The Breeze of Dusk with the Scent of Musk

Chapter 23: The Five Pillars of Islam

In the Rainbow City in the Silk Province in the Star Kingdom, Mohammad Azzumurrud, the Arab and Muslim Koran memorizer, is still sharing his knowledge with his twenty Chinese friends (Yueliang Jian, Taiyang Jian, Junjie Song, Liling Heng, Mei Shun, Ji Biming, An Bo, Chang Dequan, Cong Fai, Jiang Qi, Wen Yu, Zhong Ming, Guotin Chuanli, Baozhai Aiguo, Chyou Bolin, Daiyu Chaoxiang, Fen Huizhong, Ju Jianyu, Nuo Park and Shu Qianfan) in regular knowledge sharing sessions held at the Merlin School. Mohammad has started teaching his friends about the basics and fundamentals of Islam. He told his friends that Islam is the paramount and most delicious fruit of the Arabic and Islamic civilization and that he/she who misses the knowledge of Islam misses the greatest treasure of the Arabic and Islamic civilization.

The Five Pillars of Islam

Islam is built on five pillars and these are: 1) The Witness: a Muslim bears witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. 2) Establishing the prayer: a Muslim prays to Allah five times a day. 3) Paying Zakat (obligatory charity). 4) Fasting the month of Ramadan. 5) The pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque in Makkah.

These pillars were mentioned in one famous Hadeeth where Prophet Muhammad said: "Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, paying the Zakat (obligatory charity), making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan."

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Pillar 1: The Witness

To bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is the key to embrace and enter Islam. This Witness has glorious meanings and implications. The meaning and implication of believing that "There is no God but Allah" is that you only worship Allah and believe that all gods worshipped instead of Allah are completely false and do not deserve any worship. The meaning and implication of believing that "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" is that you only worship Allah according to the way He ordained for Prophet Muhammad which is Islam, the only true religion. Islam in Arabic means submission to Allah. By believing that Allah is your only God and that Muhammad is the final Prophet and Messenger of Allah, you declare that you will submit to Allah and obey the instructions of Allah that Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the Holy Koran and the Honorable Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. Islam is the religion of perfect obedience to Allah. To obey Allah, you must obey Prophet Muhammad because he represents the perfect example of understanding the Islamic knowledge and applying Islam. Allah only accepts the religion of Islam and does not accept any other religion or philosophy. Allah said in the Holy Koran:

"Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam..." [THK: S 3: V 19].

"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers. (85)" [THK: S 3: V 85].

"And obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad) that you may obtain mercy. (132)" [THK: S 3: V 132].

"He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad) as a watcher over them. (80)" [THK: S 4: V 80].

Obeying Allah is the essence of worshipping Allah. The purpose of life is worshipping Allah Alone. Allah said in the Holy Koran:

"And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). (56) I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures). (57) Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong. (58)" [THK: S 51: V 56-58].