Conclusion
The sources present the five pillars as different forms of the single purpose humans were created for: to worship Allah, with the testimony of His oneness as the foundation. Each pillar is given its own wisdom. Prayer holds a person back from evil and wipes out sins, zakat purifies the giver, fasting builds taqwa (God-consciousness) and is a shield, and Hajj brings benefits in this world and the next.
Reflection & guidance
- Meaning
All the pillars serve one purpose: Allah created jinn and humans to worship Him. Al-Dahhak and Sufyan al-Thawri held that the verse refers to believers only. Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi held that all are commanded to worship but given free will. Tafsir Mazhari says everyone is created with an innate capacity to worship, which some use well and others waste. Q5T5
- Guidance from the Qur'an
Affirming Allah's oneness leads straight to worship and prayer: "There is no god but Myself, so worship Me, and establish Salāh for My remembrance." Hajj is meant to bring "benefits". Ibn 'Abbas and Mujahid explain these as benefits in the Hereafter, such as Allah's pleasure, and in this world, such as sacrificial animals and trade, along with remembering Allah in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Q6Q4T4
- Guidance from the Sunnah
The Prophet taught that a Muslim who completes his purification as Allah commanded and then prays has the sins between those prayers expiated. Worship is meant to cleanse a person again and again. H7
- Guidance from the scholars
Ma'arif al-Qur'an explains that the Qur'an singles out prayer above every other act of worship because it keeps a person away from fahsha' (shameless acts) and munkar (acts agreed to be forbidden), and calls it the pillar of the religion. T2
Sources
Qur'an & Tafsir
Summary
The Qur'an attaches a stated purpose to three of the pillars: prayer holds a person back from shameful and evil acts, zakat (obligatory alms) cleanses and purifies the giver, and fasting is prescribed so that believers may gain taqwa (God-consciousness). Q2Q3Q1
Key points
- Prayer: "Surely Salāh restrains one from shameful and evil acts", and remembrance of Allah is called "the greatest of all things". Q2
- Zakat: Ibn Kathir explains that the alms purify and sanctify the giver, that the Prophet's prayer for the givers is a mercy for them (Ibn 'Abbas), and that giving charity erases sins. Q3T3
- Fasting: Ibn Kathir says it purifies and cleanses the soul from evil and bad behaviour, cleanses the body, and "narrows the paths of Shaytan". Q1T1
References
- Q1Al-Baqarah 2:183 · The Cow
- Q2Al-'Ankabut 29:45 · The Spider
- Q3At-Tawbah 9:103 · The Repentance
- T1Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 2:183
- T3Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 9:103
Sunnah
Summary
In the authentic (sahih) Jibril hadith, the Prophet defines Islam as worshipping Allah without associating anything with Him, prayer, zakat, Hajj and the Ramadan fast. Other sahih hadith give the benefit of individual pillars: prayer wipes out sins, and fasting is a shield. H2H5H10
Key points
- The five daily prayers, and each Friday prayer until the next, expiate the sins committed between them, as long as major sins are avoided. H5
- "Fasting is a shield" (Sahih Muslim). H10
- The same hadith puts ihsan (excellence) above the outward pillars: "To worship Allah as if you can see Him, for although you cannot see Him, He can see you." H2
References
- H2Sunan an Nasai 4991 · The Book Of Faith and its SignsAuthenticity
- Sahih Abu Ghuddah
- Sahih Al-Albani
- Isnaad Sahih Zubair Ali Zai
- H5Sahih Muslim 550 · The Book of PurificationAuthenticity
- Sahih — the whole collection is accepted as authentic (Sahih Muslim)
- H10Sahih Muslim 2705 · The Book of Fasting Authenticity
- Sahih — the whole collection is accepted as authentic (Sahih Muslim)
Hadith Commentaries
Summary
Al-Nawawi calls the hadith "Islam is built on five" a great foundation for knowing the religion, because it gathers the religion's pillars. Al-Sindi explains that faith in Allah, in the Jibril hadith, means affirming that He is One. C3C2C1
Key points
References