(Excerpt from the book "Islam Mustafa ﷺ" by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi)
◈ The Foundational Pillars of Islam
Islam, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, stands upon five foundational pillars. These pillars form the core structure of a Muslim’s faith and practice.
Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمد رسول الله ، وإقام الصلاة، وإبتاء الزكاة والحج، وصوم رمضان
– Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith: 8; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith: 111-114
"Islam is built upon five [pillars]: bearing witness that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving the zakah, performing Hajj [to the House of Allah], and fasting the month of Ramadan."
This Hadith encompasses all five pillars of Islam, which are as follows:
❀ ① The First Pillar: The Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)
The first and foremost pillar of Islam is the affirmation of the Shahadah: "La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah" – there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah. The full details of this testimony have been elaborated upon previously.
❀ ② The Second Pillar: Establishing Prayer (Salah)
❀ ③ The Third Pillar: Giving Zakah (Obligatory Charity)
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ﴾
[Al-Bayyinah: 5]
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion."
And He also says:
﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ﴾
[Al-Baqarah: 43]
"Establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship]."
Zakah is a portion of wealth taken from the rich and distributed among the poor and those eligible to receive it as mentioned in the rulings of zakah. It serves as a noble principle through which unity and mutual support are established within the society, ensuring that the poor have a rightful share in the wealth of the affluent—without any feeling of obligation or superiority from the giver.
❀ ④ The Fourth Pillar: Fasting in the Month of Ramadan
Allah ﷻ states:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
[Al-Baqarah: 183]
"O you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous."
Fasting brings immense goodness in both this world and the Hereafter. When a person abstains from food, drink, and marital relations solely for the sake of Allah, and engages in worship, Allah guides him to the path of piety and righteousness.
❀ ⑤ The Fifth Pillar: Performing Hajj to the House of Allah
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾
[Aal ‘Imran: 97]
"And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds."
Hajj is obligatory upon those who possess the physical and financial means to reach the Sacred House. It is one of the most significant demonstrations of submission and devotion to Allah ﷻ.
◈ The Foundational Pillars of Islam
Islam, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, stands upon five foundational pillars. These pillars form the core structure of a Muslim’s faith and practice.
Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمد رسول الله ، وإقام الصلاة، وإبتاء الزكاة والحج، وصوم رمضان
– Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith: 8; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith: 111-114
"Islam is built upon five [pillars]: bearing witness that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving the zakah, performing Hajj [to the House of Allah], and fasting the month of Ramadan."
This Hadith encompasses all five pillars of Islam, which are as follows:
❀ ① The First Pillar: The Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)
The first and foremost pillar of Islam is the affirmation of the Shahadah: "La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah" – there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah. The full details of this testimony have been elaborated upon previously.
❀ ② The Second Pillar: Establishing Prayer (Salah)
❀ ③ The Third Pillar: Giving Zakah (Obligatory Charity)
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ﴾
[Al-Bayyinah: 5]
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion."
And He also says:
﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ﴾
[Al-Baqarah: 43]
"Establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship]."
Zakah is a portion of wealth taken from the rich and distributed among the poor and those eligible to receive it as mentioned in the rulings of zakah. It serves as a noble principle through which unity and mutual support are established within the society, ensuring that the poor have a rightful share in the wealth of the affluent—without any feeling of obligation or superiority from the giver.
❀ ④ The Fourth Pillar: Fasting in the Month of Ramadan
Allah ﷻ states:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
[Al-Baqarah: 183]
"O you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous."
Fasting brings immense goodness in both this world and the Hereafter. When a person abstains from food, drink, and marital relations solely for the sake of Allah, and engages in worship, Allah guides him to the path of piety and righteousness.
❀ ⑤ The Fifth Pillar: Performing Hajj to the House of Allah
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾
[Aal ‘Imran: 97]
"And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds."
Hajj is obligatory upon those who possess the physical and financial means to reach the Sacred House. It is one of the most significant demonstrations of submission and devotion to Allah ﷻ.
