Ibn ‘Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Islam is based on five pillars: testifying that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, establishing salaah, giving zakaah, undertaking the pilgrimage (hajj) to the House [Ka‘bah], and fasting in Ramadhaan.” (Bukhaari no. 8, Muslim no. 16,  Tirmidhi no. 2609)

Moulana Qaasim Naanotwi Rahimahullaah explains,” Every Divine and true religion’s purpose is to make clear to man the relationship between himself and his Creator and Master and the rights of his Creator and Master upon him.

This relationship has two fundamental parts:

1) Itaa’ah-obedience and submission

2) Mahabbah-love.

Neither should one plainly obey without any sentiments of love for one’s Creator, nor should one merely express his love whilst allowing himself the leeway to disobey his Master. Shariah demands that this obedience and love, when in relation to our Creator, should by far exceed and surpass the boundaries of our obedience and love for fellow creation. This obedience and love of the highest level is termed ‘Ibaadah’ (worship). Since man, by nature, dislikes servitude and submission to another, Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo has not only explained, but has also granted us various forms of worship which will serve as a practical and physical training to help us achieve our objective and through which we will gradually acquire the bounty of obedience and love of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo which is in actual fact the greatest honour and the most priceless treasure.

Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo had first taught us His beautiful names and attributes and then ordered us to call upon Him using these names, some of which portray His ‘Jamaal’ (beauty and mercy) and others which refer to His ‘Jalaal’ (might, majesty and grandeur). This was a practical method of psychologically imprinting in our hearts and minds His beauty and love, while at the same time overwhelming our hearts and minds by His power and might. The various types of worship were split accordingly. Some are meant to establish the grandeur and majesty of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo in the heart, whereas others do the job of kindling and spurring on the fire of love burning within. In Salaah and Zakaah, we see the manifestation of the authority, sovereignty and kingdom of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo whereas in fasting and Hajj, we witness the level to which Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo is held as the Beloved due to His qualities of beauty.

SALAAH- One is given notice and summoned to present himself in the Divine court (adhaan), at which he immediately sets about cleaning himself (wudhu) and dons fine clothes so as to look presentable. He then proceeds to the court where he selects a spokesperson to speak on his behalf (the imam). In the courtroom, he stands with utmost respect, not daring to glance around, speak, eat or even cough unnecessarily. He acts in accordance to the court’s protocol (qiyaam, ruku, sajdah and jalsah) and finally, through the spokesperson, puts forward his request after which he leaves respectfully by making salaam.

ZAKAAH- Like a slave, one is commanded by his Master to happily hand over his hard-earned wealth and earnings to the official tax collectors, sending them back happy, and to hand over the money without any complaints or excuses. (The above connection might possibly be the reason for salaah being mentioned with zakaah at most places in the Qur’aan.)

FASTING- The first signs of a lover is that he begins to forgo, or at least, decrease his food and sleep and cuts down his association with others, preferring silence and solitude. If one is devoid of, or deficient in love, he is during Ramadhaan commanded to adopt the practices of the lovers of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo Who is the true Beloved and is the epitome of beauty. He should forgo his food and drink (by fasting) and spoil his sleep by gathering with other lovers to listen to the speech of their Beloved which has the power of bringing life back to their dead souls (taraaweeh). (He is then bade to cut off association with all others and spend a period of time in solitude where he will get the chance of devoting all his attention and thoughts to his Beloved (i’tikaaf).

HAJJ- If, after a month’s training in love, he begins to live and behave like a true lover, losing interest in food, drinks, sleep and all other worldly pleasures, he should now take the second step and set out to the holy lands in search of his beloved. He leaves aside his dignity and pomp, his elegance and style and opts for lowliness and simplicity, becoming an embodiment of humility, expressing his dependency and need, dishevelled and barefoot, with tears streaming down from his eyes and ready to sacrifice his life for his Beloved; in short he proceeds as a madman who has lost his senses in the love of his Beloved. This is termed ‘ihraam’. Then, in the wilderness of the Arabian Desert, he calls out to his Beloved, announcing his love at the top of his voice as well as pleading and crying. This is what is known as ‘talbiyah’ and one’s ‘stay at Arafah’. He then presents himself at the house of his Beloved, where the rays of his Beloved’s beauty shoots out from every nook and corner, captivating the hearts of the lovers assembled around it. Witnessing this beauty, the lover is left dumbfounded, not knowing what to do except to circle and roam around the house of the Beloved, which we call ‘tawaaf’. It is perhaps due to the above connection that the months of Hajj commence immediately after the month of Ramadhaan.