Pillars of Islam

Pillars of Islam

The pillars of Islam are known to be the foundation stones that hold the Islam religion. They are acts that must be adhered to by every believer in the faith, as summarized by the famous Hadith of Gabriel in the Holy Quran. These rituals or obligations are practiced all over the world by most Muslims because they believe if one has to live and pursue a life similar to Muhhamad, a very mindful and selfless living. The pillars, as illustrated in various chapters of the Quran, were rituals performed by Pre-Islamic Arabists, Jews, and Christians, at the time of the prophet Muhammad’s existence (Schumm, Kohler, 2006). They were later given a monotheistic being after deliberation, as identified with the life of Muhammad. The five pillars are:

1. The first pillar, commonly referred to as Shahada, which is the profession of faith, is a mix of two themes, namely; mercy and unity of believers, which are found in the Holy Quran. The Shahada is divided into two: “There is no other god, but God Himself,” and “Prophet Muhammad is the only true messenger of God.” It is considered essential if one wants to convert to a Muslim to recite it thoroughly. This pillar is used to promote the unity of followers because it shows they only believe in one God, as it a monotheistic culture (Ellwood & Barbara, 2014). Also, the Shahada shows God’s mercy on His people, and that the prophet is the ultimate guide for all Muslims. The Shahada is to be said five times a day when praying. Also, it should be the first thing to be told to a newborn and last word to a person on their death-bed, showing the importance of the pillar from when a person is born to their death.

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2. The Second Pillar is Salat, which says that one needs to wash his or her hands, feet, and face. The Muezzin in the Mosque chants various verses from the Quran; one can recite either silently or loudly. Also, the pillar states that one needs to face Mecca and that they are done five times a day, namely, Fajr, which means at dawn before sunrise, Dhuhr at noon, Asr in the afternoon, Maghrib in the evening after sunset, and Isha at night. This washing, known as Wudu, is imperative, followed by praying categorized by praying in a set of positions such as bowing, kneeling and standing, without restrictions of where to perform the prayers. Unless feeling unwell or traveling, the prayers can be waived, combined, or said together (Ellwood & Barbara, 2014).
3. The third pillar, which is giving, or Zakat (purification) that shows giving a portion of one’s wealth or income, approximately 2.5%. This is found in the hadith, not in the Quran, and it is used to furnish the mosques or feed the needy in the society. The Muslim can also donate more voluntarily, to achieve more divine rewards. There are five principles observed, which are one, the giver, must declare to God his purpose for giving, that it must be paid when due when offering, one must not exaggerate on providing, the payment must be kind, and the Zakat must be distributed from the community received.
4. The fourth Pillar is Fasting or Sawm, which is observed during the Holy month of Ramadhan, which shifts with a difference of 11 days yearly. The fasting occurs from dawn till dusk, and the believers are meant to abstain from eating, drinking, intercourse, or smoking. Still, after sunset, one can participate in any activity they desire. The fasting is used to show the rest of the Muslims on the need to remember the poor and needy in the community, and it ends during the Id Ul Fitr, which lasts for three days after completion of the fasting (Ellwood & Barbara, 2014).
5. The final Pillar is Hajj, which represents pilgrimage. During a Muslim’s life, one is needed to make the pilgrimage journey to Mecca, wearing only two sheets to remove class and show the uniformity of their belief. After a successful trip, one is known as a Hajj or Hajja. The main rituals performed are walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the black stone, and traveling around the Sa’yee, stoning the devil called Ramee (Ellwood & Barbara, 2014). The Hajj is respected in their communities and is used to show expression of devotion, love, and trust in God.

References

Ellwood, R., & Barbara, A. (2014). Many Peoples, Many Faiths (6th ed.). Pearson. ISBN.13: 978-0-205-79711-0

Schumm, W. R., & Kohler, A. L. (2006). Social cohesion and the five pillars of Islam: A comparative perspective. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 23(2), 126.