ارکان اسلام

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Islam is built upon five things: 1. To bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the servant and Messenger of Allah; 2. to establish the prayer; 3. to pay the zakat; 4. to perform the Hajj; and 5. to fast in Ramadan." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Just as any building needs foundations and pillars to keep it standing, so too Islam has its pillars and foundations, which are called the pillars of Islam (arkan al-Islam). There is no room for anyone to be negligent in fulfilling these pillars, for they are the foundational supports of Islam. It should also be clear that the obligations of Islam are not confined to these five pillars alone; alongside them there are other obligations as well, but the special qualities that these pillars possess the others do not.