Question

What is the first pillar of Islam? (Don't merely name it; tell me a bit about it.) Taking the Christian perspective, why might a Christian see the first pillar of Islam, if translated into the Christian religion, as the most important of the five pillars?

Answer 1

Answer:

The first Pillar of Islam is known as the shahada or Profession of Faith. And it states that "There is no god but God and that Muhammad is His messenger."

Explanation:

The shahada is the religious centre of Islam because it upholds the central role of Prophet Muhammad and the oneness of God. It is an affirmation of faith. The shahada is vital in daily life and is used in prayer and often embroidered in flags and engraved into coins. A Christian might see the first pillar as the most important out of the five because Christianity has a similar profession of faith in the Ten Commandments found in the Bible. And the first commandment is “I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any strange gods before Me.” The Bible also states "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Similar to the first pillar, this commandment is about having absolute faith in God.