The Pillars of Islam and Hajj

Zakat: The Prescribed Charity Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam. The form of Zakat involves allocating a portion of one’s earnings to spend on the needy as commanded by God. This is the form of Zakat. The spirit of Zakat is the wellwishing of the people, which entails recognizing the interconnectedness of all humanity. It involves embracing a truly human-friendly approach toward others. Instead of living only for oneself, one must live for the betterment of all humanity. Merely giving a prescribed amount of Zakat without possessing a sincere attitude of well-wishing towards others would render it incomplete, that is, the true spirit of Zakat remains unfulfilled. (2:264) Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. The literal meaning of Hajj is to travel from one place to another. In religious terms, Hajj refers to the journey in which a person departs from his homeland and travels to Makkah to perform the rituals of Hajj on fixed dates in the month of Dhul-Hijjah and also offers animal sacrifice in the name of God. This is the prescribed form of Hajj. The essence of Hajj lies in the act of sacrifice. When both the prescribed form of Hajj and the spirit of sacrifice are combined in a person’s life, then he is