PILLARS OF ISLAM

In Islam there are five basic duties which Muslims must perform.

They are known as the five pillars of Islam (Arkanul Islam).

These are: Shahadah, the establishment of Prayers (Salah), the payment of Zakah (paying the poor due), the Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah and Sawm Ramadan (fasting the month of Ramadan).

1- SHAHADA (The First Pillar of Islam)

لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله

“La llaha illal-lah Muhammad -ur-rasulullah“

“There is no god but Allah and Muhammad (pbuh) is the messenger of Allah“

2- SALAH (The Second Pillar of Islam)

The second pillar of Islam is performing Salah (Prayer). The Muslim is enjoined to perform five obligatory prayers every day to keep himself in relation with his Lord, to invoke and implore Him, and to refrain himself from committing lewdness or indecency. These prayers not only ensure psychological rest to the Muslim in this present life, but they also pave the way to him to gain eternal happiness in the hereafter.

3- ZAKAAT (The Third Pillar of Islam)

ALLAH ordained every Muslim who possesses a certain amount a certain amount of property to pay annually of these possessions the Zakah to the poor, or to the other categories mentioned in the Quran.

4- SAWM RAMADHAN (The Fourth Pillar of Islam)

The fourth pillar of Islam is to fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri calendar.

Before the dawn of the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim in-tends to fast this month, and abstains every day from drinking, eating, or practicing sex till after the sun sets, He performs the fasting till the end of the month of Ramadan, fulfilling by that the commandment of Allah, and seeking His pleasure.

5- HAJJ (The Fifth Pillar of Islam)

Pilgrimage (Hajj) is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a duty for a Muslim to perform pilgrimage to the House of Allah once in lifetime, however it is permissible to him to do pilgrimage voluntarily more than once.

Pilgrimage has innumerable benefits:

1. In fulfilling this service, man expresses his devotion to Allah, not only by performing rites which need physical effort, but he expresses also his deep spiritual devotion to Allah and spends of his money for His sake.

2. Pilgrimage is an annual Muslim-congress, attended by Muslims from all over the world.