Islamic Manual

Islam and its five pillars

What Islam means, and the five pillars its practice is built on: the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj.

Islam means obeying the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

The five pillars of Islam, drawn as five pillars supporting one roofFive upright pillars standing side by side beneath a single triangular roofline, suggesting the structure of a house. Each pillar is labelled, left to right: Shahadah (belief in Allah and His Messenger), Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (giving) and Hajj (pilgrimage), each with a small icon above it, a heart, a standing figure, a crescent moon, a coin marked with the letter for zakat, and the Kaʿbah as a simple cube.1Shahādahbelief in Allah and His Messenger2Salahprayer3Sawmfastingز4Zakatgiving5Hajjpilgrimage
The five pillars Islam is built on.

The five pillars of Islam

  1. Believing in Allah and His Messenger: believing that Allah is one, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
  2. Prayer (Salah): Muslims pray five times every day.
  3. Fasting (Sawm): Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan.
  4. Giving Zakat: if someone has enough money, they give part of it to people in need, once a year.
  5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): if someone is able to, they go to Hajj once in their life.

Islam means obeying the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

The five pillars of Islam, drawn as five pillars supporting one roofFive upright pillars standing side by side beneath a single triangular roofline, suggesting the structure of a house. Each pillar is labelled, left to right: Shahadah (belief in Allah and His Messenger), Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (giving) and Hajj (pilgrimage), each with a small icon above it, a heart, a standing figure, a crescent moon, a coin marked with the letter for zakat, and the Kaʿbah as a simple cube.1Shahādahbelief in Allah and His Messenger2Salahprayer3Sawmfastingز4Zakatgiving5Hajjpilgrimage
The five pillars Islam (the fundamental practices) is based on
Pillar What it involves
Belief in Allah and His Messenger Believing that Allah is one and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
Prayer (Salah) Praying five times a day.
Fasting (Sawm) Fasting during the month of Ramadan.
Giving Zakat Giving a portion of one's wealth to those in need, once a year, if one has enough money.
Pilgrimage (Hajj) Going to Hajj once in a lifetime, for one who is able.

Islam denotes submission to, and obedience of, the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

The five pillars of Islam, drawn as five pillars supporting one roofFive upright pillars standing side by side beneath a single triangular roofline, suggesting the structure of a house. Each pillar is labelled, left to right: Shahadah (belief in Allah and His Messenger), Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (giving) and Hajj (pilgrimage), each with a small icon above it, a heart, a standing figure, a crescent moon, a coin marked with the letter for zakat, and the Kaʿbah as a simple cube.1Shahādahbelief in Allah and His Messenger2Salahprayer3Sawmfastingز4Zakatgiving5Hajjpilgrimage
Arkān al-Islām: the five pillars on which the practice of Islam is founded
Pillar What it involves
Shahādah: belief in Allah and His Messenger Affirming the oneness of Allah and the messengership of Muḥammad ﷺ.
Ṣalāh (Prayer) The five daily prayers.
Ṣawm (Fasting) Fasting through the month of Ramaḍān.
Zakāh Giving a due portion of one's wealth annually to those entitled to receive it, incumbent on one who possesses sufficient means.
Ḥajj (Pilgrimage) Undertaken once in a lifetime by one who is able (mustaṭīʿ).

The passage states these as the five fundamental practices Islam is based on; the specific conditions and detailed rulings of each pillar are treated in their own areas of this site.

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