وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدًا عبده ورسوله، إقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، وحج البيت، وصوم رمضان” ((متفق عليه)) .
Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “(The structure of) Islam is built on five (pillars): Testification of ‘La ilaha illallah’ (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), that Muhammad ﷺ is his slave and Messenger, the establishment of Salat, the payment of Zakat, the pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Ka’bah), and Saum during the month of Ramadan.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin 1206]
Importance of the 5 Pillars of Islam
The foundation of a Muslim is based on these five pillars. Believers are encouraged to lead their life according to these practices to strengthen their connection with Allah and live a life of righteousness.
1. Shahada
The profession and love of Allah. The acceptance of his authority over everything and the trust that there is no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammadﷺ is His last Prophet.
This pillar reminds Muslims of their purpose: to worship Allah in all circumstances and time. In happiness and sadness.
It provides a sense of self-respect and boosts confidence in an individual to remain modest, for the only one who provides and we need to turn to is Allah.
A true believer will feel a sense of liberation, contentment and gratitude.
2. Salah
A Muslim has been commanded by Allah to perform five prayers daily. To stand in front of Allah, our creator with all our concentration and self. To bow in supplication and to know that there is nothing between you and Allah.
Praying slowly and peacefully provides the mind with contentment and enriches the soul.
Offering prayers with the best of intentions purifies the heart for better communication with Allah. The more you immerse yourself in the duas and Quranic verses you pray during salah, you will feel your body lighten up and positive energy radiate from your thoughts.
Consistently offering prayers at the given time pushes you to follow a discipline and brings consistency and calm in your life.
When congregating in prayers, there is no inequality. All brothers and sisters are the same. A servant in front of his Master.
Prophet Muhammadﷺ said:
صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلاَةِ الْفَذِّ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً
Prayer in congregation is twenty-five levels better than a prayer offered on one’s own.
[Sunan an-Nasa’i 839]
3. Zakat
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
And establish prayer and give zakāh, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah. Indeed Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2:110]
Zakat is referred to as charity. The art of giving teaches Muslims about their obligation towards the poor. It makes them realize their privilege and nourishes their feelings of compassion and brotherhood toward others who may not be equally fortunate.
Abu Dharr narrated that the Messenger of Allahﷺ said :
“ تَبَسُّمُكَ فِي وَجْهِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَأَمْرُكَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهْيُكَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِرْشَادُكَ الرَّجُلَ فِي أَرْضِ الضَّلاَلِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَبَصَرُكَ لِلرَّجُلِ الرَّدِيءِ الْبَصَرِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِمَاطَتُكَ الْحَجَرَ وَالشَّوْكَةَ وَالْعَظْمَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِفْرَاغُكَ مِنْ دَلْوِكَ فِي دَلْوِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ ”
Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is the charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you.
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1956]
This pillar emphasizes that we share what Allah grants us, in turn pushing us away from being selfish and ungrateful.
Helping others by sharing what you have been bestowed with creates a sense of like-mindedness and a feeling of belonging among the poor.
Charity unintentionally creates a balance in society among the rich and the poor and always reminds the giver and the taker, the blessings of Allah.
4. Saum or Fasting
Saum, known as fasting, is to abstain from food, drink, and otherworldly pleasures from dawn to dusk. Fasting during the Holy month of Ramadhan is mandatory for all Muslims.
It has numerous scientific and spiritual benefits. It helps develop willpower, stamina and patience.
It strengthens our ability to acknowledge the blessings of Allah by actively denying worldly desires. Fasting is a kind of zakat we pay for our bodies.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ زَكَاةٌ وَزَكَاةُ الْجَسَدِ الصَّوْمُ» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “There is zakat applicable to everything, and the zakat of the body is fasting.”
Ibn Majah transmitted it.
[Mishkat al-Masabih 2072]
5. Hajj
Hajj is the last pillar of Islam. It is mandatory for those who can afford it financially and make the journey physically. Muslims from all over the world, from all branches, come together to perform Hajj with only one niyaah, to get closer to Allah and return home free from their sins.
It is a unique sight when Muslims gather, pray and perform in unison without dismay or disrespect for their fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.
It is a powerful, emotional, and spiritual event for all those who are blessed to visit the house of Allah.
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَيَّارٌ أَبُو الْحَكَمِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا حَازِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever performs Hajj for Allah’s pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1521]
A Strong Foundation
The five pillars of Islam demand us to productively and intentionally use our bodies and minds in the service of Allah. The world is a riveting cage, and we get used to the pleasures of this life. Sometimes we may forget our true home; where Allah wants us to be free, in Paradise.
Make your aqeedah strong, let your mind and heart be disciplined, your foundation be form. Once in the hands of Allah, we will all be free.
Thank you for this reminder. Reminding me of my Islamic obligations really brought me back to the right path. I shall re-read this reminder every day, from now, on. Thank you, again.
Abdul Shakur
Thanks for the reminder
Masha Allah. – Nour
Masha Allah.
Jazakallahu Hairan!
By the way everything is correct but have you Hurd about the pillars of faith believe in one god(ALLAH) and all his angels and all of allahs books all his prophets fate and the last hour that will be a day worth 50,000 years to us.
A Muslim for life.and learning ..
Wonderful
Alhamdu li laa Jazzakallah kharun
Alhamdu li laa Jazzakallah kharun
Alhamdu li laa Jazzakallah kharun
Manshlh
Thanks for this important information we’re so grateful!!????. I’m so thankful to Allah
Alhumdullah
Thank you for this beautiful reminder❤️
The more important is the RUKUN IMAN …which focuses on spiritual
The belief in the unseen
So the works of spiritual masters come into play
We need to understand that for every physical religious act be it prayer fasting etc has a spiritual bearing
You cannot disassociate the tw
This is the biggest tradegy
The colonist seperated spirituality from day to day acts as well as governance
So it’s a material world and hardly many know ALLAH in terms of his characteristics and attributes and essence
For that read the works of Shaikh Abdul Kadir Jaliani Imam Ghazalli Rumi Syed Nursi etc etc
Jazzakallah khair . Peace be upon all of you.
May Allah bless you for ur reminder today????
Thank you????
This was a good read and reminder, any blessings any of us gets from this may the almighty multiply it for you as well
Shukran. Shukran brother Kabir, the readers’ duas are what keeps us going. Do let us know what kind of topics you would like to read about and do not forget to share these valuable tips with your family and friends! – Nour
Alhamdulillah! May Allah bless everyone for their remarks & may Allah reward you for the reminders that we as Muslims need constantly Aameen. I myself need daily reminders to help me to strive to get closer to Allah swt’ so please continue to post InshaAllah!
Alhamdulillah
Thank you so much for this reminder, it was and will always be helpful.
May Allah reward you.
You mentioned that fasting helps us develop willpower, stamina and patience.
My question is how?
Is there any citation or scientific logic behind this claim. I am asking this because sometimes when you are in the argument, you have to convince other person by giving proof.
Dear brother Ahmed, as you read the section in SAUM, you will notice that the word scientific is highlighted in golden, when you click on the word, it will direct you to a link that states how fasting is good for your body. I hope it helps. Thank you for your comment. Do share it with your friends and family. Shukran. – Nour
My understanding was/is that if you can restrain the ‘natural’ inclination and necessity of eating-as required/ it makes it easy to restrain oneself fro thst which is prohibited, that which is evil and that which is not good for his soul. There is the ‘will power,’ the STRENGTH to resist and the resistance. Each victory will help you in reaching another [lofty:spiritual] goal. Pride, confidence and self control necessary for all and any achievements; physically (exercise), mentally (will power) and spiritually-duty and obeisance to Allah
My understanding was/is that if you can restrain the ‘natural’ inclination and necessity of eating-as required/ it makes it easy to restrain oneself fro thst which is prohibited, that which is evil and that which is not good for his soul. There is the ‘will power,’ the STRENGTH to resist and the resistance. Each victory will help you in reaching another [lofty:spiritual] goal. Pride, confidence and self control necessary for all and any achievements; physically (exercise), mentally (will power) and spiritually-duty and obeisance to Allah. And, western society has finally admitted to the healthful benefits of fasting known to others for millenniums
Ma shaa Allah these are indeed very important reminders. JazakAllah khairan.
Thank you. May Allah reward you
Thanks for the reminder,,it’s was really helpful,may Allah swt rewards you
Masha Allah ????
There is no better way of putting the meanings that explains every details of Muslims faith and our Islam practices.
May Allah guide and protect us all towards the good behaviours!
Salam
Alhamdulillah! May Allah bless everyone for their remarks & may Allah reward you for the reminders that we as Muslims need constantly Aameen. I myself need daily reminders to help me to strive to get closer to Allah swt’ so please continue to post InshaAllah!
Allahu Akbar!
thank you
Alhamdulillah
Thank you so much for this reminder, it was and will always be helpful.
May Allah reward you
medical relief!
I was very emotional after reading this, I felt like I don’t obey Almighty Allah rules and regulations, it was as if I was never a Muslim or act like one as I claim to be. But with this message I got, I’ve been inspired and captivated In so much many ways. The teachings really captured my heart. And I bet you I’m a changed person now. If not 100 percent at least I can still say I’ve changed a bit. And I believe with continuous practice and adherence to Allah’s words I will get better INSHA’ALLAH 🙏🏾. Thank yooouuuu so much ABDUL SHAKUR 🥰💕💜💖💙💯….
Jazakallah kahira. This would make it lot easier to use for dawah for my non Muslim colleagues that are always keen to understand Islam better as most of them have never been too closer to a Muslim before.