The Five Pillars of Islam are the core acts of worship that shape a Muslim’s faith and practice. They are supported by clear evidence from the Quran and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

1. Shahada (Declaration of Faith) – الشهادة

The Shahada is the testimony that every Muslim must believe and proclaim:

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
(La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur Rasulullah)
“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger.”

Quranic Evidence:

1. ﴿شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ﴾
   “Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and so do the angels and those of knowledge—[He is] maintaining justice. There is no deity except Him, the Almighty, the Wise.”
   (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:18)
2. ﴿وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ﴾
   “And We did not send any messenger before you but We revealed to him that ‘There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.’”
   (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:25)

Hadith Evidence:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“مَنْ شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ… أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ”
“Whoever testifies that there is no god but Allah alone, who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger… Allah will admit him to Paradise.”
(Sahih Muslim, 28)

2. Salah (Daily Prayers) – الصلاة

Muslims are required to perform five daily prayers:

• الفجر (Fajr) – Before sunrise
• الظهر (Dhuhr) – Midday
• العصر (Asr) – Afternoon
• المغرب (Maghrib) – Just after sunset
• العشاء (Isha) – Night

Quranic Evidence:

1. ﴿وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَٰتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ﴾
   “Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.”
   (Surah Hud 11:114)
2. ﴿إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا﴾
   “Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.”
   (Surah An-Nisa 4:103)

Hadith Evidence:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ الصَّلَاةُ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ وَأَنْجَحَ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ”
“The first thing a person will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is prayer. If it is good, then the rest of his deeds will be good; if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad.”
(Tirmidhi, 413)

3. Zakah (Obligatory Charity) – الزكاة

Quranic Evidence:

1. ﴿خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا﴾
   “Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase.”
   (Surah At-Tawbah 9:103)
2. ﴿وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ﴾
   “And establish prayer and give Zakah.”
   (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:110)

Hadith Evidence:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“الصَّدَقَةُ لَا تَنْقُصُ الْمَالَ”
“Charity does not decrease wealth.”
(Sahih Muslim, 2588)

4. Sawm (Fasting in Ramadan) – الصوم

Quranic Evidence:

1. ﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
   “O you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become righteous.”
   (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)

Hadith Evidence:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ”
“Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, all his past sins will be forgiven.”
(Sahih Bukhari, 38)

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) – الحج

Quranic Evidence:

﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًۭا﴾
“And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House—for whoever is able to find a way.”
(Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:97)

Hadith Evidence:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ”
“Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or wrongdoing will return as sinless as a newborn baby.”
(Sahih Bukhari, 1521)

These Five Pillars of Islam serve as the foundation of a Muslim’s faith, ensuring spiritual growth and moral discipline.