What are Arkan e Islam? Understanding the Five Pillars of Islam

What are Arkan e Islam? Understanding the Five Pillars of Islam

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ created mankind to worship Him. Worship is the relationship between Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His servants. It has two aspects. The first includes special acts of worship that create a direct connection between Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His servant. The second includes obeying Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in daily life, such as respecting parents, avoiding Riba (interest), and following His commands.

In this article, we will discuss the first aspect, which includes the five Arkan e Islam.

The Beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said:

بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ

Translation:

Islam is built upon five pillars:

• Testifying that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

• Testifying that Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is His servant and Messenger.

• Establishing Salah.

• Paying Zakah.

• Performing Hajj to the House (Ka'bah).

• Fasting during the month of Ramadan.

(Sahih Muslim)

From this blessed Hadith, we learn that Islam is based on five basic obligations, known as Arkan e Islam or the Five Pillars of Islam.

These pillars are:

• Declaring that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and that Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is the Messenger of Allah.

• Establishing Salah correctly by following all its rules and conditions.

• Paying Zakah every year on wealth that reaches the required amount, giving it to the people mentioned in the Holy Quran.

• Fasting throughout the month of Ramadan.

• Performing Hajj once in a lifetime for those who have the financial and physical ability.

Below is a brief explanation of each of these Arkan e Islam.

1. Shahadah (Testimony of Faith)

The first pillar of Arkan e Islam is to testify that there is no god except Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and that Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is His Prophet.

This testimony is the foundation of a person's faith. Without accepting this truth, a person does not enter Islam.

Reciting this testimony encourages a Muslim to follow the teachings of Islam, obey the Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ, and act according to the Holy Quran.

It also motivates a person to stay away from sins, perform good deeds, and develop love for Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

2. Namaz (Obligatory Prayers)

The second pillar of Arkan e Islam is Namaz.

Namaz is the act of worship in which Muslims bow before Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ with humility.

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ made Namaz obligatory five times each day. It is a special gift for the Muslim Ummah that was given on the night of Mi'raj, when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ travelled to the heavens and beyond.

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in the Holy Quran:

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ

Translation:

"And keep the prayer established, and pay the Zakah, and bow with those who bow (in prayer)."

(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:43)

The importance of Namaz can be understood from the fact that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ commands Muslims around seven hundred times in the Holy Quran to establish prayer.

The five daily prayers are:

• Fajr

• Zuhr

• Asr

• Maghrib

• Isha

Offering Namaz keeps Muslims connected with Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ throughout the day. The day begins with Fajr and ends with Isha, while the remaining prayers strengthen this connection during the day.

Praying in the Masjid with Jama'ah also develops equality and brotherhood among Muslims.

Regular Namaz helps a person become punctual, disciplined, and organized in daily life.

3. Zakah (Compulsory Charity)

The third pillar among Arkan e Islam is Zakah.

Zakah is the payment of 2.5% of a person's wealth when it reaches the required limit.

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has allowed His servants to earn wealth through Halal means and use it to meet their needs. At the same time, He has also commanded them to give part of their wealth to the poor and needy.

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has commanded Muslims thirty-two times in the Holy Quran to pay Zakah.

Zakah shows the beauty of the Islamic social system. It helps wealth circulate between the rich and the poor instead of remaining only with wealthy people.

This does not mean that rich people should sacrifice their own basic needs. Rather, they are required to pay Zakah only after fulfilling their essential needs.

4. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)

The fourth pillar of Arkan e Islam is Hajj.

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah, performed during the last month of the Islamic year.

It is obligatory for every Muslim to perform Hajj once in a lifetime, provided they meet the required conditions.

Hajj is a great symbol of the unity and brotherhood of Muslims.

Millions of Muslims gather on the same days, recite the same words, wear similar clothing, and worship the One Creator, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

This beautiful example of faith, unity, and brotherhood cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

5. Sawm (Fasting in Ramadan)

The fifth pillar of Arkan e Islam is fasting during the month of Ramadan.

It is obligatory for Muslims to fast throughout this blessed month.

Fasting means refraining from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from dawn until sunset.

The main purpose of fasting is to seek the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and develop piety in the heart.

The fasts of Ramadan strengthen a Muslim's relationship with Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

A person who controls personal desires and physical needs during fasting also begins to understand the condition of those who suffer from hunger and hardship without choice.

This creates a stronger sense of piety and encourages Muslims to help those in need.

These Arkan e Islam provide a simple and easy way to worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

The greatest benefit of these five pillars is that they help Muslims earn the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, which is the highest goal of every Muslim.

The Kitab O Sunnat Editorial Team is dedicated to researching, organizing, and publishing authentic Islamic knowledge based on the Quran and Sunnah. Our work focuses on presenting reliable Islamic books, Hadith, Fatwas, Tafseer, Fiqh, Aqeedah, Seerah