5 pillars of Islam

What are the 5 pillars of Islam?

The 5 pillars of Islam are the core beliefs and practises of being a Muslim. Adhering to, and practicing these 5 pillars are what makes individuals Muslim.

Shahadah

This is the belief that there is only one God and that Muhammad (S.A.W) is the Prophet and messenger of God.

The Shahadah in Arabic is as follows:

This meaning of the Shahadah is: I testify that there is no God except Allah and I testify that Muhammad (S.A.W) is his servant and messenger.

In order to become a Muslim, one must say the Shahadah and believe it wholeheartedly.

The Shahadah is the foundation of being a Muslim. There are two parts to the Shahadah. The first is testifying and believing that there is no God except Allah. It is a rejection of polytheism and a submission to one god. The second part of the Shahadah is believing that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is Allah’s final messenger.

Facts about Shahadah

When becoming a Muslim, you have to say the Shahadah
A person can become Muslim simply by saying the Shahadah and believing in it wholeheartedly.
After a baby is born, the Shahadah is said into it’s ear
The Shahadah is part of the Adhaan (call to prayer) and each of the 5 daily prayers.

Salah

This means to pray 5 times a day. There are 5 daily prayers that all Muslims should perform. When praying, Muslims face towards the Ka’bah in Makkah. Before praying Salah, Muslims do wudhu (ablution). On Friday, a lot more Muslims usually go and pray Jummah Salah in the Masjid where an Imam (religious leader) usually delivers a sermon.

There are 5 daily prayers which devout Muslims pray throughout the day. The names of the prayers and their times are as follows:

Fajr- before the sun rises

Zuhr- afternoon

Asr- late afternoon

Maghrib- after sunset

Isha- at night

Salah is a form of meditation, reflection and connection with Allah. In Salah, Muslims read different parts of the Quran. After Salah, many Muslims do Dua, which involves raising the hands and talking to Allah. There are also other voluntary prayers that the more devout perform throughout the day and night.

Check out our Salah learning resources for kids here.

Facts about Salah

There are 5 compulsory prayers: Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha
All the prayers have certain times according to the position of sun (ie, before sunrise, afternoon, late afternoon, evening and night time)
The 5 prayers are all different lengths depending on the number of bows and prostrations
In Ramadan, Muslims pray Taraweeh, an additional prayer, for about 29 or 30 days
Before praying, Muslims must ensure that the place they are praying in is clean. They must also make sure that their clothes and bodies are clean as ‘cleanliness is half of faith.’

Zakah

Zakah (alms giving) is the third pillar of Islam. Muslims are annually required to give 2.5% of their entire wealth to charity. Muslims often give Zakah in the month of Ramadan to ensure that the poorest people have plenty of food to break their fast with.

Zakah is only compulsory for those who are earning above a certain amount. Giving Zakah ensures that the poor, disabled, widows, orphans and needy people are taken care of. Additionally, giving Zakah also purifies a person’s wealth.

Voluntary charity is called Sadaqah in Arabic and does not just refer to monetary donations. Sadaqah can be as simple as smiling at someone!

Facts about Zakah

Zakah is compulsory on all Muslims who have wealth exceeding the threshold.
The threshold is around 3 ounces of gold or 21 ounces of silver, or the cash equivalent. There are lots of Zakah calculators available online to calculate the exact amount that needs to be given.
Zakah can be given to the following people:

The poor
The needy
Zakah collectors
Those who have converted to Islam and need money
Those in slavery
Those in debt
Travellers (include refugees)
Those in the path of Allah

Sawm

The fourth pillar is fasting in the month of Ramdan. All healthy adults fast for around 29 or 30 days. Children are not required to fast but many do, because they are enjoy participating with their families. Fasting in Islam means abstaining from food and drink from before dawn till dusk. Whilst fasting, Muslims are encouraged to do more good deeds and stay away from bad ones.

Muslims fast each year in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islamic months last for either 29 or 30 days as the Islamic calendar is lunar. Millions of Muslims fast in Ramadan for a number of reasons. For example, fasting:

is a command from Allah as mentioned in the Quran
helps keep people away from bad deeds
is a reminder of the struggles that the poor and needy people go through
is a great way to cleanse the soul and body

Facts about Sawm

Old people, ill people and children don’t have to fast, (but many do)
Pregnant or breastfeeding women don’t need to fast but can if they wish to
Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan

Hajj

The final pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to Makkah (in Saudi Arabia). All Muslims are required to do Hajj at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage to Makkah involves circulating the Ka’bah among many other actions. One of the reasons Muslims do Hajj, is to re-establish a connection with Allah. Furthermore, going to Hajj also means that if done correctly, the pilgrim returns, sin free and often more religiously inclined.

There are a few rules and rituals that must be followed in order to complete Hajj. For example, each pilgrim must circulate the Kabah and walk between the mountains of Safa and Marwa seven times. At the end of the pilgrimage an animal is sacrificed and the meat is distributed within Saudi Arabia and shipped across the world to the poorest people in need.

Facts about Hajj

Hajj takes place in the month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar
The pilgrimage takes place over 5 to 6 days
Men and women must wear Ihram for the duration of Hajj. For men this is two pieces of white cloth that has no stitching, embroidery or buttons. For women the Ihram is a loose fitting robe which covers the whole body, including the hair.