BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Part 1…
If asked to explain some essentials of Islam, any Muslim would talk about the five pillars of Islam, namely, shahadah, salah, zakah, saum and hajj. This explanation of Islam in terms of pillars is based on a sahih hadith (found in both Bukhari and Muslim). However, Muslims neither know nor think about the underlying concepts of the five pillars. Pillars cannot stand by themselves unless they have a foundation. A pillar standing without a foundation can easily be knocked over by a child. Besides, pillars are a functional part of a building, i.e. to support the roof of the building. A complete building would have at least one roof, walls, doors, windows, interior and exterior decorations. If a Muslim was asked about the analogical components of a building in Islam he would be at a loss. He would not know what you are talking about. Therefore, the current explanation of Islam in terms of five pillars without reference to the foundation and the rest of the building is a reference to the RUINS OF ISIAM. This is the reality.
In the ancient ruins in Greece, Italy, Egypt, India, Pakistan or any of the old countries, a few broken pillars are found lying on the ground, and a few broken pillars are still standing with or without some signs of a foundation. That is the analogy of Islam as practiced in our times. Islam’s roof and walls, along with the decorations have fallen away; the foundation is barely visible and a few broken pillars are lying on the ground and a few are still standing.
