Essentials of Islam is five
Rasulullah (sall-Allahu Taala alaihi wa sallam) said that the first of the essentials of Islam was “to say the Kalimat ash-shahada”; that is, one should say, “Ash’hadu an la ilaha illa Allah wa ash’hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.” In other words, a sane person who has reached the age of puberty and who can talk has to say, “On the earth or in the sky, there is nothing nor anyone but Allahu Taala who has the right to be worshipped and Who is worthy of deifying. The real Deity is Allahu Taala alone. He is the Wajib ul-wujud. Every kind of superiority exists in Him. No defect exists in Him. His name is Allah,” and to believe in this absolutely with all their heart. Also one should say and believe: “The most noble person named Muhammad ibn Abdullah who had a face that was rosy in appearance, white-reddish, bright and lovely, with black eyes and brows, a blessed wide forehead and beautiful manners, whose shadow never fell on the ground, who was soft-spoken and was called Arab because he had been born in Mecca of Hashemitedescent, is the human being and Messenger sent by Allahu Taala.” The Prophet’s mother was Hazrat Amina bint (daughter of) Wahab. His birth in Mecca honored the world [at the dawn of Monday, April 20, in the (Gregorian) year 571]. When he was forty, he was informed that he was the Prophet [Monday, Ramadan 17, 610]. That was named the year of ‘Bi’tha’ (a prophet’s being sent for calling people to the right path). After this, he invited people to Islam, in Mecca, for thirteen years. Then he migrated (the Hijrat, Hegira) to Medina on the command of Allahu Taala. From there, he spread Islam everywhere. Ten years after the Hijrat, he passed away in Medina in July 632 (on Monday 12, Rabi al- Awwal) 5. Islam’s fifth essential is “for the able person to perform the hajj (pilgrimage) once in their life.” For an able person who has money enough for going to and coming back from the city of Mecca including an amount sufficient for the subsistence of the family they leave behind until they come back, it is fard once in their lifetime to perform tawaf around the Kaaba and to perform Waqfa on the plain of Arafat, provided that the way is safe and their body is healthy.