Islam is built on five foundational pillars that define a Muslimโs faith and practice. But how well do we understand them? In this guide, we answer the most common and important questions related to the Five Pillars of Islam, providing clarity for learners of all ages.
๐งฑ 1. How many pillars does Islam have?
Answer:
Islam is based on five pillars.
๐๏ธ 2. What are the five pillars of Islam?
Answer:
The Five Pillars are:
- Shahada (Testimony of Faith)
- Salah (Prayer)
- Zakat (Charity)
- Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan)
- Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
ููุงูู ุฑูุณูููู ุงูููููู ๏ทบ:
“ุจููููู ุงูุฅูุณููุงู ู ุนูููู ุฎูู ูุณู…”
“Islam is built upon five (pillars)…”
โ [Sahih al-Bukhari 8]
โ๏ธ The Pillars Explained in Simple Terms
๐ฃ๏ธ 3. What is Shahada?
Answer:
Shahada is the declaration:
ุฃูุดูููุฏู ุฃููู ููุง ุฅููููู ุฅููููุง ุงูููููู ููุฃูุดูููุฏู ุฃูููู ู ูุญูู ููุฏูุง ุฑูุณูููู ุงูููููู
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger.”
This is the entry point into Islam. Itโs not just wordsโit’s a heartfelt belief that defines one’s entire faith.
๐ 4. What are the five daily prayers?
Answer:
- Fajr โ before sunrise
- Dhuhr โ midday
- Asr โ afternoon
- Maghrib โ just after sunset
- Isha โ night
These prayers are a direct connection between the believer and Allah.
๐ฐ 5. What is Zakat?
Answer:
Zakat is an obligatory charity. It’s a fixed percentage of your wealth (usually 2.5%) given annually to those in needโif your wealth reaches the minimum amount (nisab) and a full lunar year has passed.
๐ 6. What is fasting in Ramadan?
Answer:
Fasting in Ramadan (Sawm) means refraining from food, drink, and intimate relations from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib) for the entire month of Ramadan.
ููุง ุฃููููููุง ุงูููุฐูููู ุขู ููููุง ููุชูุจู ุนูููููููู ู ุงูุตููููุงู ู
“O you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you…”
โ Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183
๐ 7. What is the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr)?
Answer:
It is a night during Ramadan that is better than a thousand months, and on it, the devils are chained.
ููููููุฉู ุงููููุฏูุฑู ุฎูููุฑู ู ูููู ุฃููููู ุดูููุฑู
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
โ Surah Al-Qadr, 97:3
๐ 8. What is Hajj?
Answer:
Hajj is the pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca, performed during Dhul-Hijjah. It includes rites such as Tawaf (circling the Kaaba) and standing at Arafah.
๐งณ 9. Who is obligated to perform Hajj?
Answer:
Hajj is required for every Muslim adult of sound mind who is physically and financially able to undertake the journey.
๐คฒ 10. What is the reward for performing Hajj correctly?
Answer:
The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
ู ููู ุญูุฌูู ููููู ู ููุฑูููุซู ููููู ู ููููุณูููุ ุฑูุฌูุนู ููููููู ู ููููุฏูุชููู ุฃูู ูููู
“Whoever performs Hajj and does not engage in obscene speech or immoral behavior will return [home] as sinless as the day his mother bore him.”
โ [Sahih al-Bukhari 1521]
๐ง Bonus Learning Tip
Whether you’re just beginning your journey or revisiting the basics, understanding the Five Pillars of Islam strengthens your faith and provides spiritual grounding.
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