Islam is Built upon Five Pillars
Allah obligated specific deeds as a mercy to the believers, by which a believer comes closer to Allah and becomes a better person. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Islam is built upon five pillars, to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, giving zakat (charity), making pilgrimage to the house (ka’aba in the city of Mecca), and fasting the month of Ramadan.”
Allah witnesses that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him,
and so do the angel and those of knowledge – that He is Maintaining creation in justice. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them – out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed Allah is swift in taking account. So if they argue with you, say, “I have submitted myself to Allah in Islam and so have those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the unlearned, “Have you submitted yourselves?” And if they submit in Islam, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away – then upon you is only the duty of notification. And Allah is Seeing of His servants.
Verily the prayers restrain one from immorality and wrongdoing.
Truly man was created very impatient, fretful when evil touches him; and niggardly when good reaches him. Not so those devoted to prayer, those who remain steadfast to their prayer.
“What is Salat (prayer)? It is the expression of devotedness by the created to his Creator with his whole being, i.e. heart, tongue, feet and hands; it is the remembrance of the Most Merciful and the Most Gracious; it is the thanksgiving for His limitless favors; it is the praise and adoration for the eternal beauty of His creation and acknowledgement of His Unity and Greatness; it is the communication of the soul with the beloved Lord; it is the complete obedience by the body and soul to the Master; it is the dedication of one’s internal feelings; it is the tie of relationship between the Creator and the created and the latter’s strong bond of devoutness; it is the comfort for the agitated and uneasy mind; it is the solace for the restless soul; it is the remedy for the hopeless heart; it is the natural internal call of a receptive and sensitive mind; it is the purpose of life and the essence of existence.”
The prayer is a source of strength for the believer as they turn towards the one and only true source of strength in the entire creation; and it is a chance for the soul to rest as its gives the opportunity to absolutely concentrate on building relations with one’s Lord. The prayer frees man from diseases of the soul and prevents him from impious deeds, and at the same time it’s a means of purification when a person does slip and commits a sin. Prayer is a source of remembrance of one’s creator, a constant reminder enjoined upon the believers at stated times; and he remembers who he truly is.
“Allah has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently performs their ablution, prays them in their proper times, completes their bows and has his heart attuned to the prayer, has a promise from Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that has no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or He may punish him.”
O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided
O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession. And the disbelievers – they are the wrongdoers. … The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies His reward for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders of it or other injury will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing. O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [large] smooth stone upon which is dust and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable [to keep] anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.
And the example of those who spend their wealth seeking means to the approval of Allah and assuring reward for themselves is like a garden on high ground which is hit by a downpour – so it yields its fruits in double. And [even] if it is not hit by a downpour, then a drizzle is sufficient. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing. Would one of you like to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines underneath which rivers flow in which he has from every fruit? But he is afflicted with old age and has weak offspring, and it is hit by a whirlwind containing fire and is burned. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you might give thought.
O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.
Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.
Behold, you are those invited to spend of your substance for the sake of Allah – but among you are some that are niggardly. Those who are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. Allah is free of all wants, and it is you that are needy. If you turn back from the path, He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you.”
And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, they are the ones that achieve prosperity. Verily, your Protector and helper is none other than Allah, His Messenger and the believers – those who establish the prayer, give the zakat (charity) and prostrate in obedience to Allah. Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend from that which He has made you trustees.
Zakat is a cure for the disease of arrogance and pride. It is a reminder that wealth and material possession is a blessing from Allah, and it is an opportunity to thank Allah for the bounties that He has bestowed. Purification of the soul is not simply interaction with one’s Lord, but also interaction with humanity. It satiates the desire for more and it allows us to have proper attitude towards wealth.
“Whenever a person invests his money, experience bears witness that his heart too dwells there. Seen in this light it becomes evident that on spending his wealth in the way of God, his heart too dwell with God, since it is with Him that he has done business and his wealth lies with Him (Allah).”
O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order for you to attain God-consciousness.
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Every deed of the son of Adam is multiplied ten times like it up to seven hundred times. Allah has said, ‘That is the trust except for the fast. I will reward it in a special way. He (the fasting person) leaves his desires and food for My sake’ And for the fasting person is two times of happiness, a time of happiness when he breaks his fast and a time of happiness when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of his is more please to Allah than the scent of musk.”
Fasting is where a person leaves his wants and desires for the sake of putting what Allah wants first so that we may attain God-consciousness. It is a means of attaining patience and perseverance as one perseveres in performing acts of worship, refraining from the prohibitions, and remaining control during times of hardships. We feel the plight of others as we realize the bounties that Allah has bestowed upon us, so that we may become thankful. It is a means purify our soul as we gain more control over our desires and actions.
Making Pilgrimage to the House
For Hajj are the months well-known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj and whatever good you do, be sure that Allah knows it. And take a provision with you for the journey, but the best provision is right conduct. So fear Me, O you that are wise.
“It is rightly said that the Hajj is the perfection of faith since it combines in itself all the distinctive qualities of other obligatory acts. It represents the quality of salat (prayer) since a pilgrim offers prays in the Kaba, the House of the Lord. It encourages spending of material wealth for the sake of the Lord, the chief characteristic of Zakat (charity). When a pilgrim sets out for Hajj, he disassociates himself from his hearth and home, from his dear and near ones to please the Lord. He suffers privation and undertakes the hardship of journey – the lessons we learn from fasting and itikaf (Seclusion of oneself in the mosque for personal worship and devotion – most commonly, this is done at the end of the month of Ramadan). … In fact, physical pilgrimage is a prelude to spiritual journey to God, when man would bid goodbye to everything of the world and present himself before Him (Allah) as His humble servant saying: ‘Here I am before Thee, my Lord, as a slave of Thine.’”