Islam is a belief and a law between God based on certain foundations and pillars, which are the 5 pillars of islam. five pillars of islam definition is the five pillars that the Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, clarified by saying: (Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, establishing prayer, paying zakat, performing Hajj, and fasting Ramadan) agreed upon by Bukhari, on the authority of Abdullah bin Omar, page or number: 8.
What are the five pillars of Islam?
Below is a simplified explanation of The five pillars of Islam:
1. Profession of Faith (Shahada)
Shahada is the first of the five pillars of Islam and the meaning of the two testimonies: For a Muslim to bear witness to the two testimonies of Islam, saying: (I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God). meaning that he testifies to God’s unity and that he has no partner as some claim, and that only God is worthy of worship without Other than Him. God is the Creator of this universe, disposing of all its affairs, and He has no partner, rather He is one with His divinity, lordship, names, and attributes.
The Muslim must also bear witness that Muhammad is the servant of God, His Messenger, and the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers. He is the one to whom God revealed the Qur’an and commanded him to communicate this religion to all people.
Many verses have been mentioned in the Holy Quran, which emphasize the meaning of the two testimonies, such as his saying -the Almighty: (God witnessed that there is no god but He and the angels and the people of the knowledge is based on the righteousness There is no god but He is the dear wise) Surah Al-Imran, verse: 18. the Almighty said: (Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and those with him are severe against the unbelievers and merciful among themselves) Surah Al-Fath, verse: 29. He, Glory be to Him, said: (The Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could he have a son and he did not have a mistress? He created everything, and He is All-Knowing. That is God, your Lord. There is no god but God. He is the Creator of everything. Al-An’am/101-102.
2. Prayer (Salat)
Prayer is the second pillar of Islam, and it is the pillar of religion, and it is the pillar that distinguishes a Muslim from others.
The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: On the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari, may God be pleased with him, and his father, on the authority of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, that he said: Between a man and disbelief and polytheism is abandoning prayer. Narrated by Muslims in the Sahih. And it is the first thing that the Muslim servant will be held accountable for on the Day of Resurrection.
The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: The first thing that a servant will be brought to account for on the Day of Resurrection is prayer If it is correct, the rest of his work will be correct, and if it is corrupt, then the rest of his action will be corrupted. [Sahih: Narrated by al-Tabarani]. It is the dawn prayer, the noon prayer, the afternoon prayer, the sunset prayer, and the evening prayer.
The establishment of prayer represents the sincerity and correctness of orientation and recourse to God, the Blessed, and Exalted, alone, who has no partner in all matters.
3. Charity (Zakat)
Zakat is a financial worship that comes once a year when the year has passed (a year has passed since a sum of money or a valuable thing has reached the zakat quorum) or when the fruits come out and ripen. Zakat is not repeated, but it is obligatory once a year.
It came after Prayer for its importance. The mention of zakat comes a lot with prayer in the Book of God Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him.
God Almighty said: {And they are not commanded except to worship God, be Faithful to him religion Hanafa, and perform the prayer, and pay zakat, and that is the religion of validity. God Almighty also said (if they repent And they stayed prayer, and give zakat, for they are your brothers in faith} [At-Tawbah: 11]
And He said: {Those who, if We establish them in the land, establish prayer and pay zakat and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong And to Allah belongs the end of affairs} [Al-Hajj: 41].
This indicates that the importance of Zakat is great, that it follows the prayer, and that it precedes the rest of the pillars, because of its many benefits, the one who pays the zakat benefits and others benefit.
Whoever pays the zakat benefits by purifying his soul from miserliness, and for his records of sins. And others benefit from the money that he needs due to their poverty. The Almighty: {Take alms from their wealth in order to purify them and purify them with it}[Surat al-Tawbah, verse (103)].
Its amount is two and a half percent for whoever possesses the “Nisab” – which is estimated at eighty-five grams of gold – and a full lunar year has passed on his money. Zakat is paid to the poor and needy, and this obligation is waived for those who do not have the quorum.
Islam did not leave the Muslims free to dispose of this deducted amount. Rather, it specified eight paths, from which the Muslim can choose one of them to spend the zakat. Allah says: {Alms are only for the poor and the needy and those who work on it And those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and in Free, the necks, and the debtors And for the sake of God and the wayfarer is an obligation from God, and God is All-Knowing, All-Wise}[Surat al-Tawbah, verse: (60)].
4. Fasting (Sawm)
Fasting is obligatory in one month during the year, which is the month of Ramadan. fasting; It is abstaining from all things that break the fast from the true dawn to sunset. With the intention of drawing closer to God and obedience to Him, and abiding by His command, Glory be to Him, and the servant is not considered to fulfill the reality of fasting unless he leaves and refrains from all physical and moral things that break the fast; The sensory invalidators are eating, drinking, and marital intercourse – for those who are married. The moral invalidators are actions and things that diminish the reward of the fasting person from sins.
So he refrains from committing sins, and reprehensible actions, so he avoids strife and obscenity, and since fasting is one of the pillars of Islam. It is obligatory for every adult Muslim man and woman.
The obligation to fast is waived for those who are unable to fast, such as illness or travel. The Almighty said: {So whoever of you is sick or on a journey, then you can fast for a number of other days}[Al-Baqara, verse (184)].
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
Hajj is to visit the Grand Mosque in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, stand at Arafah, and circumambulate the Holy Kaaba. The pilgrimage has been imposed on every adult Muslim who has financial and physical ability. The Almighty said: {And by God, the pilgrimage to the House is obligatory for the people, whoever is able to find a way to it}[Surah Al-Imran, verse (97)].
God has enjoined Hajj to purify souls and to educate them on the meanings of servitude, obedience, and patience. The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “Whoever performs Hajj to this House and does not speak obscenely or commit adultery, he will return as on the day his mother gave birth to him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari No. (1449), and Muslim No.: 438 – ( 1350), on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may God be pleased with him].
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the five pillars of Islam and provided a simplified explanation for each of them, starting with the two testimonies of faith, prayer, and fasting, passing through zakat and Hajj.
Pillars of Islam FAQs
What are the five pillars of islam in order?
Abdullah bin Omar bin Al-Khattab, may God be pleased with them, said: I heard the Messenger of God – may God’s prayers and peace be upon him – say: “Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, establishing prayer, paying zakat, pilgrimage, and fasting Ramadan.” Al-Bukhari included it with No. (8), and Muslim with No.: 19 – (16).