Foundation of Islam
Five Pillars of Islam
أَرْكَانُ الْإِسْلَامِ الْخَمْسَةُ
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Islam is built upon five pillars" — these are the fundamental acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfill.
Sahih Bukhari 8 • Sahih Muslim 16
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Pillar 1
الشهادةShahada (Declaration of Faith)
The Shahada is the most fundamental pillar of Islam — the sincere declaration that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger. It is the gateway to Islam and the foundation upon which all other pillars rest.
📖 Quranic Reference (Surah Al-Imran 3:18)
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ
📜 Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger...' (Sahih Bukhari 8, Sahih Muslim 16)
Key Points:
- •The Shahada in Arabic: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
- •Transliteration: 'Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah'
- •Meaning: 'I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah'
- •To enter Islam, one must sincerely pronounce the Shahada with understanding and conviction
- •The Shahada has 7 conditions: Knowledge, Certainty, Acceptance, Submission, Truthfulness, Sincerity, and Love
- •It is recited in the Adhan (call to prayer), during prayers, and throughout daily life
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Pillar 2
الصلاةSalah (Prayer)
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Pillar 3
الزكاةZakat (Obligatory Charity)
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Pillar 4
الصومSawm (Fasting in Ramadan)
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Pillar 5
الحج