TOPIC:ISLAM AND IT’S PILLARS
The word Islam is derived from the Arabic root ‘aslama’ which means he submitted, he surrendered, etc. Islam means submission, surrender and obedience. Islam is the total submission to the will of Almighty Allah and obedience to His laws. It entails Muslims’ complete way of life. It comprises servitude to Allah and services to humanity. Islam also caters for spiritual and material life. It is a monotheistic religion and the only acceptable one before Allah.
The Quran says:
وَمَنْ يَبۡتَغِ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمِ دِينٗا فَلَن يُقۡبَلَ مِنۡهُ وَهُوَ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِيْنَ
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam. It will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” Quran 3:85. A person who accepts and practises Islam is called a Muslim.
Pillars of Islam
There are five basic and fundamental pillars upon which Islam is built. Whoever denies any of them is not a Muslim. They are as follows:
- Shahadataan: Belief that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (peace be on him) is Allah’s Messenger.
- Salat: Praying five times daily.
- Zakat: Compulsory payment of a fixed rate to the poor/needy.
- Sawm: Fasting for 29 or 30 days in Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic calendar.
- Hajj: Holy pilgrimage to Makkah for worship.
All these five pillars are contained in Hadith three of An-Nawawi which goes thus: ‘Abu ‘Abdur- Rahman, ‘Abdullah bn ‘Umar bn Al-Khattab (R.A) narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (P.B.O.H) saying: “Islam is built upon five (pillars): testifying that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger; observing the Salat; paying the Zakat; making the pilgrimage to the house (Ka’bah); and fasting during the month of Ramadan. ” (Related by Bukhari and Muslim)
Assignment
- Define the word ‘Islam’.
- How many pillars does Islam have? Mention them.