Pillars of Islam — LEARN ISLAM

fiqh - Class 1

Pillars of Islam

FIQH

MERITS OF KNOWLEDGE

{Allah will exalt those who believe among you and those who have knowledge to high
ranks) (Surah Al Mujaadalah 58:11)

{And say my Lord, increase me in knowledge} (Surah Taha 20:114)

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ‫ﷺ‬said: 

“A person who follows a path for acquiring knowledge Allah will make easy the passage for paradise
for him” (Collected by Muslim)

DEFINITION OF ISLAM:

Submitting to the Will of Allah (The only True God who deserves to be worshipped) & obeying His
Laws.

PILLARS OF ISLAM
I) TESTIFYING THAT NONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE WORSHIPPED EXCEPT
ALLAH, AND THAT MUHAMMAD ‫ ﷺ‬IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH.

II) ESTABLISHMENT OF SALAAH.
 III) GIVING ZAKAAH.

IV) FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN.

V) MAKING HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE) TO MAKKAH.

1ST PILLAR- The Shahadah

Allah (S.W.T) says in the Quran:

{And I created not the jinn and mankind except they should worship Me} (Adh-Dhariyat
51:56)

{Say, verily, my salaah, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the
all that exists}  (Al-Anáam 6:162)

NOTE: -

The definition of Worship ('Ebaadah) is everything that Allah Loves & is acceptable to Him from
words and deeds; they are done in full submission, inwardly & outwardly, with Sincerity & Humility.

THE SHAHADAH: 

“I TESTIFY THAT NONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE WORSHIPED EXCEPT ALLAH, AND THAT
MUHAMMAD ‫ ﷺ‬IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH.”

2ND PILLAR - ESTABLISHMENT OF SALAAH

Allah (S.W.T) says in the Quran:

Ibraheem (A.S) asks Allah’s support in his duty saying, interpretation of the meaning is: -

{O MY LORD, MAKE ME ONE WHO ESTABLISHES SALAAH AND ALSO FROM MY

OFFSPRING} (IBRAHEEM (14):40)

Allah (S.W.T) spoke to Musa (A.S) saying, interpretation of the meaning is : - 

{AND ESTABLISH SALAAH FOR MY REMEMBRANCE} (TAAHA (20):14)

‘Issa (A.S) says of Allah (S.W.T) interpretation of the meaning is: -

 {AND HE HAS ENJOINED ON ME SALAAH AND ZAKAAH AS LONG AS I
LIVE} (MARIAM (19):31)

Allah (S.W.T) orders Muhammed ‫ ﷺ‬saying, interpretation of the meaning is: -

{RECITE WHAT WAS REVEALED TO YOU OF THE BOOK AND ESTABLISH

SALAAH} (AL-‘ANKABOOT (29):45)

Allah (S.W.T) orders the believer saying: 

{ESTABLISH SALAAH, FOR SALAAH HAS BEEN ENJOINED ON THE BELIEVERS AT

STATED TIMES} (AN-NISAA (4):103)

3rd PILLAR - GIVING ZAKAH

Allah S.W.T. says in the Qur'an interpretation of the meaning is:- 

So Establish Salah & give Zakah and Obey the Messenger that you may receive MERCY  (Al –Noor
(24):56) 

DEFINITION OF ZAKAH:- 

Obligatory Sadaqah (Charity) due on wealth given under certain conditions to specific persons at a
specific time.

BENEFITS OF ZAKAH:-

1. Above all it is an act of Obedience to Allah.

2. Helps the Poor & the Needy.

3. Purifies a person from greed & teaches generosity.

4. Purifies the Heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy against the Rich.

FORMS OF WEALTH:-

1. Gold/Silver/Money

2. Trade goods for sale (Ex. Vehicles, Land, Animals, Food etc)

3. Sheep/Cows/Camels

4. Certain produce of the Earth (Ex. Wheat, Barley, Dates etc)

RECIPIENTS OF ZAKAH: -

Allah S.W.T. says in the Quran (interpretation of the meaning is): - 

As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat ) are only for the Fuqara' (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and
those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined
(towards Islam), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allah's Cause (i.e. for
Mujahidun - those fighting in a holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from
everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise. (AT-TAWBAH-(9):(60)

4TH PILLAR - SIYAM (FASTING) THE MONTH OF RAMADAN

Allah S.W.T. says in the Qur'an interpretation of the meaning is:- 

(O you who believe fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may
achieve Taqwa)  (Al-Baqarah 2:183)

DEFINITION OF FASTING (Siyam): - 

Siyam is way of worshipping Allah by intentionally abstaining from Food, Drink Sexual Intercourse &
other things that break ones fast from Dawn to Sundown.

MERITS OF FASTING:-

Abu Hurayrah Reported that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said, 

“Every good deed of the son of adam is multiplied in reward 10 to 700 times (depending on one’s
intention and sincerity)”

Allah S.W.T. Proclaims interpretation of the meaning is: -

‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will grant the reward for it. He leaves his passions and his
food for My sake! The fasting person has two moments of Joy, one when he breaks his fast and the
other when he meets his Lord and the smell that comes from the mouth of the fasting person is more
pleasant to Allah than the smell of Musk” (Collected by Bukhari & Muslim)

BENEFITS OF FASTING:-

1. Above all it is an act of obedience to Allah.

2. Trains believers in TAQWA (Being Mindful of Allah & Fearing Him by doing all that He
ordered & avoiding all that He has forbade).

3. Teacher Patience & sincerity

5th PILLAR - MAKING HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE) TO MAKKAH

Allah SWT says in the Quran: -

(Pilgrimage to the house is duty mankind owes to Allah, those who are able to make the journey but if
they deny faith Allah is not in need of any of His creations) (Ala-Imran 3:97)

THE MEANING BEHIND HAJJ:-

Aisha R.A. reported that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: - 

“The Tawaaf of the House (Kabah) & (the Saíy) between Safa & Marwah and the throwing of the
Jamarat was set up for the remembrance of Allah” (Collected by Ahmad, Abu Dawood & Tirmidhi)

MERITS OF HAJJ: -

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said: - 

“he who makes Hajj for Allah and avoids obscene language and immoral behavior will return (without
his sin) like the day his mother gave birth to him” (Collected by Bukhari & Muslim)

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said: -  

One Umrah to another Umrah erases sins committed between them and Hajj (accepted by Allah has no
reward except Al-Jannah (Paradise)”. (Collected by Bukhari & Muslim)

BENEFITS OF HAJJ: -

1. Above all it is an Act of obedience to Allah

2. Shows the universality of Islam.

3. Reminds us of The Day of Judgement.