Islam is Built Upon Five Pillars
عَنْ أَبِيْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ: (بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيْتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ البَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ) رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ وَمُسْلِمٌ
From Abu Abdurrahman, Abdullah bin Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both), he said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Islam is built upon five pillars: bearing witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakat, performing pilgrimage to the House (Ka’bah), and fasting in Ramadan.”
(Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
Contents of the Hadith:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) likened Islam to a solid structure built upon strong pillars.
- The declaration of the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the most fundamental among the pillars.
- Establishing prayer and performing it completely with its conditions, etiquettes, and recommended acts is essential, as prayer prevents immoral and evil deeds.
- It is obligatory to give zakat from the wealth of the rich who meet the conditions, and to distribute it to the poor and those in need.
- Performing Hajj and fasting in Ramadan are obligatory for every Muslim.
- There is an interconnection between the pillars of Islam. Whoever denies any of them is not considered a Muslim according to consensus.
- This hadith indicates that there are five pillars of Islam, but there are many other important aspects in Islam not mentioned here. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Faith has over seventy branches.”
- Islam consists of both belief (aqidah) and actions. Deeds are not beneficial without faith, and likewise, faith is not beneficial without deeds.