The Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

1986 12 December 20-22 The Five Pillars of Islam (1016) In the words of the Prophet, Islam is founded upon five things:

1. Declaration of Faith

2. Prayer

3. Fasting

4. Zakat (The Poor Due)

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)

These are called the five pillars of Islam.

Declaration of Faith

One enters the faith with this acknowledgement:

There is none worthy of being worshipped save God, and Mohammad is God’s Prophet.

That is, one accepts two things: the oneness of God and the prophethood of Mohammad (may peace be upon him). This means that all qualities of divinity are vested in God alone; and it means that Mohammad has been sent by God, and has been given knowledge of truth and the Will of God. These are more than just words: they are the declaration of a serious decision; the proclamation of one who has discovered both his Lord (God), and the one who will show him the true path (the Prophet); they are a contract which one calls on God to bear witness to. For belief to be acceptable to God, then, it must come straight from a person’s heart:

The Arabs of the desert declare: “We believe.” Say: “You do not. Rather say: ‘We profess Islam,’ for faith has not yet found its way into your hearts.”

(Quran,50:14)

It is not enough, then, just to “profess” faith; one must live it as well. That is why the Prophet called many things “faith”, which appear to be actions rather than a declaration of belief. Once, for instance, he said:

In truth I say unto you that one whose neighbour is not safe from one’s evil-doing, is not a believer.

(Bukhari, Muslim)

If the declaration of faith represents a serious decision, it will become an essential part of one’s whole life. Otherwise it will be just a verbal supplement, with no real relevance to life.

Prayer

One’s first obligation, as a Muslim, is prayer. Prayer is the most important Islamic worship. God has commanded man to pray to Him five times a day. Ablution, which consists of washing the face, arms and feet, is performed before every prayer. Prayer consists of certain words and certain ritual actions. In them, the worshipper bows before his Lord. Placing his forehead on the ground, he testifies to his own lowliness as opposed to God’s exalted nature. He presents himself as God’s servant. He stands before God, bows down to Him, and prostrates himself before Him, in a practical demonstration of submission to God. It is when one humbles oneself before the Lord, that one is in a position to meet Him; for one discovers God on a level of humility, not on a level of pride and egotism.

Fasting

Fasting is prescribed once a year, in the month of Ramadhan. One fasts every day of the month, from the first light of dawn until sundown. During that time one abstains completely from food and drink. According to the Quran, there are two purposes of fasting:

1. To make one cautious in life 2. To make one thankful to God

(Quran, 2:183,185)

Food and drink is man’s most basic necessity. When he is consumed by hunger and thirst, he sees how weak he really is; he realizes how much he is in need of the succour of God. This experience makes him aware of his duties as God’s humble servant. This feeling leads to caution in life. Then in the evening, when he eats and drinks, he sees how God has made complete provision for his needs. His heart is filled with gratitude. He praises God, and offers thanks to Him.

Zakat

Zakat (the Poor Due) is God’s due portion of what we own and what we produce. There are many ways of making a living in this world: one can work on the land, in a factory, or a shop; one can sweat and toil or remain seated in an office. But what part do we actually play in all this? Our role is, in fact, minimal. Multiple forces are at work in the universe and within ourselves, which accord to our needs. All these forces come together to enable us to earn a livelihood. All this has been ordained by the Lord of the Universe. That is why, once a year, one should calculate one’s earnings, and put aside a portion for God. In so doing, one acknowledges the fact that it is all from God; without His help, one could earn nothing. To spend for the cause of God is to express a sublime attachment to the Lord; it shows a yearning to empty oneself before him. One should feel as one gives that one is offering everything to God and seeking nothing for oneself. This is the spirit in which a Muslim should help others:

We feed you for God’s sake only; we seek of you neither recompense nor thanks.

(Quran, 76:9)

Hajj

The rites of Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) are performed once a year. It is obligatory, once in a lifetime, for those who have the means to travel to and from Hijaz, and the opportunity to do so. Otherwise, there is no compulsion to perform this pilgrimage. The places a pilgrim visits during Hajj are the birthplaces of Islamic history. These are the places where the Prophets prayed to God. Here stand memorials to the sacrifices they made for the cause of God. The land of Hijaz has been forever purified of polytheism and idolatry. It was here that the forces of irreligion were vanquished, and the supremacy of religion established until the Last Day. This is what makes the land of Hijaz unique. It is a land replete with the signs of God. That is why God has chosen it as the venue for Muslims from all over the world to gather once a year, and worship Him together. Hajj teaches the Muslims to live together as one. Pilgrims should return to their homes kindled with new religious fervour; they should be filled with fresh enthusiasm to serve the cause of God. Hajj teaches us how all men should gather around God.