Hadith 3: The five pillars of Islam

1. Read

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: سَمِعْت رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَقُولُ: بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ . [رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ] ، [وَمُسْلِمٌ]

On the authority of Abdullah, the son of Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, "Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the zakat (obligatory charity), making the hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadhan."

Narrated by: Abdullah
Source: Bukhari & Muslim
Grade: Sahih

Open this hadith in the library

2. Understand

• Who narrated this hadith, and which book did Imam an-Nawawi take it from?
• What does it command, forbid or describe? Say it in one sentence of your own.
• Which words are the Prophet's own, and which are the narrator setting the scene?

Take the explanation of this hadith from a qualified teacher or a recognised commentary. The aim here is that you know the text precisely before you hear it explained.

3. Reflect

Where does this hadith meet your own life this week? Write it in the notes box on the hadith's page; only you can see it.

4. Memorise

Learn the Prophet's words in Arabic, phrase by phrase, aloud. When you can recite them without looking, mark the hadith Memorised and it will be scheduled for revision.

5. Act

Choose one specific thing to do, or to stop doing, because of this hadith. Small and kept is better than large and dropped.