What are the five pillars of Islam and why are they so important? The definition of Islam literally means ‘the submission to the will of Allah (swt). The five pillars represent the standard of what is expected from Muslims in their faith.
- The first and most fundamental pillar of Islam is ‘The Profession/Decleration of Faith’, known as ‘The Shahada’. When a person says, لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله , they state that “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger”. This is the fundamental belief of Islam. Whenever a non Muslim decides to become Muslim they must delcare their faith by annoucning the shahada.
- The second pillar of Islam is Salat, or daily prayers. Muslims must pray five times a day, as this is olbligitory in Islam. This includes Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and finally Isha. Prayers must be in the direction of Mecca. Men are encouraged to pray at the mosque while women are encouraged to pray at home.
- The third pillar of Islam is zakat, which means to give. As Muslims we practice giving to the less fortunate.
- The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting during the month of Ramadan. Muslims practice this one month during each and every year. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims not only abstain from food and water but also from sexual relations (from sunrise to sunset) and any sinful speech. It’s a month to regroup and focus on your relationship with Allah (swt). Ramadan teaches us to take a step back and humble ourselves. Muslims attend prayer Tarweeh prayer after Isha prayer. This is a beautiful time in which Muslims can connect with one another and with Imam/Sheikhs.
- The fifth pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage to Mecca, also known as Hajj. Muslims from all around the world aim to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. This is the chance of a lifetime for Muslims to show their devotion and faith to Allah (swt).
If you are interested or have any more questions about the five pillars of Islam, you can book a session with one of our respected and highly qualified Scholars. The scholar will be able to mentor/consult you on your journey in Islam. Their services will provide you with the knowledge you so dearly want to know, remember knowledge is power.
Written by Anan Helwih