The Pillars of Islam

Islam stands on five pillars, the foundational acts of worship every Muslim must observe. These are: Kalimah, Salat, Zakat, Saum (fasting), and Hajj. Their total number (five) is gathered from the Hadith, not directly stated as a single list in the Quran.

Kalimah – The First Pillar

• The first pillar of Islam is the Kalimah.
• The first Kalimah is called Kalimah Tayyabah, and it consists of seven words.
• The Kalimah is the pillar in which it is declared that no one except Almighty Allah is worthy of worship — this is also called Tauheed.
• Surah Ikhlas gives the most concise description of Tauheed (the Oneness of Allah) in the entire Quran.

The Sunnat

• Sunnat is defined as the acts and sayings of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ).
• Among the sources of Islamic jurisprudence — Quran, Hadith, Sunnat, Ijma, and Qias — Sunnat is considered the third most authentic source.
• The sayings of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) that explain the Quran are called Sunnat-e-Qauli.
• It is the Sunnat that guides Muslims on exactly how to perform Salat (Prayer), since the Quran commands prayer but the Prophet's practice (Sunnat) shows the method.

Belief in the Day of Judgement

• The stage immediately after death, before the Day of Judgement, is called Barzakh — a waiting period in the grave.
• Surah Al-Mumineen throws light on the concept of Barzakh.
• Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days.
• Surah Al-Kahf throws light on the Day of Judgement.
• On the Day of Judgement, it is Hazrat Israfel (AS) who will blow the trumpet (Sur) to signal Qiyamah.
• The Day of Judgement is destined to occur on a Friday in the month of Muharram.
• Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat No. 4, throws light on Yaum-ul-Akhirat (the Last Day).
• In Surah Al-Anfal, Ayat 13-14, Allah declares that the noble/righteous people will be in Paradise and the sinful will be in Hell.
• The three basic beliefs (Aqaid) of Islam are: Tauheed, Risalat, and Akhirat (Oneness of Allah, Prophethood, and Life after Death).
• The real, eternal home of noble people after the Day of Judgement is Paradise.
• Increasing one's worship of Allah is never a sign of 'resignation' or bad conduct near the Day of Judgement — rather, things like disobedience to parents, abandoning worship, and promotion of high posts for the incompetent are signs preceding it.