The Five Pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life. They are:
- Shahadah (the testimony of faith)
- Salaah (obligatory daily prayer to be performed 5 times a day)
- Zakat (support of the needy)
- Saum (fasting during the month of Ramadan)
- and Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime for those who are able)
1. Shahadah
"There is none worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God."
This declaration of faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula that all the faithful pronounce. The significance of this declaration is the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is achieved through the teachings and practices of the Last Prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Honest recitation of the Shahadah once, in Arabic, in front of two Muslim witnesses, is all that is required for a person to become a Muslim.
2. Salaah
Salaah (also known as Salaat) is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day and are a direct link between the worshipper and Allah. These five prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.
Salaat is observed at appointed times fixed in relation to the sun's position. The time of Fajr, the morning prayer begins at dawn and ends just before sunrise. The time of Zuhr, the midday prayer, begins after the sun has crossed the zenith point and has begun to decline. The Asr prayer is said when the sun has further advanced in decline, in the late afternoon. The time of the Maghrib prayer begins immediately after sunset. It lasts till dusk. The Isha prayer can be said after dusk has finally disappeared, giving way to darkness of the night.
Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere subject to certain conditions. Within the Masjid, the prayers are led by the imam or another learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation.
The Holy Quran repeatedly commands the offering of salaat and indeed declares it to be a fundamental character of a believer. The benefits of salaat are countless. Salat strengthens man's spiritual faculties. It is the best way to form a relationship with one's Creator. It purifies one's spirit, and through it protects a Muslim from evil.
Allah created man to worship Him and salaat is the most excellent kind of worship.
The Holy Quran says:
"Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do." (29:46)
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he heard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "Tell me, if one of you had a stream running at his door and he took a bath in it five times a day, would any dirt be left upon him? He was answered: No dirt would be left on him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) observed: This is the case of the five prayers. Allah wipes out all faults in you because of them." (Bukhari)
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he heard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "Giving up prayer is equal to disbelief and associating partners with Allah." (Muslim)
3. Saum (fasting)
Along with salaat, another important form of worship is fasting. It is obligatory for each Muslim, apart from some exemptions, to fast in the month of Ramadhan. During the hours of fasting, food and drink and conjugal relations between husband and wife are forbidden. It has been commanded that during fasting one should pay attention to the remembrance of Allah and study the Holy Quran in abundance. One should try to curtail one's worldly pastimes as much as possible during Ramadhan, and to be particularly inclined towards charity and alms giving.
Human life is dependent on food and drink and the continuation of the human race depends on the marital relationship. Whilst fasting, one refrains from them both, as if bearing witness to God that for His pleasure man gives up the factors (temporarily) upon which his very existence depends.
The various other benefits of fasting are that man gets to exercise the sacrifice of physical comfort and to endure hunger and thirst. Fasting creates a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. By developing an appreciation of hunger and thirst, it makes the well-off think of the needs of the poor and impresses a feeling of compassion in their hearts. It makes them appreciate, through the practicality of it, the state a human being endures when hungry and thirsty. Ramadhan is a most effective and excellent means of spiritual development for mankind.
4. Zakat (Charity)
Zakat (Alms giving) is a part of devotion commanded by Allah. It is a means where the well-off pay a set amount of their wealth. Zakat means to purify one-self. It is obligatory on Muslims to pay a little percentage of their accumulated wealth towards Zakat, which is used for the benefit of the needy and the poor. Zakat is not on one's property that is in personal use but rather on the assets which have a means of increasing and which are surplus to one's needs. It is a means of social justice and order. It teaches sympathy of the highest order.
5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
Hajj is the fifth Pillar of Islam and another form of worship. It is an annual pilgrimage to the holy sites in Mecca which each adult Muslim, who can afford it, has to perform once in a life time. Apart from the financial aspect, the ability to afford the pilgrimage also means that one is able to travel and perform the Hajj in peace.
During Hajj, the person who intends to perform it is required to travel to Mecca during the prescribed days and observe all the rites and ceremonies. During Hajj, Muslims from all corners of the world gather in Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj and thus strengthen the bond of Muslim unity.
Muslims performing the Hajj visit the holy sites where their faith started. More importantly it is a pilgrimage to the Ka'aba, which we believe is the first place of worship ever built on this earth; Muslims thus refer to it as House of God.
The ceremony of Hajj is also symbolic of the Unity of God; all Muslims gather from the four corners of the earth in one spot at an appointed time and worship Allah.