The Series of Explaining Five Pillars of Islam

(The first pillar of islam)

Asslam alikum and Hello, to every member here!

The religious practice of Islam, which literally means “to submit to God”, is based on tenets that are known as the Five Pillars, to which all members of the Islamic community, Umma, should adhere.

1. The Profession of Faith—The Shahada

The First Pillar of Islam is the Shahadah, which is the assertion of Muslim faith, combining the themes of Unity and Mercy that are evident in the Quran. There are two Shahadahs: “There is no god but God” & “Muhammad is the messenger of God”. It is a set statement normally recited in Arabic: lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāhu muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله)

Testimony that Laa Ilaaha Illa-Allah.

This phrase has two parts: 1) “aa Ilaaha’”’: Which negates that anything or

anyone deserves to be worshipped other than Allah. 2) ‘‘Ylla-Allah”’: Which affirms

that Allah alone truly deserves to be worshipped. Allah (3) said: “And

(remember) when Ibraheem said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am

innocent of what you worship, except Him (1.e Allah alone I worship none)

Who did create me; and verily, He will guide me.” (26-27:43]

Therefore, it’s not sufficient to worship Allah, rather you must worship Him

alone. The Tawheed of person is not correct except by singling out Allah in

worship and freeing one’s self from polytheism (shirk) and those who commit It.

It has been mentioned in a narration that “Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah” 1s the key to

Paradise. But does everyone who says it deserve to have the door of Paradise opened for him?

Wahab ibn Munabbih was asked: “Isn’t the statement “Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah’ the

key to Paradise? He answered: “Yes, but every key has a set of teeth. If you come with the key that has the correct set of grooves, the door will open for you. If you come with a key that doesn’t have the correct set of grooves, the door will not open for you.”.

Many narrations have been reported from the Prophet (#s) which explain the

correct grooves which it must have. For instance, he (sey) said: “Whoever says

‘Laa Iaaha Ill-Allah’ sincerely” and he also said “with certainty in his heart” and

he also said “truthfully from his heart” and so on. These narrations clarify that in

order for this key to open the gates of Paradise, *Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah’ must be said

with submission to what its meaning entails, remaining firmly upon it throughout

one’s life and with other characteristics.

Five Pillars of Islam

Based on evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, the scholars of Islam have

concluded that certain conditions must be fulfilled, and certain factors must not be

present for this phrase to serve as the key to Paradise and to benefit the person who utters it.

These conditions are as follows:

 Knowledge: its opposite being ignorance. Since every statement has a

meaning, one must know the meaning of Laa Ilaaha IIl-Allah. The meaning of this

phrase is that one rejects that anything or anyone else deserves worship, affirming it

for Allah alone. Thus this phrase means ‘none deserves worship except Allah. The

proof that one must know the meaning is the saying of Allah (8%) “…except him

who bears witness unto the truth and they know it.” [43:86]

Also, the Prophet (gee) said: “Whoever dies knowing that none has the right

to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah) will enter paradise.” (Muslim)

Certainty [the opposite of which is doubt]: Certainty is to believe that none

has the right to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah) with surety,

having no doubt whatsoever. Allah (8%) said describing the true believers: “The

(true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger then don’t doubt, and struggle for the sake of Allah with their possessions and their selves…” [49:15]

It is not enough that a person merely utters this phrase, but he must have absolute

certainty about its meaning, or it is pure hypocrisy. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “I bear

witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Iaaha IIl-

Allah) and that I am His Messenger. None meet Allah with these two [testimonies],

having no doubt about them, except that they will enter paradise.” (Muslim).

3) Acceptance: If you have knowledge of the meaning of this phrase and you are

certain about it, then this should have an effect on a person: that one accepts what this phrase necessitates with their heart and tongue [by accepting Islam].

Whoever rejects the call of Tawheed and does not accept it, then he is a disbeliever, whether

that rejection be due to arrogance, stubbornness or jealousy. Allah (3%) mentioned

about the disbelievers who rejected Tawheed due to arrogance: “For when it was

said unto them, ‘none has the right to be worshipped except Allah’ (‘Laa Ilaaha

ill-Allah’) they would puff themselves up with pride [and denied it]. And they

said: ‘What! Shall we forsake our gods for a crazy poet?’”’ (37:35-36]

The Five Pillars of Islam

Q Compliance: to Jawheed completely. This is the real test and outward proof of

belief. It is to abide by what Allah legislated and abstain from what He prohibited.

Allah (&%) said: “Whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good

has indeed grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold…”’ (31:22). This is the absolute compliance.

Truthfulness: the opposite of which is lying. This is to say the testimony

truthfully, since if one utters it without being truthful, he is a hypocrite. The proof

of this is in the saying of Allah (38): “…. they say with their tongues what it’s not in their hearts…” [48:11]

Love: The believer must love this phrase, what it necessitates, and also those

who act according to it. The sign of this love is to prefer what Allah loves even

though it may be against his desires. He loves those who love Allah and His

Messenger, and he hates the enemies of Allah and His Messenger. He follows in the

Messenger’s (gs) footsteps and accepts his guidance.

Purity of Intention: This means to only say this statement seeking the face of

Allah and His pleasure, As Allah said: “And they were not commanded except

that they should worship Allah being sincere in their religion for Him and

worshiping none except Him Alone, and establish prayer and give charity and

that ts the right (straight) religion.” [98:5]

The Prophet (pbuh) also said: “Allah has forbidden the Hell-fire for anyone

who says ‘none has the right to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Ilaaha IIl-

Allah)’, desiring the face (and pleasure) of Allah.”’ (A\-Bukhari and Muslim)

Testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah in the grave. the deceased will be tested with three questions. If they answer them correctly, they will be saved, and if not, they are doomed. One of these questions are ‘Who is your Prophet! No one will be able to answer correctly except those who have fulfilled the conditions of this testimony, and those who Allah inspires with the answers and bestows upon him firmness in the face of this severe test.

Five Pillars of Islam (the first pillar)

These are the people who will benefit on that day when one’s money or

relatives will be of no avail. The conditions of the testimony of ‘Muhammad

is the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad-ur-Rasool-ullah) are as follows:

Obedience to what the Prophet (pbuh) commanded, as Allah commands us

to obey him: “Whoever obeys the Messenger, has obeyed Allah.” [4:80|

Allah also said: “Say if you love Allah, then follow me: Allah will love you

and forgive your sins. Verily Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (3:31)

In addition to this, entering Paradise is conditional upon obedience to the

Prophet (pbuh) as he said: “All of my community of followers will enter Paradise

except for those that refuse.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah and who

refuses?” He said: “Those that obey me will enter Paradise and those that disobey

me refuse”? (al-Bukhari).

Those that truly love the Prophet (fs) must obey him, since obedience is the

natural outcome of love. Those who claim to love the Prophet and do not

follow and obey him are not true to their claim.

Belief in all what the Prophet (fs) informed us. Whoever believes anything

which has been authentically confirmed to be of his statements as false out of desire

has given lie to Allah and His Messenger (fs). The Messenger (fs) was protected

from erring in religion, as Allah said: “He doesn’t speak from his own

inclination. It is indeed a revelation revealed (to him from Allah).” [53:3-4]

Avoiding everything he prohibited and reproached. The first and foremost

thing that must be avoided is shirk, then the major sins, ending with the lesser sins

as well as those things that are makrooh (disliked). The more the believer loves the

Prophet (gs), the more his faith increases. When a believer’s faith increases, Allah places within him the love to perform good deeds and the hate of disbelief, wickedness and disobedience.

Q Not worshipping Allah except by what has been legislated by His Prophet

(pbuh). This issue is critical, for it is not allowed to worship Allah by any act except

what has been shown by His Messenger (#2), as he said: “Whoever innovates an

act of worship in our religion, that thing its rejected” (Muslim).

Thus, all types of unprecedented worship are not acceptable to Allah.

‘ The other two are: “Who is your God?” and “What is your religion?”

Note: Be certain that loving the Prophet (ity) is an obligation. Rather, it is not

enough that one merely loves him; one should love him more than everything else,

even his own self. If someone loves something, they prefer it over their self and

strive to be in agreement with it. Thus, the one who truly loves the Prophet is

the one upon whom this love can be seen. He obeys him, implements his Sunnah,

implements his commands and imitates his deeds. He stays clear from what he

forbids, tries to behave like him both in times of ease and hardship, and in times

when he feels motivated to practice Islam and otherwise. Obedience is the fruit of

love, and without it, love can never be true.

There are signs which show that one loves the Prophet (pbuh), From them

are the following:

1) Mentioning him a lot and sending praises upon him. If one loves something he mentions it often.

2) Longing to meet him. Anyone who loves another longs to meet his beloved.

3) Respecting him when he is mentioned. Ishaq said: The Companions of the Prophet ( sy) would not mention him after his death except that they would fall still, the hairs of their skin would stand, and they would weep.

4) Hating those who Allah and His Messenger (is) hate, and showing enmity to those who show enmity to them. One also should stay away from those who oppose his Sunnah and introduce new matters in his religion, such as the people of innovation (bid’ah).

5) Loving those who the Prophet (is) loved, such as the believing members of his family, his wives, and his companions from the Emigrants (Muhajiroon) and the Helpers (Ansar), One should hate those who hate them, take as enemies those who show enmity to them and curse them.

From the signs that one loves the Prophet is that one emulates his noble manners and qualities. The Prophet was the most noble of humans’ in manners. Aishah said of him, “The manners of the Prophet were that of the Quran,” (Muslim) meaning that he kept himself from committing any act which the Quran did not command. He was the bravest of people, and he would be most brave at times of battle.

He was the most generous of people, and he would be most generous in Ramadan. He was the sincerest towards others and the most forbearing of people. He never sought revenge for himself, but at the same time, he was the strictest of people in regards to the commandments of Allah.

He was the most humble of people and tranquil. He was shyer than a secluded virgin. He was the best of people to his family, and the most merciful of people towards the creation, and encouraged others to have mercy as well.

O Allah! Send your praises upon him, his family, his wives, his companions and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection, and remove them from all harm.

For explaining the first pillar of Islam (Shahadah) Please, click here

For explaining the second pillar of Islam (Prayer) Please, click here

For explaining the Third pillar of Islam (Charity) Please, click here

For explaining the fourth pillar of Islam (Fasting) Please, click here

For explaining the fifth pillar of Islam (Pilgrimage) Please, click here