The term “pillars of Islam” contradicts the holy Qur’an
The term “five pillars of Islam” is the same as the status quo. The term was developed by scholars on the basis of the narration of Al-Bukhari and Muslim attributed to Ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab. He said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Islam is based on five pillars: the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and the performance of prayer, the giving of zakat, hajj to the holy mosque in Mecca and fasting in the month of Ramadan”.
This is the basis of the narration that restricts the pillars of Islam in the rituals of worship. This is the argument of what they call the “religious scholars” who believed the narrations without being supported with a text of the Book of Allah. They used this narration to draw the features of religion as a whole. Moreover, they use this narration to deny a clear Koranic approach regarding the divine approach. The integrated comprehensive divine approach aims at the happiness of creation. The divine approach is based on the legislation that derives laws to regulate the social relations between people. The divine approach codifies all civil transactions with the call to follow the values of virtue and morality in dealing with people. It also includes the rules of punishment and the foundations of protection of society from the abuse of rights and property that achieve social security.
The origin of religion is based on justice, morality and lofty humanitarian principles. However, this narration comes to say the opposite. It even reduces the pillars of Islam in the practices of worship and rituals, if established by the individual in a proper way, then he is a good Muslim even if he was a thief or a traitor or a liar or even a murderer, as long as has performed to the mentioned pillars. Here, we see that the Holy Quran set the parameters of Islam for the message to humanity,
The Almighty said: “Conformity of life and conduct in divine law for righteous living does not simply mean turning your faces at prayer toward the east or the west, but it entails adherence to principles serving as the basis of Allah’s system of faith and worship. It entails that you believe in Allah and in the Day of Judgement with faithful hearts, that you entertain with profound reverence the belief on ground of Authority in Allah’s, spiritual beings, attendants and Messengers, that you solemnly consent to Allah’s Books revealed to His Prophets and to the Prophets themselves, that you spend of your wealth in benevolence and benefaction on the poor among your kindred, on the orphans, on those in need and on the wayfarer who has no means of transportation, on those who make a request for aid in times of difficulty or distress and on redeeming and setting free servants who are completely divested of freedom and personal rights, that you engage in the act of appropriate worship, that you give zakat for zakat is the vehicle of prayer, that you fulfil the promise when you make one and that you exercise patience when befallen with a misfortune and the distress of warfare against enemies. These are the ones who have characterized themselves with virtuous qualities and stand true in Allah’s honour and these are the ones who entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Him.” (Al Baqarah 177)
The Almighty said: “And how richly rewarded shall be:
a) The worshippers of Allah who observe religious acts of worship enjoined by AL-Rahman; they walk on earth softly, gently and in humility. When addressed by the insolent and impudent whose imprudence gets the better of them, they answer them with the expression of good will «Peace».” (Al Furqan: 63)
The Almighty said: “Nor does a deed crowned with equity and good will compare with a deed tinted with evil and ill – will. Therefore repel what affects you with distaste and aversion by what is morally and spiritually sublime, and there you will find that he who harbours to you enmity and ill – will has come to be as though he were a friend actuated with the feeling of sincerity.” (Fussilut 34)
The Almighty said: “Tell My servants O Muhammad who declare or state in words a specified fact, thought, opinion or intention, an event or a remark or the like to say what is friendly, favourable and laudatory and to keep a civil tongue in their heads, for AL-Shaytan is on the alert for an occasion to divide mankind and set them at variance and to stir up enmity among them. Indeed AL-Shaytan has always been to man an avowed enemy.” (Israa: 53)
The Almighty said: “Allah, your Creator, has ordained, that you worship no one but Him and you adore Him with appropriate acts and rites and that you commit your parents to your kind care. When one or both of them attain old age they expect your friendly disposition by your conduct to them. Therefore do not offend them by giving vent to an exclamation of impatience or disgust nor should you rebuke or reprimand them and let your dissertation with them be a sweet discourse. {23) And lower to them the wing of power in humility, standing manifest of kindness and mercy and invoke Allah to be merciful to them and express your invocatory prayer in words, thus: O Allah, my Creator, I pray and beseech you to extend to them Your mercy in return for bringing me up and setting me on my feet which confess their toilsome care for me in my childhood {24)” (Al Israa 23-24)
The Almighty said: “And render to the poor being of kin his due and also to the needy and to the wayfarer who does not have the means for transportation, but do not expend extravagantly or wastefully.” (Al Israa 26)
And the Almighty says: “And do not bind your hand to your neck, as it were, unwilling to give or spend anything, nor should you spread it in the «spread-eagle style», lest you sit brooding on the vast abyss of reprimand and woeful want” (Al Israa 29)
And the Almighty says: “Do not kill your children for fear of want. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, killing them was a flagrant violation of Allah’s system of faith and worship and a major sin {31} Nor should you commit adultery. It is a forbidden sexual union, regarded by Allah as an immoral act, a degrading vice and an evil line of conduct. {32} Nor should you deprive anyone of life Allah has made sacred, unless be justified for a proved crime. And if someone has been killed wrongfully, then his next of kin is authorized by Allah to use the means of procuring redress of grievances through avenging his right or forgiveness, (court of law, now). But should he choose to avenge his right, he must not carry it to excess, for the divine law is on his side {33} Nor should you encroach upon the property of the orphan, unless it be with the motive principle of improving, advancing or raising it to be a better quality or condition, until he reaches maturity and be able to take charge of it. Fulfill the solemn promise if you should make one and keep the vow and meet your engagements and obligations. A vow is great responsibility and those who break it shall have much to answer for in Day of Judgement {34} Dispense the quantity ascertained by measuring to the full if you happen to sell by a standard measure. And if you are using the method of weighing then you are enjoined to use an accurate and precise balance conforming to a standard, and an exemplar of truth and equity. This is a wise course of action ensuring safety and leading to the intended purpose {35} And do not gratify your desire or inclination to pursue a subject of which you have no knowledge nor charge anyone with a fault or a crime when you are not sure of his guilt nor pursue vain things which will avail you nothing. Indeed, he faculties of hearing, sight and intellect, each and all, are held responsible in Day of Judgement and shall have much to answer for {36} Nor should you walk on earth displaying inordinate self-esteem or with an overweening opinion of your qualities, attainments or estate, for even if the incessant tread of your feet wear the rough stones smooth, you shall not be able to rend the earth nor shall you be able to level to a mountain in height {37}” (Al Israa 31-37)
The Almighty said: “«My son», he added, « observe the act of worship and enjoin equity, forbid what is wrong, odious and abominable and exercise patience with composure when exposed to a misfortune or wedded to a calamity, for this reflects an attitude of mind that mirrors high spirit and strong will {17} «And do not», he continued, «give cheek to people nor inflate it with pride and vanity nor should you walk on earth displaying inordinate self-esteem or with an overweening opinion of your qualities, attainments or estate». «And do realize that Allah detests every boastful who exalts himself and displays inordinate self-esteem» {18} «And walk forth» he said, « with moderate steps and with regular pace comformable to a standard recognized as formally correct». «And .lower your voice when you give utterance or expression to an emotion, opinion, feeling, thought, or discussion and in your natural action, for the most repulsive, objectionable and displeasing sound produced by the vocal organs is the braying or the loud harsh sound of asses» {19}” (Luqman 17-19)
The Almighty said: “Allah enjoins justice and deeds of wisdom and piety, and benevolence to those of your kindred who are in need. And He forbids all that is wrongful and obscene, all that is offensive and excites disgust and unwarranted severe course of action. He exhorts you and urges you to what is good and laudable, that you may hopefully heed” (Al Nahl 90)
The Almighty said: “Say to them: «Come: I will give you an account of all that Allah has forbidden:
a) You must not incorporate with Him other deities nor be unkind to the parents but commit them to your kind care,
b) You must not kill your children because of lack of means or, indigence; Allah provides for you and for them,
c) You must not commit yourselves to an evil line of conduct, be it apparent or real, committed openly or secretly or suggested secretly to the mind,
d) You must not deprive anyone of life, which Allah has made sacred, unless it be justified for a proved crime. These are injunctions enjoined by Allah and you are expected to submit to Allah’s Authority and hopefully reflect.” (Al An’am: 151)
The Almighty said: “O you who believe with hearts reflecting the image of religious and spiritual virtues and their deeds wisdom and piety. Avoid suspicion in many instances and the conjecture of the existence of something evil or wrong without proof; suspicion in some instances is indeed a sin. Nor play the spy upon each other or peer inquisitively and impertinently into the nature of other peoples’ actions, nor traduce or slander one another by speaking evil or falsehood or speaking maliciously behind his or her back. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother! Indeed you would shrink from it with horror. Therefore, keep Allah in mind and entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Him, Allah is indeed Tawabun (Relenting) and Rahimun (Merciful). Allah indicates to people that He weighs them not by their parentage, lineage, descent or rank in life, but by the image their hearts reflect” (Al Hujurat 12)
The Almighty said: “Allah commands you to characterize yourselves with habitual reverence, obedience and piety and to restore the property and whatever you hold in trust, be, it from Allah or from people, to those who have the rightful claim to it and or -to those who have invested you with the trust. And exercise justice when you sit in judgement upon people, and be consonant with the principles of moral right and in accordance with reason and fact. Allah enjoins only what is right and sound; how morally excellent is what He exhorts you to do; Allah has always been Sami’un with (unlimited audition), and Bassirun, (He sees all that you do).” (Al Nisaa 58)
There are many examples of verses that urge adherence to noble morals and values of the holy Qur’an.
Where are Muslims stand of those ethics and behavior that Allah – the Almighty – wanted Muslims to follow to build civilized communities sympathetic and cooperative on good work?
How was this integrated divine approach been overthrown from the pillars of Islam? The divine approach was overthrown and obscured while it is one of the most important foundations in human education to prepare a good individual who participates in building a society of cooperation, love and peace so all people can live in security, prosperity and stability.
Muslims must restore the noble values of the holy Qur’an. This is to be able to share the rest of humanity in advancing the building of a society of virtue and civilized development. Such a society protects the human rights in life and freedom, and the right to seek a livelihood and a decent life.
Source:
«Muslims … Between the religious speech and the divine speech», issued by «Al-Nokhba House for Printing, Publishing and Distribution», by the researcher and thinker Ali Muhammad al-Shurafa al-Hammadi.
