What are the Five Pillars of Islam? How to reach practicing Muslims with the gospel

One of the key differences that separates Islam from Christianity is the difference in how humans can receive forgiveness of their sins and gain eternal salvation.

As Christians, we know that we are saved through faith, washed by the blood of Christ. For Muslims, they believe they must follow certain requirements to the best of their ability to possibly enter paradise after they die, but nothing is guaranteed. 

The five pillars of Islam are mandated on all Muslims. Christians should understand these practices so we may realize how your friend’s faith affects their daily lives and even their worldview. 

The Five Pillars of Islam Explained

Shahada- Confession of the Creed

The first pillar of Islam is the “confession 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.”

When Muslims say the creed, they have to be sincere in their heart and speak it in Arabic to be accepted by Allah. Even if they do not understand Arabic, they still must say it in Arabic and someone will translate the meaning to them (read more on this practice here). 

In addition to being the sign of conversion, 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.

Here are more details on the shahada: Shahadah: The sign of conversion to Islam and its oppressive impact 

Salat - Prayer

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 in order for their prayers to be acceptable to Allah. Every Muslim must perform ablution (washing) before every prayer. This includes specific steps of cleansing the body to present themselves pure for prayer.

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 encouraged to pray in their homes and are taught that praying in the home is more rewarding than praying in a mosque.

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.

To learn more about how Islamic prayer is different from Christian prayers, read this post: Prayer in Islam vs Christianity: What's the difference? 

Zakat- Alms-giving

Only Muslims who have excess money after paying all their bills for the year are required to pay a certain percentage to help others. 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.

Sawm- Fasting

Fasting is public for Muslims, not private like it is supposed to be for Christians. 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.

Read more details about fasting here: What Christians need to know about Islamic fasting 

Hajj- Pilgrimage

At least once in their lifetime, all Muslims who are economically and physically able are required to complete a journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia called the hajj. Mecca is the home of the Ka-aba, 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.

You can study the hajj in more detail here: What Christians need to know about Islam's mandatory pilgrimage, Hajj 

The Unwritten Sixth Pillar of Islam

Jihad- Strife or Struggle

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 judgment, seventy-two virgins in paradise, and rewards for their relatives.

Read more here: The Uncomfortable Conversation: Talking with your Muslim friends about Jihad and Sharia Law 

Using the Five Pillars to connect with your Muslim friends

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 a Christian, 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! 

“ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Now that you know the five pillars, ask your Musim friend about their personal experiences with each pillar. Ask why Allah asks them to do these things and whether they know for sure they did enough. Share with them your own experience; for example, how prayer is a conversation with God and not scripted.

Prayer for sharing the gospel with a Muslim

Dear Lord, please open my eyes to see my Muslim friend through Your eyes. Give me compassion on them as they are trapped in the rules and requirements of Islam. Thank you for giving Your Son to die for us so we do not have to try to earn our salvation. Amen.