قَالَ: الْإِسْلَامُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ، وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ، وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا
Translation: He replied: Islam is to testify that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger, establish prayer, give zakat, fast Ramadan, and make pilgrimage to the House if you are able to reach it.
The Prophet ﷺ answered by naming the two testimonies of faith, prayer, zakat, fasting Ramadan, and pilgrimage when one has the ability. The sequence moves from confession of faith to regular acts of worship and responsibility.
تَشْهَدَ means “to testify,” تُقِيمَ “to establish,” تُؤْتِيَ “to give or render,” تَصُومَ “to fast,” and تَحُجَّ “to perform pilgrimage.” These verbs form an interconnected list.
Establishing prayer implies due care and regular observance, not merely pronouncing a few words.