What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?
1) Faith or belief in the Oneness of Allah and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad S.A.W
2)Prayer Or Salah
3)Zakat
4)Fasting
5)Hajj
1) The Testimony of Faith: “There is none worthy of worship except ALLAH and Muhammad is the messenger of ALLAH.” This affirmation of faith is called the Shahadah, a basic formula that all the faithful proclaim. The significance of this declaration is the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is accomplished through the teachings and practices of the Last Prophet, Muhammad.
2) Salah : Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God. There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper. Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God.
The Prophet Muhammad said: “Bilal, call (the people) to prayer, let us be comforted by it”. Bilal was one of Muhammad’s companions who was charged to call the people to prayers.
A translation of the Azan or Call to Prayer is:
Allah is Great.
Allah is Great.
Allah is Great.
Allah is Great.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Come to prayer!
Come to prayer!
Come to success!
Come to success!
Allah is Great!
Allah is Great!
There is none worthy of worship except Allah.
Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night.
3) Zakat (Support of the Needy): The critical and most important principle of Islam is that everything belongs to Allah, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.
The word zakah means both “purification“ and “growth.”
Giving zakat means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people.’
Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need and for the society in general. Like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.
The percentage (%)which is due on gold, silver, and cash funds that have reached the amount of about 85 grams of gold and held in possession for one lunar year is two and a half percent.
The Prophet said, “Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is an act of charity.”
The Prophet also said: “Charity is a necessity for every Muslim.” He was asked: “What if a person has nothing?”
The Prophet replied: “He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity.“
The Companions of the Prophet asked: “What if he is not able to work?”
The Prophet said: “He should help the poor and needy.” The
Companions further asked: “What if he cannot do even that?”The Prophet said: “He should urge others to do good.”
The Companions said: “What if he lacks that also?”The Prophet said: “He should check himself from doing evil. That is also an act of charity.”
4) Fasting In the Month Of Ramzaan (Roza):
In the month of Ramadan, Every year, all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown-abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations with their spouses.
Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are menstruating, pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year if they are healthy and able. Children begin to fast (and to observe prayers) from puberty, although many start earlier.
Allah states in the Qur’an: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn self-restraint.” (Qur’an 2:183)
5)Hajj :The Last pillar of the islaam is performing Hajj.The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj is performed in the twelfth (12) month of the Islamic calendar. Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before Allah.
The rites of the hajj:
1)include going around the Ka’bah seven times,
2)going seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar (Hajir, Abraham’s wife) during her search for water. The pilgrims later stand together on the wide plains of ‘Arafat (a large expanse of desert outside Makkah) and join in prayer for Allah’s forgiveness, in what is often thought as a preview of the Day of Judgment.
The close of the hajj is marked by a festival, the ‘Id al Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This and the ‘Id al Fitr, a festive day celebrating the end of Ramada-n, are the two holidays of the Islamic calendar.
