Short answer
The Five Pillars of Islam are the declaration of faith, prayer, zakah, fasting in Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Makkah. They are the foundation of Islam as a complete way of life. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said that Islam is built on these five. The declaration, called the Shahadah, says there is no god but Allah (﷾) and Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allah (﷾). It holds two of Islam's basic beliefs: God (﷾) is One, and Muhammad (ﷺ) is His messenger. Prayer, called salah, is offered five times every day. Zakah is a yearly payment, 2.5% on savings above a set minimum, given to the poor and others the Qur'an names. Fasting in Ramadan means no food, drink or sex from dawn to sunset for a month. The Hajj is due once in a lifetime from those who can afford it.
Full explanation
The five, in the Prophet's (ﷺ) words
The Prophet (ﷺ) named the five himself: Islam is built on bearing witness, prayer, zakah, pilgrimage and the fast of Ramadan. A man from Najd, a region of Arabia, once asked what Islam required of him. He was told the five daily prayers, the fast and zakah, with anything more being voluntary. These are the foundations. They are not the whole of Islam, which covers every part of life. But everything else is built on them.
Ibn Umar reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said Islam is built on five: to bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayer, to pay zakah, to perform the pilgrimage, and to fast the month of Ramadan.
Talha ibn Ubaydullah reports that a man from Najd asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about Islam. He was told: five prayers in a day and a night, the fast of Ramadan, and zakah, with anything more being voluntary. The man left saying he would do no more and no less, and the Prophet said he would succeed if he was telling the truth.
| Pillar | What it is | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shahadah | Declaring your faith | Saying, knowingly and willingly, that there is no god but Allah (﷾) and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allah (﷾). The other four pillars follow from it. |
| Salah | Prayer, five times a day | Fajr between dawn and sunrise, Zuhr just after midday, Asr in the afternoon, Maghrib just after sunset, and Isha at nightfall. |
| Zakah | The yearly due on wealth | 2.5% a year on savings above a set minimum. It goes to the eight groups the Qur'an names, such as the poor and the needy. |
| Sawm | Fasting in Ramadan, the ninth month | No food, drink or marital relations from dawn to sunset, every day of the month. The sick and travellers make up the days later. |
| Hajj | Pilgrimage to the Ka'ba in Makkah | Once in a lifetime, for those who can afford the journey, in Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month. |
The Prophet (ﷺ) said that Islam is built on these five.
The Shahadah: the declaration of faith
The first pillar is to declare, knowingly and willingly, that there is no god but Allah (﷾) and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allah (﷾). The first half is tawhid (the oneness of God (﷾)): nothing is worshipped but the one Creator, who has no partner and no son. The second half is risalah (prophethood): God (﷾) guides mankind through messengers, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Muhammad (ﷺ) is the last of them. The other four pillars follow from this declaration.
“Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and for the men and women who believe: for Allah knows how ye move about and how ye dwell in your homes.”
“Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”
Salah: prayer five times a day
The Qur'an commands regular prayer at set times from dawn into the night. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that they are five each day. Fajr is between dawn and sunrise. Zuhr is from just after midday. Asr is in the afternoon. Maghrib is just after sunset. Isha is at nightfall. Prayer keeps the believer in touch with his Creator through the day. The Qur'an says it restrains a person from shameful and unjust deeds. It trains discipline, patience and honesty.
“Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony.”
“And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: For those things, that are good remove those that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):”
“Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.”
Talha ibn Ubaydullah reports that a man from Najd asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about Islam. He was told: five prayers in a day and a night, the fast of Ramadan, and zakah, with anything more being voluntary. The man left saying he would do no more and no less, and the Prophet said he would succeed if he was telling the truth.
Zakah: the yearly due on wealth
Zakah is a duty, not a gift left to choice. On savings in money, gold and silver held above a minimum it is one-fortieth, or 2.5%, each year. That is the rate the Prophet (ﷺ) laid down for silver. Separate rates apply to livestock and crops. The Qur'an names eight groups it may go to. The first four are the poor, the needy, those who collect it, and those whose hearts are being won over. The last four are freeing those in bondage, those in debt, the cause of Allah (﷾), and the stranded traveller. Zakah passes a share of the wealth of those who have to those who do not, every year.
“Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.”
Anas reports the written rules of zakah that Abu Bakr sent with him to Bahrain, as the Prophet (ﷺ) had laid them down. They set the amounts due on camels and sheep, and for silver one-fortieth (2.5%), with nothing due if a man has only a hundred and ninety dirhams.
Sawm: the fast of Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month in which the Qur'an was first sent down. Each day of it, from dawn until sunset, a Muslim leaves food, drink and marital relations. The sick and travellers make up the days later. The Qur'an gives the purpose: fasting was prescribed for earlier nations too, so that believers may learn self-restraint. It weakens greed and selfishness and strengthens the will to obey God (﷾).
“Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.”
“eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears;”
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-”
Hajj: the pilgrimage to Makkah
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to the Ka'ba, the House of Allah (﷾) in Makkah. It takes place in Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. The Qur'an makes it a duty for those who can afford the journey. The Prophet (ﷺ) made clear that it is due once in a lifetime, not every year. Pilgrims come from every nation, dressed simply and alike in ihram (the pilgrim's state and dress). They stand together as equals before their Lord. The Qur'an says the most honoured before Allah (﷾) is the most righteous, not the richest or the best born.
“In it are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah,- those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.”
Abu Hurayra reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) told the people that Allah had made the pilgrimage a duty for them. A man asked three times whether it was every year. The Prophet said that if he said yes it would become a duty every year and they would not manage it, and told them to do what he commanded as far as they were able.
“"And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;”
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”
Perspectives
The Islamic perspective
The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that Islam is built on five pillars. Practised sincerely, they shape the whole of a Muslim's life and push society toward justice.
The four schools of Islamic law agree on the five pillars; they differ only on details, such as which wealth is subject to zakah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said Islam is built on five. They are the declaration of faith, prayer, zakah, pilgrimage and the fast of Ramadan.
The declaration holds two of the basic beliefs of Islam. They are the oneness of God (﷾) and the prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ).
The Qur'an says prayer restrains a person from shameful and unjust deeds.
Zakah on silver was set at one-fortieth, or 2.5%, and the Qur'an names eight groups who may receive it.
The Qur'an gives the purpose of fasting as learning self-restraint, and fixes the daily fast from dawn until night.
The pilgrimage is a duty once in a lifetime for those who can afford the journey.
Performed sincerely, the five pillars train self-discipline and work toward justice and equality in society.