The Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam (Arkan al-Islam) are the foundational acts of worship and practice that every Muslim is obligated to fulfill. They were summarized by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the famous hadith of Jibril, narrated in Sahih Muslim, and represent the core framework upon which a Muslim's life of devotion is built.

1. Shahada (Declaration of Faith)

The Shahada is the testimony that "there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" (La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah). This declaration is the gateway to Islam. A person enters the fold of Islam by sincerely uttering this testimony with conviction in the heart. It encapsulates the essence of Tawhid (monotheism) and acceptance of the Prophet's message. The Quran states: "So know that there is no deity except Allah" (Quran 47:19).

2. Salah (Prayer)

Salah refers to the five daily obligatory prayers performed at prescribed times: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The first thing a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is their prayer" (Sunan al-Nasai). Prayer involves standing, bowing, and prostrating in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, reciting portions of the Quran, and making supplication to Allah.

3. Zakat (Obligatory Charity)

Zakat is the compulsory giving of a portion of one's wealth to those in need. It is typically 2.5% of one's accumulated savings and assets that have been held for a full lunar year above the nisab (minimum threshold). The Quran frequently pairs the command to pray with the command to give zakat: "Establish prayer and give zakat" (Quran 2:43). The eight categories of zakat recipients are detailed in Quran 9:60.

4. Sawm (Fasting in Ramadan)

Sawm is the obligation to fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. From dawn to sunset, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and marital relations. The Quran states: "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa (God-consciousness)" (Quran 2:183). Fasting trains the soul in discipline, empathy for the less fortunate, and gratitude.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is physically and financially able. It takes place during the month of Dhul Hijjah and includes rites such as Tawaf (circling the Kaaba), Sa'i (walking between Safa and Marwa), standing at Arafat, and the symbolic stoning of the Jamarat. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression shall return (free from sin) as the day his mother bore him" (Sahih al-Bukhari).