The 5 Pillars of Islam: Essential Guide to Islam
Islam, it has been explained, is the name for the message revealed to Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets; the message of previous prophets partially conveyed Islam to the people of their time. Therefore, true religion is one. Islam represents the culmination of religious messages; in other words, who completed religion in all aspects with the advent of Islam? This is the difference between the message of Prophet Muhammad and the messages of past prophets. It is essential to explain the quinary structure of Islam.
The branch of faith and aspects of submission are about seventy. These seventy elements are extracted from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. They are set for individuals, companies or states. In addition, it addresses several moral, social, economic, and political issues. This is why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not say: “Islam consists of five” or “composed of five”. Instead, he said, “Islam was built on five pillars.” It rests on poles, and ropes like a tent pitched in Boy Scout camps. The human body comprises organs, muscles, ligaments, nerves, bones, senses, etc. However, there are central systems that are the pillars. According to biology, there are five such systems: 1. Nervous system, 2. Circulatory system, 3. Digestive system, 4. Respiratory system, 5. Reproductive system. Listing these systems and their functions does not exclude other human body components.
Islam, it has been explained, is the name for the message revealed to Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets; the message of previous prophets partially conveyed Islam to the people of their time. Therefore, true religion is one. Islam represents the culmination of religious messages. In other words, who completed the religion in all its aspects with the advent of Islam? This is the difference between the message of Prophet Muhammad and the messages of past prophets. It is essential to explain the quinary structure of Islam.
There are about seventy branches of faith and aspects of submission. These seventy elements are extracted from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. They are intended for individuals, companies or states. In addition, it deals with several moral, social, economic and political issues. This is why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not say: “Islam consists of five” or “composed of five”. Instead, he said, “Islam was built on five pillars.” It stands on poles and ropes like a tent in scout camps. The human body consists of organs, muscles, ligaments, nerves, bones, senses, etc. However, there are central systems that are the pillars. According to biology, there are five such systems: 1. Nervous system, 2. Circulatory system, 3. Digestive system, 4. Respiratory system, 5. Reproductive system. The enumeration of these systems and their functions does not exclude other human body components.
The religion of Islam has been built on five pillars which imply “the responsibilities that Muslims must fulfill to be a true Muslim.” These 5 pillars of Islam are explained as follows:
The Shahada (Announcing The Belief in Allah & His Prophet Muhammad) :
Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)
The Shahada or Shahadah is the 1st of the 5 pillars of Islam. It is about declaring our faith in Allah and his final Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) out loud. So it consists of 2 parts.
The first part of the Shahada is “Laa ilaha illa Allah”. It declares belief in Allah (SWT) as one and alone, in other words, proclaiming “tawhid,” which is an Arabic term that describes the unique belief in the oneness of God and that there is only one God who is worthy of worship.
The second part of the Shahada is “Muhammed Rasoul Allah” (PBUH). It means declaring the belief that Muhammed (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah, which suggests following what he says by following him in what he tells us to do and to prevent what he forbids.
It is necessary to act and think about this pillar to enter Islam. It would help if you recited (El Shahada) to gain faith in Islam or to be a Muslim.
Shahadah – a symbol of faith indicating that the believer professes monotheism and accepts Muhammad (PBUH) as the Messenger of Allah. Recitation of the Shahada:–”la ilaha illa-Allah wa Muhammadun rasul Allah” – begins any prayer, religious, and sometimes secular ceremonies.
Salah (Prayer) :
Prayer is the most excellent form of worship, which includes exalting Allah (SWT), praising Him (tasbih), supplication, reciting the Qur’an, dhikr and bowing down to the ground. Allah (SWT) has ordered Muslims to pray, just as he ordered the previous prophets and their communities.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) encouraged his ummah to pray when he was seen praying. Several rules regulate the uniformity of performing salah.
The prayer formulas and all salah words are pronounced in Arabic only. The difference in prayer patterns may be due to the madhab.
Performing salah five times a day, every day exactly at the time set aside for this purpose is the duty of every adult Muslim in Islam. However, if someone interrupts the obligatory prayer in dire need and has a good reason for doing so, he will not be charged with sin. For example, people who cannot pray due to health conditions, pregnant women, small children and travellers who do not have suitable conditions for performing prayer. But in any case, he must perform this prayer again if he can perform it before the time specified for performing it has expired or make up for it if the time for the prayer has expired.
A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims, who often call it the Arabic name mosque. The word mosque in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated to Islamic worship, although in Arabic there is a distinction between a smaller privately owned mosque and a more prominent, “collective” mosque. Although the mosque’s primary purpose is to serve as a place of prayer, it is also essential to the Muslim community as a place of gathering and study. Modern mosques have significantly evolved from the early 7th-century designs and incorporate architectural features such as minarets.
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Zakat (Almsgiving) :
Zakat is the 3rd one of the 5 pillars of Islam. “Zakah” is an Arabic word that refers to the purification of something. In Islam, it refers to charity, but not an optional act of generosity. Zakat is a compulsory tax for Muslims according to specific rules.
Every year all Muslims should pay a 2.5% share of their holdings to the poor where they have money, property, gold or silver. Instead of our wealth, we should support the poor with our deeds towards those who need more help and help that helps us enter Jannah.
It is considered a religious duty (as opposed to voluntary charity) owed by the rich to the needy, as their wealth is considered a “trust from God’s bounty”.
Giving Zakat has many benefits such as:
Almsgiving is a method of purifying one’s wealth and is one of the duties of all abundant Muslims.
Promoting a well-balanced society with equality and justice.
Learn to help and share; observation of society.
Sawm (Fasting) :
Fasting (Sawm) is done in the month of Ramadan. For a long time, Middle Eastern peoples of various religions practised fasting, which was related to the food restrictions experienced by pastoralists during their economic cycle. In particular, the Arabs in pre-Islamic times had several fasts, including fasting the first ten days of Muharram – the first month of the lunar calendar. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is longer: it lasts 30 days. It is said to have been founded by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 17-18 months after the Hegira – the move of Muhammad (PBUH) and his closest companions to Medina.
Fasting (ṣawm) from eating and drinking (among other things) must be observed from dawn to dusk during Ramadhan. Fasting is meant to encourage a sense of closeness to God, and during it, Muslims should express their gratitude and dependence on Him, atone for their past sins, and think of the needy. Sawm is not mandatory for several groups, for which it would constitute a disproportionate burden. For others, flexibility is allowed depending on the circumstances, but they must usually make up missed fasts quickly.
Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) :
Hajj refers to the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. It is a time when all Muslims worldwide gather in Mecca to praise Allah (SWT) and perform certain rituals.
Hajj is the act of travelling to Makkah, circumambulating the “Kaaba” and remaining in the field of “Arafat” to perform bare acts of praise and routines in a specific manner at specific times.
The Hajj falls on the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, a journey that every Muslim must complete at least once in their lifetime. It is also a spiritual time that allows you to get closer to Allah (SWT).
During the journey, the pilgrim observes the ritual that Prophet Muhammad performed during his last journey. The celebration of Eid Al-Adha follows the Hajj.
The tradition of pilgrimage dates back to the time when Prophet Ibrahim (AS) lived, even before Islam, when ancient Arabs went on pilgrimage to him. The pilgrimage is obligatory only for people who are physically able to perform it and have enough money earned through honest work.
Conclusion :
The pillars of Islam have their own rules, conditions and adab that apply to them. But the most important thing for us is to know and remember the five pillars, constantly remind ourselves of them and share information about them with others. Especially when performing any Ibadah, whether fasting in Ramadan or getting up for prayer, we should remember to be sincere in fulfilling the pillars of Islam, doing everything correctly by the Shariah and not forgetting that it should improve us.
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