Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to what are understood among many Muslims to be the five core aspects of Islam.

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The Messenger of God said, “Islam is built on five pillars: bearing witness that there is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet, establishing the prayer, giving zakat, hajj, and fasting during Ramadan.”

The Five Pillars of Islam

In summary, the practices are (in order of priority):

• The Testimony of Faith (Shahadah) - the declaration that there is none worthy of worship except Allah (Arabic:God) and that Muhammad is His messenger.
• Ritual Prayer (Salad) - establishing of the five daily Prayers.
• Obligatory (religious) armsgiving (Zakat) - which is generally 2.5% of the total savings for a rich man working in trade or industry, and 10% or 20% of the annual produce for agriculturists. This money or produce is distributed among the poor.
• Fasting (Sawm)
• The Pilgrimage to Maccas (Hajj) - this is done during the month of Zul Hijjah, and is compulsory once in a lifetime for one who has the ability to do it. If the Muslim is in ill health or in debt, he or she is not required to perform Hajj. They do this to show moral importance to Allah, and to join the Ummah (family of Islam).

Note that the Shi'a branch Amr Bil Maruf and Nahi Anil Munkar (Enjoining the Good and Forbidding the Evil) is also commanded in Sunni Islam but not at the level of The Five Pillars of Islam.

Shahadah, the Testimony of Faith

Main article: Shahadah

The shahadah (Arabic: Template:ArTranslit) (Turkish: Şehadet) is the Islamic creed. It means "to testify" or "to bear witness" in Arabic. The shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and in Muhammad as his prophet. Recitation of the shahadah is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam by Sunni Muslims. It is said daily in the call to prayer, at the beginning of prayers, and during times of 'Dhikr' (before and after praying; in the late evening and in the early morning). The prayer, while varying, must acknowledge that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad was his prophet.

=== Salād

, Ritual Prayer ===

Main article: Salat

Prayer is a requirement for Muslims five times a day. These five prayers are called Fard or obligatory prayers. The time for these prayers are Fajr, approximately an hour and a half before sunrise, Dhuhr, just after high noon, Asr, mid-afternoon, Maghrib, just after sunset, and Isha'a, approximately an hour and a half after sunset.

The salat must be performed in the Arabic language, the language of the Qur'an. All prayers must be demonstrated facing Mecca. During prayer, the person prostrates and kneels in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. The session ends with looking right and left to say "As-salaamu 'alaykum", or peace be upon you.

Zakāt, The Paying of Alms

Main article: Zakat

Zakat means both purification and growth through the compulsory donation of alms to the poor. Zakāt is 2.5% of a Muslim's net worth or value of their holdings, not his/her earnings.

Saum, Fasting on Ramadan

Main article: Sawm

Observance of the sawm, or siyam (fasting), involves abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, drugs of any kind, sexual intercourse, unruly thoughts, and other forms of worldly pleasure. This fasting is ordained in the Qu'ran, and is observed by devout Muslims throughout the daylight hours of the 29 or 30 days of the lunar month of Ramadan. There are some exceptions, for example for children, pregnant women, people who are traveling more than 150 kilometers and sick Muslims. Travelers, and sick Muslims have to fast for the amount of days that they didn't fast after they cure or return home from travel. Children do not have to fast until they come of age. In addition, women on their menstrual cycle do not have to fast.This is disclipline from God.

As well as fasting, Muslims spend more time praying during this period. Sawm Ramadan is in the 9th month on the Islamic calendar.

Hajj, The Pilgrimage to Mecca

Main article: Hajj

Anyone who is Muslim can perform the hajj, regardless of their origins. Every affording and healthy Muslim must perform this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

During the Hajj, Muslims recall what happened to important people in their history as well as try to be spiritually closer to God. Muslim and Western researches trace these traditions to Muhammad's own performance of the Hajj. It is a way for Muslims to commemorate Muhammad's actions.