Islam Rediscovered
12. Islamic Fundamentalism
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far from arising from the teachings of Islam, is a
direct product of Islamic fundamentalism.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM
If we are to put ‘fundamentalism’ in the correct
perspective, we should be clear about what actually
constitutes the fundamental principles of Islam.
There is a
hadith
which gives us clear guidance on
this subject. The Prophet observed that Islam is
founded on five pillars: Bearing witness that there is
no god but the one God and that Muhammad, may
peace be upon him, is God’s Messenger; the regular
saying of prayers (
salat
); alms-giving (
zakat
);
performing a pilgrimage to the Kabah, the House of
God in Makkah (
hajj
); and fasting for the month of
Ramadan (
sawm
).
These then are the fundamental principles, or pillars
of Islam. The rest of the teachings fall into the
category of detailed explanations of and
elaborations upon the five basic principles. Holding
any other precept besides these to form part of the
basic tenets of Islam is misguided and unacceptable.
