By : Jundy

Five pillars of Islam are obligatory actions which are required of every Muslim and considered the cornerstones of Islam. There are five fundamental practices ingerent to the religion. The Islamic religion encompasses many rituals and practices, designed to assist the worshipper in becoming closer to God, or Allah.

5 Pillars of Islam

Five pillars of Islam are the framework and guidelines of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, supporting the needy, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the once in a lifetime trip to Makkah for those who are able to do so. These five pillars are the thing Muslim’s do to please god and to keep themselves well and happy in this lifetime and for the future ones to come.

Five pillars of Islam are:

Pillar 1 – The recitation and belief in the Shahadah

To fulfill the Shahadah one must recite “I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”. In Arabic it is read as ”

أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمدا رسول الله

Pillar 2 – Pray 5 times a day

This is one of the most fundamental rules set down and is one which should be done every day. Prayers begin at first light in the morning and are spread through out the day until the last prayer in the evening. Prayer is a way to cleanse your soul and to remind yourself that there is an after life and that we will all be held responsible for all that we do in our life day by day.

Pillar 3 – Charitable donations

It is referred to as Zakah in Arabic and is obligatory for Muslims to do so as long as they are able to without causing strife within their own lives. There are two types of Zakah that can be paid, one is related to the amount of food that is paid for during the holy month of Ramadan for his family. The secound type of Zakah is based on wealth and savings and is usually based around 2.5% of the wealth that has been saved for one full year.

Pillar 4 – Fasting

During the month of Ramadan it is obligatory for Muslims to take part in fasting during this time. It is required to refrain from foods, drinks, sexual activities, etc from dawn until dusk. This is a time for soul searching and seeking a greater insight into religion by studying Islam more in depth.

Pillar 5 – Pilgrimage to Hajj

All Muslims must make the necessary journey to the holy land of Makkah in Saudia Arabia. If you can not afford to go then there are provisions allowed which are permitted such as if a village was very poor then they could all collect their funds together and pay for a single individual to go then all can benefit from the rewards as they have completed the Hajj to the best of their abilities but only God can truly give rewards to those who are deserving.