The Pillars of Islam and Hajj

the spirit, but the form is equally essential. Just as the spirit requires a body to exist, similarly Islam cannot exist without its form. In this context, the spirit is of utmost importance, but it can only be effective when accompanied by the form; it cannot stand alone without the form. Kalima: Testimony of Monotheism Among these pillars, the first pillar is known as Tawheed, meaning to accept the oneness of God. It has a form that is accompanied by its spirit. Its form is to recite the prescribed Arabic words (Kalima Shahadah) in one’s own language. Maarifah is the spirit of this Kalima which involves finding God at the level of discovery. The valid recitation of this Kalima is based on Maarifah. Without Maarifah—God-realization, reciting the Kalima is merely the utterance of a few Arabic words; it does not encompass the true spirit of the declaration of monotheism. The ancient Greek philosopher Archimedes was in search of an answer to the question of how ships float on water. He was deeply immersed in this quest. One day, while he was taking a bath in a water tub, he suddenly had a breakthrough and discovered the law of nature known as the law of buoyancy. He was so thrilled that he swiftly leaped out of the tub, exclaiming, “I have found it, I have found it!” (Eureka, Eureka).