أَنوارالمحمَّدية

  Section 1 Shahādah Declaration of Faith (الشَّهَادَة) 2.1 Meaning and Linguistic Origins of Shahādah The term "Shahādah" (الشَّهَادَة) originates from the Arabic root sh-h-d (ش-ه-د), which means to witness , to testify , or to bear witness . In Islamic theology, it refers to bearing witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allāh and that Muḥammad ﷺ is His Messenger. Arabic Formulation : أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh. This declaration is both a verbal statement of belief and an entrance into Islam . Without it, no other pillar of Islam holds value. All schools of Islamic jurisprudence, including the Mālikī madhhab , unanimously agree on this foundation. 2.2 Qur’anic Foundations of Shahādah The Shahādah is rooted in many verses of the Qur’ān. Among the most significant are: لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ “There is ...

  Section 3 Ṣalāh (الصَّلَاة) The Islamic Ritual Prayer 3.1 Introduction: The Importance of Ṣalāh Ṣalāh (الصَّلَاة), the second pillar of Islam, is the most frequent and visible expression of a Muslim’s submission to Allāh. It is an act of both worship and obedience , performed five times daily in a structured manner. Ṣalāh is the distinguishing mark of a believer : الْعَهْدُ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمُ الصَّلَاةُ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ “The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer. Whoever abandons it has disbelieved.” (Tirmidhī, 2621; graded ḥasan) Imām Mālik viewed ṣalāh as non-negotiable , and those who abandon it persistently without excuse were severely censured—even if they didn't deny its obligation ( al-Mudawwanah , vol. 1, p. 95). 3.2 Linguistic and Legal Definitions The Arabic word ṣalāh (الصلاة) means "supplication" or "connection." It is derived from the root ṣ-l-w (ص ل و), meaning to pray or to connect. In th...

Section 4 Zakāh (الزَّكَاةُ) The Obligation of Alms giving 4.1 Introduction: Zakāh in Islam Zakāh (الزَّكَاةُ) is the third pillar of Islam. It is a mandatory act of worship that purifies a Muslim’s wealth and soul. The term zakāh comes from the Arabic root ز-ك-ا , meaning to purify, increase, and bless . خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةًۭ تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا “Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase.” (Qur’ān, At-Tawbah 9:103)