The Five Pillars of Islam

1. Creed (Shahadah) The Shahadah is the Muslim profession of faith: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” Muslims only believe in one God. No one and nothing should be worshipped but Allah. The Shahadah is the sign of belonging to the Muslim community.

2. Prayer (Salat) Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day. Salat involves quiet verbal prayer and gestures. Prayer can take place at home, at work, or anywhere, as long as the place is clean. On Fridays, Muslims attend mosque for prayer.

3. Charity (Zakat) The Zakat asks believers to give to those in need. Each year, Muslims who have more than a certain amount of money or goods are required to donate a portion of their savings, after debt, to the needy.

4. Fasting (Sawm) Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, the month in which Muhammad received the divine message of Allah. Muslims are encouraged to spend more time reading the Qur’an and praying. Muslims abstain from food, water, evil thoughts, drinking, smoking, and sex during the daylight hours of the fast. During the evenings, Muslims gather with friends and family to break the fast with a light meal and some merriment. It ends with the Feast of Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) Muslims are asked to make a pilgrimage to the Ka’bah in Mecca once in a lifetime. Called the hajj It is filled with symbolic rituals that recall events from the time of Abraham and Muhammad. Muslims strive to live honest and holy lives and focus their minds on Allah during hajj. Muslims strengthen their sense of unity with God, with their religious heritage, and with other Muslims through the hajj.