FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
As the pillars holding up a building are important to its structure and stability, likewise the
5 pillars of Islam are important to every Muslim. They provide the outward steadiness and
constancy to a person’s faith and hold Muslims together as a brotherhood. The first Pillar is
The Declaration of Faith (Shahadah), the second Prayer (Salah), the third Obligatory Charity
(Zakah), the fourth Fasting (Sawm) and the fifth Pilgrimage (Hajj).
THE DECLARATION OF FAITH (SHAHADA):
This is the most significant pillar of belief declaring outwardly; “There is
none worthy of worship except Allah and Mohammad is the final Messenger
of Allah.”
This is the agreement between you and Allah, confirming that you accept
the belief of one God (Allah), and that Mohammad was sent as His final
Messenger and Prophet. The result of this makes you part of the Muslim
community, which is there to help and support you in achieving your
goals and purpose in life.
PRAYER (SALAH)
The relationship between a Muslim and Allah is very important, and is
made more unique by praying directly to Him, without any intercessor.
We are commanded to pray five times a day, increasing us in the
remembrance of Allah, keeping us on the path of good, and wiping away
the sins.
OBLIGATORY CHARITY (ZAKAH)
As well as looking after ones own self, Allah tells us to look after people
less fortunate than ourselves.
The word Zakah comes from the meanings “purification” and “growth”. A
believer helps another by giving a portion of his wealth to the less fortunate
once a year. This is calculated at just 2.5% of an individual’s wealth. It is
given to amongst others the poor, the orphan, and the traveller. It differs
from ordinary charity in that it is not optional. In Islam wealth belongs to
Allah, and is held by people in trust, so they should use it to the benefit of
society.
FASTING (SAUM)
Every year in the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the lunar year),
all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink,
and marital relations with the explicit intention of doing so for the sake
of Allah.
Allah commands us to fast in order to seek His pleasure, and in doing so
we raise our levels of spirituality trying to get closer to Allah. By changing
our habits and daily routines in accordance to divine orders, we learn that we are not the slaves of our habits but
the servants of Allah. By cutting oneself off voluntarily from worldly comforts, even for a short time,
HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE)
If a Muslim can afford to, is well and has no debt upon his neck, Allah has
made the pilgrimage to Makkah obligatory, once in his life. The rituals of
Hajj date back to the time of Prophet Abraham and commemorate some
of the trials he and his family faced in Makkah. It is also a journey to the
Ka`ba; the symbolic house originally built by Prophet Adam.
The Hajj is a time when Muslims from all around the world of different races,
colours and languages come together in a spirit of universal brotherhood
to worship the One God together. The men wear only two white pieces of
cloth, making them one people without any class or distinction. The rich,
the poor, the black and the white stand side by side, equal in the eyes of
Allah apart from their deeds.
The celebrations of the Hajj and the Eid Al-Adha are a remembrance for
those who are needy, and a day of worship to Allah. The meat of the sacrifice is distributed to the needy, and extra
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