Q:  How many pillars of Islam are there, what is the meaning of every pillar, and what are their fruits (benefits)?

A:  The pillars of Islam are 5:  The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, paying the (mandatory) charity, fasting (the month of) Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Allah’s sanctified house for those who are able.

وَأَطِيعُوااللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَاالْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ

“Obey Allah, and obey the messenger; but if you turn away, then the duty of our messenger is only to convey (the message) clearly” [3]

Just as Allah has ordered us with his following in every affair from the affairs and arranged upon that guidance and deliverance thusly He has said the Might and Majestic:

وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

“and follow him so that you may be guided”.[4] [Al-‘Aaraf: 158].

From the fruits of this great pillar are as what follows;

1)  Freeing of the heart and soul from the slavery of the creation and the following of other than the Muslims guidance.

2)  Happiness in this life and the next.

As for the meaning of the prayer in the language then it is supplication just as what is in the statement of Allah:

وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ

“and invoke (pray to) Allah for them”[5]

Meaning supplicate for them, and in the legislation it is worship for Allah with it’s performance upon the way which was illustrated by the messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam) with his performance and statement when he said “pray just as you see me praying”[6] [reported by Al-Bukhari].

From the fruits of this great pillar:

1)  Ease and comfort like what is in his (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam) statement to Bilal (radiAllaahu 'anhu), “give us ease and comfort O Bilal with the prayer”[7] [reported by Ahmad].

2)  Delight of one’s eye just as what is in his r statement, “the delight of my eye has been made in the prayer”[8] [reported by Ahmad].

3)  Refrain from detestable and atrocious acts (sins, disobedience, and disbelief) just as the statement of Allah the Mighty and Majestic:

إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ

“Verily, the prayer prevents from great sins and disbelief”[9]

As for the meaning of zakât (mandatory charity) in the language then it is increase and purification, and in the legislation it is the worship of Allah by the (withdrawal and) issuance of specific wealth from specific wealth to a specific group at a time which has been specified by the wise legislator r.

From the fruits of faith in this pillar is what follows:

1)  Purification of the self (soul) from the vices of stinginess and miserliness as they are two dispraised characteristics in every legislation from the legislations of Allâh.

2)  Support of Islam and fulfillment of the Muslims needs.

3)  Increase of wealth used for charity, for wealth is not decreased from charity rather it increases, rather it increases.

As for the meaning of fasting in the language then it is refraining from something, and in the legislation it is refraining from that which breaks one’s fast during the day of Ramadan; worshiping Allâh and conforming to his order.  It has a great benefit (fruit) which is accustoming the self with leaving usual and loved things seeking the pleasure of Allâh and desiring the attainment of His reward on the Last Day.

As for the pilgrimage in the language then it is intent (purpose), and in the legislation it is the intent of the sanctified house of Allâh to fulfill the rights of the pilgrimage and perform all of its rituals (ceremonies), and it has many fruits from them are:

1)  Accustoming the self (soul) with spending wealth in the way of Allah as the pilgrimage is from the way of Allah.

2)  Self-sacrifice in the obedience of Allah.

Subsequently, the actual application of these great principles in real life obtains for the nation of Muhammad every good and success in its religious and worldly affairs, consequently the servant fears his Lord and actualizes them (these principles) for indeed they are the fundamentals of his religion and the preserver of his blood, wealth, and honor, and the true key to his entering paradise whose width is the width of the heavens and the earth prepared for those who believe in Allâh and His messengers that is the favor of Allâh, He gives it to whom He wills and Allâh has great favor (virtue).

Excerpt taken from:

الأجوبة السديدة على الأسئلة الرشيدة

Translated by:  Eesa John Starling

January 6, 2006