Five Pillars of Islam

aqidah
basics
Published

October 13, 2025

Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam are the fundamental principles that form the foundation of a Muslim’s life.

1. Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)

The Testimony:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ

“Asyhadu an laa ilaaha illallah wa asyhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah”

Meaning: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”

Significance: - Acknowledging the Oneness of Allah (Tawheed) - Acknowledging Muhammad SAW as Allah’s Messenger

2. Salah (Prayer)

Five Daily Prayers: 1. Fajr - 2 rakaat (before sunrise) 2. Dhuhr - 4 rakaat (after noon) 3. Asr - 4 rakaat (mid-afternoon) 4. Maghrib - 3 rakaat (after sunset) 5. Isha - 4 rakaat (after twilight)

Conditions for Valid Prayer: - Purity from impurities (ablution) - Clean body, clothes, and place - Covering awrah (modesty) - Facing the Qiblah - Knowing the prayer time

3. Zakah (Almsgiving)

Types of Zakah:

Zakat al-Fitr

  • Obligatory for every Muslim who is able
  • Given before Eid al-Fitr prayer
  • Amount: 2.5 kg of staple food per person

Zakat al-Mal (Wealth)

  • Zakat on gold/silver: 2.5% if nisab is reached
  • Zakat on trade: 2.5%
  • Zakat on agriculture: 5% or 10%
  • And others

Conditions for Obligatory Zakah: - Muslim - Free - Full ownership - Reaches nisab (minimum threshold) - Haul (one year)

4. Sawm (Fasting)

Obligation: Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn until sunset.

Pillars of Fasting: 1. Intention (niyyah) 2. Abstaining from food and drink 3. Abstaining from everything that invalidates the fast 4. From dawn until sunset

Those Permitted Not to Fast: - Sick people - Travelers - Pregnant/nursing women (if concerned) - Women during menstruation/postpartum (must make up later)

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Conditions for Obligatory Hajj: - Muslim - Adult (baligh) - Sane - Free - Able - Physically and financially

Pillars of Hajj: 1. Ihram 2. Standing at Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah) 3. Tawaf al-Ifadah 4. Sa’i between Safa and Marwah 5. Tahalul (shaving/cutting hair) 6. Order (tartib)

Obligatory Acts of Hajj: 1. Entering ihram from miqat 2. Spending night in Muzdalifah 3. Spending nights in Mina 4. Throwing pebbles at jamarat 5. Farewell tawaf (tawaf wada’)

Related Hadith:

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ…”

“Islam is built upon five (pillars)…” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)