Pillars of Islam

Between 2000 and 1500 B.C. is the period normally ascribed to Hazrat Ibrahim (pbuh) the patriarch of all the monotheistic religions of the world. He died at the ripe old age of 175 years.

It is confirmed from the Quran that he broke the idols. Then, with his son Ismail (pbuh) built the Kaaba. Is it conceivable that he placed idols in the Kaaba in the form of Laat, Manaat & Uzza etc? It just cannot be! Then history tells us that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), after the victory over Mecca, broke the idols in the Kaaba. Where did these come from? How did they creep into the house of Allah between the period of Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)?

Let me illustrate a personal example. There is a corner in my house where I normally offer my prayers. There is a corner table there on which was laid several small dolls. One day, while I was out, the call for evening prayers was heard from the nearby mosque. My wife asked our grandson Usman (then three years old), to wash up and offer his prayers. He prepared and laid the prayer carpet at some other place, picked up a doll from the table and placed it before the prayer carpet. My wife was aghast and asked him why he did so? He said because grandfather always offers his prayers in front of these dolls! On hearing this I felt sorry at myself, asked the Almighty for forgiveness and removed those doll pieces from there.

If I had not done so, maybe the "tradition" would have gone down from
generation to generation and my children's children and their children's
children would be prostrating before idols without knowing why they were doing so!

In the same way, over the ages, many such things have crept into our
religion and this has become the cause of so many sects in Islam where there should be none and we should all be one Ummah. Each sect follows what has been passed down to it from earlier generations, taking it to be the real religion.

It has been my honour and pleasure to write several articles on Islam. All of them by the Grace of Allah has been widely welcomed. But......some have hurt some people and instead of making a constructive criticism I have been labeled as "Wahabi", "Shia" (poles apart), "Idiot" and also "Munkar" by people whose particular belief or rather mis-belief was hurt.

Today, I take up the 5 (five) pillars of Islam, namely:-

1. Kalima Tayyaba
2. Salaat
3. Zakaat
4. Som (fasting)
5. Hajj

KALIMA TAYYABA:- This is the first pillar. Now, what is Kalima Tayyaba? Let the Holy Quran answer this question:-
" Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable?-------A "Goodly Word" (Kalima-tun Tayyaba-tun) like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens-----It brings forth its fruit at all times by the leave of its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men in order that they may receive admonition" (14/24,25 Ibrahim).

In several places in the Quran the word "Kalima-tun" has been mentioned and they mostly refer to the Quran itself. So, when we say that the first pillar of Islam is to "RECITE" the "Kalima Tayyaba" what we actually mean is to recite the Holy Quran. It is only AFTER you have read and understood the Kalimat-e-Rabbi (Quran) that you will be in a position to give Shahadat and proclaim with full understanding that "THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD IS HIS APOSTLE".

The famous incident of Hazrat Umar (R.A.) may be recalled here. He was in full rage on his way to take revenge from our Prophet when he was diverted to his sister's house. There he "recited" the "Kalima-e-Tayyaba" and only "after" reciting did he bear witness to the fact that Muhammad (pbuh) was the messenger of Almighty Allah.

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So, the first pillar automatically enjoins upon us to read the Quran. If you do not know Arabic then recite the translation in your own language. All the great and respected scholars have translated into their own language solely for our benefit and convenience and we should be grateful to them for this noble task, and take full advantage of it.

SALAAT:- The second pillar is Salaat or prayers. This is a very simple
routine to be performed at stated times. How should we perform it? Very easy. The Holy Quran tells us to take the "Station of Ibrahim" (Maqaam-e-Ibrahim) as the standard of prayer. Offer your prayers the way it is offered at Baitullah, that is, the Holy Kaaba at Mecca. That is the "only" way to offer the prayers. All other ways are distractions from the original. Prayers at Mecca are being offered "Exactly" as they were offered at the time of our Holy Prophet (pbuh). There has been "absolutely no change". You can get a video or watch the live telecast if you have the required cable or dish antennae. If anybody tells you to perform in any other way then do not listen to him as that person is trying to sow dissention in our religion. Beware of such people!!!!

ZAKAAT:- Wherever Salaat has been mentioned in the Quran it has been mostly tagged along with Zakaat. As Salaat, offered in congregation, removes our feelings of superiority and inferiority complexes (both of which are a disease), so Zakaat removes the disparity of wealth amongst the classes. How much should we expend in Zakaat? The Holy Quran says:-

"They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your
needs" (2/219).

SOM:- Or fasting, which is an obligation for a month in a year. The month is Ramazaan. Here again the way to do it is to follow the way it is done in Mecca and Medina. After performing Hajj which is an obligation enjoined by Allah, if you get an opportunity then do visit  Mecca and Medina once in your life-time during Ramazaan. You will, Inshallah, experience such thrill and ecstasy that it is a feeling best experienced that described. If you have not been there then ask someone
who has done so and listen to the way he or she describes the
experience. The way to observe fast, the time to start it and the time
to end it being done there is exactly as it was being done in the
Prophet's time (pbuh). You can also watch the live telecast of
Salaat-ul- Taravih from Mecca. The way they do it is authentic and any
other way is a distortion.

HAJJ:- This is obligatory once in a life time. The purpose is to
collect the Ummah from all round the globe and unite them in one garb,
in white. Why white and not any other colour? Because, as you know,
white is a mixture of 7(seven) colours. This gives a solid message to
everybody in a scientific manner that there is no distinction of caste,
colour or race in our religion and all combined makes one Ummah. And of
course, no headgear is allowed otherwise kings would be going there
with crowns on their heads and different sects would be wearing
different colours of turbans to identify their sects.

Moreover, you are permitted to carry commercial commodity for trading
purposes during Hajj.

While there, spend as little time in offering Nawafil and spend maximum
time in meeting, talking, inviting your brothers from other lands and
sharing your experiences. Nawafils are best performed in the privacy of
your homes and public places should be avoided for such purposes in
order not to cause trouble to others.

The gist of all is that you must read or recite the Kalima-e-Tayyaba,
that is, the Holy Quran, to understand what your religion is all about.
Read the translation in your own language if you do not understand
Arabic.

Islam is a "LIVING RELIGION". By LIVING is meant that YOU have to LIVE it yourself. YOU have to recite the KALIMA (QURAN); YOU have to offer SALAAT; YOU have to give ZAKAAT; YOU have to perform the SOM and YOU have to perform the HAJJ. There is no place for Pandits, Rabbis or Priests in Islam. This is YOUR religion. Hold fast to it.

In conclusion let us end with the prayer (or Doa) of Prophet Ibrahim
(pbuh) as Islam is also called Deen-e-Ibrahim:-

 " Remember Ibrahim said: "O my Lord! make this city (Mecca) one
of peace and security: And preserve me and my sons from worshipping
idols. "O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind; he
then who follows my (ways) is of me, and he that disobeys me,------but
Thou art indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by Thy Sacred House, in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer; so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits; so that they may give thanks. O our Lord, truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah, whether on earth or in heaven. Praise be to Allah, who has granted unto me in old age Ismail and Ishaque: for truly my Lord is He the Hearer of Prayer! O my Lord make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer. O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness------me, my parents, and (all) believers on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!" (14/35-41, Ibrahim).
May the Almighty Creator Help us to follow the REAL Deen. Aameen.
 

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