The Foundation of Islam

Islam is having five fundamental commandments (or) Faraiz. They are

1. Kalima (or) Shahadah
2. Namaaz (or) Salah
3. Rozah (or) Fast
4. Zakaat
5. Hajj

Hazrat Abdullah-bin-Omar (raz), repeats the words of our Prophet Mohammed (saw) and says that Islam has five fundamental commandments (or) faraiz, which are known as the five pillars.

The first of them is to witness the Kalima "La 'ilaa-ha 'il-lal-laa-hu mu-ham-ma-dur ra-soo-lul-laah", which means to accept that "There is none worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad (saw) is Allah's Messenger"

The second commandment (or) pillar of Islam is to pray Namaaz for Five times a day, likewise to pay Zakaat, to perform Hajj and to Fast during the month of Ramazaan.

In this Hadith (or) "The Sayings of our Prophet Mohammed (saw)", he has said to our Ummah - what are all the basic commandments from Allah (swt). Whoever obeys these five commandments faithfully for his life-time, he/she will be known as and has the rights to say that he/she is a muslim.

KALIMA

La Ilaha Ill Allah Muhammadur Rasool Allah (There is no god only Allah, Muhammad is the Rasool (Messenger) of Allah) is also known as Kalima Tayyab. Kalima Tayyab is the testification of faith in Islam. A person cannot be considered to be a Muslim if he/she does not believe in the words of this Kalima. To become a Muslim, a person must say this Kalima with total belief. Another point about this Kalima is the name given to it, which is Tayyab. Tayyab means Purity. By uttering this Kalima a person is purified from disbelief. An impure person becomes pure. This purification is spiritual.

The Messenger of Allah added, "Thy will come out of Hell (Fire) everyone who says: 'La ilaha ill Allah,' and has in his heart good equal to the weight of a barley grain. Then thy will come out of Hell (Fire) everyone who says: ' La ilaha ill Allah,' and has in his heart good equal to the weight of a wheat grain. Then thy will come out of Hell (Fire) everyone who says: 'La ilaha ill Allah,' and has in his heart good equal to the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant)." When the death of Abu Talib approached, the Messenger of Allah came to him and said, "Say: La ilaha ill Allah, a word with which I will be able to defend you before Allah."
[Sahih Bukhari]

for more details, go to http://www.meem.freeuk.com/Kalima.html

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