The Qur’an prescribes that righteousness is earned by keeping the Five Pillars of Islam: "Righteousness does not consist in turning your face towards East or West. The truly good are those who believe in God and the Last Day, in the angels, the Scripture, and the prophets; who give away some of their wealth, however much they cherish it, to their relatives, to orphans, the needy, travelers and beggars, and to liberate those in bondage; those who keep up the prayer (salat) and pay the prescribed alms (zakat); who keep pledges whenever they make them; who are steadfast in misfortune, adversity, and times of danger. These are the ones who are true, and it is they who are aware of God." (Qur'an 2:177)
The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundations or pillars on which Islamic belief and practice rest and are necessary to earn righteousness to enter Paradise.
The First Pillar is Creed
“There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet.”
The creed has two planks. The first is found in 20:7 Qur’an: “There is no God but God.” Both Christianity and Islam believe in one God or monotheism. However, Islam rejects the Trinity and believes only Allah is god. Christianity believes there is one God and three Persons (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).
In the Great Commission, Jesus declared that the Church should make disciples by winning the lost to Christ and them baptizing the new converts “in the name [singular] of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Jesus used the singular “name” not the plural “names” of three gods. The singular name speaks of the nature or essence of God. As Deuteronomy 6:4 states, “The Lord our God is one.”
The second part of the creed is that Muhammad is his prophet (48:29 Qur’an)
Muhammad was born in Mecca on June 8, 570 A.D. That is why Mecca is the most sacred spot on earth for Muslims. Muslims believe Muhammad was the last of the prophets. Islam claims that Muhammad received regular revelations from Gabriel for twenty-three years from 610-632 which is the content of the Qur’an. Allah says that “We revealed it in the Arabic tongue, a Qur’an free from all faults” (39:28 Qur’an). There are many errors in the Qur’an. For example, the Qur’an [9:30] asserts that the Jews believe Ezra was the Son of God, which is not true in any Jewish tradition. There is only one inerrant Book and that is the Bible, God’s holy Word. Jesus affirmed, “Your Word is truth” (Jo 17:17).
The Second Pillar is Prayer
The ritual prayers are said in Arabic five times a day while facing Mecca. The first words in Arabic are, “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.” Allah is most great. These are also the words shouted or screamed just before the Islamic suicide bomber denotates himself and kills innocent victims.
The Third Pillar is Alms Giving
Alms giving is a tax in some officially Islamic countries to call others to Islam and help the poor.
The Fourth Fasting is Fasting
During the month of Ramadan, Muslim believers fast during daylight hours but can eat while it’s dark.
The Fifth Pillar of Islam is Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim believer should make once in his or her lifetime. This is the emotional high of every Muslim. Muslims from all over the world dream of making the salvific pilgrimage to Mecca. I watched the documentary, “Seven Wonders of the Muslim World.” Naureen from Pakistan at Mecca was overwhelmed with emotions. She stated she felt all her sins forgiven and born again.
There is only one way to have all of our sins forgiven and to be born again, and that is my receiving by an act of our will, Jesus Christ as our Savior (Jo 1:12).
In the next post, I want to respond to the creed of Islam, which raises another debated question: Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?