The Five Pillars of Islam Explained: A Simple Guide for Families and Beginners

The Prophet ﷺ said that Islam is built upon five things: bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakat, making pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). These are known as the five pillars of Islam.

Just as pillars hold up a building, these five acts hold up a Muslim's practice of faith. This guide explains each one simply, whether you are new to Islam, refreshing your knowledge or preparing to teach your children.

1. Shahadah: the declaration of faith

The Shahadah is the statement that is the foundation of everything else:

Ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlullāh.

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

It has two parts. The first affirms tawheed, that Allah alone deserves worship. The second affirms that Muhammad ﷺ is His final messenger, whose example shows us how to live by that belief. Saying it sincerely, with understanding and conviction, is how a person enters Islam.

2. Salah: the five daily prayers

Salah is the ritual prayer, performed five times a day at set times: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (night). It is preceded by wudu (ablution) and performed facing the Kaaba in Makkah.

Salah is the most frequent pillar and the one that shapes a Muslim's day. It is obligatory on every adult Muslim of sound mind, and children are taught it from a young age so it becomes natural by the time it is required.

3. Zakat: obligatory charity

Zakat is a yearly payment from a Muslim's savings to those in need. It is due once a person's qualifying wealth (such as cash, gold, silver and trade goods) stays above a minimum amount, called the nisab, for a full lunar year. The usual rate is 2.5% of that wealth.

The word zakat is linked to purification and growth: giving it purifies wealth and the heart, and it supports the poor, the needy and others named in the Quran. Rules for different kinds of assets can be detailed, so it is wise to calculate zakat with guidance from a knowledgeable person.

4. Sawm: fasting in Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, avoiding food, drink and marital relations during daylight hours. Fasting is also a time to guard the tongue, increase in prayer and Quran recitation, and give generously.

Fasting is required of healthy adult Muslims. People who are ill, travelling, elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding have exemptions, either making up the days later or, in some cases, feeding a person in need for each day missed.

5. Hajj: the pilgrimage to Makkah

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah performed in the month of Dhul-Hijjah. It is required once in a lifetime for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the journey. Over several days, pilgrims follow in the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), his family and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, gathering on the plain of Arafah in one of the largest annual gatherings on earth.

How the five pillars fit together

• Shahadah is belief in the heart, spoken on the tongue.
• Salah connects a Muslim to Allah every day.
• Zakat connects a Muslim to their community every year.
• Sawm trains self-discipline and gratitude every Ramadan.
• Hajj brings it all together once in a lifetime.

Pillars of Islam and articles of faith

The five pillars are about practice. Alongside them are the six articles of faith (arkān al-īmān), which are about belief: belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree. Together they form the core of what it means to be a Muslim, and both are taught in our Islamic Studies course.

Explaining the five pillars to children

• Use the hand. Five fingers, five pillars. Children can count them off and name one on each finger.
• Draw a building. Sketch a house with five columns and let your child label them. Ask what would happen if one was missing.
• Connect each one to real life. Pray together, let them help count out charity, try a half-day fast when they are ready, and show them photos or videos of Hajj.
• Start with what they can do. For young children, the Shahadah and Salah come first. Our guide on how to teach your child to pray can help.

Learn the pillars properly

Understanding the pillars in depth, including the conditions of prayer, the basics of zakat and the rules of fasting, is easier with a teacher who can answer your questions. Our one-on-one Islamic Studies and Prayer Lessons courses cover them step by step for children, adults and new Muslims.