Five Pillars of Islam
Five Pillars of Islam
Shahadah – testimony of faith.
La ilaha illa Allah Muhammadur Rasulullah – No diety (god) is worthy of worship except Allah, Muhammad ﷺ is the messenger of Allah.
Shahada, an Arabic word, means to witness or testify and this is the core testimony of faith. This testimony is in two parts, the first asserting monotheism that there is only one true God (Allah) and only Allah is worthy of worship. This is called tawhid in Arabic and forms the very foundation of the religious belief of a Muslim. The second part of the Shahada is the statement that Muhammad ﷺ is the messenger of Allah. As the other Abrahamic monotheistic faiths predate the final message – it is this second part of the testimony that distinguishes Muslims from Jews and Christians. Not only is Muhammad ﷺ the final messenger of Allah, he is the prime example a Muslim should follow throughout his life as he is seen as the perfect role model for humanity.
The true believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger—never doubting—and strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. They are the ones true in faith.
Qur’an Al-Hujurat 49:15
Salat – five daily prayers.
Salah consists of the prayers set at specific times during the day, dawn, just after noon, afternoon, sunset and night prayers. They are named individually; Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. The prayers are physical movements of standing and prostation and when performed the person stands facing the Kaba in Makkah (Mecca).
Before the Salah is offered a ritual purification must be performed called Wudu which is the washing of the hands, face, arms, head and neck and the feet. Intention is important whilst performing purification and the prayer itself.
There is a call to prayer called the Adhan before it is performed, reminding the people to come to prayer at its set time in congregation. In most Muslim countries this can be heard five times a day.
If one is not able to perform the prostations or standing in prayer concessions are made for them to pray sitting in one position and mimicking the actions of the prostation in a limited fashion or even lying down. There are different units of prayer called rakah and they differ for each of the Salah.
Salah is compulsory on all Muslims who have reached the age of puberty, with men encouraged to pray at the mosque if they are able to do so.
To reach a point of excellence in the Salah the Muslim must perform it believing Allah is watching them pray. The Salah is a daily reminder and a conversation with Allah and has set recitations within it and is performed in the original Arabic. Most Muslims Salah includes the praise and Glorification of Allah, the testimony of faith and request for peace on the one praying, peace and blessings sent on the Prophet Muhammad and his family and a prayer usually for ones children and parents.
Indeed, I am Allah . There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.
Qur’an Taha 20:14
Zakat – a charity tax to benefit the poor and needy.
The meaning of Zakat is purification. Almosgiving is an important aspect of Islam and to help or benefit the poor and needy is seen as a virtuous act. Zakat is obligatory charity tax that was usually collected by the state, with a specific aim in mind. It is distributed exclusively for the poor and needy and cannot be spent, for example, to build religious buildings. Those that qualify for zakat are orphans, widows, the aged that can no longer work, zakat collectors, those to be freed from slavery, those in debt and the stranded traveller. If one has assets (money) are equivalent to a set amount for a year then 2.5% is payable on the amount. The set amount is called the nisab.
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 Allah, and to the wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Qur’an At-Tawbah 9:60
Sawm – fasting during the month of Ramadan.
Every lunar year (as followed by Muslims) during the month of Ramadan fasting is prescribed for the believers of Islam who are healthy and able to do so. Fasting is from before dawn to sunset where no food or water is to be consumed. During the night prayers (Isha) extra prayers are offered. The sick or others unable to fast are exempt from fasting and are able to give to the poor instead if able to do so. The fast has its own conditions including the intention to fast. The reason for fasting is not only to empathise with those that have little provisions of their own but to gain taqwa or God consciousness as fasting can limit the lower desires if performed properly.
Hajj – pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) if one is able to financially and in good health.
Every year during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims attend the Hajj in Makkah (Mecca). As with all the pillars of Islam it is a mandatory duty and must be carried out if the Muslim is able to financially and in good health, at least once in their lifetime.
The rituals of Hajj are carried out over 5 or 6 days and include the tawaf (circumbulation of the Kaba seven times), drinking Zam Zam water, walking seven times between Safa and Marwa, going to the plains of Arafat during the day of Hajj, spending the night at Muzdalaifah under the stars, stoning the Devil as Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) did and finally sacrificing an animal. Once this is complete the shaving of the head or trimming of the hair is performed.
The Hajj pre-dates Islam, the Prophet Muhammad reformed it in his lifetime back to its original way as prescribed to Prophet Ibrahim (AS).