The Five Pillars of Islam

📖Sahih Muslim 16c
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah son of ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: (The superstructure of) al-Islam is raised on five (pillars), testifying (the fact) that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His bondsman and messenger, and the establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, Pilgrimage to the House (Ka’ba) and the fast of Ramadan.

This hadith lays the foundation of Islam by emphasizing the Five Pillars that every Muslim must uphold. These pillars form the core of a Muslim’s faith and practice. It also highlights that believing in Muhammad (ﷺ) as the final messenger is central to Islam. This belief is not just about accepting Muhammad (ﷺ) alone but also about acknowledging and following the guidance brought by all previous prophets, By believing in Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Muslims automatically affirm the messages and teachings of all earlier prophets. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) described himself as the final link in a chain of prophecy, connecting him with all the previous messengers sent by Allah.

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 3535
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “I am the last of the Prophets, and my likeness in the chain of Prophets is like that of a man who built a house, perfected it and beautified it, except for the place of one brick. The people kept going around the house, marveling at its beauty, but they said: ‘Why is there no brick placed in this space?’ I am that brick, and I am the seal of the Prophets.”

This hadith illustrates that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the final and completing part of the prophetic chain. His arrival is the final piece of guidance, completing the divine message for humanity. By accepting Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Muslims also accept the truth of all the other prophets who came before him, as all of them are part of the same divine message.

📖Quran 2:285
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.”

This verse confirms that Muslims must believe in all of Allah’s messengers, and by accepting Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as the final messenger, they automatically accept the legitimacy and truth of all preceding prophets. This reinforces the idea that belief in Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is intrinsically linked to belief in all the prophets who came before him.

The Five Pillars of Islam

1. Shahada (Faith): Testifying that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His final messenger.

2. Salah (Prayer): Performing the five daily prayers at their appointed times.

3. Zakat (Charity): Giving a portion of one’s wealth to those in need.

4. Sawm (Fasting): Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn until sunset.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage): Making the pilgrimage to the Ka’bah in Mecca, if financially and physically able to do so.

These pillars are the foundation of a Muslim’s faith and practice, and they are essential for any believer seeking to live in accordance with Allah’s will. Through these acts, Muslims demonstrate their obedience and submission to Allah, as well as their commitment to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).