Al-Ajwibah al-Sadidah: Pillars of Islam, Meanings & Benefits (Part 3) by Zayd al-Madkhali
“Al-Ajwibatus Sadeedah ‘ala al-As’ilatir Rasheedah” – (The Sound Answers to the Right-minded Questions) – (Part 3)
By: Allamah Zayd ibn Muhammad ibn Hadi al-Madkhali, may Allah have mercy on him
Urdu Translation: Umm Muhammad Khushnuma Muslihuddin
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Question 5: How many pillars does Islam have? What is the meaning of each pillar, and what are their fruits (benefits)?
Answer: Islam has five pillars:
(1) To bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allah.
(2) To establish the prayer.
(3) To give the Zakat.
(4) To fast in Ramadan.
(5) To perform Hajj to the House of Allah (the Ka’bah), for those who are able to do so.
📍(1) To bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allah.
The meaning of the testimony (لا إله إلا الله) “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah”:
Its meaning is to deny worship for everything besides Allah and (then) to affirm all forms of worship for Allah alone. Based on these two meanings, “La ilaha illallah” has two fundamental components:
(1) Negation (Nafi)
(2) Affirmation (Ithbat) (1).
And the meaning of the testimony (محمد رسول الله ﷺ) “Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allah” (2):
Its meaning is to obey him (ﷺ) in every command he gives and to believe him in every matter he informs of. This testimony, in reality, is confined to following the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) as Allah the Exalted has commanded us. As Allah the Exalted says:
{وَاَطِيۡعُوا اللّٰهَ وَاَطِيۡعُوا الرَّسُوۡلَۚ فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ فَاِنَّمَا عَلٰى رَسُوۡلِنَا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ} – [At-Taghabun: 12]
Translation: "And obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon Our Messenger is only [the duty of] clear notification."
Similarly, Allah the Exalted has commanded us to follow him (ﷺ) in every matter and has promised guidance and success in return. As Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, has said:
{وَاتَّبِعُوۡهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُوۡنَ} – [Al-A’raf: 158]
Translation: "and follow him that you may be guided."
The benefits of this great pillar:
(1) The heart and soul are freed from the slavery of creation and from following the path of non-believers.
(2) True success and prosperity in this world and the Hereafter are attained.
📍(2) To establish the prayer.
The linguistic meaning of prayer (Salah):
The linguistic meaning of prayer is “supplication (dua),” as stated by Allah the Exalted:
{وَصَلِّ عَلَيۡهِمۡؕ} – [At-Tawbah: 103]
Translation: “and supplicate for them.”
The Shar’i (Islamic legal) meaning:
In the Shari’ah, the meaning of prayer is to worship Allah in the specific manner that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) clarified through his actions and words, as he (ﷺ) said:
“صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي”.
“Pray as you have seen me praying.” [Sahih al-Bukhari: 6008]
The benefits of this great pillar (prayer):
(1) Prayer provides peace and tranquility to the heart, as the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said to Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him):
“يَا بلَالُ، أَرِحْنَا بالصَّلَاةِ”.
“O Bilal, bring us comfort through the prayer.” – [Musnad Ahmad: 23088, its narrators are trustworthy]
(2) Prayer is the coolness of the eyes, as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ”.
“And the coolness of my eyes has been placed in the prayer.” – [Musnad Ahmad: 14037, Hasan]
(3) Prayer prevents immorality and evil deeds, as Allah the Exalted has said:
{اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ تَنۡهٰى عَنِ الۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَالۡمُنۡكَرِؕ} – [Al-‘Ankabut: 45]
Translation: "Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing."
📍(3) To give the Zakat.
The linguistic meaning of Zakat:
The linguistic meanings of Zakat are “growth” and “purity.”
The Shar’i meaning:
In the Shari’ah, the meaning of Zakat is to give a specific portion from specific types of wealth to specific people, with the intention of worshipping Allah, according to the method shown by the Prophet (ﷺ) at designated times.
The benefits of believing in this pillar:
(1) Zakat purifies the soul from bad habits like miserliness and stinginess, because both these traits have been deemed reprehensible in every divine law of Allah.
(2) Strengthening Islam and fulfilling the needs of the Muslims.
(3) A true increase in wealth, meaning that wealth never decreases by giving Zakat or charity; rather, it only increases.
📍(4) To fast in Ramadan.
The linguistic meaning of fasting:
Linguistically, Sawm (fasting) means “to abstain” or “to refrain” from something.
The Shar’i meaning:
In the Shar’i’ah, fasting means to abstain from food, drink, and other things that break the fast during the days of Ramadan, for the sake of worshipping Allah the Exalted and in compliance with His command.
A great benefit and fruit of fasting:
It trains the soul to leave its beloved and familiar things in order to attain the pleasure of Allah and to obtain reward and recompense from Allah in the Hereafter.
📍(5) To perform Hajj to the House of Allah, for those who are able to do so.
The linguistic meaning of Hajj:
The linguistic meaning of Hajj is “to intend” or “to set out for.”
The Shar’i meaning:
In the Shari’ah, Hajj means to go to the Sacred House of Allah (Baitullah Al-Haram) to perform the rites of Hajj and to carry out all its rituals.
The benefits of Hajj:
(1) Hajj prepares the soul to spend wealth in the way of Allah, because Hajj is also equivalent to spending in the way of Allah.
(2) A spirit of sacrificing one’s life in every act of obedience and submission to Allah is developed.
Summary:
Implementing these great principles (i.e., the pillars of Islam) in one’s life is a cause of righteousness and success for the Ummah of Muhammad in every matter of religion and the world. Therefore, a servant should fear his Lord and fulfill these pillars, for upon them is the foundation of his religion. They are the means of protection for his blood, wealth, and honor, and they are the key to Paradise, the vastness of which is like the heavens and the earth. It has been prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the bounty of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.
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(1) As some people of knowledge have stated in poetry:
کلمہ اخلاص کے دو رکن ہیں
نفی اور اثبات، انہیں اچھے سے یاد کرلو.
The Kalima of sincerity has two pillars,
Negation and Affirmation, remember them well.
Besides this, “La ilaha illallah” has seven conditions: Knowledge, Certainty, Acceptance, Submission, Truthfulness, Sincerity, and Love.
(2) It has four conditions, which I have stated in the following verses:
Its four conditions have been explained in detail,
And in the Qur’an, they have come clearly.
And in the Hadith, they have been mentioned similarly,
So understand well and act upon the established matters.
(First condition) To obey him (ﷺ) in everything he commanded,
Whether it be his saying or his action, as is explicit in the texts (Qur’an and Hadith).
(Second condition) To believe everything he informed of,
Those matters that are proven from him and based on a clear text.
(Third condition) Similarly, to abstain from (i.e., avoid) everything that he (ﷺ) forbade.
(Fourth condition) To worship Allah the Exalted according to the way he (ﷺ) prescribed.
