The five pillars

The five pillars: the cards as text

Islam 101. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

  1. Card 1

    One picture from the Prophet ﷺ: a house standing on five pillars.

  2. Card 2

    A house on five pillars

    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.

  3. Card 3

    Lesson: Belief is the foundation. Five practices hold it up, day to day.

  4. Card 4

    The shahadah: declaring faith

    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.

  5. Card 5

    Lesson: One sentence, said sincerely, makes a Muslim.

  6. Card 6

    Salah: prayer five times a day

    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.

  7. Card 7

    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.

  8. Card 8

    Lesson: Five pauses a day to stand before God.

  9. Card 9

    Zakat: the yearly due

    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.

  10. Card 10

    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.

  11. Card 11

    Lesson: In zakat, the poor have a right in the wealth of the rich.

  12. Card 12

    Sawm: fasting in Ramadan

    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.

  13. Card 13

    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.

  14. Card 14

    Lesson: In Ramadan, hunger becomes a teacher of awareness of God.

  15. Card 15

    Hajj: the pilgrimage

    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.

  16. Card 16

    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.

  17. Card 17

    Lesson: Millions dressed the same, before the same God.

  18. Card 18

    Reflect: How often must a Muslim make the Hajj?

    Answer: Once in a lifetime, if able. Once in a lifetime, for those who are healthy enough and can afford it.

  19. Card 19

    The end of The five pillars.

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