The Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam are Islamic practices that are deemed mandatory for all Muslims to follow. Islam’s main principles and rituals are known as the Five Pillars.

Islam, which literally means “to surrender to God,” is built on doctrines known as the Five Pillars, arkan, to which all members of the Islamic society, Umma, are expected to adhere. These doctrines are known as pillars because they are the bedrock of Muslim life.

So, What are the five pillars of Islam and what do they mean?

Each Muslim must complete these five fundamental responsibilities, or pillars of faith, during his or her lifetime.

1. Shahāda (Profession of Faith)

Shahada is the first pillar of Islam to assert Islam’s fundamental belief that “there is no god but God, and Muhammad is God’s Messenger.” It is the very essential recitation that must be made before one can become a Muslim or convert to Islam.

Additionally, the importance of the Shahada can not be overstated as it is the first thing recited to a newborn as well as the last thing recited to the dead. Every Muslim equally recites the Shahada 5 times a day during prayer to reaffirm their belief in one God (Allah) and His messenger.

2. Salat (Prayer)

The second pillar of Islam incumbent of every Muslim is the Salat (Prayer).

Muslims pray five times a day, towards Mecca: in the morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after dark. The opening chapter (sura) of the Qur’an is recited during prayer, which is sometimes done on a tiny rug or mat dedicated to this purpose. Muslims can pray alone in any location or at a mosque, where the congregation is led by an imam (prayer leader).

On Fridays, men congregate in the mosque for the noonday prayer; women are welcome but not required to attend. Following the prayer, the imam prays and discusses a religious issue while delivering a sermon based on a verse from the Qur’an.

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3. Zakat (Almsgiving)

Alms are a type of charity. Muslims are required by Islamic law to donate a set percentage of their income to community members in need. Many monarchs and rich Muslims construct mosques, drinking fountains, hospitals, schools, and other facilities as a religious obligation and to reap the benefits of generosity.

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4. Sawm (Fasting)

Fasting is a type of dietary restriction. All healthy adult Muslims are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking during the daylight hours of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. They refresh their awareness of and thankfulness for everything God has supplied in their life, including the Qur’an, which was revealed for the first time during this month. They share the hunger and thirst of the poor during Ramadan as a reminder of their religious obligation to support those who are less fortunate.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Every Muslim, if his or her health and resources permit, must pay at least one visit to Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The Ka’ba, a cubical building with black embroidered hangings, is located in the heart of Mecca’s Haram Mosque. Muslims believe it is the house that Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) built for God, and they pray facing it (qibla). On the eighth and twelfth days of the Islamic calendar’s final month, believers from all over the world have gathered around the Ka’ba in Mecca since the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

Why are the five pillars of Islam important?

Each of the five pillars works together to convey the spirit of Islam as a religion of peace and submission to Allah SWT into every Muslim’s lifestyle:

Monotheism and the belief in Muhammad (peace be upon him) as God’s final messenger are the core tenets of Islam, and repeating the Shahada (shahadah) in prayer every day serves to remind Muslims of this fundamental conviction.

Salah (salat) is performed five times a day and provides five opportunities to remember Allah SWT and our goal in life to glorify Him.

For a period of time each day during Ramadan, every Muslim is required to abstain from their most basic wants and desires, such as food, drink, and sexual relations. Every year, the Sawm allows Muslims to gain control over their basic human needs. Muslims might instead cultivate their behaviour and their closeness to Allah SWT without these distractions.

While Sadaqah (charity) is urged to be a part of everyday Muslim life, Zakat (alms) is required once a year to ensure that wealth is continually redistributed to those who are in need.

Muslims must wear the same plain clothing and execute the same traditional acts of devotion to Allah during the Hajj (pilgrimage). People are reminded that they are all equal before God, stripped of their worldly distinctions.

Facts about the five pillars of Islam

• There is no set order in which the five pillars of Islam must be fulfilled, as they are all equally important. Every one of them has its own set of hours, places, and rules, whether it’s daily, annually, or once in a lifetime.
• Throughout their lives, Muslims must commit to each pillar and what it entails.
• Each pillar also provides for those who may be unable to fulfil one or more of them owing to a variety of factors, including illness, menstruation or pregnancy, and a lack of financial resources, to name a few.

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