The Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars are the core acts of worship that unite Muslims across cultures. The first, shahada, is the declaration of faith: 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God. ' The second, salat, is prayer five times a day facing Mecca, at times called by the adhan. The third, zakat, is obligatory almsgiving, usually 2. 5 percent of savings above a minimum, given to the poor and needy.

The fourth, sawm, is fasting from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan, building self-discipline and empathy for the hungry. The fifth, hajj, is pilgrimage to Mecca, required once in a lifetime for those physically and financially able. Together the pillars combine belief, personal devotion, social responsibility and global community. Exemptions, such as from fasting for the sick, travelers and pregnant women, show that the pillars are designed to be practicable rather than harmful.