The Five Pillars Of Islam

The five pillars of Islam are the five basic actions in Islam which are considered the obligatory foundation of the believer.

There is one hadith which specifically explains the 5 pillars of Islam, namely the words of the Prophet sallahu'alaihimwasallam

بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله و أن محمدا رسول الله, و إقام الصلاة, و إيتاء الزكاة, و حج البيت, و صوم رمضان. رواه البخاري و مسلم.

"Islam is built on five things: the testimony that no god has the right to be worshiped except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, establish prayers, pay zakat, go on pilgrimage, and fast in the month of Ramadan '". (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Here are the 5 pillars of Islam and their explanations:

1. Say the Two Sentences of the Creed

The first pillar of Islam is saying two sentences of the mandatory shahada for someone who wants to become a Muslim.

The creed in Arabic:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ

The creed in Latin:

"Asy-hadu allaa ilaaha illallaahu wa asy-hadu anna muhammadarrasuulullahi

The meaning of the shahada sentence: 

"I bear witness that no god has the right to be worshiped except Allah and I bear witness that the Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." 

In the two sentences of the creed the only thing to be worshiped is Allah, nothing else. And there is no god but Allah and Allah who controls the entire universe.

2. Establishing Shalat

After becoming a Muslim, of course you must pursue the second pillar of Islam. The obligatory prayers are also referred to as the 5 daily prayers.

The 5 daily prayers consist of:

- Fajr prayer

Prayers performed before dawn (between 04.00). These prayers amount to 2 rak'ahs.

- Dzuhur prayer

The prayers are performed during the day (around 12.00) and total 4 rak'ahs.

- Asr prayer

The prayers are carried out in the afternoon (around 15.30) with a total of 4 rak'ahs.

- Maghrib prayer

Prayers that are performed at sunset until the time of Isha. There are 3 rak'ahs.

- Isha prayer

The prayers are carried out around 19.00 with a total of 4 rak'ahs.

3. Fasting in the month of Ramadan

Every Muslim is required to fast for one full month in the month of Ramadan. The goal is to achieve devotion to Allah SWT.

Among the wisdoms of fasting are exercising patience, cultivating a sense of empathy for people who are hungry so that our hearts are motivated to help those who are less fortunate.

4. Paying Zakat

Zakat is an obligation that is issued to the property of someone who has excess. There are several types of zakat, namely zakat fitrah which is issued in the month of Ramadan, there is also zakat mal, which is zakat issued based on commercial results or income.

The amount of zakat fitrah that must be submitted is 2.5 kg or it can be replaced with money equivalent to 2.5 kg of rice.

And for zakat Mal, you can estimate it by giving up 2.5 percent of the assets obtained from our income.

Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah verse 43:

وَ اَقِیۡمُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّکٰوۃَ وَ ارۡکَعُوۡا مَعَ الرّٰکِعِیۡنَ

Meaning:

"And establish prayers, and give zakat, and bow together with those who bow".

5. Going Hajj (For Those Who Can)

Going for Hajj to Mecca is an obligation of Muslims who are physically and financially able. Going for Hajj must be done once in a lifetime.

Allah said in Surah Ali-Imran: 97:

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عغَنِيََ

"... doing Hajj is a human obligation to Allah, that is (for) those who are able to travel to the Temple of Allah. Whoever denies (obligatory hajj), then Allah is rich (does not need anything) of the universe." (Surah Ali-Imran: 97)