Mysteries of the Five Pillars of Islam

My respected teacher mentioned in his talk on Monday (14/9/2009):

The five pillars of Islam are: Shahadah (testification of faith), Salah (daily prayers), Saum (fasting), Zakah (alms) and Hajj (pilgrimage).

If we look into the realities of each pillar we find that two of the pillars are required to be discreet, two are required to be out in the open, and one should be publicised totally!

As for the two that should be discreet, they are: Saum and Zakah.
When one fasts, it is impossible for an onlooker to recognise that this person is fasting, nor should the one who is fasting inform anyone.
As for the giving of charity, it is required to be done so secretly that the "right hand does not know what the left hand is giving".

As for the two that should be out in the open, they are: Salah and Hajj.
It is preferred that the obligatory prayers are offerred in the mosque, with congregation.
As for the pilgrimage, it is performed in one place, where all pilgrims are required to gather. Thus, for both, there is no command to hide when carrying them out.

As for the one that must be declared even more openly, it is: the Shahadah- that, after one believes in Allah Most High and all the articles of faith, he verbally gives testimony to his faith saying, for example: "I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) is His final messenger."

Golden Point to note: The one common factor in the four pillars that are of worship, is that Allah Most High has commanded us to either remain totally silent, or at least keep careful control of our tongues.

In Salah if one speaks, his prayer is nullified. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: "This is salah. Any speech of people does not befit it; it is only [comprised of] glorification, proclaiming Allah's greatness, and the recitation of the Qur'an." (Muslim: 537)

Whilst fasting, if a person speaks vulgarities and obscene language he loses the spiritual effects of the fast as well as the full reward, though the obligation will be lifted. This is learnt from the Prophet's (Allah bless him and give him peace) statement, on the authority of Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him): "Whoever does not leave speaking wrongly and acting accordingly, Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink." (Bukhari: 1903)

~According to some scholars, ones fast is actually nullified by sinning with the tongue.

As for Zakah, and other forms of charity, Allah Most High gives the following command regarding them: "O you who believe, do not nullify your acts of charity by boasting about (doing people a) favour and by causing (them) hurt..." (Qur'an, 2:264)

As for Hajj, Allah Most High says in the Noble Qur'an: "...So whoever undertakes Hajj in them (i.e. the months of Hajj), there should be no obscenity, no sin, no quarrell in the Hajj..." (Qur'an, 2:197)

The lesson we learn is: "Control your tongue." (Tirmidhi: 2406) "Whoever believes in Allah and the last day should speak good, or remain silent." (Bukhari: 6018)