Islam 101
What every Muslim is asked to do
One picture from the Prophet [saw]: a house standing on five pillars.
6 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 6
The Prophet described Islam as a building resting on five pillars. Each is a practice, done in the body, with money or with time. Together they keep faith from staying only in the head.
Lesson
Belief is the foundation. Five practices hold it up, day to day.
Part 2 of 6
The first pillar is one sentence: "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger." Saying it sincerely is what makes someone a Muslim. It is also whispered to newborns and repeated in every prayer.
Lesson
One sentence, said sincerely, makes a Muslim.
Part 3 of 6
Salah, the second pillar, is prayer facing the Ka'bah in Makkah. At dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset and night. Each takes a few minutes: standing, bowing and prostrating, reciting the Qur'an in Arabic.
Qur'an 2:43
وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرۡكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ ٤٣
43 And establish prayer, give zakah, and bow [to Allah] with those who bow.
Lesson
Five pauses a day to stand before God.
Part 4 of 6
The third pillar is about money. Each year, Muslims whose savings pass a minimum give 2.5% of them to people in need. Zakat means purification: it is seen as cleansing wealth, not as a favour to the poor.
Qur'an 9:60
۞ إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡهَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِۖ فَرِيضَةࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمࣰ ٦٠
60 Alms [i.e., zakah] is only for the poor and the needy; those in charge of it; those whose hearts may be attracted [to Islam]; for freeing those in bondage; for those in debt; for the cause of Allah; and for [the stranded] traveler – as ordained by Allah, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Lesson
In zakat, the poor have a right in the wealth of the rich.
Part 5 of 6
The fourth pillar takes a whole month. Each year, Muslims go without food, drink and intimacy from dawn to sunset. The sick, travellers, the elderly and others are excused. The aim is taqwa: awareness of God.
Qur'an 2:183
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣
183 O you who believe, fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those who were before you, so that you may become righteous.
Lesson
In Ramadan, hunger becomes a teacher of awareness of God.
Part 6 of 6
The last pillar is a journey. Once in a lifetime, every Muslim who is healthy and can afford it makes the pilgrimage to Makkah. Millions gather each year, dressed alike, retracing the steps of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael.
Qur'an 3:97
فِيهِ ءَايَٰتُۢ بَيِّنَٰتࣰ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنࣱاۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلࣱاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٩٧
97 In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham; whoever enters it will be safe. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah upon all people who are able to make their way to it; whoever disbelieves, then Allah is in no need for the worlds.
Lesson
Millions dressed the same, before the same God.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
One picture from the Prophet ﷺ: a house standing on five pillars.