بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ

Salam! Listen carefully to this true story.

One day, the companions were sitting with the Prophet ﷺ. Suddenly, a man arrived. His clothes were very white, his hair very black. He did not look as if he had travelled, and yet nobody knew him! He sat very close to the Prophet ﷺ, knee to knee, and asked: "O Muhammad, tell me about Islam."

The Prophet ﷺ answered: "Islam is: 1. to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, 2. to establish the prayer, 3. to give the zakat, 4. to fast the month of Ramadan, 5. and to make the pilgrimage to the House of Allah, if you are able to."

The man said: "You have spoken the truth." The companions were surprised: he asks a question, then says the answer is right! When the man left, the Prophet ﷺ explained: "That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion." (Muslim 8)

The Prophet ﷺ also said: بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ buniya l-islaamu 'alaa khams "Islam is built on five." (Bukhari 8, Muslim 16)

Imagine a house with five pillars. If the pillars are strong, the house stands firm, even when the wind blows!

Little activity: draw a house with five pillars. On each pillar, write (or ask someone to write): shahada, prayer, zakat, fasting, hajj.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation A pillar is a big column that holds up the roof of a house. The Prophet ﷺ compared Islam to a house standing on five pillars (Bukhari 8, Muslim 16). The first pillar is said with the mouth and believed with the heart: the shahada. The four others are done: prayer every day, zakat every year for those who have enough money, fasting one month a year, and hajj once in a lifetime for those who can. In the story, Jibril also asked the Prophet ﷺ what faith is (believing in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day and destiny) and what excellence is (worshipping Allah as if you could see Him). The pillars of Islam are what a Muslim does; faith is what he believes in his heart. Look also at how Jibril behaved: he came clean, he sat politely, he asked good questions. That is how we learn!

Lessons to draw from it • Islam is not only words: it is also actions. • When a house has strong pillars, it does not fall: I take care of my pillars. • To learn, I come clean, I sit politely, and I ask questions.

Key points to remember • Islam is built on five pillars (Bukhari 8, Muslim 16). • The five pillars: the shahada, prayer, zakat, the fast of Ramadan, the hajj. • Jibril came "to teach you your religion" (Muslim 8).

The main message Islam is like a house built on five pillars: I learn them one by one so that my house is strong.