The Four Pillars of Islam

Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi

• Publisher: Nadwi Press
• Year: 2025
• Print ISBN: 9789394770317
• eBook ISBN: 9789366089416
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Islamic Theology

The Four Pillars of Islam presents a comprehensive scholarly examination of the foundational acts of worship that structure Muslim religious life. S. Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, one of the twentieth century's most distinguished Islamic scholars, offers an authoritative exploration of ṣalāt (regular prayer), zakāt (poor-due), ṣaum (fasting), and ḥajj (pilgrimage), drawing extensively from the Qurʾān, Ḥadīth literature, and classical Islamic scholarship. This work demonstrates how these four pillars function as integrated components of a comprehensive system of worship that addresses every dimension of human existence.

The book's foundation rests upon careful examination of primary Islamic sources, with Nadwi drawing heavily from Shāh Walīullāh Dehlawī's monumental work Ḥujjatullāh al-Bālighah, which he describes as "the most meritorious contribution on the subject." By presenting the insights of classical scholars in modern idiom, Nadwi makes centuries of Islamic thought accessible to contemporary readers while maintaining scholarly rigor and authenticity.

The Nature of Divine Worship

Nadwi begins by establishing the theological foundations necessary for understanding Islamic worship. He examines the unique relationship between God and humanity, emphasizing how the Divine Attributes revealed in the Qurʾān—God's omnipotence, benevolence, mercy, knowledge, and nearness—establish the framework for human devotion. The text demonstrates that worship in Islam cannot be properly understood without adequate awareness of these Divine Attributes, as they govern the nature of the bond between Creator and created.

The author explores human nature as a complex mixture of physical and spiritual elements, positioned between the angelic and animal realms. This unique position, Nadwi argues, necessitates forms of worship that engage all dimensions of human existence—body, mind, and spirit. Islamic worship addresses this comprehensive nature of humanity, providing devotional practices that satisfy both rational understanding and spiritual yearning.

Ṣalāt: The Foundation of Worship

The section on ṣalāt presents prayer as the cornerstone of Islamic devotional life. Nadwi examines the prescribed times, forms, and spiritual significance of the five daily prayers, demonstrating how they create a rhythm of remembrance throughout the day. The text explains the physical movements of prayer—standing, bowing, prostrating—as expressions of submission that engage the entire human person in the act of worship.

Particularly valuable is Nadwi's discussion of prayer's role in maintaining faith and protecting against spiritual decline. He presents classical analogies and Prophetic traditions that illustrate how neglecting prayer, even for those engaged in other religious activities, leads to spiritual deterioration. The text emphasizes that ṣalāt represents not merely physical movements but a comprehensive engagement of body, mind, and heart in divine remembrance.

The author addresses the balance between form and content in prayer, noting how Islamic tradition has transmitted both the external regulations and the inner spiritual dimensions of ṣalāt. He calls upon contemporary Muslims to preserve not only the legal forms but also the fervent devotion and spiritual intensity that characterized the prayer of the Prophet and his Companions.

Zakāt: Purification Through Charity

Nadwi's treatment of zakāt reveals it as both a spiritual purification and a mechanism of social justice. The text examines the economic and moral dimensions of obligatory charity, demonstrating how wealth redistribution in Islam serves divine purposes while addressing material inequalities. Unlike modern taxation systems, which lack moral and spiritual content, zakāt is given with consciousness of divine obligation and expectation of spiritual reward.

The section includes powerful contrast between zakāt and usury, showing how the former promotes compassion, generosity, and social cohesion, while the latter breeds exploitation, concentration of wealth, and social fragmentation. Nadwi presents Qurʾānic denunciations of usury alongside exaltations of charity, revealing the fundamental opposition between these economic practices in Islamic moral vision.

The text emphasizes that proper giving requires not only material contribution but also spiritual qualities of sincerity, humility, and genuine concern for recipients. Qurʾānic verses and Prophetic traditions are cited showing that charity followed by reproach or injury negates its value, while giving accompanied by kind words and forgiveness multiplies its reward.

Ṣaum: Spiritual Discipline Through Fasting

The examination of ṣaum reveals fasting as a comprehensive spiritual discipline that transcends mere physical abstention. Nadwi explores how fasting during Ramaḍān creates a collective spiritual experience uniting Muslims worldwide in simultaneous devotion. The month of Ramaḍān receives special attention as the time of Qurʾānic revelation, establishing intimate connection between fasting and engagement with divine scripture.

The text addresses the spiritual benefits of fasting, drawing from Prophetic traditions that describe unique rewards for those who fast with faith and expectation of divine recompense. Nadwi emphasizes that fasting should not degenerate into mere habit or social conformity, but must maintain its spiritual essence as an act performed solely for divine pleasure.

Particularly insightful is the discussion of how fasting serves both individual purification and communal solidarity. The author shows how the shared experience of abstention creates bonds of empathy and mutual support among Muslims, while individual struggle against physical desires strengthens spiritual resolve and consciousness of divine presence.

Ḥajj: The Culmination of Worship

Nadwi's treatment of ḥajj presents the pilgrimage as the culmination of Islamic worship, combining elements of sacrifice, community, historical memory, and devotional love. The text examines the rites of pilgrimage in their connection to Prophet Ibrāhīm, showing how the Ḥajj reenacts primordial devotion while creating contemporary global Muslim consciousness.

The author explores how pilgrimage satisfies the human need for tangible expressions of love and devotion, providing physical focus for spiritual yearning. The Kaʿbah and associated sacred sites offer believers concrete destinations toward which they can direct their longing for divine proximity.

Particularly valuable is the discussion of sanctity in ḥajj—the sanctity of time (the sacred months), space (the Ḥaram), and state (the iḥrām). These multiple dimensions of sanctity create an environment that elevates consciousness and demands heightened moral awareness from pilgrims. The text examines prohibited actions during pilgrimage, showing how these restrictions serve to intensify spiritual focus and protect the sacred character of the journey.

Comparative Religious Analysis

Throughout the work, Nadwi engages in comparative analysis of worship across religious traditions. He examines Jewish, Christian, and Hindu devotional practices, highlighting both continuities with earlier prophetic traditions and distinctive features of Islamic worship. This comparative approach demonstrates Islam's position within the broader history of divine revelation while establishing its comprehensive and balanced character.

The author critiques contemporary attempts to reinterpret Islamic worship through materialistic or secular frameworks. He refutes efforts to reduce ṣalāt to mere discipline, zakāt to economic redistribution, ṣaum to health practice, or ḥajj to political conference. Such reductions, Nadwi argues, strip these practices of their sacred character and deprive Muslims of their transformative spiritual power.

Scholarly Foundations

The work draws from an impressive range of classical and contemporary sources, including the Qurʾān, six canonical Ḥadīth collections, major works of Qurʾānic exegesis, jurisprudential texts, and spiritual writings. Nadwi's bibliography demonstrates command of both Arabic and English scholarly literature, enabling him to engage with Islamic tradition while addressing modern readers.

The English translation by Dr. Mohammad Asif Kidwai renders Nadwi's Arabic prose accessible while maintaining scholarly precision. The text includes proper transliteration of Arabic terms, extensive Qurʾānic citations with translations, and careful attention to technical vocabulary, making it suitable for both academic study and general readership.

The Four Pillars of Islam serves as an essential resource for understanding Islamic worship in its full theological, legal, and spiritual dimensions. The work demonstrates the coherence and comprehensiveness of Islamic devotional practice, revealing how these four pillars work together to create a complete system that addresses every aspect of human existence while maintaining constant orientation toward the Divine.

Table of contents

• Foreword
• SALAT (Regular Worship)
• Zakat (Poor-Due)
• Saum (Fasting)
• Hajj (Pilgrimage)
• Bibliography
• Endnotes