five pillars of islam essay in english

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Course: ap®︎/college art history   >   unit 2.

• Introduction to Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

• Introduction to mosque architecture

1. The profession of faith (the shahada )

2. daily prayers ( salat ), 3. alms-giving ( zakat ), 4. fasting during ramadan ( saum ), 5. hajj or pilgrimage to mecca, want to join the conversation.

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The Five Pillars of Islam

Almost as soon as the Arab armies of Islam conquered new lands, they began erecting mosques and palaces, as well as commissioning other works of art as expressions of their faith and culture. Connected to this, many aspects of religious practice in Islam also emerged and were codified. The religious practice of Islam, which literally means to submit to God, is based on tenets that are known as the Five Pillars ( arkan ), to which all members of the Islamic community ( u mma ) should adhere.

Shahada (photo: Mustafa and Aziza , CC BY-SA 2.0)

1. The profession of faith (the shahada )

The profession of faith (the shahada ) is the most fundamental expression of Is lamic beliefs. It sim ply states that “There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet.” It underscores the monotheistic nature of Islam. It is an extremely popular phrase in Arabic calligraphy and appears in numerous manuscripts and religious buildings.

Prayer Rug with Coupled Columns, early 18th century (attributed to Turkey, probably Ladik, Konya), wool (warp, weft and pile), symmetrically knotted pile, 172.7 x 121.9 cm ( The Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York)

2. Daily prayers ( salat )

Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. This does not mean that they need to attend a mosque to pray; rather, the salat , or the daily prayer, should be recited five times a day. Muslims can pray anywhere; however, they are meant to pray towards Mecca . The faithful are meant to pray by bowing several times while standing and then kneel and touch the ground or prayer mat with their foreheads, as a symbol of their reverence and submission to Allah. On Friday, many Muslims attend the mosque near mid-day to pray and to listen to a sermon ( khutba ).

3. Alms-giving ( zakat )

The giving of alms is the third pillar. Although not defined in the Qu’ran , Muslims believe that they are meant to share their wealth with those less fortunate in their community of believers.

4. Fasting during Ramadan ( saum )

During the holy month of Ramadan (the ninth month in the Islamic calendar), Muslims are expected to fast from dawn to dusk. While there are exceptions made for the sick, elderly, and pregnant, all are expected to refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

Last day of Hajj. All pilgrims leaving Mina, many already in Mecca for farewell circumambulation of Kaaba (photo: Omar Chatriwala , CC BY-SA 4.0 )

5. Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca

All Muslims, who are able, are required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and the surrounding holy sites at least once in their lives. Pilgrimage focuses on visiting the Kaaba and walking around it seven times. Pilgrimage occurs in the twelfth month of the Islamic Calendar.

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Five Pillars of Islam — The Five Pillars of Islam: Foundations of Faith and Practice

The Five Pillars of Islam: Foundations of Faith and Practice

• Categories: Five Pillars of Islam History of Islam

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Words: 683 |

Published: Jun 13, 2024

Words: 683 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, shahada (faith), salah (prayer), zakat (charity), body paragraph 4: sawm (fasting), body paragraph 5: hajj (pilgrimage).

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Pillars of Islam

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Pillars of Islam , the five duties incumbent on every Muslim: shahādah , the Muslim profession of faith; ṣalāt , or prayer , performed in a prescribed manner five times each day; zakāt , the alms tax levied to benefit the poor and the needy; ṣawm , fasting during the month of Ramadan ; and hajj , the major pilgrimage to Mecca , if financial and physical conditions permit.

Five Pillars of Islam

• Important Principles
• Prayer Salat
• Prophets of Islam
• Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr
• Hajj and Eid Al Adha
• M.Ed., Loyola University–Maryland
• B.S., Child Development, Oregon State University

The “five pillars of Islam” are religious duties that provide a framework for a Muslim’s life. These duties are performed regularly and encompass duties to God, to personal spiritual growth, to care for the poor, self-discipline, and sacrifice.

In Arabic, “arkan” (pillars) provide structure and hold something steadily in place. They provide support, and all must be present for the framework to balance steadily. The articles of faith provide a foundation, answering the question of “what do Muslims believe?” The Five Pillars of Islam help Muslims to structure their lives around that foundation, answering the question of “how do Muslims affirm their faith in daily life?”​

Islamic teachings about the Five Pillars of Islam are found in the Quran and the Hadith. In the Quran, they are not outlined in a neat bullet-pointed list, but are rather dispersed throughout the Quran and emphasized in importance through repetition.

The Prophet Muhammad did mention the five pillars of Islam in an authentic narration ( hadith ):

“Islam has been built upon five [pillars]: testifying that there is no diety but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the zakah, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan” (Hadith Bukhari, Muslim).

Shahaadah (Profession of Faith)

The first act of worship that every Muslim performs is a confirmation of faith, known as the shahaadah . The word shahaadah literally means “to bear witness,” so by professing faith verbally, one is bearing witness to the truth of Islam’s message and its most fundamental teachings. The shahaadah is repeated by Muslims several times each day, both individually and in daily prayer, and it is a frequently-written phrase in Arabic calligraphy .

People who want to convert to Islam do so by simply reciting the shahaadah aloud, preferably in front of two witnesses. There is no other requirement or prerequisite ceremony for embracing Islam. Muslims also strive to say or hear these words as their last, before they die.

Salaat (Prayer)

Daily prayer is a touchstone in a Muslim’s life. In Islam, prayer is directly to Allah alone, directly, without any intermediary or intercessor. Muslims take time out five times each day to direct their hearts towards worship. The movements of prayer – standing, bowing, sitting, and prostrating – represent humility before the Creator. Words of prayer include words of praise and thanks to Allah, verses from the Quran, and personal supplications.

Zakat (Almsgiving)

In the Quran, giving in charity to the poor is often mentioned hand-in-hand with daily prayer. It is central to a Muslim’s core belief that everything we have comes from Allah, and is not ours to hoard or covet. We should feel blessed for everything we have and must be willing to share with those less fortunate. Charity at any time is recommended, but there is also a set percentage required for those who reach a certain minimum net worth.

Sawm (Fasting)

Many communities observe fasting as a way to purify the heart, mind, and body. In Islam, fasting helps us to empathize with those less fortunate, helps us to reprioritize our lives, and brings us closer to Allah in strengthened faith. Muslims may fast throughout the year, but all adult Muslims of sound body and mind must fast during the month of Ramadan each year. The Islamic fast lasts from dawn to sunset each day, during which time no food or drink of any kind is consumed. Muslims also spend the time in additional worship, refrain from bad talk and gossip, and share in friendship and in charity with others.

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Unlike the other “pillars” of Islam, which are performed on a daily or annual basis, the pilgrimage is required to be done only once in a lifetime. Such is the impact of the experience and the hardship that it entails. The Hajj pilgrimage occurs during a certain set month every year, lasts for several days, and is only required of those Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey. 

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The Five Pillars of Islam Religion Essay

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Religion and human society have always been a great part of any country or nation. A person’s belief in something that is unexplained and higher is inseparable from a human being. Islam is a religion that has many followers, even though the rules and beliefs are rather strict and hard to follow. The Five Pillars of Islam are major guides for any Muslim’s life and people pay great attention and put effort in to be a part of the higher order of existence.

The Five Pillars of Islam are called in such a characteristic and specific way because they are the major definitions of what is right and wrong for any Muslim person. Even though it is close to impossible to trace the origins of where it started, one does not have to look far into the past to explain their own following and undoubted belief. Due to this, there were some rituals that had to be carried out. The first pillar is Belief. People must be able to let go of any skeptical thoughts or opinions and rely on the Islam and God. Sometimes, it is difficult to do due to life’s hardships that were experienced by people, leading to a lack in their faith. They realize that the major part of their life is gone and that the choices made, will not be undone.

The second pillar is Worship. It is the intricate relationship each person has with God and how they can rely on the God’s ability to help and change the world. Prayer is a big part of religion when a person can ask the Higher Power to help them live through the hard times or find the solution to the depressing problem. When a person feels lost, religion welcomes the individual with the reassurance that they will be helped and life will become better. The power and the entity of God is a great mystery and so, people rely on this belief to find resources to feel happy again. The third pillar is Charitable giving. An individual must contribute and repay the God for all the help they have received (Teece, 2004). The relationship is reciprocal where the worshipped God and a person are mutually respective and supporting, as they both need each other.

The fourth pillar is the Fasting during a certain time in the year, more specifically, the whole month of Ramadan. The beliefs and traditions are closely intertwined with the social fabric. When people fast together, they unite with the common goal and pay their respects to God. It is the cleansing of the soul through control and limitations to the body and simple pleasures of the mind and physical satisfaction (Khan, 2000). When people follow rules and entrust their minds and organism to God, it shows true devotion and belief in the great plan that has been created for the people by the Spirit. The fifth pillar is the Visit to Mecca or pilgrimage, as people often refer to this as a mission. This must be achieved at least once in a lifetime and is thought to be sacred (Zepp, 2000). Of course, for those who have to travel longer distance, the process can be seen as more rewarding because the time and energy they spend are that much greater, leading the individuals to appreciate the trip they make even more.

The power and the entity of God is a great mystery and so, people feel the awe and unexplained want and need to be a part of the Divine. This central theme of the religion is very attractive to many people and they set out to find their true meaning of life and the reasons for their suffering. The Five Pillars are rules and direction markers that are unbreakable and so, are followed by all Muslims. They can be compared to the rules that Christian people have in relation to their guides in life. The similarity is that the close relationship between Christianity, culture, science and psychology is in reality the same thing and a similar thing can be said about Islam. Christian laws of “do not kill, respect the neighbor and yourself” are all based on the wisdom of the world and all creation, basing themselves on ethical and moral framework (Gort, 2002). If a person is of sane mind and healthy, they understand that to hurt anything that is alive is wrong and this is based on the fact that if you do not want to be hurt, do not hurt others.

This statement is reflected in Christianity: “treat others, as you yourself want to be treated”. It is much noticeable that Christianity is more aligned towards the behavior of a person in relation to others while Islam focuses on the way a person behaves towards God and the respects they pay to the religion itself. All religions are united by the concept that there is Supreme Being who created everything and governs the world. To analyze this point rationally one would come to the same conclusion. People are not the ones who created Earth and the Universe. The thoughts about nature of the world, human nature and life in general, all boil down to the same fact, which supposes a great purpose that everyone must find out by themselves and with the help of God. Simply hearing what the purpose of life is, would not mean anything to a person, they must come to this realization themselves, through feeling and understanding (Strayer, 2011).

Islam and Christianity both have a very complex relationship of God and a person, and it is hard to examine people’s thoughts and feelings without using religion. Genetics and childhood are a big part of a person but there is always something unexplained that makes up a person. There is a part of the divine in everyone, a little piece of God and it hides in person’s deepest corners. Religions demonstrate the great influence that the belief system of the society has on the leaders and the individuals. Throughout time it played an important and inseparable role in the lives of people, supporting but sometimes destroying civilizations. The Five Pillars of Islam and the Christian commandments illustrate that people have direct obligations towards God and religion in general. The sad truth is that belief in the divine and the belief in own private beliefs are always in conflict. People do not want to believe what they are told to believe and whatever they decide to believe in personally is not sufficient enough to provide consolation for the majority of the nations. The common goal of all religions is to unite people in the peaceful fight for truth and morality, through dedication to God and righteousness.

Gort, J. (2002). Religion, Conflict and Reconciliation: Multifaith Ideals and Realities. New York, NY: Rodopi.

Khan, M. (2000). Islam as It Is . Delhi, India: Goodword.

Strayer, R. (2011). Ways of the World. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Teece, G. (2004 ). Islam . North Mankato, MN: Black Rabbit Books.

Zepp, I. (2000). A Muslim Primer: Beginner’s Guide to Islam . Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press.

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The Five Pillars of Islam

The fundamental rites of Islam shown to the Prophet are referred to as the “pillars” of Islam. The pillars are reflected to be the whole ritual framework of the Islamic religion since they are the five obligatory and essential practices that all are followed by all Muslims. It is important to note that the pillars have some disciplinary impacts that are meant to curb the excess desires of Muslims in teaching them to carry out their day-to-day activities not just for the purification of their souls but also for the wellbeing of the group. The five pillars are the profession of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salah), almsgiving (Zakah), fasting (Siyam), and the pilgrimage (Hajj). In the essay at hand, I will describe each of the five pillars of Islam and reflect on why they are called the pillars of Islam and the importance of each pillar.

The Profession of Faith (Shahada)

The “profession of faith” or ‘bearing witness,” the 1 st  of the Fiver Pillars is referred to as Shahada. Dadach (2020) asserts that it is a statement that contains two parts. The first part that is written in Arabic says “ashhadu anna la ilaha illa ‘I-Lah.” That means “I bear witness that there is no god but God.” The 2 nd  part of the statement is also in Arabic and reads “wa anna Muhammadan rasulu ‘I-Lah. It means “and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.” It is important to note that one becomes a Muslim by saying the entire statement, “I bear witness that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.” The 1 st  part of the statement is essential as it affirms Muhammad is the messenger of God and the last and final Prophet who serves as a model as far as the Muslim community is concerned.

Prayer (Salah)

Salah, a prayer, is the second when it comes to the Five Pillars of Islam. It is not just a whimsical prayer but also the obligatory and ritual prayer carried out during the stated five times of the day. Jamal et al. (2017) claim that Salah may be performed wherever a Muslim finds themselves during the specified five times, or it can be performed inside a mosque together with the other believers. At each of the times mentioned above of the day, it is announced in all mosques across the globe that God is great four times, and I bear witness that there is no god but God for two times (Ibrahim, 2017). Additionally, it is announced that Muhammad is the messenger of God two times. It is important to note that the believers have to perform wudu or ghusl, which implies the ritual cleansing of their bodies before performing the prayer.

Almsgiving (Zakar)

Zakah, almsgiving or poor-due, is the 3 rd  of the Five Pillars of Islam. All adults who have the capability of doing so are obliged to pay a wealth tax per year. In the literal sense, Zakah means giving Allah back a section of His bounty to avoid experiencing suffering in the next life. There is no stipulated amount of what should be given back to Allah, but it usually is two to three percent of the accumulated asset and wealth of the Muslims (Hermaini et al., 2017). The money collected for this pillar is supposed to be kept in the “public treasury” and spent for public and religious works and services. The results mentioned above and services involve helping the less fortunate in the society, those who collect Zakah, and the people whose hearts are supposed to be reconciled. Additionally, Zakah is supposed to be used to free debtors and captives for the cause of wayfarers and God, duty enacted by Allah. In other words, alms are considered to assist in spreading Islam, free debtors and slaves, and support widows, orphans, and the poor.

Fasting (Siyam)

Siyam, fasting, is the 4 th  of the Five Pillars. The main obligatory fast includes abstention from sexual intercourse, food, and drinks from dawn to sunset during Ramadan month (Zailani et al., 2018). It is important to note that Ramadan is the 9 th  month as far as the Islamic calendar is concerned and thus goes from month to month during the solar year. During Ramadan, all adult Muslims who are fit in health have to take part in the fast. On the other hand, the sick are not needed to fast, but they have to recover the days lost without fasting when it is possible. Additionally, women who are breastfeeding and those in their menstrual period are not required to fast. The fast is broken with a light meal or “future.” Fasting people can eat to dawn, which is ended by a dawn meal or “suhur.” The dawn meal is meant for sustaining those who are fasting until sunset, when they will have the next meal. According to Islam, if a Muslim is physically able and does not fast, they have to feed a poor person to make up for it and give fidya, expiatory alms. On top of that, if a person violates sexual intercourse, they have to feed sixty people or fast for two months or free a slave.

Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Hajj is the last of the Five Pillars. It refers to the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, taken by Muslims once per year if a person has the capability and can afford it. Mecca is one of the holiest Muslim places in Saudi Arabia. They travel to see and touch the Ka’bah. It is believed to be the House of God, and Muslims worldwide face it during prayer. Bhatti (2018) asserts that millions of Muslims get the opportunity to offer this virtuous act annually. It is believed that Allah forgives the sins of a person if they perform Hajj with sincerity and devotion. Should a Muslim die before performing Hajj when they were supposed to, arrangements must be made by their heirs on their behalf to achieve a pious act subject to rewards during Judgment Day.

In summing up, the Five Pillars of Islam are central when it comes to the duty of a Muslim to worship God. In other words, they are the backbone of the faith of the Muslims. They help guide the faith of the believers of the Islamic religion into servitude of God and a life of devotion. Each of the Five Pillars of Islam has been carried out since Muhammad brought them back to the Muslims very many years ago. On top of that, despite the significant diversity when it comes to the day-to-day practices of those who believe in the Islamic religion, the Five Pillars of Islam have remained central and collective denominator, the five obligatory and essential practices that are both accepted and followed by all Muslims across the globe.

Bhatti, Z. (2018). Multimedia Based Learning and Virtual Tour For Performing Hajj. Journal of Information & Communication Technology (JICT), 12(1), 6.

Dadach, Z. E. (2020). The Foundation of Islam.

Hermaini, H., Zaenal, M. H., & Ismail, A. G. (2017, September). Strategic Role of Zakat in Disadvantaged Regions of Indonesia: Results From Survey 2016. In Conference-Puskas BAZNAS.

Ibrahim, I. A. (2017). What are the Five pillars of Islam.

Jamal, I. H., Junaidi, J., Ghazali, N. M., Mohd, R. A., Khassim, N. A. M., Ibrahim, N., … & Salam, R. A. (2017). Classification of hadith fi’li in Sahih Al-Bukhari based on contextual understanding of the pillars of Islam. Advanced Science Letters, 23(5), 4681-4685.

Zailani, S. A. M., Omar, N. A., Mustapha, A., & Rahim, M. H. A. (2018). Fasting ontology in pillars of Islam. Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 12(2), 562-569.

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Five Pillars of Islam, Essay Example

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Islam is one of the major religions of the world. With over one billion followers, it is second only to Christianity in size. Similar to Christianity, it is a monotheistic religion with the same Abrahamic God as Christianity and Judaism. In fact, it recognizes the prophets from each of those religions although it feels that their holy books have been corrupted by later human beings. The most quoted prophet of Islam is Jesus, the divine basis of Christianity. His divinity is rejected by Islam, but his importance is not. To Islam, the Quran, the holy book dictated by the final prophet Muhammad, is the only completely pure version of God’s revelation. Muhammad was a sixth century merchant before a visit from the Archangel Gabriel set him on a life of God’s work in which he would found this religion. The religion spread through empires and immigration and now reaches all corners of the Earth.

The basic tenets of the Islam are referred to as the Five Doctrines of Islamic Faith. They are the core beliefs that Islam is built on. To satisfy these tenets, a Muslim must believe Allah is the one single God, that there are angels who serve to advance God’s mission, that there are prophets who God uses to communicate with humanity, that the Quran is the one completely true scripture of His revelation, and that all will be judged by God someday. These beliefs are ultimately reflected in the practices of Islam.

The Five Pillars of Islam are not a list of beliefs, but practices that are to be followed by Muslims. Of course, beliefs inform and influence practices so the Five Doctrines are well reflected in the Five Pillars. These pillars are statement of faith, prayer, concern for the disadvantaged, fasting during Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca, also known as the Hajj. Following these practices is of the utmost importance for a Muslim wishing to be judged favorable.

The connections between the pillars and doctrines of the religion are rather straightforward in some cases. The statement of faith, or Shahada, is where one must state their belief in one single God and that Muhammad is His prophet. There is obviously a connection between this practice and the beliefs in Allah as a monotheistic God and his use of prophets. Prayer is to be used as a means to communicate with God and have him guide them along a path that will lead to a favorable judgment, which connects it to the tenet of judgment.

In a way almost all of the tenets of Islam show the importance of the spiritual world over the material world. Most prominently a belief in God and angels is rooted primarily in the spiritual world. Also, judgment is not a part of the physical world in anyway. Some of the pillars of Islam are there to emphasize the importance of the spiritual world. Both fasting and concern for the poor ask Muslims to abstain from physical world goods which should help them realize the importance of the non physical world. Prayer is also important in this aspect, as it is how humans may communicate with a being that lives in the spiritual world.

Since each of the Five Pillars is believed to be sent from God through humans, practicing them shows belief in the prophets and the truth of revelation in the Quran. This is because these are the methods God is to have used to communicate his wish for these practices to be done. Another tenet that is shown in each Pillar would be the belief in final judgment. If humans are to be judged on their actions and the strength of their belief in God, then fulfilling five acts that are given to them from God is a way to help their chances for this final judgment. Prayer is especially important in this regard, since it is supposed to help God communicate with the follower about how he is to secure this favorable judgment.

The most challenging of the Five Pillars in my opinion would be the required fasting during the daylight hours of Ramadan. It is the one that requires the largest physical sacrifice and must be done annually, unlike the Hajj, which while a great undertaking especially for those who live in areas of the world outside of Saudi Arabia, is only required once in a lifetime for each Muslim. However, there is certainly a great challenge involved in having absolute belief in a being that cannot be directly seen. It would be quite natural to have doubts, but in Islam a believer must believe fully in Allah. The least challenging would depend on the context. In fact, each pillar presents some difficulty in it. Living in a Muslim society that adheres to a prayer schedule would make it easy for one to pray every day. In a society that does not follow the Islamic faith or even looks at it distrustfully, finding the time to pray and feeling the courage to do it amongst people who may view you negatively for it would be considerably more difficult. In this case I feel that concern for the disadvantaged, an almost universally accepted premise would be the easiest to adhere to. Although, it is certainly easier to feel this way for Muslims than it is for them to truly practice in a way that shows the depth of their concern for the less fortunate of the world.

In conclusion, each of the Five Pillars of Islam is connected in some ways to at least one of the Five Doctrines of the Islamic Faith. They may remind a Muslim of the importance of the spiritual world, which is in line with tents of Angels, God himself, and final judgment. Ultimately in some way they all show the importance of God’s prophets and the Quran as his revelation as well as helping to guide all followers of Islam towards a favorable judgment. There is some difficulty in fulfilling each pillar, but some are considerably more challenging than others.

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