THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Photo credit: follow-islam.com

Islam is the revelation of God, the religion of the prophets and apostles, guidelines for human life. Islam means submission. Subject to abide by the rules of God. Surrendered on sunnatullah. The entire universe has been Islam since the first. Well, have we Muslims?

Why are they seeking a religion other than Islam, although the entire universe has been Islam since the first? Perhaps we are familiar with Newton's Laws. Newton's law is not law belongs to the Newton, but Newton discovered the Law of God. Because the apple before Newton was born it would fall down.

So is it other than the religion of Allah they desire, while to Him have submitted (all) those within the heavens and earth, willingly or by compulsion, and to Him they will be returned? (QS. Ali Imran: 83)

Islam is built on five principles, namely Five Pillars of Islam. Like a house, Five Pillars of Islam is the poles or a support person's Islamic buildings. There are laws that govern all aspects of human life.

"Verily Islam is built on five cases: in fact bear witness there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger, establish prayer and pay the obligatory alms, pilgrimage to the House and fasting in Ramadan" (Bukhari, Muslim). For anyone who has been working on the five pillars of Islam, not to mean that he has totally entered into Islam. He has built the foundation for other deeds. 

Five Pillars of Islam is the training for the Muslims towards the pleasure of Allah. The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.

1. The Testimony of Faith (Syahadat)
The testimony of faith is saying with conviction, "La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah." This saying means "There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah),1 and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God." It is the agreement between a Muslim with Allah (Quran Sura 7:172) A person who has declared La ilaha ilallaah means have been ready to fight (fight) against all forms of god beyond God in his life (Qura Sura 29:2).

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." (This) - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware." (QS. Al-Araf:172)

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (QS. Al-Ankabut:2)

2. Prayer (Shalat)
Prayer is the training: as an exercise for every Muslim in his life in order to prostrate (worship) to Allah (Quran Sura Al-An'am:162). Muslims perform five prayers a day. Each prayer does not take more than a few minutes to perform. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God. There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper.

Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are forAllah, Lord of the worlds.

3. Giving Zakat (Support of the Needy)
Zakat is training as an exercise for his wealth, because every property of a Muslim is God's. (Quran Sura Al-Hadid:7). "You take the zakat from the rich and you return it to those poor people" (HR Mutafaqun 'alahi). A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity.

Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward. (Quran Sura Al-Hadid:7)

4. Shaum (Fasting the Month of Ramadan)
Shaum is training, that as an exercise in physical control habits, ie eating and drinking and spiritual, that is lust (2:185). Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. 

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.(Quran Sura Al-Baqarah:185)

5. Hajj (The Pilgrimage to Makkah)
Hajj is training as an exercise in sacrifice life and property in the way of Allah, the practice of unity and equality with his fellow men. (Qs. 22:27-28). The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe.

And proclaim to the people the Hajj (pilgrimage); they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass (Quran Sura Al-Hajj :27)

That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor. (Quran Sura Al-Hajj:28)