What are the five pillars of Islam?
The question as asked, details removedWhat are the five pillars of Islam, and are all of them obligatory on every Muslim?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
The five pillars are the testimony of faith, the five daily prayers, zakat, fasting in Ramadan and Hajj. Prayer and fasting are obligatory on every sane adult Muslim; zakat and Hajj only on those who meet their conditions of wealth and ability.
2Detailed answer
The Prophet ﷺ said that Islam is built on five foundations:
- Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
- Establishing the five daily prayers.
- Paying zakat.
- Performing Hajj to the House of Allah.
- Fasting in the month of Ramadan.
The testimony of faith is the foundation of all the others. The five prayers and the Ramadan fast are fard on every Muslim who is sane and has reached puberty. Zakat is fard only on someone who owns the nisab for a full lunar year, and Hajj is fard once in a lifetime on someone who has the means and the health to make the journey.
3Evidence and sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, hadith 8
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, hadith 16
- Qur'an, Al Imran 3:97
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، والحج، وصوم رمضان
Meaning: Islam is built on five: bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakat, Hajj, and fasting in Ramadan.
The hadith names the five pillars directly. The conditions for zakat and Hajj come from the verses that make them obligatory on those with wealth and ability.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ