5IVEPILLARS — THE COMMUNITY LETTER Issue No. 001 · On Intentions
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
What we create at 5ivepillars, what we pour into this labor of love, has always been much deeper than what is seen on the surface. And in the interest of connecting with this community more deeply, sharing more of the spiritual underpinnings of what we do, we figured the best place to start is where our tradition taught us to:
"Verily, actions are by their intentions, and every person will have only what they intended." — The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
This is the principle we want to ground ourselves in, and invite you into, as we open this new chapter of 5ivepillars.
Why We Do What We Do — Our Intentions
We asked members of our team to share some of their intentions behind their work at 5ivepillars. Here is what lives in the heart of this brand:
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To allow Islam to be represented beautifully and confidently by Muslims around the world.
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To give third-culture kids, Muslims born at the nexus of different cultures, a way to authentically represent Islam while honoring the fullness of who they are.
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To connect across cultures around Islam, and show how much beauty this deen has to offer.
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To create clothing that serves as a form of da'wah, an invitation to Islam, from the one wearing it to the one who witnesses it.
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To embody beauty. Because Allah سبحانه وتعالى loves beauty.
How This Applies to You
Here are three ways to weave intention into your life
First: elevating the ordinary into worship. We know many of you rock 5ivepillars to get your fits off (as you should) But even something as simple as getting dressed can become an act of worship when it's tied to a higher intention. The intention to cover your awra. To embody the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. To please Allah. To call people toward this deen. To represent Islam with pride. Set these intentions, and elevate any fit you put on.
Second: filtering out the bad. When we take the time to observe our intentions, we can more easily identify when they’re not truly aligned with who we want to be. It's worth asking ourselves honestly: am I wearing this to flex? To draw attention in a way Allah would not approve of? Is it ostentation. Recognizing where our intentions go wrong is an important step in setting the right ones.
Third: using intention as a point of return. We start things with good intentions, but sometimes, along the way, they get muddied. Intention can be a starting point but also a check-in. Imam al-Ghazali emphasized pausing before you leave the house, before you put on your clothes, and making your intentions right for Allah's sake. The Prophet ﷺ reminded us that people are resurrected upon their intentions. That is how consequential this is.
Intentions are the soul of a thing. It is not about getting caught in the material, the form. It is about tapping into the ruh of it.
This is what we try to do at 5ivepillars. Know that there is du'a that goes into every project. There are good intentions woven into every thread. And we pray that as you wear 5ivepillars, as a Muslim, as part of this community, that you carry those intentions with you. Renew them. Add unto them. Let them elevate your actions, and with Alllah’s acceptance, elevate the ummah.
This is the first of many letters. Expect more reflections, more depth, more of what happens behind the scenes and between the seams. Follow us on @thespiritualwellnessclub @5ivepillars for more.
salaam.
