Just like all of the five pillars, performing Salah is obligatory and must be done at the correct times. The Salah is one of the most important pillars and the best of deeds, the Prophet Muhammad was asked, “Which of the actions is best?” He replied: “Observing prayer at its earliest period.” (Reported by Abu Dawud 2:426)
At a Salah time, the adhaan is called to remind people to get ready to pray. The adhaan is usually said by a muathin of a mosque and it is said as follows,
God is great. (x4)
I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God. (x2)
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. (x2)
Come to prayer. (x2)
Come to felicity. (x2)
[Fajr only] Prayer is better than sleep. (x2)
God is great. (x2)
There is none worthy of worship except God.
A person should ensure that the time that they are praying a Salah is correct, and that they are facing the qibla (the direction towards Makah). Making sure that the clothes are clean and the awrah is covered is also important, and before praying, Muslims must make wudu which is ablution that purifies a person. It consists of washing the hands, nose, mouth, face, hair and ears, arms, and feet; this can be done with sand/dust if water is unavailable.
The actions of Salah are, standing with the intention of praying and raising your hands to your ears and saying Allahu Akbar, then placing your right hand over your left on your chest. Then reciting the opening supplication, followed by Surah Al Fatiha, and any other surah if known, this followed by ruk’u, where the hands are placed on the knees, and you kneel down from the waist, with your back parallel to the ground. You then stand again, with your arms placed on your chest, with the right on top of your left as before, followed by sujood, your hands and knees on the floor in kneeling position, your forehead, nose, toes and palms on the ground, facing the qibla. Then you rise to sitting position and perform sujood again, when you sit again you say At-Tashahud which is “All greetings, blessings and good acts are from You, my Lord, Greetings to you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be unto us, and unto the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.” Then you give salaam, turning your head to the right then left.
Salah must be prayed by every Muslim as soon as they have reached puberty or embraced Islam. However, menstruating women, the young who have not yet matured and the mentally insane are excused from performing it. If a person is sick and is unable to perform specific actions of Salah, they can perform it by sitting or even standing. In the Quran, in surah Baqarah, Allah says: “Truly, those who believe and do righteous deeds, and perform Salah, and give zakat, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (2:277) this emphasises the importance of Salah.
The third pillar of Islam is Zakat. Zakat can be defined as a number of things such as, the giving of alms, religious tax, or giving to the poor. The word itself means purification and growth, by giving zakat, Muslims are purifying their wealth and allowing it to grow because they believe that all wealth belongs to God and that they must distribute it fairly so they give to the poor, as God will give them more. 2.5% of every Muslims income must go to the poor as zakat yearly.
The importance of Zakat is shown in the Quran, when Allah says, “Keep the prayer and pay the Zakat” (2:3)
Zakat is given to a number of people, such as, the poor, people who recently converted to Islam, prisoners of war or their families, people who owe money, hospitals, schools or mosques, and Muslim students who are studying Islam. Giving Zakat is a form of worship and an expression of gratitude. As well as this, it tests a person’s degree of obedience to God, and eliminates greed.
The fourth pillar of Islam is Sawm, this is fasting. Allah said in the Quran, “O believers, you must fast so that you may learn self-restraint. Fasting is prescribed for you during a fixed number of days.” (2:183-4)
Fasting helps to develop self-control and restraint of appetite. It also gains spiritual strength so that you feel sympathy for the poor and can prepare for any future suffering that you may feel. Muslims restrain themselves of sex, food and drink from sunrise until sunset, engaging in spiritual activities and trying their best to avoid undesired activities such as swearing and behaving rudely.
Pregnant women, the elderly, the sick and children as well as anyone who is incapable of fasting are excused from it. However, if possible, those who do not fast must provide food for the poor.
Muslims fast in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan. When they open their fast, they usually eat a date and drink some water; this is because it is from the Sunnah of the prophet. The opening of the fast is called Iftar, and the meal that is eaten in the morning before Fajr, is called Suhoor.
There are a number of things that break the fast such as, having sexual intercourse, masturbation, eating and drinking, letting blood, deliberately vomiting, menstruation and other forms of impurity. In the Quran, Allah mentions these things that will invalidate a person’s fast. “So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct front the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall.” (Al Baqarah 2:187)
Fasting purifies the soul of a Muslim and brings one closer to Allah because they are submitting to worship through their daily lifestyle and are sacrificing food, drink and other pleasures for His sake, showing their love towards Allah. Muslims must fast because Allah commanded them to, “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (pious)” (Al Baqarah 2:183)
The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj. This is when a Muslim travels for the purpose of visiting the Ka’bah, the sacred House of Allah, to perform religious actions such as, Tawaaf or walking around the Ka’bah seven times, al-Saa’ee or running between the hills of Safaa’ and Marwa seven times, standing at ‘Arafat, stoning the Jamaraat (stone pillars representing the Satan) at Mina, etc. Hajj brings immense benefits to people, as they declare the Unity (Tawheed) of Allah, there is forgiveness for the pilgrims, Muslims get to know one another and learn the rules of their religion, and so on.
Allah says:
“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makah), then he is a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” (Al Imraan 3:97)
it is obligatory for a person to perform hajj unless they have a valid reason that prevents them from doing so, such as expense or illness. If a person has the money to go to hajj and does not do so without a valid reason, then he is amongst the disbelievers (kaafir), this stresses the importance of Hajj.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has enjoined the Hajj upon you, so perform Hajj.” It is something that no Muslim has any excuse for not knowing. Whoever denies that it is obligatory and he is one of those who live among the Muslims is a kaafir because he is denying one of the five pillars that are Allah has commanded.
The conditions of Hajj being obligatory are:
1 – Being a Muslim. (Hajj of a kaafir is not accepted).
2 – Being an adult. (If a person has not reached the age of puberty, Hajj is not obligatory for him).
3 – Being Sane. (An insane person is not obliged to do Hajj, and Hajj cannot be done on his behalf).
4 – Being free. (A slave is not obliged to perform Hajj, but if he does Hajj it is valid and counts as a voluntary Hajj).
5 – Being able, financially and physically. (In the case of a woman, this includes having a Mahram. If she does not have a Mahram, then she is not obliged to do Hajj).
When beginning Hajj, the pilgrim must enter a state of Ihram, Allah says in the Quran “So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein (by assuming Ihram), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj” [al-Baqarah 2:197]
When in Ihram you must what Allah has ordered of religious laws, such as praying on time in congregation and must avoid all that Allah has forbidden of indecent and immoral speech and sin, as the above ayah says. As well as this, a pilgrimage must avoid annoying other Muslims with his words or actions and behave in a respectable manner. Specific things that are usually allowed are forbidden when in the state of Ihram, they are, you should not cut anything from your hair or nails and apply perfume after entering ihram, either to your body, your clothes, your food or your drink. You should not hunt and touch your spouse with desire, by kissing, touching, etc. This includes having intercourse. You should not enter into a marriage contract for yourself or arrange a marriage for anyone else, and you should not wear gloves. All of these things apply to men and women, however there are some additional rulings that men should follow. If the conditions of Ihram are broken, then it reduces the reward of performing hajj, however some scholars say that it can nullify your hajj if you know that performing a certain action will invalidate your ihram.