Sixth Pillar of Islam

The term Sixth pillar of Islam refers to an addition to the Five Pillars of Islam; the five pillars of Islam explain the basic tenets of Islam, Shi'a Islam uses other concepts.

Introduction

Most Sunni Muslims believe there are precisely five Pillars of Islam, and consider the concept of a sixth pillar to be heretical. The idea of there being more than five pillars is not a mainstream idea; Sunni leaders have taught that there are only five major pillars of the faith.

A few Muslims, mainly some Kharijite groups in ancient times and the founder of Islamic Jihad recently, have taught that Jihad, or personal struggle, should be considered the sixth pillar of Islam. In this context, Jihad is viewed as external war against those perceived to be enemies of Islam.Fact|date=May 2008

Jihad

Jihad is a term for struggle, or pursuit of a good cause. It can connote the whole range of effort necessary to promote Islam in both personal and social life. Moreover even when it refers to military matters, it need not primarily be offensive. The more ordinary reason for going to war, in the Muslim view of past history, was opposition that would have denied Muslims the chance to practice or spread the faith of Islam. Seeing such a denial as opposition to God, the Qur'an, and the prophet, Muslims have felt obliged to fight, as they could feel obliged to fight on behalf of brother and sister Muslims who come under attack.

Most experts on Islamic war suggest the protection of noncombatants, women, children, the elderly, and prisoners of war to be in accordance with Islamic ethics.

See also

*Five Pillars of Islam
*Twelver Shi'a Roots of Religion and Branches of Religion
*Ismaili Seven Pillars of Islam
*Sunni Six articles of belief
*Druze Seven Pillars
*Eleventh Commandment

*List of Islamic terms in Arabic
*Modern Islamic philosophy

References