THE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Arkaan Al-Islam, the pillars of Islam, are five and are specifically mentioned in the following Hadith:

"Islam has been built upon five things:  declaring that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of Salaah, the payment of Zakah, the Hajj, and the Sawm of Ramadan. [Al Bukhari 1/7]

The five pillars, as indicated in the Hadith, are:

1. SHAHAADAH - which is the declaration of faith [LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH MUHAMMADAN RASOOLULLAAH - there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah].
2. SALAH - it is the performance of the five compulsory prayers daily.
3. ZAKAH - an obligatory payment upon a Muslim whose wealth exceeds his basic needs.
4. SAWM - fasting during the month of Ramadan.
5. HAJJ - it is the performance of the pilgrimage to the House (the Ka'bah), if one is able.