Compilation of Pillars of Islam Intro – English
What are the pillars of Islam?
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
اْلإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُوْلُ اللهِ، وَتُقِيْمَ الصَّلاَةَ، وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكاَةَ، وَتَصُوْمَ رَمَضَانَ، وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيْلاً
- Saying that you testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhmmad is the messenger of Allah. This is called the Shahadat.
- Prayer is a physical act (body)
- Fasting in Ramadhan is a physical act (body)
- Zakat is a deed in which a person has to give a portion of their wealth to charity (property)
- Pilgrimage, also known as Hajj in Arabic, is a deed you perform with your body and property
Shahadat
Shahadat is an act in which you testify and believe that there is no God who is entitled to be worshiped except for Allah and that the Muhammad is His servant and messenger. The shahadat implies that when you worship Allah, you cannot associate any partner with him or have any intermediary such as using jinn (a supernatural being), man or his graves, statues, other creatures etc. When Muslims worship Allah, they follow the examples displayed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Shahadat
Shahadat is an act in which you testify and believe that there is no God who is entitled to be worshiped except for Allah and that the Muhammad is His servant and messenger. The shahadat implies that when you worship Allah, you cannot associate any partner with him or have any intermediary such as using jinn (a supernatural being), man or his graves, statues, other creatures etc. When Muslims worship Allah, they follow the examples displayed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Prayer
Prayer is done until the person’s last breath. Allah said:
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
- Fajr prayer. It consists of two units of prayer and can be performed from the beginning of dawn until before sunrise.
- Dhuhr prayer. It consists of four units of prayer and can be performed right after noon and before Asr time.
- Asr prayer. It consists of four units of prayer and can be performed in the afternoon when the shadow of one’s object is longer than the object itself. Asr prayer time ends when the sun sets.
- Maghrib prayer. It consists of three units of prayer. It starts just after sunset and ends when Isha prayer starts.
- Isha prayer. It consists of four units of prayer. It can be performed when complete darkness has arrived and when twilight has gone. Isha prayer lasts until the dawn of the next day.
- The intention to pray
- Recite the Takbirah al-Ihram (to say that Allah is Great)
- Stand up (one can sit or lie down if they are not physically able to stand)
- Recite Surah Al-Fatihah (the first chapter of the Quran)
- Ruku’ (bowing)
- I’tidal (standing up after bowing)
- Sujud (prostration)
- Sitting after prostration
- Sujud again (prostrate again)
- Thuma’ninah (a pause that is done during prostration, bowing and sitting)
- Tashahhud and Taslim (a specific recitation that one does when sitting down during prayer)
- The series of movements and recitations should be done in the correct order
Requirements for prayer:
- A sane mind
- Attained puberty
- At a state of Islamic purification (e.g. performed ablution, non menstruating)
- The clothes, place and body should be clean
- Perform the prayer at the correct time
- Cover the aurat (body parts that cannot be seen by the public)
- Facing the Qibla (where the Ka’baa, the holy structure in Islam, is)
Prayer
Prayer is done until the person’s last breath. Allah said:
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
- Fajr prayer. It consists of two units of prayer and can be performed from the beginning of dawn until before sunrise.
- Dhuhr prayer. It consists of four units of prayer and can be performed right after noon and before Asr time.
- Asr prayer. It consists of four units of prayer and can be performed in the afternoon when the shadow of one’s object is longer than the object itself. Asr prayer time ends when the sun sets.
- Maghrib prayer. It consists of three units of prayer. It starts just after sunset and ends when Isha prayer starts.
- Isha prayer. It consists of four units of prayer. It can be performed when complete darkness has arrived and when twilight has gone. Isha prayer lasts until the dawn of the next day.
- The intention to pray
- Recite the Takbirah al-Ihram (to say that Allah is Great)
- Stand up (one can sit or lie down if they are not physically able to stand)
- Recite Surah Al-Fatihah (the first chapter of the Quran)
- Ruku’ (bowing)
- I’tidal (standing up after bowing)
- Sujud (prostration)
- Sitting after prostration
- Sujud again (prostrate again)
- Thuma’ninah (a pause that is done during prostration, bowing and sitting)
- Tashahhud and Taslim (a specific recitation that one does when sitting down during prayer)
- The series of movements and recitations should be done in the correct order
Requirements for prayer:
- A sane mind
- Attained puberty
- At a state of Islamic purification (e.g. performed ablution, non menstruating)
- The clothes, place and body should be clean
- Perform the prayer at the correct time
- Cover the aurat (body parts that cannot be seen by the public)
- Facing the Qibla (where the Ka’baa, the holy structure in Islam, is)
Zakat
Zakat is when one gives a portion of their wealth to charity. Those that receive the zakat should fall under a specific category of people. Zakat is a means for people to purify their wealth. Allah says:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
There are two types of Zakat:
- Zakat al-Fitr: This is done during the Islamic celebration called ‘Eid-al-Fitr that happens after the fasting month of Ramadhan. The amount paid is similar to 3kg of rice or wheat that is found locally.
- Zakat al-Mal is compulsory for those who have attained a certain amount of wealth (nisab) and ownership of some types of assets for one lunar year (haul). There are several kinds of wealth that must be paid as zakat such as revenue, agricultural, livestock, treasure, investment, gold and silver, mining products and income. Some scholars have different opinions about zakat on income. The scholars who believe there is zakat on income compare it to zakat on agricultural harvest.
Allah says:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ
“And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:43)
People that are entitled to receive Zakat:
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
“Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler – an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.” (QS At Taubah 9:60)
Zakat
Zakat is when one gives a portion of their wealth to charity. Those that receive the zakat should fall under a specific category of people. Zakat is a means for people to purify their wealth. Allah says:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
There are two types of Zakat:
- Zakat al-Fitr: This is done during the Islamic celebration called ‘Eid-al-Fitr that happens after the fasting month of Ramadhan. The amount paid is similar to 3kg of rice or wheat that is found locally.
- Zakat al-Mal is compulsory for those who have attained a certain amount of wealth (nisab) and ownership of some types of assets for one lunar year (haul). There are several kinds of wealth that must be paid as zakat such as revenue, agricultural, livestock, treasure, investment, gold and silver, mining products and income. Some scholars have different opinions about zakat on income. The scholars who believe there is zakat on income compare it to zakat on agricultural harvest.
Allah says:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ
“And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:43)
People that are entitled to receive Zakat:
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
“Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler – an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.” (QS At Taubah 9:60)
Fasting in Ramadhan
Fasting is when you refrain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk with the intention of worshiping Allah. It is compulsory for Muslims who have reached puberty, have a sane mind, are not travelling and are not nursing after childbirth. With regards to Muslim women, they cannot fast when they are menstruating. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
- Eating a meal before dawn, preferably right before Fajr prayer
- Hastening to break the fast
- Break your fast with dates or water if there are no dates
- Providing food for others who are breaking their fast
Fasting in Ramadhan
Fasting is when you refrain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk with the intention of worshiping Allah. It is compulsory for Muslims who have reached puberty, have a sane mind, are not travelling and are not nursing after childbirth. With regards to Muslim women, they cannot fast when they are menstruating. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
- Eating a meal before dawn, preferably right before Fajr prayer
- Hastening to break the fast
- Break your fast with dates or water if there are no dates
- Providing food for others who are breaking their fast
Hajj
It is compulsory to perform Hajj, or pilgrimage, once in your lifetime. The other times after that are considered supererogatory. It should not be delayed if you are healthy and have the money to travel and take care of your family while you are gone. Allah says:
وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
والْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ
Hajj
It is compulsory to perform Hajj, or pilgrimage, once in your lifetime. The other times after that are considered supererogatory. It should not be delayed if you are healthy and have the money to travel and take care of your family while you are gone. Allah says: