Islam Beyond Five Pillars

 

People at the initial stage of learning Islam are told about the five basic and important pillars of this religion. These pillars are Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj. Though these pillars set the base line of Islam but there are two other pillars, Peace and Justice which serve as support system of Islam.

These two pillars are interconnected, one cannot exist without other. A society will only be peaceful when justice prevails there. The word Islam itself includes root word salam, meaning peace. Muslims strongly believe that real peace comes only through complete submission to the will of Allah almighty. One will always be discontented if his beliefs are based on any religion other than Islam.

It is a religion of peace because it brings out real justice for everyone. Allah Almighty is beyond any comprehension or justification but even then He has showed his followers that how just he is. The Holy Quran has stated various incidents and events which give us hints about his true nature. The 99 names of Allah Almighty include ‘Al-Adl’, the Just and ‘Al-Muqsio’ the Dispenser of Justice.

It is to be said that true justice is always blind. This only happens when the judge is completely objective and possesses all the best qualities. He must be fair, wise and rational. Of all the worldly judges and courts, the court of Allah almighty is fairest and provides true justice. In today’s world people are seen to be following mandatory orders of Allah almighty but are not honest and fair towards his creation. It is not denied that people do maintain prayer and remembrance under all, good or bad conditions of life, even in the midst of chaos, but the fact remains that Allah will forgive all kinds of injustice except the one done to his people. There is no higher aim for the Muslim than the cultivation of what is described as a sound heart because from the sound heart comes sound judgement.

Therefore Muslims have been warned many times in Holy Quran that if they seek mercy from lord of all lords, they must show mercy and justice to their worldly fellows and creatures. As Holy Prophet PBUH stated “God gives a reward for gentleness which He will never give for harshness”