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For Islam to be erected as a large umbrella that provides shades of mercy, care and love for humanity, the following acts of worship must be performed with a devotion that inspires meaningful application of all religious teachings.
These acts of worship have been labeled the Pillars of Islam. Allah’s Messenger said:
Èäí ÇáÅÓáÇã Úáì ÎãÓ, ÔåÇÏÉ Ãä áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå æ Ãä ãÍãÏÇð ÚÈÏå æ ÑÓæáå æ ÅÞÇã ÇáÕáÇÉ æ ÅíÊÇÁ ÇáÒßÇÉ æ ÍÌ ÇáÈíÊ æ Õæã ÑãÖÇä
[Islam is erected on five (pillars): Witnessing that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, establishing the salaah, giving the zakaat, doing pilgrimage to the House, and fasting Ramadaan.]
Brief Descriptions of the Pillars of Faith:
1. Shahaadah (Declaration of Faith)
A believer must verbalize his beliefs in Allah and His final Messenger Muhammad by saying:
“I bear witness there is no true God except Allah. And Muhammad is Allah’s slave and Messenger”.
2. Salaah (Obligatory Prayer)
Believers must pray at least five times a day. Salaah is a structured act of worship that engages the body, the heart, the mind, and the soul to carry out specific body motions with specific statements of glorification and Quranic recitation.
3. Zakaat ( Mandatory Charity)
When certain conditions are met, a believer must pay a small portion of his wealth as a mandatory charity. Allah said in the Quran:
{Zakaat expenditures are only for the poor, the needy and for those employed to collect it and for bringing hearts together and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the stranded – an obligation imposed by Allah. Allah is the Knowing , the Wise.} 9:60
4. Sawm (Obligatory Fasting)
Fasting is observed during the month of Ramadaan which is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar year. Fasting is an obligatory act of worship enjoined upon adults, when certain conditions are met. The purpose of fasting is to strengthen believers’ abilities and resolve to obey Allah. Allah said in the Quran:
{O you who believe: Fasting is ordained upon you, as it was ordained upon those who preceded you, in order to ward off evil} 2:183
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Pilgrimage is observed during the month of Thul Hijjah which is the 11th month of the Islamic lunar year. Pilgrimage or Hajj, is a mandatory act of worship enjoined upon adults once in their life time, when certain conditions are met. Hajj is performed in Mecca and other surrounding areas within Mecca’s vicinity. A person who performs Hajj with goodness receives absolution for all of his previous sins.
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