Uislamu umejengwa juu ya nguzo tano.

Islam has five pillars upon which it is built.

1. Shahada Mbili za Imani: Hii ndiyo kauli ambayo kwayo mtu huingia katika Uislamu. Kauli hiyo ni kama ifuatavyo: "Nashuhudia kwamba hakuna mwenye haki ya kuabudiwa isipokuwa Allah, na nashuhudia kwamba Muhammad ni Mtume wa Allah ﷺ." Kauli ya kwanza inakanusha ibada kwa kila mtu na kila kitu kingine isipokuwa Allah; huku ikithibitisha kwamba ibada ni kwa Allah peke yake, bila washirika. Kauli ya pili inathibitisha kwamba Muhammad ni Mtume wa Allah ﷺ; hivyo, maneno yake yanaaminiwa, na amri zake zinafuatwa ﷺ.

1. The Two Testimonies of Faith: This is the statement by which a person enters Islam. This statement is as follows: “I bear witness that nothing has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The first statement negates worship for everyone and everything other than Allah; while affirming that worship is for Allah, alone, without partners. The second statement affirms Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; thus, his statements are believed, and his com mands are followed.

2. Sala: Waislamu husali mara tano kwa siku. Sala ni uhusiano kati ya mwanadamu na Muumba wake. Mfano wa sala ni ule wa mtu anayeoga kando ya mto mara tano kwa siku. Je, mtu huyu angeweza kuwa na athari zozote za uchafu juu yake?

2. The Prayer: Muslims pray five times a day. The prayer is the con nection between man and his Creator. The similitude for the prayer is that of the person who bathes at the riverbank five times a day. Would this person have any traces of filth upon them?.

3. Zakat: Zakat ni aina ya sadaka inayochukuliwa kutoka kwa matajiri na kutolewa kwa wahitaji. Kila mwaka mtu anatakiwa kutoa asilimia 2.5 ya akiba yake kwa maskini waliomo ndani ya jamii yake. Maskini hawatakiwi kulipa Zakat. Faida za Zakat ni pamoja na kutimiza upendo, mshikamano, huruma na ushirikiano. Pia huondoa tabia mbaya kama wivu, tamaa na chuki.

3. Zakat: Zakat is a form of charity taken from the affluent and given to the needy. Each year the individual is required to give 2.5% of his savings to the poor within his community. The poor are not re quired to pay Zakat. The benefits of Zakat include the fulfillment of love, solidarity, mercy, and cooperation. It also removes evil traits, such as envy, greed, and animosity.

4. Saumu: Ramadhani ni mwezi wa tisa wa kalenda ya mwandamo. Wakati wa kufunga, mtu hujizuia kula, kunywa na kujamiiana tangu alfajiri hadi jua linapozama. Kufunga humfundisha nafsi kuvumilia kwa subira kujizuia na yale inayoyatamani na kuyahitaji kiasili. Kufunga huleta huruma na upendo kwa wale wanaokosa chakula na maji mwaka mzima kutokana na umaskini. Kufunga pia kuna faida nyingi za kiafya. Wagonjwa, wazee, na wale wasioweza kufunga wameondolewa wajibu huu.

4. Fasting: Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar calendar. While fasting, the person abstains from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from daybreak to sunset. Fasting trains the soul to patiently abstain from what it desires and naturally craves. Fasting brings about empathy and compassion for those who go without food and water throughout the year due to poverty. Fasting also has many health benefits. Those who are sick, elderly, and unable to fast are excused.

5. Hija: Hija ni safari ya kwenda Makka kwa ajili ya ibada. Waislamu wanatakiwa kufanya Hija mara moja tu katika maisha yao, endapo wana uwezo wa kifedha na kimwili. Hija ina faida nyingi za kiroho na kijamii. Wakati wa msimu wa Hija, Makka ndiyo mahali penye utofauti mkubwa zaidi duniani. Waislamu wa jamii zote, rangi zote, mataifa yote na hali zote za kiuchumi, kuanzia wafalme hadi wafanyakazi wa kawaida, hukusanyika mahali pamoja, wakivaa mavazi yanayofanana, ili kumwabudu Muumba wao.

5. Hajj: Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims are only required to perform Hajj once in their lifetime, if financially and physically able. Hajj contains many spiritual and social benefits. During Hajj season, Mecca is the most diverse place on the planet. Muslims of all races, colors, nationalities, economic backgrounds—kings and laborers— unite in one place, dressing in uniformity, to worship their Creator.