Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
3. The Concept of Worship in Islam
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“God does not charge a soul with more than it can
bear.” (2:286).
FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
In order to enable man to successfully carry out this life-long,
life-giving duty, the Quran and Hadith have designed a preparatory
action plan known as the Five Pillars of Islam.
After belief in God and the Prophet, four practices enjoy the
status of pillars of Islam—fasting, prayers,
zakah
(almsgiving) and
the
hajj
(pilgrimage to Makkah).
Abdullah ibn Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said:
“The foundation of Islam has been laid on five
principles: to bear witness that there is no God but
Allah and that Muhammad, may peace be upon him, is
His Prophet; to offer prayers (
salah
); to give alms
(
zakah
); to perform the Hajj and to keep the fast during
Ramadan.”
These five principles form the pillars of Islam. Just as a house
stands on pillars, so does Islamic faith on these tenets. However,
the performance of these rituals is not all that is desired. What is
much more important is the true spirit in which these are
performed. Without the spirit the form is meaningless. All these
different observances–faith, prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage–are
not mere rituals, but are the source of receiving the choicest divine
