Islam, a true religion for mankind stands on the basic Five Pillars, also called as 5 Pillars of Islam. If any Muslim disbelieves on any of the Pilar, then he would get out of the bounds of Islam. Every religion stands on some Pillars, and when it comes to Islam, there are basic Five Pillars. Those 5 Pillars of Islam are: Tauheed (Belief in the oneness of ALLAH), Salah (Five Obligatory Prayers), Zakat (Compulsory Charity in the month of Ramadan), Sawm (Fasting in the month of Ramadan), and Hajj (Annual Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca and Medina).
In this Article, we will stress upon discussing these 5 Pillars of Islam in a comprehensive manner. So, let us explore!
Tauheed (Belief in the oneness of GOD and MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.)): The First out of Five Pillars of Islam
The very first Pillar out of the 5 pillars of Islam is Tauheed i.e. Belief in the oneness of ALLAH (S.W.T.) and his last messenger and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). By the oneness, we mean that no one can be compared to ALLAH (S.W.T.). There is no power that could compete the Almighty ALLAH. He is the unique that holds all the power. He is all-knowledgeable, all-powerful, and all the mighty names and characteristics belong to him. Thus, a believer must adhere to Tauheed. If a believer thinks of someone as comparable or powerful other than ALLAH, then the person will immediately get out of the folds of Islam. This is the reason that the very first Pillar of Islam is Tawheed.
Salah (Five Obligatory Prayers)
Salah, the Five obligatory Prayers, comes after Tauheed. This is the second Pillar of Islam and is necessary for every believer to offer compulsory Prayers at the Mosques at their respective times. One who does not offer Prayers at its respective times is a Kafir, according to the authentic Narrations. A Muslim will never leave any Prayer, otherwise he would involve himself in the act of Kufr. ‘Salah’ is a Jewel for every Muslim. Without it, an individual would not be called as a ‘Believer’.
The Five Compulsory Prayers are the Fajr, Zuhr, Asar, Maghrib, and Isha. These Five Prayers must be performed at their respective timings.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِذَا نُودِيَ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَأْتُوهَا وَأَنْتُمْ تَمْشُونَ وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةُ فَمَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا” .
Abu Huraira reported ahadith from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and one of them is that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon), said: When the call is made for prayer come to it walking with tranquility, and pray what you are in time for, and complete what you have missed.
Zakat (Compulsory Charity in the Month of Ramadan)
The Third Pillar of Islam is the Zakat. Zakat is the compulsory charity that is Fardh (Compulsory) on every Rich Muslim in very simple language. The comprehensive article on Zakat would be uploaded later here on this blog. Every Muslim who has been given bounties by ALLAH (S.W.T.) is required to give 2.5% of Zakat from all his savings. The Zakat could also be given on the Camels, Dates, Raisins, e.t.c. If a Muslim does not give Zakat in the month of Ramadan, then he would immediately get out of the folds of Islam. During the time of First Khalifa Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.), the few Kharijites refused to pay Zakat and made an excuse that they will pay the Zakat by themselves. Zakat is compulsory on every Rich Muslim, and if Zakat would be given properly, then there would be no Muslim on the Earth who would sleep starving on the bed. Such is the amazing economic system of Islam. ALLAH wants every believer to live an amazing and Joyous life, and Zakat makes the economic foundations of Islam strong.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنِي ثُمَامَةُ، أَنَّ أَنَسًا، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ كَتَبَ لَهُ الَّتِي فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ خَلِيطَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَتَرَاجَعَانِ بَيْنَهُمَا بِالسَّوِيَّةِ ”.
Narrated Anas: Abu Bakr wrote to me what Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) has made compulsory (regarding Zakat) and this was mentioned in it: If a property is equally owned by two partners, they should pay the combined Zakat and it will be considered that both of them have paid their Zakat equally.
Ramadan is one of the blessed months of the other Islamic months. The other blessed months are Muharram, Rabi Al Awaal, Rajab, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Hijjah.
The importance of this Islamic Months is told by Muhammad (S.A.W.) to his companions. The Sahaba used to wait with lot of eagerness for the month of Holy Ramadan to arrive. In this month, every prayer and every act of obedience gets rewarded 70 times than in the other months. This is the beauty of this month. Every Muslim waits for this month to arrive. The month of Ramadan is the blessing for every Muslim living on this planet. It is the month of getting oneself free from all kind of sins and making promise to ALLAH to never return to the old evil customs. The month of Ramadan is coming this year in 2024. Do tell us, what is your preparation for this month in the comment section below.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory on every believer. Only few believers are exempted from Fasting in this holy month. Fasting is not only about keeping oneself hungry from the time of Suhr till the time of Maghrib. Rather Fasting involves keeping oneself away from looking at non-mahram, it involves not speaking any kind of falsehood or abusive words, it involves complete separation from listening to Haram things like Music, e.t.c.
Fasting has lot of benefits which is discussed in the article that we will upload shortly IN SHA ALLAH!
Hajj (Annual Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medinah)
The last pillar out of all the 5 Pillars of Islam is the Hajj.
Hajj is the annual Pilgrimage to Mecca and the Medinah. It involves several acts like Circumambulation around the Ka’ba, throwing pebbles at Satan, Running Seven times between Safa and Marwah, touching and kissing the Hajr Aswad, etc.
Although Hajj is the pillar of Islam, but it is not compulsory on every Muslim believer. Rather, it is compulsory once in a lifetime on a believer who has been rewarded by ALLAH (S.W.T.) with enough resources and richness that the person could easily meet the expenses of travelling and living for a specified period of Hajj.
And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.
A person having debts on him must first pay all his debts and then perform the Hajj. The money used to perform Hajj must be free from any kind of Haram element into it. It must be fully Halal.
Nowadays, a lot of Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities are performing Hajj. The money earned from the movies is usually Haram, as the movies involve lot of scenes that are adult, and it involves contact with the Non-Mahram. Thus, before performing Hajj, one must also look at the source generating money. If the source of generation of money is Halal, then the Hajj performed would be acceptable and rewarded.
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah son of ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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.
Belief and act on the 5 Pillars of Islam is compulsory on every believer. If any Muslim disbelieve on any of the 5 Pillar of Islam, then he would immediately get out of the fold of Islam. The very first Pillar of Islam i.e. Tauheed is the base that requires only true and strong belief, while the remaining ones i.e. Salah, Zakat, Fasting, and Hajj requires belief as well as act.
“As an ardent reader of Islamic literature who is passionate about writing on various Islamic topics using authentic sources, my intention is to educate the Muslim world.”
