Five Pillars of Islam

Shadahah

1st Pillar of Islam

• A person must pledge the following aloud in front of two Muslims to enter the religion of Islam: “I bear witness that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is the messenger.”
• Muslims believe that all souls will face judgement by God one day, so declaring faith in God is important
• Promotes Submission towards God
• Parents whisper the Shadahah into their babies' ears, and students say it before a test to perform well

Salat - prayer

2nd Pillar of Islam

• Considered the "proof" of Islam
• Muslims pray 5 times per day, and the muezzin calls them to prayer
• Before praying, Muslims perform ritual washings to cleanse the mind and body
• Although it is best to pray at a mosque, it is not mandatory, and Muslims pray in any clean place, usually on a prayer rug

Zakat

3rd Pillar of Islam

• Muslims must donate roughly 2.5% of excess income
• Means "purification" - Muslims believe that wealth isn't pure until some is given away
• Can help Muslim communities by paying for a child's tuition to a Muslim school, among other things
• Intended to make the poor self sufficient - not a temporary solution

Siyam

4th Pillar of Islam

• Because the Islamic calendar is based on a lunar year, the month of Ramadan eventually cycles through every season.
• Throughout this month, special mosque services are held, and devout Muslims who attend every night hear the entire Qu’ran by the end of the month.
• Praying during the “Night of Power” during ending days of the Ramadan equals 1,000 months of devotion
• Promotes sympathy towards the poor - Intended to make Muslims have self-restraint
• Muslims cannot eat or drink during the day: Only late in the evening can Muslims break their fast

Hajj

5th Pillar of Islam

• Held in 12th month of the Islamic calendar from the 8th to the 12th -Afterward, 4 day feast is held
• All Muslims wear simple white clothes, to remind all Muslims are equal in God’s eyes
• Adult Muslims expected to perform the Hajj at least once in their life
• Must circle Ka’bah (the holiest house of worship for Muslims) 7 times before leaving