The 5 Pillars of Islam: Foundation of Muslim Faith

Islam has a strong spiritual structure. Thanks to its five great pillars that make it firm to the core. These pillars are the principles that act as a guiding light for the beliefs and actions of every Muslim. Their prime aim is to keep Muslims connected to Allah and live a spiritually balanced life. These five pillars are Shahada, Salah, Saum, Zakat, and Hajj. In addition to these pillars, there is another act of worship, known as Umrah, which is of equal importance in Islam. It holds great spiritual value for Muslims. Every year, a large number of people book Umrah Packages and embark on the holy journey to strengthen their faith. It has a close connection with the Hajj, as a few of its rituals match with those of the greater pilgrimage. So, it is usually called a minor pilgrimage in comparison to the Hajj. In this post, we will talk about the five pillars of Islam and explain how each of them manifests itself in the essence of Umrah.

What Are the 5 Pillars of Islam and What Each of Them Means?

Shahada

The Shahada is the declaration of faith in the oneness of God and His messenger (P.B.U.H.). It is called the first pillar of Islam. Every Muslim needs to say the following words: “La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah.” (There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) to show their allegiance to the religion. On a surface level, this sentence might look simple to read. If we look at its context, it has deep spiritual significance. These words reflect on the belief in one God and the Prophethood of Muhammad (P.B.U.H.). Therefore, in order to be a part of the faith, every Muslim has to believe in these words with pure intentions. The concept of Shahada is clearly visible during Umrah rituals. Circling around the house of Allah 7 times is a clear testament that Muslims accept the oneness of Allah. After performing Umrah, pilgrims go to Masjid e Nabwi to show their respect to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.)

Salah

Salah is the second pillar of Islam which requires Muslims to pray five times a day. The prayers are fajr, duhr, asr, maghrib, and isha. These build a direct link between a Muslim and Allah. They not only make a Muslim disciplined but also offer him peace, gratitude, and reflection. Hence, they structure a believer’s day and keep his heart spiritually active. Moreover, when a Muslim prays in the Masjid e Haram during Umrah, it becomes a spiritually engaging experience for him. When Muslims pray near the Ka’aba, their souls even feel uplifted while bowing in congregation.

Zakat

The third pillar of Islam is Zakat. It means to fix a portion of one’s health to give out to those in need. Islam has fixed a criterion for this. If a person has an amount of wealth that comes under the terms and conditions of Zakat, 2.5 % of his total wealth will be fixed for Zakat. It has to be paid annually. The purpose of this pillar is to remind Muslims that everything they own, from their health to wealth, comes only from Allah. He is the one to trust and give the name to. Moreover, this portion of wealth is used to support those in need. Hence, Zakat restricts the accumulation of wealth on the one hand. You must have seen this act of giving Zakat during Umrah trip. When people come to the holy city of Mecca for Umrah, they give Zakat as a part of cleaning their souls. Moreover, the atmosphere that is built in Mecca during Umrah also encourages people to do Zakat.

Saum

The arrival of Ramadan signals the joy of fasting. As this month comes, Muslims gear up for a spiritually enriching experience. They keep themselves refrained from food, drink, and other physical needs. It is one of the most special pillars of Islam that is not just about staying hungry but growing in faith, patience, and charity. Muslims see this month as a chance to rest their souls and practise self-control. This helps them understand the feelings of the poor or those with a lower financial status. In addition to this, Muslims see Ramazan as a time to seek the blessings of Allah, recite more Quran, and strengthen their bond with Allah. There is something more about it. Many Muslims embark on the holy journey of performing Umrah during Ramadan. When it is performed during Ramadan, its rewards multiply. Hence, the mix of fasting, praying, and Umrah in this holy month is a unique and highly rewarding experience.

Hajj

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a journey of faith, regrowth, and equality. Hajj is performed annually in the month of Zil Hajj. It is a mandatory worship and must be performed by every Muslim once in their life. However, not everyone can perform it. Only those Muslims who are physically, mentally, and financially fit are eligible for this. Its rituals include tawaf, sa’i, gathering on the grounds of Arafat and Muzdalifah, and various others. During the time of Hajj, Muslims from different parts of the world come gather in Mecca. They all wear a simple white Ihram that shows that everyone is equal in front of Allah’s eyes. Hajj is performed to teach mankind the values of humility, sacrifice, unity, and submission to oneness of God. On the other hand, Umrah, a non-obligatory worship, is the lesser pilgrimage but holds great spiritual value. There is no restriction on time to perform Umrah. Muslims do it all year-round, except in the months of Hajj. Talking about its rituals, most of them are similar to Hajj, like tawaf and sa’i. Many Muslims see Umrah as a means of preparing for Hajj.

The Final Thought

The five pillars of Islam are the bedrock of the Muslim faith. The motive of these pillars is to keep the Muslims on track by helping them stay focused and spiritually grow. Other than these pillars, one of the primary acts of worship is Umrah. Muslims see Umrah as a chance to step away from their daily routine and seek a refuge at the most holiest places in the world. Moreover, Umrah reminds pilgrims to be focused in life and become a better version of their selves. So, if you are planning to perform Umrah soon with your family, there is no better way to do that than to book Family Umrah Packages. You can contact Muslims Holy Travel and get Umrah packages at affordable prices.