Dars 5 - Dars-e-Hadith by Mufti Zahid Hussain

Islam is built upon five pillars, which are likened to the supports of a building that must remain firm for an individual's faith to be secure. These pillars are the Shahadah (testimony of faith), the establishment of salah (prayer), the giving of zakah (alms), the performance of Hajj (pilgrimage), and the fasting of the month of Ramadan ▸2:00. While Jihad is an essential part of Islam, it is not considered one of these five pillars because its obligation alternates rather than remaining constant like the pillars ▸21:02. Abandoning any of these pillars without a valid excuse is a major sin, and failing to believe in them as pillars constitutes kufr (disbelief).

Faith (Iman) consists of more than 70 faculties or branches, which are defined as praiseworthy characteristics (khasail hamidah) that a believer must adopt ▸21:02. The exact number of these faculties is left ambiguous in the narrations to indicate that they are numerous and cannot be strictly counted. Among these, the most virtuous faculty is the verbal declaration of la ilaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship but Allah), which, according to the scholars, implies the full testimony including Muhammadur Rasulullah (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). The lowest faculty of faith is the removal of harmful objects from a public pathway, an act that reflects the believer's concern for others.

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Key topics & takeaways

The pillars of Islam

• The five pillars — Islam is structured upon five foundational acts: the Shahadah, salah, zakah, Hajj, and fasting in Ramadan ▸21:02.
• The necessity of the pillars — Each pillar is required for the building of an individual's Islam to remain firm; neglecting one weakens the faith ▸21:02.
• Status of Jihad — Although Jihad is an essential aspect of the religion, it is excluded from the five pillars because its obligation is not constant ▸21:02.
• Consequences of abandonment — Abandoning a pillar without a valid excuse is a major sin, while rejecting the status of a pillar is an act of kufr ▸21:02.

The nature of Iman

• Faculties of faith — Iman comprises over 70 branches, which represent various praiseworthy characteristics to be integrated into a believer's life ▸21:02.
• Ambiguity of the number — The use of terms like "70 and more" indicates that the faculties of faith are vast and not limited to a specific, fixed count ▸21:02.
• The most virtuous faculty — The highest and most superior branch of faith is the verbal declaration of the Shahadah ▸21:02.
• Meaning of the Shahadah — The declaration "la ilaha illallah" is understood to encompass "Muhammadur Rasulullah," as access to Paradise is contingent upon both testimonies ▸21:02.
• Public profession of faith — The superiority of the Shahadah includes the courage to express one's faith openly without fear of societal pressure or alienation ▸21:02.
• The lowest faculty — The removal of hazards or harmful items from a path used by people or animals is identified as the least virtuous, yet still essential, branch of faith ▸21:02.

Terminology and interpretation

• Meaning of "bid'un" — In the context of the number of faculties, the term signifies a part or a specific range, generally understood as "70 and some more" ▸21:02.
• Significance of the number seven — In Arabic, numbers involving seven often denote a large quantity or abundance rather than a precise mathematical figure ▸21:02.
• Etymology of "dunya" — The word for the world is derived from the same root as adna (the lowest), signifying that the world is the furthest thing from the believer's true priorities ▸21:02.
• The world as a prison — The world is described as a prison for the believer, implying that one should maintain distance from worldly attachments and focus instead on the afterlife ▸21:02.
• Naming conventions — The practice of naming a statement or a chapter of the Qur'an after its first words is a standard linguistic convention, which explains why the first kalima is referred to by its opening phrase ▸21:02.
• Prohibition of partial recitation — Teaching children to say only "la ilaha" is warned against, as the phrase alone implies the denial of all divinity, which is an act of kufr ▸21:02.
• Status of Sayyida Fatima — The term bid'ah (part) is used to describe Sayyida Fatima's relationship to the Prophet, indicating that her pleasure is linked to his pleasure ▸21:02.
• Displeasure of the Prophet — Displeasing Sayyida Fatima is considered a cause for the Prophet's displeasure, which is described as a factor that shatters an individual's faith ▸21:02.