The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described Islam as being built upon these five pillars, just as a building stands on its foundations. The rest of a Muslim's religious practice complements and completes this structure.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, establishing prayer, giving Zakah, performing Hajj to the (Sacred) House, and fasting Ramadan."
[Sahih Bukhari 1:11 (8), Sahih Muslim 1:45 (16)]
Let me explain each pillar briefly:
1. The Shahada (Testimony of Faith) — This is the declaration that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger. These two testimonies form a single pillar because they are inseparable. By uttering them, a person acknowledges Allah's exclusive right to be worshipped and accepts the message of the Prophet ﷺ, committing to follow him.
2. Salah (Prayer) — This refers to the five obligatory daily prayers: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). A Muslim must observe them along with their conditions, pillars, and obligatory acts.
3. Zakah (Obligatory Charity) — This is a financial act of worship due on wealth that has reached a minimum threshold prescribed by Islamic law. It is given to those categories of people entitled to receive it.
4. Fasting Ramadan — This means abstaining from food, drink, and other things that invalidate the fast, from the break of dawn until sunset, with the intention of worshipping Allah.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage) — This is the journey to Makkah to perform the prescribed rituals as an act of worship, obligatory once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able.
In the famous hadith of Jibril (Gabriel), when the angel asked the Prophet ﷺ about Islam, he gave the same answer, listing these five pillars. The angel then confirmed that he had spoken the truth, and the Prophet ﷺ later told his Companions that it was Jibril who had come to teach them their religion [Sahih Muslim 1:36 (8)].
The Quran also alludes to these foundations when it says that people were only commanded to worship Allah sincerely, to establish prayer, and to give charity — and that is the religion of uprightness [Coran, Sourate Al-Bayyina:5].
A practical tip: If you want to strengthen your practice of these pillars, start by perfecting your five daily prayers — they are the pillar you engage with every single day. You can use the Prayer Times section of your Al Muslim Plus app to keep track of each prayer and never miss one. May Allah help us all establish these pillars firmly in our lives.