Lesson Two
The Pillars of Islam Clarifying the five pillars of Islam, the first and greatest of which is to bear witness that Laa Ilaha Illallah wa Anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah (none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger), with explanation of their meanings, and the conditions of Laa Ilaha Illallah and its meaning: Laa Ilaha negates all that is worshipped other than Allah; Ilia Allah affirms that worship must be for Allah alone, Who has no partner.
As for the conditions of Laa Ilaha Illallah, they are as follows:
1) Knowledge that negates ignorance
2) Certainty which negates doubt
3) Sincerity which negates Shirk
4) Truth which negates denial
5) Love which negates hate
6) Submission which negates abandoning
7) Acceptance which negates rejection
8) Disbelief in all that is worshipped other than Allah
Clarifying the testimony Muhammadan Rasoolullah and what it includes: to believe what he informs, to obey what he commands, and to leave what he forbids. And we must worship Allah only in a way that He Almighty and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) legislated.
Next, a student should learn about the remainder the five pillars of Islam: Salat, Zakat, fasting the month of Ramadhan, and Hajj to the Sacred House of Allah for those who are able to perform it.
Defining Islam Islam means for you to submit yourself to Allah, by making your worship sincere and pure for Him alone, by obeying Him, and by absolving yourself of Shirk and its people. Shirk (to associate partners with Allah in worship) was the creed of the Arabs before the advent of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). Al-Bukhari related that Abu Raja' Al¬-'Utaridi said, "We used to worship stones, and when we would find a stone that was better than the one we were worshipping, we would throw the former away and start worshipping the latter. If we couldn't find a stone, we would gather a heap of dirt, then we would bring a sheep and milk it over that pile, and then we would walk around it (as a ritual worship)."
In many different verses, the Qur'an clarified for us the state of nations in general before the advent of the Prophet's message; Allah Almighty says:
And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah. (Surah Yunus 10:18)
And those who take protectors and helpers besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:3)
Verily, We made the Shayatin (devils) protectors and helpers for those who believe not. And when they commit a Fahishah (evil deed, going around the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has commanded us of it." Say: "Nay, Allah never commands of Fahishah. Do you say of Allah what you know not?" (Surah Al-“Araf 7:27-28)
Surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as protectors and helper instead of Allah, and consider that they are guided. (Surah Al-“Araf 7:30)
And they assign to Allah a share of the tilth and cattle which He has created, and they say: "This is for Allah," according to their pretending, "and this is for our (Allah's so called) partners." But the share of their (Allah's so called) "partners" reaches not Allah, while the share of Allah reaches their (Allah's so called) "partners"! Evil is the way they judge! (Surah Al-An’am 6:136)
There are many other verses that impart a similar meaning. Other than the Qur'an, the sayings of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and of trustworthy historians give us a good glimpse of the state of the previous nations: before the advent of the Prophet's message, people were practicing many different kinds of Shirk - some worshipped statues and idols, others worshipped the dwellers of graves, others worshipped the sun, moon, and planets, while yet others worshipped other things. The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) invited them all to worship Allah alone and to leave the falsehood that they and their fathers were upon. Allah Almighty says:
Say (0 Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam): "0 mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshiped but He. It is He who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in Allah and His Words, and follow Him so that you may be guided." (Surah Al-A’raf 7:158)
Alif-Lam-Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed to you in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness into light by their Lord's Leave to the path of Almighty, the Owner of all praise. (Surah Ibrahim 14:1)
O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as a witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner. And as one who invites to Allah by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 45-46)
And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone.(Surah Al-Bayyinah 98:5)
O mankind! Worship your Lord who created you and those who were before you so that you may become pious. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 21)
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. (Surah Al-Isra’ 17:23)
And the verses that impart a similar meaning are many.
In many verses of the Qur'an, Allah informs us that though they were polytheists, they admitted that Allah was their Creator and Provider; they only worshipped other than Him as intermediaries between them and Allah. He says:
And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah. (Surah Yunus 10:18)
Here are only some of the many verses that give a similar meaning:
Say: "Who provides for you from the sky and from the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out dead from living? And who disposes the affairs?" They will say: "Allah." Say: "Will you not be then afraid of Allah's punishment? (Surah Yunus 10:31)
And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: "Allah." How then are they turned away? (Az-Zukhruf 43:87)
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