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Pillars of Islam
Ash-Shaikh Zaid Muhammad Al-Madkhalee
(حفظه
اللّه)
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.
As
for the meaning of the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped
except Allah then it is the negation of all that is worshipped excluding Allah
and the affirmation that all forms of worship are for Allah, and these two
meanings are the pillars of ‘none has the right to be worshipped except Allah’
– negation and affirmation,
and as for the meaning of the testimony
that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah then it is his obedience in what he
ordered, believing him in all of the affairs (which he conveyed), and the restricted
following of the noble prophet which Allah ordered us with in His statement,
glory to Him:
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”
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”.
[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”
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 r with his performance and statement when he said
“pray just as you see me praying”
[reported by Al-Bukhari].
From the fruits of this
great pillar:
1) Ease and comfort like what is in his r statement to Bilal t, “give us ease and comfort O Bilal with the
prayer”
[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”
[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”
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
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