---
title: "The Five Pillars of Islam for a New Muslim: Verbatim Text and a Learning Plan"
description: "The five pillars of Islam for a new Muslim: we quote IslamWeb on the pillars and how they differ from the pillars of faith, and then a learning plan."
url: "https://iqraairtqi.com/en/blogs/fiqh-of-worship-for-non-arabic-speakers"
date: "2026-08-30T17:45:38+00:00"
---

# The Five Pillars of Islam for a New Muslim: Verbatim Text and a Learning Plan

<div class="whiteboard-box">- **The five pillars of Islam for a new Muslim:** we quote IslamWeb on the pillars and how they differ from the pillars of faith, and then a learning plan.
- 📖 The pillars and the difference from the pillars of faith are quoted as they appear, with a link to the source.
- 🧭 The order of learning here is an organisational suggestion, not a religious ruling.
- 🤝 Ask a trusted scholar about your own situation, and do not burden yourself with learning everything at once.

</div>What are the pillars of Islam?
------------------------------

IslamWeb's fatwa "The pillars of Islam and the pillars of faith" states (Arabic original):

> فأركان الإسلام خمسة: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمدا رسول الله، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، وصوم رمضان، وحج البيت، لمن استطاع إليه سبيلا.  
> <cite>— IslamWeb, [أركان الإسلام وأركان الإيمان](https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/47159/أركان-الإسلام-وأركان-الإيمان)</cite>

*The pillars of Islam are five: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving zakah, fasting Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to the House for whoever is able to make the journey.*

How do they differ from the pillars of faith?
---------------------------------------------

> وأركان الإيمان ستة: الإيمان بالله وملائكته، وكتبه، ورسله، واليوم الآخر، والإيمان بالقدر خيره وشره.  
> <cite>— IslamWeb, [أركان الإسلام وأركان الإيمان](https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/47159/أركان-الإسلام-وأركان-الإيمان)</cite>

> والفرق بينهما أن أركان الإسلام أعمال ظاهرة تقوم بها الجوارح، من صلاة وزكاة وصيام وحج. وأركان الإيمان أعمال باطنة محلها القلب، من إيمان بالله وملائكته... الخ.  
> <cite>— IslamWeb, [أركان الإسلام وأركان الإيمان](https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/47159/أركان-الإسلام-وأركان-الإيمان)</cite>

**Note:** we are Quran and language teachers, not muftis, and we quote texts as they appear without adding rulings of our own.

A suggested learning plan for a new Muslim (practical organisation)
-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a suggested order to help you avoid scattering your effort. It is not a religious ruling, and a trusted scholar can guide you according to your situation.

<table><tr><th>Step</th><th>What you learn</th><th>How</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>The two testimonies and their meaning</td><td>With a teacher or a trustworthy source that explains the meaning</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Purification and prayer, practically</td><td>By practising with a teacher who sees and corrects you</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Reciting Al-Fatiha with sound pronunciation</td><td>See [The virtue of reciting Surah Al-Fatiha in prayer](/blogs/virtue-of-reciting-surah-al-fatiha)</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>The other pillars, according to time and ability</td><td>Start with what is coming soon, and ask scholars for details</td></tr></table>

The language of worship: how to learn what you need
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Many new Muslims need to recite Al-Fatiha and some phrases in Arabic. Start with the letters and pronunciation with a teacher: see the [guide to Arabic for adults](/blogs/arabic-language-foundation-for-adults-online-your-comprehensive-guide-to-learning-fusha-from-scratch-2026) and [Learn Quran with Tajweed for Adults](/blogs/learn-quran-tajweed-for-adults). For teachers and parents, there are tips in [How worship is taught to new Muslims online](/blogs/importance-of-worship-jurisprudence-for-non-arabs).

<div class="faq-section">#### Frequently asked questions

<div class="faq-item">**Q: How many pillars does Islam have?**A: The fatwa quoted above states that they are five, and lists them in detail.

</div><div class="faq-item">**Q: What is the difference between Islam and faith?**A: We quoted above what IslamWeb says about the difference between their pillars, and the fatwa refers to other fatwas for more detail.

</div><div class="faq-item">**Q: What should I learn first?**A: We suggested an organisational order in the table. It is not a ruling: ask a trusted scholar about your situation.

</div><div class="faq-item">**Q: Do I need Arabic to learn the acts of worship?**A: You will need to pronounce what you recite in prayer correctly, which comes from practising with a teacher. The rest of the explanation can be in your own language.

</div></div><div style="text-align:center;margin:35px 0;padding:24px;background:#f0f7f4;border-radius:16px;">Ready to start with a specialist teacher?

[Book a free trial lesson on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/97466657295)</div>