Islam pillars

Islam pillars is an Islamic term, means the foundations upon which the religion of Islam is built, and Hadiths about the Islam pillars ensure their importance as evidence or sign of faith. Islam pillars are five, lets talk about them in details. Interpretation of Quran verses and Hadiths are by meanings.**

The five Islam pillars:

Pillar is a term that means the column , as when it is said: a pillar of the house, it means the column on which the house is based, and that’s why it came in the following Hadith as { Islam is built on five}, and in acts of worship, it means the thing that is required to exist and not to be there or not, then leaving one of these pillars negligently or lazily, is a major sin, and the five Islam pillars are; 1-The testimony that there is no god but God, and a testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. 2-Establishing the prayer. 3-Paying Zakat. 4-Fasting in Ramadan. 5-House pilgrimage. As mentioned in the following Hadith, {On the authority of Ibn Omar, may God be pleased with them, he said: I heard the Messenger of God say: Islam was built on five: a testimony that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and he performs the prayer, giving zakat, Hajj, and fasting Ramadan}.

The testimony:

The testimony or the certificate is the first and most important Islam pillar because it is the key that enters one in Islam, the first part of the testimony is ” there is no god but God” and it must be believed by saying , doing, and the heart. Muslim must understand its meaning and work with it. The second part of the testimony is ” Muhammad is the Messenger of God” and it means that Muslim must believe that the Prophet Muhammad –peace and blessings be upon him- is an envoy from God as a mercy to all the worlds. And also Muslim must take from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad –peace and blessings be upon him- what he was commanded.

Establishing the prayer:

Prayer is the second Islam pillar, and the column of Islam, furthermore, it is the first thing the Muslim slave will be held accountable in, on the day of Resurrection, and is the connection between the slave and his Lord in life. Muslims pray five imposed prayers on the day and night which are; dawn prayer, noon prayer, afternoon prayer, Maghrib prayer, and evening prayer. And the term ” establishing” means to do it in the best possible way and bring it to reality, and this is what is required of every Muslim to achieve in his prayer. Prayer has much more values and meanings than just performing some movements, it is the daily link between the slave and his Lord. Allah -the Almighty- said: { Recite what was revealed to you of the Book and establish the prayer, the prayer forbids indecency and evil, and remembrance of Allah is the biggest and God Knows what you do}.

Paying the Zakat:

The third pillar of the Islam pillar is Zakat, and Zakat is an Arabic word that means charity, as Allah –the Almighty- imposed the rich Muslims to pay to the poor ones. Believers pay Zakat from their money to the poor people to satisfy Allah, and on the other hand, Zakat has great benefits, such as cleansing oneself from the vice of miserliness and scarcity, and strengthening love between the rich and poor Muslims. Allah –the Almighty- said: {But alms to the poor and the needy and the workers on it, and whose hearts and in the neck and Debtors, and for the sake of Allah and the wayfarer, an obligation from Allah, and Allah is all knowing, wise}. As” whose hearts” means the ones who entered to Islam but Islam still not settled in their hearts and soul, or those who expected to enter Islam, and also those who are obedient in their people and their tribes. And “in the neck” means to release the slaves for the sake of Allah. And “Debtors” means the one who owes a debt and can not pay it. Where “wayfarer” means the traveler whose travel was interrupted and there is no expense with him.

Fasting in Ramadan:

Fasting is one of the Islam pillar, which means refrain from eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with the intention of fasting. And Allah –the Almighty- imposed fasting in the month of Ramadan. Fasting has great reward, as Allah –the Almighty- said in the Hadith Qudsi: (All the work of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting, for it is mine and I will reward for it)

Pilgrimage:

The Pilgrimage means Al- Hajj, and it is the fifth Islam pillar. It means that the Muslim intends the sacred House of God in a specific time with the intention of performing the rituals of Hajj. But Allah –the Almighty- made Al-Hajj for those who can afford it, as the Almighty said: { And for God, People pilgrim the house from whom he was able to find a way}.

Pillars of faith:

Finally, you as a Muslim, should know that pillars of faith are different than Islam pillars, as Islam pillars are five while pillars of faith are six, which are; faith in God, His angles, His Books, His Messengers, Resurrection day, and in the good and evil of destiny. Faith in Islam religion, is what is settled in the heart and is believed by the work. As Allah –the Almighty- said: {The Bedouins said we have believed, say “You did not believe, but say, we have entered into Islam“}.