Five Pillars of Islam
- lawyerinlahore
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
The Five Pillars of Islam are the classic acts of worship and practice that a Muslim believes and lives his/her life. They are the highest principles and responsibilities that all Muslims are supposed to abide by. The first is the Shahada or the testament of faith, a Muslim testifies that there is no God except Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. This declaration supports the monotheistic confidence in only one God, and recognizes Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the last prophet which is the core of Islamic faith.
The second pillar is Salah or five daily prayers. Muslims have to pray in accordance to certain times during the day: dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. The prayers create a direct connection between the worshipper and Allah and bring about discipline, spirituality and intimacy with the Creator. Salah is used to remind Muslims about the presence of God in their lives all the time and usually, it is performed as a group of people, which allows them to feel connected to the community.
The third pillar is almsgiving, which is Zakat. It entails donating a certain percentage (typically 2.5%) of one accumulated wealth to needy persons in case one has the required financial capacity. Zakat cleanses wealth of an individual and generates the tendencies of compassion, generosity, and social responsibility. It also has a substantial role of alleviating poverty and enhancing the progress of the society by ensuring that money circulates between everyone and not leaving it presented in few hands.
Sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) are the fourth and fifth pillars respectively. Sawm obliges Muslims to discontinue eating, drinking or other material necessities between the early hours and the sunset of Ramadan, and Muslims mechanics within the process by becoming self-disciplined and gaining spiritual insights. Hajj on the other hand is an obligatory act to the individuals who are physically and financially fit enough to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. It is a spiritual journey that unites Muslims all around the world forming a magnificent display of unity, modest as well as devotion. All these Five Pillars are what constitute the framework of a Muslim in his or her worship and association with Allah and his fellow human beings.
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