unfortunately many deviated groups have sprouted up and have started to add and subtract the five pillars in Islam. The Shias who are a deviant sect of Kufr and Shirk are a good example. The Shias or in other words the Rafidah are a sect that was founded by the Jewish hypocrite, Abdullah Ibn Saba. The Other deviant sects are the Sufis who have close similarities with the Shia because both worship graves and false man made awliyas and the sufi sect originated from Shia Iran. The Mutazila and Asharia have also deviated from the true aqeada of Islam and have started to include many deviant beliefs as well. The Jahmiyah, the Musabbiya, Qadriyya, Kawarij are some of the other deviant sects who have gone against the true teachings of Islam. It is because of this that it is important that a Muslim learns Islam from the true sources namely. the Quran and the Sahih hadith and to get away from the deviated sects that have come to destroy the Iman of a Muslim and a Muslim should be careful in taking knowledge from deviants because if a Muslim happens to be a laymen, he would fall prey to such deviant ideologies in turn could corrupt the Iman.
Islam is built on the five pillars and it is important to understand them correctly with the understanding of the salafus saliheen. In a hadith narrated by Ibn Umar (Rali), the prophet (Sal) said,
"(The superstructure of) al-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 (Ka'ba) and the fast of Ramadan". (Sahih Muslim)
and in another hadith narrated bu Ibn Umar (Rali) the prophet(Sal) said,
"(The structure of) Islam is built on five (pillars): Testification of 'La ilaha illallah' (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), that Muhammad (Sal) is his slave and Messenger, the establishment of Salat, the payment of Zakat, the pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Ka'bah), and Saum during the month of Ramadan." (Bukhari and Muslim)
The five pillars of Islam are important because it strengthens a Muslim and reminds him to fear Allah and to make him/her a better Muslim. Let us examine each pillar .
1. Shahadah- Testimony that there is no god but Allah and Muhammed (Sal) is the messenger of Allah.
This is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (Sal) is the messenger of Allah. This pillar reminds the Muslim about the importance on worshipping Allah alone and to follow the Quran and his last and final messenger Muhammad and to follow his teachings. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
"And worship Allaah and do not associate anything in worship along with Him"
(Al-Quran-4:36)
The polytheists of Mecca worshipped Allah (Swt) and also worshipped many other idola like Lat, Uzza etc. They regarded these idols as small gods and associated partners with Allah (Swt) which is Shirk and Kufr. It is important to understand the shahada in the right context because just saying "La ilaha" isn't enough. Allah (Swt) says,
"So whoever rejects the false objects of worship, and truly believes in and worships Allaah"
(Al-Quran-2:256)
"And worship Allaah and do not associate anything in worship along with Him"
(Al-Quran-4:36)
Saying Allah deserves worship will not suffice because the polytheists worshipped idols like Lat, Uzza ,Manat were also worshipped and were regarded as gods by the polytheists. The correct Shahada is " Lailaha Illallah" which means none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and this affirms that Allah is the one who deserves to be worshipped. Allah(Swt) says,
"Say : O people of the Scripture, come to a word of justice between us that we will single out Allaah with all worship and will not worship anything else besides Him, nor will we take one another as lords besides Allaah. Then if they turn away then say bear witness that we are Muslims submitting to Allaah and making our worship purely and sincerely for him".
(Al-Quran-3:64)
The above ayah was released when the Christians of Najran who debated with the prophet(Sal) and Mubaahalah (calling down curses upon the liars). The other important factor about the Shahada is to accept that prphet Muhammad (Sal) is the messenger of Allah. This has to be accepted with the heart. Allah (Swt) says.
"When the hypocrites come to you (O Messenger of Allaah (Sal)), they say: ‘We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allaah.’ Allaah knows that you are certainly His Messenger and Allaah bears witness that the hypocrites are certainly liars. They take their oaths as a cover to shield themselves".
(Al-Quran-63:1-2)
"So those who believe in him (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), honor him, aid him, and follow the light which he was sent down with, they are the successful ones".
(Al-Quran-7:157)
"And if you obey him, you will be rightly guided'
(Al-Quran-24:54)
2.Salat(Prayers)-Means establishing prayer on it's stipulated time as thought by Allah's messenger Muhammed (Sal).
A Muslim is required to pray the five times prayers which are an obligation upon every sane Muslim who has attained puberty. Allah(Swt) says,
“Verily, As‑Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”
(Al-Quran-4:103)
The prescribed five obligatory prayers are Subah which is prayed in the morning, Luhar which is in the afternoon, Asr which is in the evening, Maghrib before the sky turns dark and Isha which is prayed at night. There are other form of prayers which are a Sunnah and not obligatory but will be rewarded if a Muslim prays them. Abandoning the five time prayers is a major sin and amounts to Kufr which is disbelief but will not take a Muslim out of Islam as wrongly understood by some people.
3.To give Zakat-Zakat is obligatory charity that is obligated on the ones who have enough money or possessions that require paying Zakat.
Zakat is an obligation for every Muslim who can afford to pay an amount know as "Nisab". This amount is calculated using the whole amount a person owns in a year and is weighed in Gold or Silver and out of that amount, 2.5% is paid as Zakath. Zakath is only an obligation for the person who has the enough amount of Nisab. There are eight categories of people who qualify as people who should be given the Zakath and they are The Miskeen (the needy) ,Fakeer (the poor),People who are administered in collecting and distributing the zakath,those whose hearts are to be reconciled like new Muslims and friends of Muslims,Slaves and captives,the person in dept,the person who is in the cause of Allah and the wayfaring person who is stranded or does not have the necessary resources. Allah(Swt) says,
'Indeed, [prescribed] charitable offerings are only [to be given] to the poor and the indigent, and to those who work on [administering] it, and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to [free] those in bondage, and to the debt-ridden, and for the cause of God, and to the wayfarer. [This is] an obligation from God. And God is all-knowing, all-wise".
(Al-Quran-9:60)
4.Fasting in the month of ramadan-This means by not eating or drinking from dawn to sunset
Fasting is obligatory upon every sane Muslim who has attained puberty in the month of Ramazan unless he /she is incapable to fast due to illness, travelling,menstruating etc. Fasting is to abstain from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset. A Muslim can engage in sexual relations with his wives or slave girls or with himself during Ramazan and it will not break the fast. Only intercourse by the penetration of the penis in to the vagina is forbidden. Allah (Swt) says,
“O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)”
(Al-Quran- 2:183)
5.Performing hajj- This means performing the obligatory pilgrimage to mecca once in a persons life.
Performing hajj is obligatory for a Muslim who has the means to do it once in a lifetime. Allah (Swt) says,
“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves, then Allaah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”
( Al-Quran-3:97)
It should be noted that only sexual intercourse is haram during hajj and not sexual relations or masturbation. Hajj is a duty of a Muslim towards Allah and the person who performs the Hajj properly will be completely forgiven. Abu Hurayrah (Rali) said: I heard the Prophet (Sal) say:
“Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscene speech or do any evil deed, will go back (free of sin) as his mother bore him.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The five pillars has to be understood in the right context as to the understanding of the Salafus saliheen who are the pious predecessors. Unfortunately many deviated groups have sprouted up and have started to add and subtract the five pillars in Islam. The Shias who are a deviant sect of Kufr and Shirk are a good example. The Shias or in other words the Rafidah are a sect that was founded by the Jewish hypocrite, Abdullah Ibn Saba. The Other deviant sects are the Sufis who have close similarities with the Shia because both worship graves and false man made awliyas and the sufi sect originated from Shia Iran. The Mutazila and Asharia have also deviated from the true aqeada of Islam and have started to include many deviant beliefs as well. The Jahmiyah, the Musabbiya, Qadriyya, Kawarij are some of the other deviant sects who have gone against the true teachings of Islam. It is because of this that it is important that a Muslim learns Islam from the true sources namely. the Quran and the Sahih hadith and to get away from the deviated sects that have come to destroy the Iman of a Muslim and a Muslim should be careful in taking knowledge from deviants because if a Muslim happens to be a laymen, he would fall prey to such deviant ideologies in turn could corrupt the Iman.