Five Pillars of Islam Explained

You’ve probably heard your Muslim friend talk about obeying Allah by following specific practices, such as praying multiple times a day. These practices are called the Five Pillars of Islam – required of every Muslim to complete. 

It’s important for you to know these practices so that you may realize how your friend’s faith affects their daily lives and even their worldview. 

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars of Islam are the five core acts of worship that shape a Muslim’s faith and daily life. These practices form the foundation of Islamic belief and devotion to Allah. The five pillars are:

1. Shahada- Confession of faith

2. Salat- The five daily prayers

3. Zakat- Giving to the poor

4. Sawm- Fasting

5. Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca

1. What is Shahada?
   

The first pillar of Islam is called the Shahada, which is the Muslim profession of faith. Anyone who wants to convert to Islam or affirm his/her adherence to Islam must say this statement in Arabic:

“I testify there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”

The Muslim must be sincere as they say this creed and speak it in Arabic to be accepted by Allah; if they do not understand Arabic, it will be translated for them, but they still must say it in Arabic. Muslims repeat this creed tens of times every day, whether during their prayers or anytime they want to draw close to Allah. They hope that as they repeat it Allah will accept them and  increase their rewards here and in the afterlife.

2. What is Salat?
   

The second pillar, Salat, is the requirement of daily prayer in Islam. Muslims are required to pray five times every day no matter where they are or what they are doing. They should stop and pray at these specified times: before sunrise, at noon, mid-afternoon, at sunset, and in the evening. Muslims are only allowed to pray in Arabic, even if they do not understand it. They must adhere to specific postures and positions and recite specific sentences from the Quran.

Men are required to attend the noon Friday prayer at the mosque, which is led by Islamic leaders and they are encouraged to pray at least once a day in the mosque. Women are instructed to pray in their homes and are taught that praying in the home is more rewarding than praying in a mosque.

Every Muslim must perform ablution (washing) before every prayer. This includes specific steps of cleansing the body to present themselves pure for prayer. When a Muslim wants to ask Allah for something, this is not included in Salat, but is considered a “supplication” (Du-aa). There are better times to present one’s supplications, such as late at night, during Ramadan, before war, or after a rooster crows.

3. What is Zakat?
   

The third pillar of Islam, Zakat, requires Muslims who have excess money after paying their annual expenses to give a fixed percentage of those assets to the poor and needy. The word “zakat” means “to purify” and “to grow” – Muslims believe that giving to others purifies their wealth and reminds them that Allah has entrusted them with everything they have. Zakat is given to the mosque leader who is responsible for distributing it.

Often zakat is 2.5 percent of a person’s excess wealth, but Muslims are also encouraged to give “sadaqah”, which is voluntary charity, whenever they have the means to do so.

We explain the difference between zakat and the Christian act of giving in our blog post Tis the Season of Giving: What giving means in Islam versus Christianity.

4. What is Sawm?
   

The fourth pillar of Islam, called Sawm, is the requirement of fasting. Fasting is public, not private, within Islam. Muslims fast for the month of Ramadan, and during several other smaller events during the year, between sunrise and sunset. They fast from food and drink, as well as smoking, lying, and spousal intimacy. After sunset, feasts and celebrations begin within families and Muslim communities. The end of Ramadan is marked by the 3-day feast Eid al-Fitr to celebrate the end of the fast. Muslims also try to read and recite the entire Quran during Ramadan and hope to get closer to Allah.

5. What is Hajj?
   

The fifth pillar of Islam is called Hajj, which is the requirement that all Muslims who are economically and physically able complete a journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Mecca is the home of the Kaaba, a large structure that Muslims believe was built by Abraham. After completing hajj, Muslims believe they are purified of all their sins and are promised to get entry to paradise after death. Muslims who complete hajj are given new titles: “Al-hajj” for men and “Al-hajja” for women.

What is the Unwritten Sixth Pillar?

The unwritten sixth pillar of Islam is: Jihad

The word “jihad” in Arabic directly translates to “struggle or strife.” Muslims consider jihad the personal spiritual struggle to please Allah in one’s completion of the five pillars, but it is also widely accepted that jihad is used to describe religious war against non-Muslims to defend and/or expand Islam.

Sura 9:29 of the Quran says:

“And fight those who acknowledge not the Religion of Truth [i.e. Islam], from among the People of the Book (i.e. Christians and Jews), until they pay the Jizya tax with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

Throughout the history of Islam, when Muslims practiced Jihad and invaded another country, they gave its inhabitants three options:

1. Convert to Islam.

2. Pay a poll-tax (jizya) – this was a penalty for people who would not convert, and often reached 90% of the gross annual income for the conquered people.

3. Death by the sword for those who would not convert or pay the tax.

If a Muslim dies during jihad, they are martyrs and are promised unique rewards from Allah: no punishment at all, forgiveness of all sins, security from Allah’s judgement, seventy-two virgins in paradise, and rewards for their relatives.

How should Christians View the Five Pillars of Islam?

Maybe you've noticed that salvation in Islam depends on works and leads to bondage to works of the flesh to please a god who never guarantees salvation except through martyrdom in Jihad! 

As Christians, we have practices that are similar to some of the Five Pillars. For example, Christian baptism and confession of faith are similar to shahada (the confession of the creed). Christians also pray and give to the poor.

However, the main difference for Christians in doing these practices is that doing them does not change our standing with God for better or worse, we do them out of love for our Savior. Our guarantee is not in what we do but in what He did for us! 

How Can Christians Talk to Muslims About the Five Pillars of Islam?

1. Ask about their personal experience.

Ask your Muslim friend what each pillar means to them personally and how it shapes their daily life. 

2. Ask thoughtful spiritual questions.

For example, you could ask why Allah commands these practices and whether they feel confident they have done enough.

3. Share with them your own faith experience.

Explain how prayer, generosity, and devotion are important to you as a Christian, but that your hope of salvation comes from Jesus rather than religious works.