the wonders of the number five

In this article, we will discuss the recommendations and astonishing attributes of the number “five” based on the sayings and valuable statements of the Imams (peace be upon them).

The Holy Quran mentions “five” criteria for virtue and superiority among human beings:

1. Piety: As mentioned, “Indeed, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you” (The best among you is the one who has the most piety).
2. Reason and Intellect: Reason is the basis of other values, and many verses in the Quran testify to this.
3. Jihad in the way of Allah: As it is said, “The believers who remain behind, except for those who are disabled, are not equal to those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has raised those who strive with their wealth and their lives above those who stay behind. To each Allah has promised good. But Allah has preferred those who strive with their wealth and their lives over those who stay behind by a great reward.”
4. Faith.
5. Knowledge: Knowledge and faith are two fundamental criteria and two pillars of the virtuous and humane tree. The Quran states, “Allah will raise those of you who have believed and those who were given knowledge, degrees.”

However, it should be noted that among all values, piety is the highest; piety is the foundation and basis of all values because, without piety, neither knowledge is effective, nor jihad is guiding, nor reason is a guide, nor faith can lead a person to the intended goal.

In the realm of piety, reason understands truths, and knowledge becomes a solver of problems. All this praise and encouragement for knowledge is conditional upon the goal of learning being the recognition of truth, awareness of responsibility, service to the servants of Allah, and seeking the pleasure of the Almighty. Otherwise, the result of knowledge will be as the poet Rumi says:

“Teaching a bad gem knowledge and skills
Is like giving a sword to a highway robber
Giving a sword to a savage is worse
Than having knowledge in the hands of the unworthy
Knowledge, wealth, position, and power
Becomes a trial in the hands of bad-hearted people.”

Five forms will accompany the believer to the grave in the most beautiful form.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Five forms will accompany the believer to the grave in the most beautiful shape. One form stands in front of all of them and is the most beautiful. It asks the other four forms: ‘Who are you? May Allah reward you with good.’ One of them says: ‘I am the prayer.’ Another says: ‘I am the Zakat.’ The third says: ‘I am the Hajj.’ The fourth says: ‘I am the fasting.’ Then the four forms ask the most beautiful form: ‘Who are you, that you are more beautiful than all of us?’ It answers: ‘I am the guardianship of the family of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).’”

Islam is built upon five things.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “Islam is built upon five things: prayer, Zakat, Hajj, fasting, and guardianship.”

Zurarah asked the Imam: “Which one of these is the best?” The Imam replied: “Guardianship, because guardianship and leadership are the keys to prayer, Zakat, fasting, and Hajj, and the just leader of Islam is the authority of those four divine commands. If a person spends nights in worship, fasts during the day, gives all their wealth in charity for Allah, and performs Hajj throughout their life but does not recognize the divine leader, does not love them, does not obey them, and does not perform their actions according to their leadership, they will receive no reward from Allah and will not be counted among the faithful.”

Five things, if a person does not have them, there is no good in them.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “There are five things that if someone does not have them, there is no good in them: reason, manners, religion, generosity, and good character.”

Five virtuous traits that saved a prisoner.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “In one of the battles, the Muslim fighters captured a group of enemies and brought them to the presence of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). (Those prisoners whose execution was necessary or permissible.)

The Prophet ordered them to be executed, but among the prisoners, he pardoned one. The prisoner asked him: ‘Why did you free me?’ The Prophet said: ‘Gabriel informed me from Allah that you possess five virtuous traits that Allah and His Messenger love: strong devotion to your family, generosity, good character, truthfulness, and courage.’

When the freed prisoner heard these words, he recognized the truth of the revelation, accepted Islam, and remained steadfast in his faith, until he fought alongside the Prophet (peace be upon him) in one of the Islamic battles and attained martyrdom.”

Five things that remove forgetfulness.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There are five things that eliminate forgetfulness, increase memory, and remove phlegm: using a miswak, fasting, reciting the Quran, honey, and frankincense.”

Five things that cause leprosy.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There are five things that cause leprosy: using depilatory powder on Fridays and Wednesdays, performing ablution and washing with water warmed under the sun, eating during impurity, intercourse during menstruation, and eating while full.”