Worship
The Five Pillars of Islam
In Islam, worship is part of daily life and is not limited to rituals. The five pillars are the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage.
Testimony of Faith
The Shahadah proclaims: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulu-Allah,” meaning, “There is no deity worthy of worship except God (Allah), and Muhammad is His Messenger.” It is more than a statement and must be demonstrated through one’s actions.
Daily Prayer or Salah
Salah is a method by which Muslims connect to God and gather spiritual strength and peace of mind. Muslims perform five formal prayers each day.
Charity or Zakah
Zakah is Islamic charity. Muslims recognise that wealth is a blessing from God and that the wealthy have a duty to help the poor and needy. The amount is based on a person’s means.
Ramadan Fasting or Sawm
Each year, Muslims fast for a month from dawn to sunset. During Ramadan, Muslims practise self-control, focus on prayer and devotion, and learn to sympathise with those who go without food out of necessity.
Pilgrimage or Hajj
Every Muslim strives to make the once-in-a-lifetime Hajj to the sacred sites in Makkah. People of every status, wealth and colour wear the same white garments, symbolising equality before the Creator.
Imaan
Articles of Faith or Pillars of Imaan
Muslims share a common set of fundamental beliefs that form the foundation of the Islamic belief system.
Belief in the Oneness of God
Islam teaches that only God is to be served and worshipped. The Arabic word for this unique God is Allah.
Belief in Angels
God created unseen beings called angels who work tirelessly in full obedience. Well-known angels include Jibraeel, Mikail, Israfil and Izraeel.
Belief in Prophets of God
Muslims believe God sent human prophets to every nation, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them all.
Belief in Revealed Books of God
Muslims believe God revealed guidance including the Psalms, Torah and Gospel, and that the Quran is God’s final, fully preserved revelation.
Belief in the Day of Judgment
On an appointed day known only to Allah, every person will be raised and judged individually according to faith and actions, with mercy and fairness.
Belief in Destiny and Divine Decree
Nothing happens except by God’s Will and full knowledge. This does not contradict free will; our choices are known to God because His knowledge is complete.
Knowledge
Sources of Guidance
For Muslims, the most important scripture is the Holy Quran, revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) over 23 years.
Some verses were brought by the angel Jibreel (Gabriel), while others were direct revelations to the Prophet. The stories teach morals, lessons and how human beings should conduct their lives.
The second important source is the Ahadith: the sayings of Prophet Muhammad and actions or events he approved or disapproved of. For new situations not covered in the Ahadith, Ijma refers to the consensus of the Prophet’s companions.