The Series of Explaining Five Pillars of Islam


(The first pillar)

Hello, to every member here
The religious practice of Islam, which literally means "to submit to God", is based on tenets that are known as the Five Pillars, arkan, to which all members of the Islamic community, Umma, should adhere.



1. The Profession of Faith—The Shahada
The First Pillar of Islam is the Shahadah, which is the assertion of Muslim faith, combining the themes of Unity and Mercy that are evident in the Quran. There are two Shahadahs: “There is no god but God” & “Muhammad is the messenger of God”. It is a set statement normally recited in Arabic: lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāhu muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله)

: Testimony that
.. Laa Ilaaha Illa-Allah .

This phrase has two parts: 1) “aa Ilaaha’”’: Which negates that anything or
anyone deserves to be worshipped other than Allah. 2) ‘‘Ylla-Allah”’: Which affirms
that Allah alone truly deserves to be worshipped. Allah (3) said: “And
(remember) when Ibraheem said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am
innocent of what you worship, except Him (1.e Allah alone I worship none)

Who did create me; and verily, He will guide me.” (26-27:43]

Therefore it’s not sufficient to worship Allah, rather you must worship Him
alone. The Tawheed of person is not correct except by singling out Allah in
worship and freeing one’s self from polytheism (shirk) and those who commit It.

It has been mentioned in a narration that “Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah” 1s the key to
Paradise. But does everyone who says it deserve to have the door of Paradise
opened for him?

Wahab ibn Munabbih was asked: “Isn't the statement “Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah’ the
key to Paradise? He answered: “Yes, but every key has a set of teeth. If you come
with the key that has the correct set of grooves, the door will open for you. If you
come with a key that doesn’t have the correct set of grooves, the door will not open
for you.” .

Many narrations have been reported from the Prophet (#s) which explain the
correct grooves which it must have. For instance he (sey) said: “Whoever says
‘Laa Iaaha Ill-Allah’ sincerely” and he also said “with certainty in his heart” and
he also said “truthfully from his heart” and so on. These narrations clarify that in
order for this key to open the gates of Paradise, *Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah’ must be said
with submission to what its meaning entails, remaining firmly upon it throughout
one's life and with other characteristics.

Based on evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, the scholars of Islam have
concluded that certain conditions must be fulfilled, and certain factors must not be
present for this phrase to serve as the key to Paradise and to benefit the person who
utters it.

These conditions are as follows:

@ Knowledge: its opposite being ignorance. Since every statement has a
meaning, one must know the meaning of Laa Ilaaha IIl-Allah. The meaning of this
phrase is that one rejects that anything or anyone else deserves worship, affirming it
for Allah alone. Thus this phrase means ‘none deserves worship except Allah. The
proof that one must know the meaning is the saying of Allah (8%) “...except him
who bears witness unto the truth and they know it.” [43:86]

Also, the Prophet (gee) said: “Whoever dies knowing that none has the right
to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah) will enter paradise.” (Muslim)
@ Certainty [the opposite of which is doubt]: Certainty is to believe that none
has the right to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allah) with surety,
having no doubt whatsoever. Allah (8%) said describing the true believers: “The
(true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger then do


not doubt, and struggle for the sake of Allah with their possessions and their
selves...” [49:15]

It is not enough that a person merely utters this phrase, but he must have absolute
certainty about its meaning, or it is pure hypocrisy. The Prophet (#2) said: “I bear
witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Iaaha IIl-
Allah) and that I am His Messenger. None meet Allah with these two [testimonies],
having no doubt about them, except that they will enter paradise.” (Muslim).

3) Acceptance: If you have knowledge of the meaning of this phrase and you are
certain about it, then this should have an effect on a person: that one accepts what
this phrase necessitates with their heart and tongue [by accepting Islam]. Whoever
rejects the call of Tawheed and does not accept it, then he 1s a disbeliever, whether
that rejection be due to arrogance, stubbornness or jealousy. Allah (3%) mentioned
about the disbelievers who rejected Tawheed due to arrogance: “For when it was
said unto them, ‘none has the right to be worshipped except Allah’ (‘Laa Ilaaha
ill-Allah’) they would puff themselves up with pride [and denied it]. And they
said: ‘What! Shall we forsake our gods for a crazy poet?’”’ (37:35-36]
Q Compliance: to Jawheed completely. This is the real test and outward proof of
belief. It is to abide by what Allah legislated and abstain from what He prohibited.
Allah (&%) said: “Whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good
has indeed grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold...”’ (31:22). This is the absolute
compliance.
© Truthfulness: the opposite of which is lying. This is to say the testimony
truthfully, since if one utters it without being truthful, he is a hypocrite. The proof
of this is in the saying of Allah (38): “....they say with their tongues what ts not in
their hearts...” [48:11]
@ Love: The believer must love this phrase, what it necessitates, and also those
who act according to it. The sign of this love is to prefer what Allah loves even
though it may be against his desires. He loves those who love Allah and His
Messenger, and he hates the enemies of Allah and His Messenger. He follows in the
Messenger's (gs) footsteps and accepts his guidance.
@ Purity of Intention: This means to only say this statement seeking the face of
Allah and His pleasure, As Allah (3%) said: “And they were not commanded except
that they should worship Allah being sincere in their religion for Him and
worshipping none except Him Alone, and establish prayer and give charity and
that ts the right (straight) religion.” [98:5]

The Prophet ( se) also said: “Allah has forbidden the Hell-fire for anyone
who says ‘none has the right to be worshipped except Allah (Laa Ilaaha IIl-
Allah)’, desiring the face (and pleasure) of Allah.”’ (A\-Bukhari and Muslim)



| Testimony that Muhammad |
_ (4) is the Messenger of Allah

In the grave. the deceased will be tested with three questions. If they answer
them correctly, they will be saved, and if not, they are doomed. One of these
questions is ‘Who is your Prophet ( eyo! No one will be able to answer
correctly except those who have fulfilled the conditions of this testimony, and
those who Allah inspires with the answers and bestows upon him firmness in the
face of this severe test.

These are the people who will benefit on that day when one’s money or
relatives will be of no avail. The conditions of the testimony of ‘Muhammad
(sy) is the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad-ur-Rasool-ullah) are as follows:
@ Obedience to what the Prophet ( se) commanded, as Allah commands us
to obey him : “Whoever obeys the Messenger, has obeyed Allah.” [4:80|

Allah (8%) also said: “Say if you love Allah, then follow me: Allah will love you
and forgive your sins. Verily Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (3:31)

In addition to this, entering Paradise is conditional upon obedience to the
Prophet ( gy) as he said: “All of my community of followers will enter Paradise
except for those that refuse.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah and who
refuses?” He said: “Those that obey me will enter Paradise and those that disobey
me refuse”? (al-Bukhari) . .

Those that truly love the Prophet (fs) must obey him, since obedience is the
natural outcome of love. Those who claim to love the Prophet ( ge) and do not
follow and obey him are not true to their claim.

@ Belief in all what the Prophet (fs) informed us. Whoever believes anything
which has been authentically confirmed to be of his statements as false out of desire
has given lie to Allah and His Messenger (fs). The Messenger (fs) was protected
from erring in religion, as Allah (&%) said : “He doesn’t speak from his own
inclination. It is indeed a revelation revealed (to him from Allah).” [53:3-4]

© Avoiding everything he prohibited and reproached. The first and foremost
thing that must be avoided is shirk, then the major sins, ending with the lesser sins
as well as those things that are makrooh (disliked). The more the believer loves the
Prophet (gs), the more his faith increases. When a believer’s faith increases, Allah
places within him the love to perform good deeds and the hate of disbelief,
wickedness and disobedience.

Q Not worshipping Allah except by what has been legislated by His Prophet
(gs). This issue is critical, for it is not allowed to worship Allah by any act except
what has been shown by His Messenger (#2), as he said: “Whoever innovates an
act of worship in our religion, that thing ts rejected” (Muslim)

Thus, all types of unprecedented worship is not acceptable to Allah.

' The other two are: “Who is your God?” and “What is your religion?”


Note: Be certain that loving the Prophet (ity) is an obligation. Rather, it is not
enough that one merely love him; one should love him more than everything else,
even his own self. If someone loves something, they prefer it over theirself and
strive to be in agreement with it. Thus, the one who truly loves the Prophet (hy) iS
the one upon whom this love can be seen. He obeys him, implements his Sunnah,
implements his commands and imitates his deeds. He stays clear from what he
forbids, tries to behave like him both in times of ease and hardship, and in times
when he feels motivated to practice Islam and otherwise. Obedience is the fruit of
love, and without it, love can never be true. |

There are signs which show that one loves the Prophet ( ge), From them
are the following :

1) Mentioning him a lot and sending praises upon him. If one loves something he
mentions it often.

2) Longing to meet him. Anyone who loves another longs to meet his beloved.

3) Respecting him when he is mentioned. Ishaq said: The Companions of the
Prophet ( sy) would not mention him after his death except that they would fall
still, the hairs of their skin would stand, and they would weep.

4) Hating those who Allah and His Messenger (is) hate, and showing enmity to
those who show enmity to them. One also should stay away from those who oppose
his Sunnah and introduce new matters in his religion, such as the people of
innovation (bid’ah). .

5) Loving those who the Prophet (is) loved, such as the believing members of his
family, his wives, and his companions from the Emigrants (Muhajiroon) and the
Helpers (Ansar), One should hate those who hate them, take as enemies those who
show enmity to them and curse them. .

From the signs that one loves the Prophet (ge) is that one emulates his noble
manners and qualities. The Prophet (gy) was the most noble of humans in
manners. Aishah ( “%.) said of him, “The manners of the Prophet (gy) were that
of the Quran,” (Muslim) meaning that he kept himself from committing any act which
the Quran did not command. He was the bravest of people, and he would be most
brave at times of battle. He was the most generous of people, and he would be most
generous in Ramadan. He was the most sincere towards others and the most
forbearing of people. He never sought revenge for himself, but at the same time, he
was the strictest of people in regards to the commandments of Allah. He was the
most humble of people and tranquil. He was shyer than a secluded virgin. He was
the best of people to his family, and the most merciful of people towards the
creation, and encouraged others to have mercy as well.

O Allah! Send your praises upon him, his family, his wives, his companions and
those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection, and
remove them from all harm.

waiting for the second pillar
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