The five pillars of Islam are the fundamental acts of devotion which every Muslim is required to perform. They are:
1. Shahada (Faith)- the declaration of faith: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger”. This denotes belief in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad.
2. Salah (Prayer)- These prayers are obligatory for practicing Muslims and are performed five times daily: at Fajr(break of dawn), Dhuhr(noon), Asr(late afternoon), Maghrib(sunset), and Isha(night). These prayers help to strengthen the bond between the believer and Allah.
3. Zakat (Charity)- the obligatory giving of a certain percentage of savings by the affluent Muslims, usually 2.5%, aimed at the welfare of poor people and the general community.
4. Sawm (Fasting in the month of Ramadan)- During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast, abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset. Fasting is one of the means of self-control and inner growth.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)- Every Muslim who is physically and financially able must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his lifetime, in the month of Dhul-Hijjah.
These pillars make Muslims a very important part of their daily lives.